Need some QUICK help - DPChallenge Forums

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

06/04/2010 10:15:53 PM · #1

Ok so a friend of a friend is getting married tomorrow and her photographer just called her about 3 hours ago and canceled on her.... shes freaking out and very upset (I would be too) I said Id show up and do my best. Its been a VERY long time (like I used film) since I did a wedding of this size. I have a backup body (my friend has a canon just like mine) and ill have several CF cards.

My question is about filters... the wedding is at 4 pm (brightest part of our day) outdoors.

Do I want to use my UV filter? I have a silky soft filter?
Im pretty sure I dont want to use the polarizer (no water around) and then I have this neurtal density filter (no idea what it is for)

Also any tips that can make me or break me!

She knows that I not top notch pro but its better then nothing and I am pretty sure I can at least get the basics without screwing up to bad!

Thanks!
Carrie

vawendy

Sony Alpha 1

06/04/2010 10:22:59 PM · #2

A polarizer can help -- it actually takes down the reflections off of leaves, etc. Bring it along, and before you take pictures, experiment and see if it makes a difference. If not, skip it.

Highly recommend fill flash if you have harsh outdoor lighting.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

06/04/2010 10:29:52 PM · #3

You may also want to consider shooting in RAW for critical shots just for the extra room in case highlights are blown. Black tuxedo and a white dress are sometimes difficult to meter in perfectly. Just remember, more people care about the bride than the groom and a lot of thought goes into the detail of the dress. Expose for the dress and the detail. You can always recover shadows (to a point), especially with RAW shots, but a blown dress is gone forever.

Message edited by author 2010-06-04 22:38:03.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

06/04/2010 10:36:24 PM · #4

Don't shoot into the sun, it will give you blown highlights and backlit shadowy subjects.

Shoot in RAW, it pulls in more tonal data so you can recover details in bad lighting.

Use a long focal length and modest aperture in order to blur a busy background lit with midday sun. Like this:

F5.6, 250mm

06/04/2010 10:37:21 PM · #5

What type of neutral density filter? Is it graduated, split, or solid?

ND filters offer flexibility in your metering. For example, lets say you want to take a photo of a beach, but the sun is right in the background? Well, you can't expose both. So you can use a split ND filter to block out some light (measured in stops) from the sun.

Here is another example. Its a bright sunny day and you want to take a photo of a waterfall. You want to blur the motion of the water, so you set up your trusty tripod and compose the shot. Then, you set to ISO 100 (lowest possible), and your aperture, lets say f/8. You need to expose for 1" or more. Guess what? You will completely over expose because there is too much light. So, if you pop in a ND filter, a few stops for example, you'll be able to take the 1" photo.

06/04/2010 10:40:30 PM · #6

I checked the weather for your area and you should pray it is partly cloudy, it will make it easier. Not much time to prepare! The fill flash is a great suggestion. If you are familiar with the histogram check it often as the light changes. It will give you the information to change your exposure.

Good Luck!!!

06/04/2010 10:41:20 PM · #7

Originally posted by PGerst:

all i know is it says neutral density 4x

06/04/2010 10:42:16 PM · #8

Originally posted by kawesttex:

I dont have a fill flash :( I already told her this. Shes just glad that I am going to show up. Poor girl.

06/04/2010 10:43:36 PM · #9

Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:

So which setting would you recommend I shoot in A-Dep M AV TV P Auto (which is what ive been using the most just to get used to the camera feel)(i know i shouldnt use portrait landscape etc)

06/04/2010 10:44:05 PM · #10

Originally posted by vawendy:

Im taking everything!! LOL

06/04/2010 10:45:56 PM · #11

You may be able to use the on camera flash (shuttering when I say that) to help fill in. I'm not sure how since its been years since I've used it. I don't even remember how it pops up.

06/04/2010 10:46:38 PM · #12

Don't forget to take photos like these:

06/04/2010 10:47:09 PM · #13

Originally posted by PGerst:

You may be able to use the on camera flash (shuttering when I say that) to help fill in. I'm not sure how since its been years since I've used it. I don't even remember how it pops up.

It was next on my purchase list. lol just hadnt gotten enough $$ saved up yet.

