Author Topic: Shows (Read 2205 times)

Russell · **on:** July 11, 2006, 14:38:08 PM

Shows

on: July 11, 2006, 14:38:08 PM

Tonight & tommorrow the school I work for is doing a tribute show to Michael Jackson and Im taking photographs both nights. Theyve done shows in the past (Queen & Abba tributes & Oliver) and Ive taken photographs at the shows theyve done in the past. The two nights should get me about Ã‚Â£120 before tax for the chance to play with cameras, yes please

The schools got a Nikon D2H with two lenses, a 24-120mm f3.5-5.6 and a 70-300mm f4-5.6 and two 2GB CF cards. The D2H is great for this sort of thing, its only 4MP but it can shoot up to 8fps. I usually end up shooting quite a few photos over the two nights and some come out quite well but they could do with buying a better low light lense.

Im taking my own camera as well, a Nikon D50 with a 18-55 f3.5-5.6 but because it only shoots at 2.5fps Im only using that for backstage photos.

Because it involves kids I cant post any photos, but I was just wondering if anyones done something similar before?

Serious · **Reply #1 on:** July 11, 2006, 15:04:06 PM

Re:Shows

Reply #1 on: July 11, 2006, 15:04:06 PM

Yes, a long time ago though and it was using a film camera. Try upping the ISO on the camera if there is an option. To be honest in most instances 2.5fps is adequare unless something spectacular happens.

Some schools have problems with parents taking photos of their own kids during these sort of things.

Russell · **Reply #2 on:** July 11, 2006, 15:23:40 PM

Shows

Reply #2 on: July 11, 2006, 15:23:40 PM

Yeah theres an option to set the ISO manually, in the past cause I havent know exactly what Im doing Ive left it on auto but this time Im going to play around a bit more. Having the two nights is a great way to play around with settings and seeing what happens, then if you miss something or mess something up youve got the 2nd night to get it right.

At the end of the Abba tribute, the entire cast was on stage singing one last song and some pyrotechnics went off. The D2H has a 40 shot buffer when shooting at 8fps, and the very last frame in the buffer caught the sparks just as they reached their peak. I was somewhat lucky but it was a great picture.

Am sure we sent out a letter a while ago asking for parents permission to use photos for bit and pieces so that should be alright.

Serious · **Reply #3 on:** July 11, 2006, 17:26:03 PM

Re:Shows

Reply #3 on: July 11, 2006, 17:26:03 PM

If they do a practice run beforehand get in and do the trial photos then. If not take a lappy with you and download the photos during the intermission so you know what has worked and what hasnt. Excessive ISO levels can cause noise.

Alien8 · **Reply #4 on:** July 11, 2006, 22:24:03 PM

Re:Shows

Reply #4 on: July 11, 2006, 22:24:03 PM

I did one for a local music school, but I hit the wall of limitations on my Fz30 real fast, as mine only goes to 400iso and even using a tripod the shutter speed was low at f2.8.

the higher iso the better, 1600 or 3200 iso prob best suited depending on lights, but higher you go the more chance of noise, again the fz30 hit the wall hard at 400iso.

f you can dont use the flash not only will it be of almost no use from the back of the audience, but it can relay throw a performer off, especially if from the bottom of the stage

take your charger or spare batts I just made it and that included a quick charge in the intermission

for composition realy tight or quite wide i felt worked best as wider gives a feel of what it is and realy tight gives the portraight with out a busy backround (stage hand, guitar headstock, drummers arm etc)

oh and wear dark clothingmaybe a dark cap and try to stay out of the performers sight, keep low if near the front of the stage, and if you need to use the lcd screen to check a pic get right out of the performer and crowds view as a sudden iluminated face in the dark is realy off putting, for both

Clock'd 0Ne · **Reply #5 on:** July 11, 2006, 22:38:38 PM

Re:Shows

Reply #5 on: July 11, 2006, 22:38:38 PM

A professional photographer I met at a gig told me that on cameras with a flash either have it turned off or if you cant then blank it over partially with your hand as it achieves much better results.

brummie · **Reply #6 on:** July 11, 2006, 23:11:29 PM

Re:Shows

Reply #6 on: July 11, 2006, 23:11:29 PM

When i shot my daughter nativity at christmas i had problems with the light.

