| Author | Thread |
|
|
06/11/2014 08:44:54 PM · #1 |
| I need to take a picture of a group of seated people, probably no more than 150 people. The meeting hall has fairly low ceilings with fluorescent lighting that has the large grids to direct the light downward. I have my 2 500w strobes for fill. i am wondering where I should roughly place them (thinking 45 on either side facing them?) and also what would be better, using the 4" metal reflectors or bouncing them off the umbrellas? |
|
|
|
06/11/2014 08:48:39 PM · #2 |
| You might try bouncing the stobes off a back wall. It'll diffuse the light with wider coverage and less shadow than the umbrellas. |
|
|
|
06/11/2014 09:49:27 PM · #3 |
| If your subjects are in the seats of the meeting hall, I have had some luck getting up on a ladder and turning all the stage lighting out at the audience. It is important to remember those lights get HOT. So have some help on the lighting board/circuit panel and have them pop the lights on to check the balance for the shortest possible time. Another trick is to have a 3 foot circle behind you and tell the audience if they cant see all of the circle then the camera can't see all of their face, There will still be some people who hide behind others, but it reduces their numbers. |
|
|
|
06/11/2014 09:51:07 PM · #4 |
thassa lotta people :D
is it an auditorium? how many people per row? how many rows deep? how high are you going to be able to get?
are you planning on shooting it with a wide angle lens or a tele-photo zoom or a prime?
are you getting paid enough to rent the lights you don't have, or can you borrow some from a friend?
what is going to be done with the image? is it going to be printed? if so, how large and on what? is it just for web?
is it important that everyone in the photo be able to recognize themselves?
if it's not that important, then don't sweat it. whatever you do will probably be just fine.
if it matters (like a large print being made as a gift for someone important), then you'll want a nice, sharp lens that doesn't distort on the edges (like a WA will), and you'll want enough clean light to be able to see everyone and what they're wearing.
good luck, have fun, and don't fall off the ladder ;-) |
|
|
|
06/12/2014 01:42:50 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by Skip:
thassa lotta people :D
is it an auditorium? It's a JW Kingdom Hall if that helps you how many people per row? Center section has 9, 5 seat rows on either side how many rows deep? Good Question, I wanna say 15 how high are you going to be able to get? I have a tripod that can get to 7 feet but I'll also be shooting from the stage, about 1 1/2 to 2 feet high
are you planning on shooting it with a wide angle lens or a tele-photo zoom or a prime? 17-40L
are you getting paid enough to rent the lights you don't have, or can you borrow some from a friend? No pay and No
what is going to be done with the image? Prob be a 6x4 max for a gift bag is it going to be printed? yes if so, how large and on what? See earlier is it just for web?
is it important that everyone in the photo be able to recognize themselves? Not really, it's going for a group of South Korean delegates we've never met and like will never see again
if it's not that important, then don't sweat it. whatever you do will probably be just fine. That's kinda what I'm starting to think :)
if it matters (like a large print being made as a gift for someone important), then you'll want a nice, sharp lens that doesn't distort on the edges (like a WA will), and you'll want enough clean light to be able to see everyone and what they're wearing.
good luck, have fun, and don't fall off the ladder ;-) |
|
|
|
|
06/12/2014 01:44:10 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by scalvert:
You might try bouncing the stobes off a back wall. It'll diffuse the light with wider coverage and less shadow than the umbrellas. |
Thanks Shannon, sage green walls tho, didn't get much bounce, I did a test tonight with umbrellas that looked decent, plus there are glass brick windows along one side and it will be shot about 1:30 pm |
|
|
|
06/12/2014 01:52:11 AM · #7 |
I recall a blog entry on this topic by David Hobby. It was one of his "On Assignment" series. I will try to find it and post it here.
ETA: here it is //strobist.blogspot.com/2013/07/qa-lighting-1300-person-group-shot.html
ETA2: Here is another one: //strobist.blogspot.com/2009/10/qna-big-group-in-big-dark-room.html
ETA3: And the actual "On Assignment" article: //strobist.blogspot.com/2007/05/on-assignment-two-speedlight-group-shot.html
Message edited by author 2014-06-12 04:33:42. |
|
|
|
06/12/2014 12:22:05 PM · #8 |
| Great info, Damjan, thanks a lot! |
|
|
|
06/12/2014 12:53:37 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by smardaz:
Thanks Shannon, sage green walls tho, didn't get much bounce |
Ewww. In that case, try a flash grenade. You'll only get one shot, but the expressions will be priceless. |
|
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 07/23/2025 10:00:39 PM EDT.