06/04/2010 10:48:27 PM · #14

Originally posted by PGerst:

Don't forget to take photos like these:

Yeah those Im good with ( I did my own prewedding photos in Oct for my wedding... and since I just got married I know all the photos cause I spent HOURS and HOURS going thru mine and fixing them -- my photographer SUCKED!!!!!!!!

06/04/2010 10:51:48 PM · #15

NOT Tv. That is your shutter priority. Go back to one of the emails I sent you about the different f/stops and shutter speeds and what they are used for.

M or Av are your best bet....IF you are comfortable with them.

M is full manual, you set the aperture (remember this is what you use for isolation, story-telling, and who-cares types modes) then you set the shutter to compensate the way you feel.

Av is aperture priority. YOU set the aperture and the camera automatically sets the shutter speed. You have the option of exposure compensation -1,0,+1 etc.

Either takes practice. Whether you are in M, Av, or Auto, how you have your camera set up to METER will make or break your shot. Spot metering, vs, 9%, versus center weighed, versus full frame average, can really change things. I suggest you set the metering mode as small as possible and move it around the image so you can mentally figure the best compensation. But, as I said, it takes practice.

Originally posted by JustCaree:

So which setting would you recommend I shoot in A-Dep M AV TV P Auto (which is what ive been using the most just to get used to the camera feel)(i know i shouldnt use portrait landscape etc)

06/04/2010 10:55:11 PM · #16

Originally posted by PGerst:

Ok I have been using the AV alot it was the first setting that Im trying to master so I think ill flip between that and auto auto for the random and av for the posed..... now run that meter stuff by me again?!?!@?!

06/04/2010 10:55:23 PM · #17

Originally posted by JustCaree:

Originally posted by kawesttex:
I checked the weather for your area and you should pray it is partly cloudy, it will make it easier. Not much time to prepare! The fill flash is a great suggestion. If you are familiar with the histogram check it often as the light changes. It will give you the information to change your exposure.

Good Luck!!!

I dont have a fill flash :( I already told her this. Shes just glad that I am going to show up. Poor girl.

Try setting the camera to Tv, shutter 1/200, ISO 100, pop up the flash and shoot one. This should be a good starting place, will post a similar situation in a minute after I do quick resize.

06/04/2010 10:56:32 PM · #18

Originally posted by PGerst:

NOT Tv. That is your shutter priority. Go back to one of the emails I sent you about the different f/stops and shutter speeds and what they are used for.

I have every email/ PM/ or comment that offered extremely helpful advised saved to a folder :) me a smart girl who really wants to learn!

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

06/04/2010 10:59:49 PM · #19

Another thought, for metering, if it is very sunny, and you have a lot of blue sky, meter off the blue sky. You'll be within a stop of where you need to be.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

06/04/2010 11:04:04 PM · #20

Originally posted by JustCaree:

So which setting would you recommend I shoot in A-Dep M AV TV P Auto (which is what ive been using the most just to get used to the camera feel)(i know i shouldnt use portrait landscape etc)

I use AV mode. I used f5.6 because it was the widest aperture I could get at that long focal length on my 55-250 lens.

06/04/2010 11:04:07 PM · #21

Here is one that has only had USM, resize, USM and save.

This is with fill flash at the settings that I mentioned earlier.

06/04/2010 11:06:10 PM · #22

Carrie,

Do notice what I meant about the details in the dress versus the tux. This exemplifies it perfectly.

06/04/2010 11:11:41 PM · #23

Originally posted by PGerst:

Carrie,

Do notice what I meant about the details in the dress versus the tux. This exemplifies it perfectly.

Yup, she has alot of time to take your lessons. I just gave a quick grab to give her some basic settings that will get her started, are you just giving advice on what to avoid or specific shots with settings.

Hijack over!

Hope what I provided will give you a starting point for the lighting conditions you have to deal with.
Good Luck!!

06/04/2010 11:13:13 PM · #24

Originally posted by PGerst:

Carrie,

Do notice what I meant about the details in the dress versus the tux. This exemplifies it perfectly.

To me the dress doesnt show the detail... is that what im supposed to be seeing?>