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05/28/2008 11:19:34 AM · #1 |
I am shooting a "brush up" rehearsal today of "A Chorus Line". I did some test shots last week without any flash, and even with my 50mm 1.8 lighting was difficult and I was over ISO 800 most of the time.
For today's shoot they told me I could use flash. I was thinking of setting up two remote SB600 flashes (I have stands and umbrellas) which I can control wirelessly. I don't think I can setup on stage or close on the stage left side, since the band is there.
I want to sort of preserve the lighting look, but use the flashes as fill for lower ISO (100-400) and also for catching some of the action (like line dances with kicking). I'd also like to use my 18-200 instead of the 50mm 1.8 if I could, because I have more control without getting in the way.
I'd appreciate any suggestions as to lighting setup with my two strobes, umbrellas, or other diffusers. The ceiling is black :(
I'm leaving for the shoot 4:30 or so EST so I'm on a time limit for suggestions. |
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05/28/2008 11:47:38 AM · #2 |
I have worked dim auditoriums. Using the flash as fill light in an already dim situation does not strike me as a solution. I think the flash has to be the main light balanced in with the stage lights. I think you will have to gel the SB600s to correct for tungsten lighting. Also shoot a white card to set custom white balance. Using my Canon 5D, I shoot at ISO 1600 with only limited noise issues (many of the shots I print at 16 x 20). I also shoot with a 24-70mm f/2.8 and a 135mm f/2.0 sometimes a 50mm f/1.4. I would be inclined to put the 2 SB600s with umbrellas in front of the stage as an emulation of a spot light coming from the back of the audience. The umbrellas will spread th light and you can chimp and adjust balance to mix with the stage lighting. Hope that helps.
Message edited by author 2008-05-28 11:48:21. |
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05/28/2008 12:34:20 PM · #3 |
I've not much to add. I've done lots of theater, but none with flash. BobsterLobster's mentorhsip on concerts was a huge help (thread here), but perhaps a bit much to wade through this afternoon. The only time I did something similar to what you're doing is shooting a bar mitzvah rehearsal, where I had one huge softbox fairly far away & one umbrella closer, aimed toward where most the action was, and I used them as main lights.
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05/28/2008 12:36:09 PM · #4 |
| ETA one SB600 high and one lower on the same central axis.. |
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05/28/2008 01:18:33 PM · #5 |
Thanks!
I did forget to mention something important! There's a problem setting up "in front of" the stage. Since it's "A Chorus Line" there's a huge mirror across the entire back of the stage (it's supposed to be in a dance studio). So anything directly in front of the stage will show up in the mirror. I have enough trouble too with the spot lights reflecting in the mirror. When I did the video this weekend, I had to be on the lighting platform, and then on a ladder, with my tripod such that the video camera was still over my head (that works with the video camera but not the SLR).
Since I don't think I can get up high enough in front of them, I'm going to have to shoot from an angle mostly. And I'll have to see if the mirrors are going to cause a problem if I put the lights "in front of the stage". If I keep them relatively low, they may be ok, but putting them up high means they'll have to be off to the side where I'm shooting from.
Also, unfortunately, ISO 1000-3200 on my Nikon is much noisier than any Canon I've owned, and uncomparably much noisier than the Canon 5D!
I wonder how much light I can bounce from a black ceiling :)
But I'll just have to do the best I can. It's not a paid shoot, I'm just a volunteer (my son is in the show).
Message edited by author 2008-05-28 13:29:11. |
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05/28/2008 03:04:33 PM · #6 |
| It's the unpaid jobs (especially with ones own children in the show) that are the most stressful ;-) Good luck. Be creative with the camera angles. Use blur to good effect... enjoy the show. |
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