Urgent Help & Advice

[jonwright]

June 17, 2011 at 9:34 am

Hi all need some of your expertise and advice! Been asked to do photo shoot of gig tonight in a small venue,but doesn’t look like i’ll be allowed to use flash.The band will be roughly 40feet away from me and was hoping to get some decent close up shots,but have to stay this distance away!
I’ve my 500d and the following lenses,need some advice and what I should use,
thanks for any help
Jon
lense are
Canon 18-55mm EFS .25m/0.8ft
Sigma 70-300mm 1:4-5.6
Canon 75-300mm 1:4-5.6
Sigma 24-70mm 1:2.8 EXDG
Canon 50mm .45/1.5ft 1.8

[fordem]

June 17, 2011 at 9:47 am

Hi Jonwright
I would start with the performers or the organisers who have asked you to do the photo-shoot, you should be given access to all areas to get the photo’s that they require. I cant understand how you would be 40ft away from the stage in a ‘small’ venue. Any way best of luck …

[brendancullen]

June 17, 2011 at 9:49 am

Hi Jon – the Sigma 24-70mm 1:2.8 EXDG is your only option from your gear list – and the task in hand in my opinion.

Manual mode f/2.8 and start at say 1/60.
Start with ISO400 – and see what the shots are like.
Take in RAW which should give 1 stop of light recovery. Big files though.

You may have to go really high with the ISO in order to get a good exposure – and you may have to increase the shutter speed to freeze the action if the band are moving a lot….but try wait till members/singer are fairly stationary. Only adjust these two variables.

A slower shutter speed (1/40, or 1/30) may be used creatively – and will of course let more light in.

All this will change if there is good stage lighting….so you can’t have the same setting all the time.

Focusing will also be very tricky in low-light – so manual focus must be considered.

A noisy image is better than a black one.

Hope this helps.

bren

[jonwright]

June 17, 2011 at 9:56 am

thanks for the great advice lads really do appreciate it.Reason I have to be 40ft away is they want me to take shots from the back of the room,mad but true,
thanks again
Jon

[markclehane]

June 17, 2011 at 1:16 pm

Reason I have to be 40ft away is they want me to take shots from the back of the room

Not trying to being smart here but you don’t tell them how to play music so they shouldn’t tell you how to take photos. Would you not assert yourself and convince them you’ll get better results by choosing how you compose images yourself. Unless it’s tiered seating or you have a high vantage point, surely you’ll have loads of heads in the frame? If they want some shots from 40ft away, by all means give them some but you know you’ll get better shots up close.
Best of luck with it anyway :wink:

[jonwright]

June 17, 2011 at 1:23 pm

Hi mark thanks for that,I’ll try what you said,have to interview band first so tell them then,to be honest it was the venue owner giving out i’d be in peoples way!the joys
Thanks Jon