How to photograph indoor performance events?

[Phosphorus]

Hi all,
would like to ask how u'll photograph a performance in places like an auditoriium or a theatre.

I'm facing problems like,
slow shutter due to low lights thus subjects are blur.
flashy lights affect AF, taking a long time to adjust.
and as i'm a canon, the AF assist flash pre-firing is distracting to the audience
can a external flash and low aperture lens solve these?

[BrokenDown]

I'd suggest you getting wide aperture prime lenses like 85/1.8 and stuff like that and using External flash for AF ASSIST ONLY (They use flashes of IR to assist in focus) don't blind the audience and the stage performers

[J-Chan]

another thing to add, usually the background is dark so it may fool the cam's metering to give you slow shutter speeds.. use spot metering mode and lock it on the subject..

[ahbian]

You might not be allowed to use flash in a theatre performance, so an external flash would not solve your problem.

Try to push up the ISO on your camera.

[Dream Merchant]

Google is your best friend. Seriously.

[Phosphorus]

Lol ok, thanks for all your tips

Originally Posted by ahbian Try to push up the ISO on your camera.

My ISO's always at the highest. 1600

[Nupro]

Flashes: are generally prohibited in most concerts and auditoriums so you have to go without flash. I wouldn't want someone flashing on me if i'm performing.
Camera: get/rent a camera with high ISO performances typically 5D and above. I usually shoot at iso 4000 for such events
Settings: You shd be on manual mode and prepare to MF if needed due to irregular lighting
Lenses: typically super wide and telephoto zooms with 2.8 aperture (minimum)

Some of my previous shoots (unedited except the obvious captions)

[calebk]

Originally Posted by BrokenDown ...using External flash for AF ASSIST ONLY (They use flashes of IR to assist in focus) don't blind the audience and the stage performers

IR is invisible. The light you see from the flash assist is just red light, not infra-red light.

[tester99]

Originally Posted by BrokenDown I'd suggest you getting wide aperture prime lenses like 85/1.8 and stuff like that and using External flash for AF ASSIST ONLY (They use flashes of IR to assist in focus) don't blind the audience and the stage performers

how do you use the AF assist ( from ext. flash ) without firing it off?

[Phosphorus]

Does all model of ext. flash have the IR AF assist function or only certain models?

[tester99]

Originally Posted by Phosphorus Does all model of ext. flash have the IR AF assist function or only certain models?

IR is for multiple off-camera setups and not for AF assist as stated.

[BrokenDown]

Originally Posted by tester99 how do you use the AF assist ( from ext. flash ) without firing it off?

You can set it to "no flash" with a no flash icon and only using AF assist.

[BrokenDown]

Originally Posted by calebk IR is invisible. The light you see from the flash assist is just red light, not infra-red light.

Oh, i always thought it was IR. Thanks!

[tester99]

Originally Posted by BrokenDown You can set it to "no flash" with a no flash icon and only using AF assist.

you can't do anything with that mode - i'm almost always using manual or aperture priority.

looking to fire the beam from my ext flash without firing off but also maintaining full control over exposure.

[BrokenDown]

Originally Posted by tester99 you can't do anything with that mode - i'm almost always using manual or aperture priority. looking to fire the beam from my ext flash without firing off but also maintaining full control over exposure.

Oh yes it can, for my Sony HVL 42 & 58AM that is. And i'm also shooting aperture priority

[liarliar]

Okay no flash but if it is allow and for not distracting the performers can use in situation when pointing the unit up for bounch off effects. There is a limit to your flash's range though.

[calebk]

Originally Posted by tester99 you can't do anything with that mode - i'm almost always using manual or aperture priority. looking to fire the beam from my ext flash without firing off but also maintaining full control over exposure.

Check your camera manual. There is a custom function that says "flash does not fire".

[defeliz]

sorry, can i post another Q? i m newbie too. how to capture moving object indoor (flourocent lighting condition? eg:badminton match with frenz. i tried iso500, f5.0, speed 1/5 but photo still blur even when i asked my frenz to go slow motion will external flash help, so that i could increase the speed?

[Reportage]

shoot when got light.

compensate with EV.

Noise Ninja.

[Reportage]

Originally Posted by defeliz sorry, can i post another Q? i m newbie too. how to capture moving object indoor (flourocent lighting condition? eg:badminton match with frenz. i tried iso500, f5.0, speed 1/5 but photo still blur even when i asked my frenz to go slow motion will external flash help, so that i could increase the speed?

practice Tv mode.