First go in public with 70-300mm
Discussion
As I mentioned in the 'Kit Help' thread I had a 'do' to go to at the local school to get some pictures for the head to use around the school.
Ordered a new lens and a flash which, due to a mix up with delivery, I received 5mins AFTER I was supposed to be at the school
I'm not particularly pleased with the images, the lighting was pretty bad and they didn't want me using the flash
So, long shutter speed isn't really brilliant for taking pictures of people who are always moving, I stuck the ISO right up to 1600 to try and brighten it all up a bit which meant I could use a slightly quicker shutter speed.
Anyway, here's what I came back with - on arrival she told me she was only after 'happy snaps' which was ok, but I'm still a bit 'off' with the pics
(they wouldn't turn the other 2 strips of lights on)
I've adjusted the brightness/contrast in photoshop to try and make them look a little better but I don't think it's really helped
Oh well, all in good practice
Graham
>>> Edited by Graham.J on Friday 28th January 14:08
Ordered a new lens and a flash which, due to a mix up with delivery, I received 5mins AFTER I was supposed to be at the school
I'm not particularly pleased with the images, the lighting was pretty bad and they didn't want me using the flash
So, long shutter speed isn't really brilliant for taking pictures of people who are always moving, I stuck the ISO right up to 1600 to try and brighten it all up a bit which meant I could use a slightly quicker shutter speed.
Anyway, here's what I came back with - on arrival she told me she was only after 'happy snaps' which was ok, but I'm still a bit 'off' with the pics
(they wouldn't turn the other 2 strips of lights on)
I've adjusted the brightness/contrast in photoshop to try and make them look a little better but I don't think it's really helped
Oh well, all in good practice
Graham
>>> Edited by Graham.J on Friday 28th January 14:08
Totally agree, that 2nd shot, the chap was standing under the section of the hall that had NO lights on, it's been lightened up in photoshop a lot too.
Picture 4 was everyone crowded round watching them cut the cake, I just managed to squeeze a hole in and take a shot.
The pic of the girl was again, where the lights weren't on, didn't realise the background til after.
The glasses were me just playing with the lens really does nothing for me either
Picture 4 was everyone crowded round watching them cut the cake, I just managed to squeeze a hole in and take a shot.
The pic of the girl was again, where the lights weren't on, didn't realise the background til after.
The glasses were me just playing with the lens really
does nothing for me either Does the D70 have an 'H' ISO setting? On some Canon's it's about 3200ISO but not very accurate and basically all bets are off for metering/focusing. It can produce a fantastic amount of noise but with the massive improvements in software good shots can be extracted.
I think you did ok! You can see why I said about taking lots of shots now. I'm a firm believer that in these situations, take enough shots and you're going to get some keepers.
I think you did ok! You can see why I said about taking lots of shots now. I'm a firm believer that in these situations, take enough shots and you're going to get some keepers.
ThatPhilBrettGuy said:
Does the D70 have an 'H' ISO setting? On some Canon's it's about 3200ISO but not very accurate and basically all bets are off for metering/focusing.
Sounds like 'emergency boost' in Merlin terminology!
The max ISO is 1600, but I suppose you could take the underexposure and boost in PS or similar. It's amazing how much detail you can get out of shadows.
I think you did an overall good job as well Graham, given what you had to work with.
Also i am presuming this is the first time you have been THE MAN with the camera at an event. Gawd that must have been quite daunting, hmm...and exciting.
Have to agree that no.2 is the best with that girl laughing. I can imagine that it's very difficult to capture a 'sense of occasion' but i think you did well
Also i am presuming this is the first time you have been THE MAN with the camera at an event. Gawd that must have been quite daunting, hmm...and exciting.
Have to agree that no.2 is the best with that girl laughing. I can imagine that it's very difficult to capture a 'sense of occasion' but i think you did well
bilko2 said:
Also i am presuming this is the first time you have been THE MAN with the camera at an event. Gawd that must have been quite daunting, hmm...and exciting.
