Dim Restaurant lighting - DPChallenge Forums

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

02/26/2005 09:21:45 PM · #1

Need some advice.

I have a job taking pix at a restaurant event that's doing a wine pairing menu. Some wine and food press will be there and I need to do a number of different shots. Mainly people but the food and bottles will of course come into play.

I'm usuing a D70 with only the built in flash but hope not to use it, if possible and they keep the light fairly dim in the place.

Above is a photo that I took there a month ago. Is this acceptable? Is it too yellow? Will the internal flash on the D70 be too harsh and can I get a subtle effect with the fine tuning? What fine tunings might you suggest?

Thanx in advance

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

02/26/2005 09:27:06 PM · #2

If you want to show the ambiance, avoid flash. At most, use it for fill, and very consevatively.
Because the light in there is so red, any flash at all will look very blue by comparison. It will be difficult to make it look natural.
Use a very fast lens (f/1.8 minimum) and shoot at f/2. A shorter focal length would be good, like 35mm. that will keep the DoF reasonable.
Shoot RAW and adjust temperature in conversion, that will give best results with the light you have available.
Last, see if the restaurant will increase the lighting a bit for this event.

edit:
Get some practice ahead of time in the same or similar lighting conditions. The DoF will be narrow, focusing will be critical.

Message edited by author 2005-02-26 21:28:28.

MichaelC

Sony Alpha a7R III

Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 DG DN Contemporary

02/26/2005 09:33:43 PM · #3

Let me begin by saying I am not an expert, but I have been thru this exact scenario.

When I first got my D70 I was asked to take some restaurant shots and even with a large amount of daylight filtering in and the lights turned up, they were only so-so. In the beginning I also did not want to use flash and thought with enough tweaking I would get by.

Since then I have invested in a SB600 and some whiteboard and the difference is astounding. While I still don't use the SB600 on camera there is no substitute for good lighting. I know its not always feasible to use a flash, but even in bright daylight when used right it gives an image much more depth & clarity.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

02/26/2005 09:49:09 PM · #4

Since I bough this camera in January I've been hemmoraging money and I'm reluctant to drop more cash down to buy a speedlight even though this could be important. I'm sure I'll get some nice shots and the owner of the restaurant said that he would turn up the lights for me which will help.

I have Nikkor 50mm 1.8 which might do the trick with the kits lense. I tried a test shot in my apartment with reasonably similar lighting. I think I'll need a larger DOF than what Kirbic suggested maybe f4 since groups will be lines up at tables on at all sorts of angles. With the onboard flash and a shutter speed of 40-60 it looks like I won't have much trouble.

What settings in the flash mode will give might give me a mellow tone?

Message edited by author 2005-02-26 21:50:21.

saiphfire

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/26/2005 10:07:20 PM · #5

Hi. With regards to the yellow tint, there's a very useful photoshop elements (I haven't used real photoshop, but I assume it's similar) option to "remove color cast." You select the option and click on anything that is supposed to be pure black or pure white and it fixes any overall tinge given by the lighting, etc. It is probably my favorite ps autofix. I use it on almost every picture I take because even if it doesn't look to me like there is a color cast in the picture, often when I click on something white I find out there was and my brain just wasn't noticing (and you can always undo if you don't like the new version).

Spork99

OM System OM-1

02/26/2005 10:29:14 PM · #6

If you use flash and then try to remove the yellow form the ambient light areas, you will only succeed in making the flash illuminated areas blue.

You need to balance the light between the 2 sources either by making the flash warmer to match the ambient tungsten lighting, or making the room lights more blue to match the flash. The former is much easier than the latter.

You should also "drag the shutter". If you don't know what that is, remember, Google is your friend.

02/26/2005 10:41:57 PM · #7

Dragging the shutter is a great idea but I'm deathly scared of shake etc.

I've taken too many photo's in the past that I thought were great and came out blurred....this ain't an option and I don't know if a tripod is an option though I will bring one.