Films and ROM Photography

_BEE_ · 14th April 2004

Hi! I am absolutely new and I would like to seek some "enlightenment" on some issues (I do not own a digital camera yet).

Here goes :
- Why are my photos so grainy when I use only ASA400 indoors? The brand was Kodak.
- I am photgraphing my friends' ROM next week and I am worried about the turn out. Besides the bounce flash thingy (which I have not tried), my next worry is about the grainy prints.
- Things to look out for while photographing ROM.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Regards,
b

leadwe · 14th April 2004

Try using Fuji Superia 400. I feel they are better compared to Kodak comsumer level 400 films.

chrisleng · 14th April 2004

Originally Posted by _BEE_

Hi! I am absolutely new and I would like to seek some "enlightenment" on some issues (I do not own a digital camera yet).

Here goes :
- Why are my photos so grainy when I use only ASA400 indoors? The brand was Kodak.
- I am photgraphing my friends' ROM next week and I am worried about the turn out. Besides the bounce flash thingy (which I have not tried), my next worry is about the grainy prints.
- Things to look out for while photographing ROM.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Regards,
b

Hi Bee,

I think I know you. Is your email start with "Ung.." ?

_BEE_ · 14th April 2004

Hey Chris. How's your wedding photography assignment coming along? Moi panicking now.

Ah Pao · 14th April 2004

Originally Posted by _BEE_

Hi! I am absolutely new and I would like to seek some "enlightenment" on some issues (I do not own a digital camera yet).

Here goes :
- Why are my photos so grainy when I use only ASA400 indoors? The brand was Kodak.
- I am photgraphing my friends' ROM next week and I am worried about the turn out. Besides the bounce flash thingy (which I have not tried), my next worry is about the grainy prints.
- Things to look out for while photographing ROM.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Regards,
b

Argh. Kodak MAX 400 has one of the largest grains around for ISO400 films. I too was a Kodak MAX 400 user until I tried Fujifilm's Superia X-TRA 400. For best results I would recommend using the "professional" films from Kodak (Portra series) and Fujifilm (Press or other protrait series). These film are apparently formulated for more natural skin tones. It's people's once-in-a-lifetime event; you want them to have beautiful memories, right?

In short, just stay away from Kodak MAX 400.

I've not shot an ROM ceremony before, so can't advice much. But for bounce flash, get yourself a decent bounce card (I hope you know you need that!) and know that it works effectively only with a relatively low ceiling. