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Archive 2017 · Active children in low indoor light?

  
 
castlekeeper01
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Active children in low indoor light?


Flying to spend holiday with grandchildren 3,5, and 7 in hot desert town. Little outdoor activity - temps are 90 at night, over 100 daytime. We'll try sunrise and sunsets of course, maybe even some nighttime shots ...

But during the long bright hours of the day - with shades drawn over the windows - how would you shoot the kids being themselves, at rest, at play, hamming it up and being crazy, as kids are?

I have 4) 600EX-RT's ... could stuff some in my suitcase, but I'm not keen on blasting light around all day - seems unnatural and off-putting.

Have 35 1.4, 100 2.8, and 135 2.0; but don't want all shallow DOF shots.

Have 5D3 and 80D ... those primes, and 16-400 range of f/4+ IS zooms. No 24-70 or 70-200 2.8.

Limit 2 lenses - Think Tank 20 bag will carry 1 DSLR body, 2 lenses, 1 flash, iPad, filters etc.

I'm looking for hints about technique as well as preferred gear.

Thoughts? Thank you in advance for your suggestions - I learn a lot from FM peoples.




Aug 15, 2017 at 12:42 PM
jecottrell
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Active children in low indoor light?


Open the blinds on windows without direct sun. That works here in Tucson.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-q5qPcsF/0/670c7972/L/i-q5qPcsF-L.jpg



Aug 15, 2017 at 12:55 PM
Bob Kane
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Active children in low indoor light?


Indeed it does.


Aug 15, 2017 at 04:37 PM
Ernie Aubert
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Active children in low indoor light?


For sure! And if several are in a room and not near a window, bouncing a flash off the ceiling can give you enough light to get decent DOF.


Aug 15, 2017 at 08:00 PM
Mar73
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Active children in low indoor light?


I'd take the 5diii and the 35. I really don't like using a flash for just capturing family moments. My favorite setup for the type of shots you're talking about is my SL1 and the 24mm STM (35mm equivalent). The kids don't seem to mind that little camera as much as a bigger one. The IQ from your 5Diii and 35 will be awesome.


Aug 15, 2017 at 10:46 PM
Mar73
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Active children in low indoor light?




jecottrell wrote:

Open the blinds on windows without direct sun. That works here in Tucson.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-q5qPcsF/0/670c7972/L/i-q5qPcsF-L.jpg


Wow! Awesome shot.



Aug 15, 2017 at 10:46 PM
story_teller
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Active children in low indoor light?


If you want candids, bump up the ISO and see what you can get with your 5DMkIII. Neil Van Niekerk took some very good low light photos at ISO 6400 with a 5DMkIII.

https://neilvn.com/tangents/review-canon-eos-5d-mark-iii-high-iso-noise-performance/

You can deal with some of the noise in post, but it won't be as intrusive as flash. I'm not saying leave the flashes at home, but you may be surprised with the result.

So my list would be -
5DMkIII
35mm f1.4, 100mm f2.8 (I don't see a major advantage of the f2.0 over the f2.8 and the 135mm is more limiting indoors.)
1 or 2 600EX-RTs (assuming you are using them off camera) and a reflector.



Aug 16, 2017 at 10:04 AM
jeraldcook
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Active children in low indoor light?


I'd take the 5D3, 35L, your f/4 zoom (24-70 or 24-105), and maybe your 100L. I can't imagine you'd use the 135L inside much.

I have two girls, 2 and 6, and a lot of my shots are under the conditions you describe and my gear is similar. During the day, assuming the shades are semi-transparent, you'll probably be fine with f/4 zooms. If the shades block too much of the light, you could either switch to the 35L and shoot at f/2 or f/2.8. Depending on the amount and temperature of the light, I'll use a remotely placed 600EX bounced off the ceiling to add a bit of fill light to the room if there are dark areas. I'd just be carefully of too much mixed temperature lighting. But this could be an issue with just daylight and a few tungsten bulbs as well. I'm lucky that I have several large south facing windows so during the day I have all artificial light off anyways.

The technique I use is to shoot in manual mode with auto ISO. I usually shoot at f/2.8 or more wide open (but I understand you're not necessarily wanting small depth-of-field shots) and pick the minimum shutter speed I think I need to stop the action of the kids playing.

I'll shoot this way even at night. The light from a couple of lamps is plenty with the 5D3 and a fast prime.

edit: exif isn't showing for some reason. ISO 2500, 24mm, f/2, 1/100, bumped .75ev in post.





Low light evening shot without flash




Aug 16, 2017 at 12:17 PM
canerino
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Active children in low indoor light?


Crank the ISO up on your 5d3, put the 35L on and have a great time!

All of these are very low light:

http://68.media.tumblr.com/bbf672998a5726d76756d37e055cd156/tumblr_otu3qpy4p41qfs74po1_1280.jpg

http://68.media.tumblr.com/4ae5d8cd6ce6594b755b966949457c41/tumblr_oshrf2HCQp1qfs74po1_r1_1280.jpg

http://68.media.tumblr.com/705b66b7a110933d5a5425179a979437/tumblr_okhz5m9ynr1qfs74po1_1280.jpg

http://68.media.tumblr.com/623b3dea5e4c2af0fc9bcb851fb0ab9c/tumblr_okhz4jD0zj1qfs74po1_1280.jpg

http://68.media.tumblr.com/0c9791bd9164e28f312e3863f1fcf6b0/tumblr_od5tjisUPL1qfs74po1_1280.jpg

http://68.media.tumblr.com/7ab733e5d0bd9350ee98ec65369ea471/tumblr_o9e8m9uND81qfs74po1_1280.jpg




Aug 16, 2017 at 12:32 PM
Jim Rickards
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Active children in low indoor light?


Canerino has the best advice yet, IMO. His indoor (or outdoor) candids are great. (others are singing the same song in a different way)

Don't be afraid of high ISO. Just don't amplify the result and thereby induce noise into the pictures.



Aug 16, 2017 at 05:51 PM
Ernie Aubert
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Active children in low indoor light?


Jim Rickards wrote:
...
Don't be afraid of high ISO...


Yes, good point - with the qualifier "if you don't mind noise." I mentioned ceiling-bounced flash because the platform I'm standing on is that I don't like noise, and use as low an ISO as I can manage. YMMV



Aug 16, 2017 at 07:00 PM
shaunmcfd
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Active children in low indoor light?


For me, it don't get much more active than my 11 month old. 6D and 35 Art.
Maddox by Shaun Cunningham, on Flickr



Aug 16, 2017 at 08:49 PM
Smousefam5
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Active children in low indoor light?


I have recently begun to use the Magmod Magsphere to shoot indoors with my grandkids. I have never been all that hot about flash photography but so far I love using the Magsphere. It really softens the light and nicely fills the area.

Nani_intense_08_17b by smousefam5, on Flickr

Nani_Niko_08_17a by smousefam5, on Flickr



Aug 18, 2017 at 06:03 PM





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