DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Shooting a conference
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 15 of 15, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 06/26/2011 07:18:47 AM · #1
Hi,

I was asked to be a photographer at a high key conference. I have not shot an event before. I shoot mostly architecture and nature, so this is going to be very different for me. I am wondering what lenses to take and whether I should take flash(es). I have a lot of different lenses available but I can't take them all as I am flying to the conference and can only take so much with me. What lenses would you recommend? I have anything from 16mm to 800mm available (all Canon). Tripod or not? Any tips you can offer? I think I will be shooting close ups of the speakers as they speak as well as overall shots of the conference.
Thanks for any advance you can offer.
 06/26/2011 07:44:24 AM · #2
scatter gun

list your available lenses?

in your profile?
 06/26/2011 07:55:13 AM · #3
Originally posted by raish:
scatter gun

list your available lenses?

in your profile?


16-35mm f2.8
24-105mm f 4.0
70-200mm f2.8
400mm DO f4.0
800mm f5.6
17mm TS
24mm TS
180mm macro
100mm macro

I think that's it
 06/26/2011 07:59:54 AM · #4
I guess you will be close up next to the stage or podium? What do you expect the light to be like? If it will be like a dark theater with a lit stage and you will be close, it might be similar to the shots I've done for a veterans day "USO show". I shot these in 2009 with a 20D and 18-55 kit lens. Using aperture priority, ISO 1600, F 4.5, I was able to get between 1/20 and 1/30th second exposure. Oh, also used a monopod. With that 5D Mk II and subjects that will probably move less, you shouldn't have any problem at all. I'd say crank up the ISO higher.


If you will be well away from the stage, then use spot metering, otherwise the camera will expose for the dark room and blow out the subject.

Added: If you will be close to the stage, I'd suggest your 16-35 F2.8. If further away, the 70-200 or 24-105, but it depends on the light you'll have. Again, since you have a FF body, I think you'll get great results with any lens, so I would choose based on the needed focal length.

Message edited by author 2011-06-26 08:03:20.
 06/26/2011 08:20:17 AM · #5
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
I guess you will be close up next to the stage or podium? What do you expect the light to be like? If it will be like a dark theater with a lit stage and you will be close, it might be similar to the shots I've done for a veterans day "USO show". I shot these in 2009 with a 20D and 18-55 kit lens. Using aperture priority, ISO 1600, F 4.5, I was able to get between 1/20 and 1/30th second exposure. Oh, also used a monopod. With that 5D Mk II and subjects that will probably move less, you shouldn't have any problem at all. I'd say crank up the ISO higher.


If you will be well away from the stage, then use spot metering, otherwise the camera will expose for the dark room and blow out the subject.

Added: If you will be close to the stage, I'd suggest your 16-35 F2.8. If further away, the 70-200 or 24-105, but it depends on the light you'll have. Again, since you have a FF body, I think you'll get great results with any lens, so I would choose based on the needed focal length.

Thanks Yo_Spiff. I don't think it will be quite as dark as your first shot (BTW these pictures are great). I will have about 3 hrs to check out the conference room before the conference. I usually shoot in Manual mode. I think if I can bump the ISO to 400 and 1/100 for shutter speed, f4.5, spot metering, I should be good, right? Would you do very shallow DOF on extreme close ups? I'll bring the tripod just in case. Do you think I should attempt to use flashes at all or it is unnecessary? Would you do manual focus or auto focus?
From the compositional point of view, if you are shooting a conference, do you do very extreme closeups of the speaker (let's say from the shoulders up?) Or is it always better to include other elements in the room to show what conference it is, or both?
 06/26/2011 08:38:23 AM · #6
I went to a conference recently, and it was being covered by a professional videographer. He had a canon 5D MarkII with a 70-200 f2/8 on a tripod about 15 feet from the speaker. He also had a video camera at the back of the room. He did use some additional lighting (I think it was a light reflecting off a sheet if I can remember).
 06/26/2011 08:41:57 AM · #7
I'd not bother with flashes. You have gear that should enable good shots in the exisiting light, and that will look better than flash. As far as point of view, do a little of everything.
 06/26/2011 08:46:43 AM · #8
Originally posted by cloudsme:
I went to a conference recently, and it was being covered by a professional videographer. He had a canon 5D MarkII with a 70-200 f2/8 on a tripod about 15 feet from the speaker. He also had a video camera at the back of the room. He did use some additional lighting (I think it was a light reflecting off a sheet if I can remember).

