Decent party pics
Discussion
How would you go about catching some atmospheric shots at a party where the lighting is predominantly from disco type lights and the room otherwise dark? I've just taken some at my daughter's 21st, and though there are plenty of nice images, they are either with a flash so colourful lights are washed out, or at a very high ISO where I still struggled to achieve 1/20th at f4. Not great when people are dancing!
So, what's the trick? Some kind of longish exposure with a small blip of flash?
So, what's the trick? Some kind of longish exposure with a small blip of flash?
key is to be able to control your light (flash), yes shooting ambient only can work but you will need fast shutter speeds to get sharp images of people - 1/200secs or faster typically. You can get creative with silhouettes etc.
A flash can also help in freezing motion as well - to not let the flash 'wash out' your disco lights, don't shoot in the same direction as the lights - assuming the lights are set up on one side of the dance floor, shoot towards the disco lights so they light up your background and your flash 'fills in' the shadow area i.e. faces of people. If you're shooting the other way round (with disco lights behind you), you are effectively overpowing the disco lights hence washing them out.
When we do it professionally (e.g. weddings I either use the above method or set up LED panels in opposing corners) so we always have key/fill and rim lights in almost any direction. Some images within this video demonstrates (the videographers set up the LED lights for us) from about 2min 40:
https://vimeo.com/144762354
A flash can also help in freezing motion as well - to not let the flash 'wash out' your disco lights, don't shoot in the same direction as the lights - assuming the lights are set up on one side of the dance floor, shoot towards the disco lights so they light up your background and your flash 'fills in' the shadow area i.e. faces of people. If you're shooting the other way round (with disco lights behind you), you are effectively overpowing the disco lights hence washing them out.
When we do it professionally (e.g. weddings I either use the above method or set up LED panels in opposing corners) so we always have key/fill and rim lights in almost any direction. Some images within this video demonstrates (the videographers set up the LED lights for us) from about 2min 40:
https://vimeo.com/144762354
bernhund said:
So, what's the trick? Some kind of longish exposure with a small blip of flash?
Yep. It's about balancing the ambient light with the flash light. Ambient is dim but everywhere, flash is brighter and closer but falls off with distance. As well as aperture and shutter speed you also have flash power to juggle with.Not sure if I agree with all the points above. I've got about 10 years experience in nightlife photography and the general trick is:
Get the subject to stand with my disco lights behind them, use TTL flash, Fstop between 2.8 and 6.3 depending on how many people and how many rows of people, ISO 3200 and shutter of 1/10 (may go as low as 1/4 or as high as 1/50 depending on ambient light)
The idea is that the flash illuminates the subject and your ISO/Shutter speed is balancing the ambient light.
Like this (photo is about 6 years old, only thing I can find on my mobile!)
Get the subject to stand with my disco lights behind them, use TTL flash, Fstop between 2.8 and 6.3 depending on how many people and how many rows of people, ISO 3200 and shutter of 1/10 (may go as low as 1/4 or as high as 1/50 depending on ambient light)
The idea is that the flash illuminates the subject and your ISO/Shutter speed is balancing the ambient light.
Like this (photo is about 6 years old, only thing I can find on my mobile!)
bernhund said:
All good info for me to play around with. I assume that due to its nature, there would be a certain amount of unpredictability still? Even focusing proved to be a tad tricky in the low light!
AF can struggle in low light - another reason for using fast lenses. Decent flashguns will have AF assist (the red bit on the front) to help too.In theory I can take photos in complete darkness, though finding the subject is tricky
Simpo Two said:
bernhund said:
All good info for me to play around with. I assume that due to its nature, there would be a certain amount of unpredictability still? Even focusing proved to be a tad tricky in the low light!
AF can struggle in low light - another reason for using fast lenses. Decent flashguns will have AF assist (the red bit on the front) to help too.In theory I can take photos in complete darkness, though finding the subject is tricky
bernhund said:
I've got homework to do! I've got a Nikon Speedlite SB-910 and clearly don't know how to use it...
SB-910, the 16" naval gun of Speedlites... I have 2x SB800s and the manual for those is more complicated than the manual for the camera 
There are many ways to use flash; I don't have the headspace to know them all or remember how to use them in an emergency so I use 'TTL/BTL' and flash/exposure compensation on top if required.
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