It was quite surreal and daunting actually, I'm 6'3" so I'm not really inconspicuous, for a while I had a lot of people staring at me. Which felt quite unnerving. Also I was told to try and get shots of every table, I felt odd walking randomly up to a group of people and sticking a ruddy great cam in their face, so tried to do more distant shots.
A new learning experience
>> Edited by Graham.J on Friday 28th January 23:51
Graham.J said:
Also I was told to try and get shots of every table, I felt odd walking randomly up to a group of people and sticking a ruddy great cam in their face, so tried to do more distant shots.
It is a bit daunting if you aren't used to working with people in these sorts of situations. Shoving a camera in people's faces certainly won't make people more relaxed. People who aren't used to having their photograph taken are understandably nervous. I find that chatting to people (don't make it War and Peace though) helps to put them at their ease and breaks the ice. Always smile at people. They automatically smile back, they then feel more relaxed and then you get your shot. Tell people, "That was great." Even if it looked shit. "Thanks! I'm just going to take another couple." Then you can get some different angles and some with their eyes open.
Emma P is right: it's an attitude thing. If you have a task to be done, you need to take the 'in charge' role (nicely of course!). If you need people to move so you can get a shot of the cake, you need to think of a way to tell them. Once you feel comfortable in the directing role, people quite happily go along with it - but of course you need to switch your 'people skills' to max and stay alert as different people respond differently.
I think you maybe felt too humble as you were unfamiliar with the equipment and hadn't been put in that role before. Do another one - and as your confidence and results improve you should find yourself going up that mental ladder from follower to leader.
Mind you I've been pushing people about directing video shoots for years so I'm used to it
I think you maybe felt too humble as you were unfamiliar with the equipment and hadn't been put in that role before. Do another one - and as your confidence and results improve you should find yourself going up that mental ladder from follower to leader.
Mind you I've been pushing people about directing video shoots for years so I'm used to it
Totally agree with EmmaP and Simpo....confidence and letting people know you're in charge helps loads.
If you've got expensive looking kit, this helps lots too, as people will naturally assume you're a photographer being paid to be there and taking a record of the event.
Take BTaP last November, walked up to each table, big camera, big flash, snapped just one couple to get the attention of the rest, then they were all up for their pics being taken, and a final group shot. Admittedly, they were all completely drunk Then the folks on other tables see you doing this, and kind of expect you to get to their table to do the same thing.
It makes all the difference to let them know that they looked great in the picture (as mentioned above), just makes them relax more. If there are some people who just flatly refuse or insist on not smiling or look away from the camera, then just bypass them, or crop them out and snap their partner instead
You had a tricky situation....from which it appears you've already learnt loads...so just beat yourself up a little bit. With a bit of brightening, cropping, and noise reduction, you should find you can get some pretty good images out of your evening. Don't show them any of the bad ones, so all they see are the great pictures....and start talking about the next event, where they have to let you use flash, or pay expenses - which you can use to rent a wide aperture lens for an evening, and which I discovered to be really quite good value:
AFS 28-70MM F2.8D - £25.00 per day
AFS70-200mm F2.8VR G - £25.00 per day.
LB
If you've got expensive looking kit, this helps lots too, as people will naturally assume you're a photographer being paid to be there and taking a record of the event.
Take BTaP last November, walked up to each table, big camera, big flash, snapped just one couple to get the attention of the rest, then they were all up for their pics being taken, and a final group shot. Admittedly, they were all completely drunk
Then the folks on other tables see you doing this, and kind of expect you to get to their table to do the same thing. It makes all the difference to let them know that they looked great in the picture (as mentioned above), just makes them relax more. If there are some people who just flatly refuse or insist on not smiling or look away from the camera, then just bypass them, or crop them out and snap their partner instead
You had a tricky situation....from which it appears you've already learnt loads...so just beat yourself up a little bit. With a bit of brightening, cropping, and noise reduction, you should find you can get some pretty good images out of your evening. Don't show them any of the bad ones, so all they see are the great pictures....and start talking about the next event, where they have to let you use flash, or pay expenses - which you can use to rent a wide aperture lens for an evening, and which I discovered to be really quite good value:
AFS 28-70MM F2.8D - £25.00 per day
AFS70-200mm F2.8VR G - £25.00 per day.
