Shot my first event - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

06/16/2009 11:05:16 PM · #1

So a friend talked

Becky-Lee and I into volunteering to shoot the Selkirk Waterfront Festival, a community family thing. We had fun but I learned that I realllllly need to buy a flash before I do something like this again! Bright sunshine and folks under canopies, often coloured, do not make for easy shots without.

If anyone would care to take a quick flip through a few of the shots and add any other suggestions it would be much appreciated :)

Selkirk Festival

Besides the posted I did remember to get lots of general crowd shots, exibitor's and sponser's booths, that kind of thing they always want. I've sent off the shots but haven't heard back, so hopefully she's satisfied.

Oh, and please let me know if colours are weird. I'm still not sure if my monitor's near to properly calibrated. And yes, I know some of the shots have a red cast. I tried hard to get rid of it and got it greatly minimised, but the main sponsor, Tim Horton's, provided brilliant red canopies. Sigh... what's wrong with white??

Thanks in advance for anything you can give me :)

thegrandwazoo

Nikon D750

06/16/2009 11:15:51 PM · #2

Nice work! It looks like it was a fun day!

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

06/16/2009 11:21:56 PM · #3

Thanks so much, Erick. Now I'm doubly glad you showed up when you did ;)

Oh, and I did dodge that little guy. I also hate baseball caps! He was soooo dark under there that I was afraid to try bringing it up any more, but maybe I'll have another go. :)

thegrandwazoo

Nikon D750

06/16/2009 11:27:08 PM · #4

Cool just push it until you have gone to far and then back off a bit. :-)

MattO

Nikon D4

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

06/16/2009 11:46:39 PM · #5

My suggestions for improving your shots overall. Change your angle when shooting kids photos get down on their level, do get a flash to pop a bit of light under the tents and the hats. I'm not a fan of the back of the head, back of the person shots. Overall I'd say you did pretty good, some of them are and please don't get offended but snap shotty. vary things up, get creative I know you can be I've seen your work. Gets some shallow DOF, gets some deep DOF, get some wide angle close up, lay down on the ground to shoot that kid sitting on the ground eating some ice cream or whatever.

Matt

06/17/2009 12:16:04 AM · #6

Thanks, Matt, and I'm not offended at all. One of the things I mentioned to Becky afterwards was that I need to get over my self-consciousness enough to be able to get on the ground or into the middle of things for the more interesting shot. Practice should help with that, right?

Another thing I learned was it's probably better to break myself in with events that I've actually been to before. I was so focussed on making sure I got a bit of everything, since the entertainment/play area was separate from the stalls/food area, and making sure my helper got the releases for the kids that I wasn't taking the time to get the best shot rather than just A shot.

06/17/2009 12:21:13 PM · #7

One single daytime bump to hopefully find a few bored folks :)

Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM

06/17/2009 05:28:20 PM · #8

Okay, I lied.

Steef

Canon EOS-40D

06/17/2009 05:38:22 PM · #9

i took a peek last night but didn't have a chance to post. i'm particularly fond of these two:

nice job :)

Kelli

Canon EOS-D60

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

06/17/2009 06:02:42 PM · #10

Nice job! You got some really cute kid shots!