I set up the camera to allow a fixed light and let the camera control the shutter.

So i had Apature Mode, ISO 400, max apature and let the cam control the shutter speed. 95% came out ok. i was way at back too to had to use the higher apature tele lens.
Wouldnt wrry too much about getting some a bit under exposed as they can be adjusted later. Keep a check on your histogrames if you have them.

ERU · **Reply #7 on:** July 11, 2006, 23:15:05 PM

Re:Shows

Reply #7 on: July 11, 2006, 23:15:05 PM

We have a consent form sent out in out in my school that gives permission for photos, film and media in those 3 cats as 3 tick boxes. After that its no problem to my knowledge. That said i would have to ask a parent to put a video camera away if i saw someone filming a play.

brummie · **Reply #8 on:** July 11, 2006, 23:20:01 PM

Re:Shows

Reply #8 on: July 11, 2006, 23:20:01 PM

Quote from: ERU

We have a consent form sent out in out in my school that gives permission for photos, film and media in those 3 cats as 3 tick boxes. After that its no problem to my knowledge. That said i would have to ask a parent to put a video camera away if i saw someone filming a play.

parents not allowed to video the kids play?

ERU · **Reply #9 on:** July 11, 2006, 23:53:45 PM

Re:Shows

Reply #9 on: July 11, 2006, 23:53:45 PM

Quote from: brummie

Quote from: ERU
We have a consent form sent out in out in my school that gives permission for photos, film and media in those 3 cats as 3 tick boxes. After that its no problem to my knowledge. That said i would have to ask a parent to put a video camera away if i saw someone filming a play.

parents not allowed to video the kids play?

TBH im not not sure but i have waded in and stopped it in the past. I work in a special needs school so i guess you can understand that some of the parents are a little dodgy too. Mainstream tends to have blanket rules whilst i use judgement.

brummie · **Reply #10 on:** July 12, 2006, 08:23:17 AM

Re:Shows

Reply #10 on: July 12, 2006, 08:23:17 AM

Quote from: ERU

Quote from: brummie
Quote from: ERU
We have a consent form sent out in out in my school that gives permission for photos, film and media in those 3 cats as 3 tick boxes. After that its no problem to my knowledge. That said i would have to ask a parent to put a video camera away if i saw someone filming a play.

parents not allowed to video the kids play?
TBH im not not sure but i have waded in and stopped it in the past. I work in a special needs school so i guess you can understand that some of the parents are a little dodgy too. Mainstream tends to have blanket rules whilst i use judgement.

I went to a play group session with my daughter the other week (with other parents aswell). Everyone pulled out their camera phone and point & shoots to take their photos. It was nice and sunny, kids were playing great so was a good time for some photos. I got my DSLR out and was made to wait till the staff asked everyones permission to take any photos. I had to bite my tongue else id let rip with abuse. If they had said no my daughter would have been outta there faster than a flash of lightening. Thats what you get when you put women in charge.

Russell · **Reply #11 on:** July 12, 2006, 08:45:16 AM

Shows

Reply #11 on: July 12, 2006, 08:45:16 AM

Well last night went alright, I havent checked any of the photos yet but I will do sometime today. Just used the 70-300 lense, tonight Ill probably find a spot closer to the front of the stage and use the 24-120.

I did play around with the ISO a little, but mainly left it on auto as it was generally using an ISO of 1600. I did try setting it manually up to whats called HI-1 & HI-2 on the camera. Which if I remember right the ISO goes up to about 3200 or 6400. On the lcd they did look very grainy.

No flash on a D2H, last night I was right at the back of the hall so even if I did theres no way it would have much affect on the photos.

I had it set to Shutter priority mode, I cant have long apatures because with them doing lots of dancing it just ends up as a blur, even when theres just one person singing on stage they are moving about a little.

Only got the one battery, but it lasts ages, heck Id be surpised if I had to charge it at all over the two nights, I will just in case. I think last night I took 500 ish photos and its only gone down one bar on the meter.

Backgrounds a bit of a pain as its not always clear or theres that many people on stage you cant single out one person easily. Photoshop should come in handy lol.

Thanks for the info though guys.

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Author Topic: Shows (Read 2205 times)