Thanks. It helps knowing that others (professionals) are shooting with similar gear
 06/26/2011 08:48:11 AM · #9
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
I'd not bother with flashes. You have gear that should enable good shots in the exisiting light, and that will look better than flash. As far as point of view, do a little of everything.

thanks Spiff. This really helps. I think I will take the 16-35mm, 24-105mm and 70-200mm
 06/26/2011 11:06:34 AM · #10
Originally posted by maggieddd:
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
I'd not bother with flashes. You have gear that should enable good shots in the exisiting light, and that will look better than flash. As far as point of view, do a little of everything.

thanks Spiff. This really helps. I think I will take the 16-35mm, 24-105mm and 70-200mm


looks good - the 24-105 fills the hole but you'll wish it were 2.8 too - grab any chance to try out a shot or two in the lighting conditions before... what am I saying? You know this. Best of luck :)
 06/26/2011 11:18:58 AM · #11
Originally posted by raish:
Originally posted by maggieddd:
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
I'd not bother with flashes. You have gear that should enable good shots in the exisiting light, and that will look better than flash. As far as point of view, do a little of everything.

thanks Spiff. This really helps. I think I will take the 16-35mm, 24-105mm and 70-200mm


looks good - the 24-105 fills the hole but you'll wish it were 2.8 too - grab any chance to try out a shot or two in the lighting conditions before... what am I saying? You know this. Best of luck :)


I can loan 24-70mm f2.8 from Canon, DO you think it would be a better option?
06/26/2011 12:05:31 PM · #12
Originally posted by maggieddd:
Originally posted by raish:
Originally posted by maggieddd:
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
I'd not bother with flashes. You have gear that should enable good shots in the exisiting light, and that will look better than flash. As far as point of view, do a little of everything.

thanks Spiff. This really helps. I think I will take the 16-35mm, 24-105mm and 70-200mm


looks good - the 24-105 fills the hole but you'll wish it were 2.8 too - grab any chance to try out a shot or two in the lighting conditions before... what am I saying? You know this. Best of luck :)


I can loan 24-70mm f2.8 from Canon, DO you think it would be a better option?


Yes I do.

Hastily edited to add that it may not be more than a marginal benefit, but 2.8 across the board for indoor shooting speaks to me.

Message edited by author 2011-06-26 13:07:44.
 06/26/2011 01:32:07 PM · #13
Originally posted by raish:
Originally posted by maggieddd:
Originally posted by raish:
Originally posted by maggieddd:
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
I'd not bother with flashes. You have gear that should enable good shots in the exisiting light, and that will look better than flash. As far as point of view, do a little of everything.

thanks Spiff. This really helps. I think I will take the 16-35mm, 24-105mm and 70-200mm


looks good - the 24-105 fills the hole but you'll wish it were 2.8 too - grab any chance to try out a shot or two in the lighting conditions before... what am I saying? You know this. Best of luck :)


I can loan 24-70mm f2.8 from Canon, DO you think it would be a better option?


Yes I do.

Hastily edited to add that it may not be more than a marginal benefit, but 2.8 across the board for indoor shooting speaks to me.

I will take both and the day before when I have time to check out the room I will decide which one to actually take to the conference and which one to leave in the hotel room. THANKS
06/26/2011 02:04:12 PM · #14
I've shot casually at several conferences, and I usually find that I need a 70-200 when shooting speakers in the actual sessions, whereas a WA such as a 24-70 is more valuable when shooting events associated with the conference. Lights may also be dimmed while talks are going on, which imposes another potential problem. Some venues have low enough ceilings that flash may be bounced off them, others have very high ceilings and bouncing flash is pretty much impossible. Direct flash almost always yields ugly results, even with a modifier on the flash. You're just too far away for the modifier to really have the desired effect of enlarging the light source.
I looked back at a couple of the shoots I've done, and I was typically seeing shutter speeds of 1/100s @ f/4, ISO 800 to 1000. That's not really a lot of light, but it's not bad either. If they dim the lights, you will face a near-impossible situation. Talk to the organizers, see how they normally operate, and what can be worked out to ensure you get good material. I've seen "profesional" photogs hired to shoot conferences, and watched their methods and seen some of the results, and I must say I have not been impressed. I have seen more than one of them resort to direct flash, with god-awful results.
 06/27/2011 06:48:12 AM · #15
Originally posted by kirbic:
I've shot casually at several conferences, and I usually find that I need a 70-200 when shooting speakers in the actual sessions, whereas a WA such as a 24-70 is more valuable when shooting events associated with the conference. Lights may also be dimmed while talks are going on, which imposes another potential problem. Some venues have low enough ceilings that flash may be bounced off them, others have very high ceilings and bouncing flash is pretty much impossible. Direct flash almost always yields ugly results, even with a modifier on the flash. You're just too far away for the modifier to really have the desired effect of enlarging the light source.
I looked back at a couple of the shoots I've done, and I was typically seeing shutter speeds of 1/100s @ f/4, ISO 800 to 1000. That's not really a lot of light, but it's not bad either. If they dim the lights, you will face a near-impossible situation. Talk to the organizers, see how they normally operate, and what can be worked out to ensure you get good material. I've seen "profesional" photogs hired to shoot conferences, and watched their methods and seen some of the results, and I must say I have not been impressed. I have seen more than one of them resort to direct flash, with god-awful results.

Thanks, kirbic!
I will try to stay away from flash

Message edited by author 2011-06-27 07:11:28.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 04/24/2024 01:30:48 PM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/24/2024 01:30:48 PM EDT.