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03/18/2006 09:09:15 AM · #1 |
I have been asked to take the group photo for a retreat I will attending in May. It will be a photo of approximately 50 ladies taken outside.
I recently purchased my 10D and it came with the Canon 550EX Speedlite flash. I don't own and can't afford to purchase any sort of stand lighting.
My question is: For a group that size, is it even worth it to try and use the Speedlite to illuminate the group a little more evenly? I'll probably be taking the shot with my Tamron 28-80 lens so I estimate being probably 30ft. or so in front of the group? The location of the group shot at that time of day is generally pretty sunny with some high contrasts, unless it's overcast that day. I think the flash would be a good idea, but don't know if it makes a difference from that distance.
I haven't read through the manual yet at all for the flash. If you think I should use it, what settings would you suggest? (I may not understand it now, but I'm going to save the thread and be able to come back to it when I have read up some more on the unit.)
Thanks for addressing my questions!
Judy |
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03/18/2006 09:45:21 AM · #2 |
| I've done this type of group portrait before. With a 28mm lens you should be able to get quite close to the group. The only thing I would say is make sure the flash is high and angled down. Remember your sun light is actually main light the flash is only fill You want the sun behing and to the side of the group. Your in digital format so you be able to check results instantly. Also make sure to make the group an arch tallest in the middle and back then shortest to the sides and front. With 50 people I would suggest 3 rows of people the first row (Back row) 23 people the 2nd row 15 people the 3rd row 12 people you may want the 3rd row sitting. just some suggestions. |
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03/18/2006 11:29:58 PM · #3 |
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03/18/2006 11:40:09 PM · #4 |
| Also check that your DOF is not too shallow otherwise you'll have some at the back out of focus. If not shooting in manual mode then try AV and close it up a bit. Try some different aperture settings and see which gives you the best result. Does the 10D have A-Dep? I've never tried it but that could be worth a couple of shots too perhaps? |
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03/18/2006 11:44:26 PM · #5 |
| Where I use to work they had ppl come in and shoot 3rd and 1st shift together, for the yearly christmas cards way more than 50, but they did around 7:30 in the morning, the sun was not up to high. They put the photographer in bucket so he would be high enough to shoot the whole lot of us. So if you can get higher than the ppl you are shooting may be a plus. |
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03/18/2006 11:50:44 PM · #6 |
I'm not sure what A-Dep is? So I can't tell you if I have it on the 10D.
I'd love to be up higher shooting the photo, but it will be on self timer so I can also be in the photo - making that a bit difficult. :)
My main question is about the flash and if that distance makes it usable at all. |
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03/18/2006 11:51:08 PM · #7 |
Originally posted by Spurs:
Where I use to work they had ppl come in and shoot 3rd and 1st shift together, for the yearly christmas cards way more than 50, but they did around 7:30 in the morning, the sun was not up to high. They put the photographer in bucket so he would be high enough to shoot the whole lot of us. So if you can get higher than the ppl you are shooting may be a plus. |
Yes, a small step ladder is handy to have even! |
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03/18/2006 11:55:09 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by jpochard:
I'm not sure what A-Dep is? So I can't tell you if I have it on the 10D.
I'd love to be up higher shooting the photo, but it will be on self timer so I can also be in the photo - making that a bit difficult. :)
My main question is about the flash and if that distance makes it usable at all. |
I shot a wedding last week with a large bridal party of 20. It was overcast so it gave a nice even lighting but I still used my flash. Whether it made a huge difference or not from where I stood it's hard to tell looking at the photos. I'd say it would hurt to use it. |
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03/22/2006 05:31:46 PM · #9 |
Hey judy how did the shoot go? Never mind. It's not to May.
Message edited by author 2006-03-22 17:32:26. |
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03/22/2006 06:57:58 PM · #10 |
I shot a group of about 70 people. It was for a reunion. I rented some studio lights plus a battery (because the location was not going to have a nearby outlet). Cost was about $75 for the complete kit for one day. Not bad. With 70 people in it, I sold about 35 copies of an 11x14 and made about $700 from a single print (and I don't event charge that much for my prints). So large groups can be fairly profitable.
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03/22/2006 07:07:38 PM · #11 |
Use many reflectors. One of my local wedding photographer uses a piece of cardboard with silver paint sprayed on it as a reflector. It works and he's booked solid.
Sometimes when lighting isn't up to snuff, he brings in a giant flashlight. There one at Costco that is rechargeable, built like a tank and uses a car headlight bulb for output. It was sold pretty inexpensive during Christmas. Should've bought one then.
I believe that Hummer brand (yes, the truck Co.) markets the same exact light, but with the Hummer label for a slightly higher price.
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03/22/2006 07:13:39 PM · #12 |
Take some test shots with the flash - i doubt it'll have enough coverage for a larger group.
about twilight go to the side of a large building (walmart, a school, etc)
20 people 'wide' is about 50 feet, 15 peope is 30 feet - so put some tape on teh wall at 30 and 50 feet apart - not backup until you get that tpe in the viewfinder and take a shot with teh flash - does it light up the tape?
Next issue you can't work around - light falls off over distance, so 3 rows deep is 6 feet or so from front to back - if you are 18 feet in front of them (i'm guessing at that distance) - my math is lacking, but i think the back row gets 1/2 as much light as the front row - i'm sure someone here can correct me on this though (please do!) Regardless of hte amount, you'll have more light on the front row than the back.
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03/22/2006 08:39:06 PM · #13 |
Here's something to try--I did this on a group once I was part of, then asked to take their photo. It was a very large group, and we were indoors at the Musee De Orsay cafeteria. I only had my G2, and I couldn't fit everyone in.
I took a panoramic. It was three or four shots. It came out very good, despite me not being able to really "control the crowd" and get them to hold still.
With the panorama, if you can get them to hold pretty still for 2 or 3 seconds, you will get a very high resolution shot with a lot of face detail of everyone. The key will be the stitch areas.
I wouldn't do this as your only shot, but if you are tripod mounted, you should be able to get a pretty good one. Consider it an experiment. Maybe I'll post mine later.
Hope you do try it--because I want to see how it comes out!
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