Well I've been given a pretty neat opportunity, I will be shooting an International Dance troupe in September. Since this is not my normal thing, it is both exiting and disconcerting.
The disconcerting part is because I have not shot much if any Indoor events, unless you consider Gymnastic events. Of course in Gymnastics you have worlds more light to work with. On the Flip side, I will be able to include my SB-800 in my bag with the dance work.
So unless my Local camera store will rent me some additional flash units I've got my one SB-800 and essentially my 70-200mm F/2.8. If I get any portrait shots I will likely also use my 50mm F/1.8.
So can anyone pass along some tips or tricks for shooting in this light. Obviously a slow synch will present some interesting and intriguing options, but what else?
I shoot stage lit dancers often. The first question I have for you, so I do not waste your time w/ my techniques of shooting available light only, is how is the stage lit? I ask this because if you use flash photography with theatrical type lighting you may lose the "feel" of the scene.
I am not allowed a flash when shooting the dance company show(s) or the local school's theatrical performances.
I tend to think flash will be less useful than you think too...
I used my 85 1.4 wide open and I was at high ISOs the last time...
I think your 50 will be useful depending on the light becaue 2.8 sometimes is too slow! Keep in mind that when you want sharp pictures, you'll need really fast shutter speeds to keep the motion blur down.
brandofamily wrote:
I shoot stage lit dancers often. The first question I have for you, so I do not waste your time w/ my techniques of shooting available light only, is how is the stage lit? I ask this because if you use flash photography with theatrical type lighting you may lose the "feel" of the scene.
I am not allowed a flash when shooting the dance company show(s) or the local school's theatrical performances.
I've actually gotten some more details. I will be relatively close to the stage slightly left of center. The Stage is very well lit, although that is obvious relative, and the Flash would actually be before the show, as I have been given backstage access prior to the event.
OK. I set camera at f/2.8 when using the 70-200mm and/or f/1.8 when using my 50mm (Aperature Priority Mode). That's mainly due to the theatrical lighting and zero tolerance on flash. Even back stage I use available like, I like the mood better.
I also set the Exp. Comp. to -.7. I do this so I can sopt meter as usual and not blow out the faces due to the spot lights. Others may disagree, but it works well for me.
If there is enough light and I can use the kit lens, for wider shots, I still use aperature priority mode and set the aperature to lowest possible number. The camera will of course adjust if it needs to.
I usually need ISO 1600 w/o flash, but have been toying w/ the idea of using Auto ISO and setting the min. shutter speed to 1/125 or a bit faster, to stop the motion.
Here's something else I just read in a D70 review. It has been reported, and is true, that under low light and Auto White Balance the images all take on a yellow hue. I have found the setting the WB in NC afer the fact has worked OK. It will range from 3000K to 3600K for a good looking image. A poster here awhile back, who works in the stage lighting industry, told me that most high school type stage lighting is in the 3200K range. That's my starting point the next time I shoot this type of event.
I'm out of ideas at this point. If you have anything else I can help w/ let me know. Hope this helps.
Don't use a flash if at all possible - it detroys the lighting that the designer intended, and in my personal artistic opinion (being that I am a lighting designer) its just tacky!
I shoot ISO 800 max usually on D2h, and up to ISO 1600 with my D100 - always at lowest f-stop f/2.8 or f/2 if I am using my 50mm. With dance, you want the fastest possible shutter speed because of the action - but motion blurr is also good! It can evoke a sense of movement in the image.
Shoot RAW if possible - or use the incadescent setting on your camera for best colour reproduction. Theatrical lamps burn in the 3200 - 3400 kelvin temperature range. So this is a good reference for colour reproduction. Of course - no theatrical light is ever at full intensity - which is where they measure the colour temp - and most lights run between 40-60% most of the time of the actual intensity - thus colour temp reproduction is subject to a number of variables including amber drift, and colour gels.
The only time I have used flash on stage was for a publiciy photo shoot - there were not lights in the air yet, and I had to drag my studio strobes to the theatre with me - I set them up right on the set. And lit it to re-create the atmosphere required.
Good luck - dance is fun! I love working on Dance shows - I am going to Iqaluit, Nunavut at the end of September to design a dance show. And I am doing "Agua" in Mexico City again in October - which is a dance show that I work on - which takes place in the water