LB
Thanks for all the advice, I will bear it all in mind for my next one.
I'm actually quite glad in some respects that she didn't want me to use the flash because when I first turned it on it was a bit
I think with the technique of asking people if I can take their photo and using the flash properly (must read manual), I could've got away with some better 'group' shots rather than the 'eyes shut', discreet shots I tried to get.
Roll on the next one
Graham
I'm actually quite glad in some respects that she didn't want me to use the flash because when I first turned it on it was a bit
I think with the technique of asking people if I can take their photo and using the flash properly (must read manual), I could've got away with some better 'group' shots rather than the 'eyes shut', discreet shots I tried to get.
Roll on the next one
Graham
Graham.J said:
I'm actually quite glad in some respects that she didn't want me to use the flash because when I first turned it on it was a bit
A bit what??! The built-in flash (are we talking D70?) is designed for fill-flash and you have to be quite clever to mess it up. Two drawbacks - it's not powerful, so no use for long shots, and its proximity to the lens can easily provoke red-eye, so be careful.
Graham.J said:
I think with the technique of asking people if I can take their photo and using the flash properly (must read manual), I could've got away with some better 'group' shots rather than the 'eyes shut', discreet shots I tried to get.
Actually you're talking about two styles - what I call formal, ie when people know they're being photographed and are looking at the camera and smiling etc - and reportage, when you prowl the perimeter sniping whatever looks good, candid etc, and people don't know about it (until it's too late
). But the latter would probably be done with a telephoto so that's when you need a big hairy strap-on flash for best results. simpo two said:I bought the Sigma EF 500 Super NA-iTTL for the evening 'do' and upon turning it on was a little overwhelmed by the display and buttons and whatnot.
A bit what??! The built-in flash (are we talking D70?) is designed for fill-flash and you have to be quite clever to mess it up. Two drawbacks - it's not powerful, so no use for long shots, and its proximity to the lens can easily provoke red-eye, so be careful.
simpo two said:I was going for the 'reportage' style, hence the bigger flash but she didn't want me using a flash so had to make do.
Actually you're talking about two styles - what I call formal, ie when people know they're being photographed and are looking at the camera and smiling etc - and reportage, when you prowl the perimeter sniping whatever looks good, candid etc, and people don't know about it (until it's too late
>> Edited by Graham.J on Saturday 29th January 21:32
The “expensive looking kit” one works a treat – when I went to Max Power Live (sorry, that’s a swear word around here) I took my D70, and in almost all of the pics, the girls were looking at ME! (first proper outing with D70 too, so a proper newbe!)
Big crowd of guys with phones and pocket cameras, but I got their attention and the looks resulting in some good pics. They also seamed to respond quite well to “smile” and “can you…” etc, great fun.
Big crowd of guys with phones and pocket cameras, but I got their attention and the looks resulting in some good pics. They also seamed to respond quite well to “smile” and “can you…” etc, great fun.
I have every sympathy with you on this and find these days that I would probably try to decline such an opportunity should it come my way.
I much prefer the method referred to above as 'reportage', preferably with natural light. But if going with flash - go bold.
Some useful comments through the thread but I am surprised that no one has suggested some savage cropping. Is that a gimme in this forum?
Pic 1 - lose most, maybe all of the ceiling. It would probably work with the existing full width and less height but if not trim a little off the side(s) and maybe even the bottom.
Pic 2 - Take the left 1/3rd away along the vertical line of the wall to the left of the main subject. Then crop horizontally just below the subject's hands, If you want to keep the bottom section just get rid of the back of the chap's head. Should be easy enough using the black of the subject's clothing. That would give the two good parts of the subject matter - a characterful face and the girl behind smiling.
Pic 3 - Is it sharper than it looks on my screen? Severe cropping to get rid of as much as possible either side of the subject. Clone the background to remove the winder handle on the wall unless you can use it as a counterpoint for something. Consider using some 'art' filters or special effects if the chap needs to be in the results presented.
Pic 4 - Not much you can crop on that one! However the food on the two plates looks a bit messy. Get rid of some of it by cloning/overpainting. Again you have some fairly solid and consistent black to play with by the looks of it.
Pic 5 - Either crop it a lot on both sides OR crop a little and spend about a week with photoshop moving the door on the background, getting rid of the blotches on the wall and perhaps moving the shoulder on the right across to the left to help frame the subject a little more when cropped. If the original main subject is actually sharp consider cutting the subject down to just head and neck.
Pic 6 - The glasses. Trim the left a bit and see if there is any way to quickly modify that rather unpleasant brownish background. (But only of you need to fill the portfolio you show them!) This was only a test shot was it not?
It's amazing what can be done with some of even the most appalling looking shots to make parts of them more interesting. Not masterpieces but better than they are naturally.
I'm looking at some of the snaps I took today at the Midlands Karting event and many of those are going to need serious creativity work.
Heaven knows what the 35mm stuff will be like - not used the kit much for the last several years. And I know I always screw up a few shots with the flash being fully manual! That and the shutter speed contol being in an exposed position making it easy to change unknowingly when handling the camera. Well, that's my excuse and it's always worked before.
>> Edited by LongQ on Sunday 30th January 01:36
I much prefer the method referred to above as 'reportage', preferably with natural light. But if going with flash - go bold.
Some useful comments through the thread but I am surprised that no one has suggested some savage cropping. Is that a gimme in this forum?
Pic 1 - lose most, maybe all of the ceiling. It would probably work with the existing full width and less height but if not trim a little off the side(s) and maybe even the bottom.
Pic 2 - Take the left 1/3rd away along the vertical line of the wall to the left of the main subject. Then crop horizontally just below the subject's hands, If you want to keep the bottom section just get rid of the back of the chap's head. Should be easy enough using the black of the subject's clothing. That would give the two good parts of the subject matter - a characterful face and the girl behind smiling.
Pic 3 - Is it sharper than it looks on my screen? Severe cropping to get rid of as much as possible either side of the subject. Clone the background to remove the winder handle on the wall unless you can use it as a counterpoint for something. Consider using some 'art' filters or special effects if the chap needs to be in the results presented.
Pic 4 - Not much you can crop on that one! However the food on the two plates looks a bit messy. Get rid of some of it by cloning/overpainting. Again you have some fairly solid and consistent black to play with by the looks of it.
Pic 5 - Either crop it a lot on both sides OR crop a little and spend about a week with photoshop moving the door on the background, getting rid of the blotches on the wall and perhaps moving the shoulder on the right across to the left to help frame the subject a little more when cropped. If the original main subject is actually sharp consider cutting the subject down to just head and neck.
Pic 6 - The glasses. Trim the left a bit and see if there is any way to quickly modify that rather unpleasant brownish background. (But only of you need to fill the portfolio you show them!) This was only a test shot was it not?
It's amazing what can be done with some of even the most appalling looking shots to make parts of them more interesting. Not masterpieces but better than they are naturally.
I'm looking at some of the snaps I took today at the Midlands Karting event and many of those are going to need serious creativity work.
Heaven knows what the 35mm stuff will be like - not used the kit much for the last several years. And I know I always screw up a few shots with the flash being fully manual! That and the shutter speed contol being in an exposed position making it easy to change unknowingly when handling the camera. Well, that's my excuse and it's always worked before.
>> Edited by LongQ on Sunday 30th January 01:36
Am I alone at not being at all embarressed at getting my kit out? I go for walks on the beach most days and allways lake the camera, one lens and an empty CF. If people get in the way that's there lookout, and if they just happen to be centre frame and make the composition right then so be it! A quick snap from yesterdat afternoon.
Martin.
Martin.
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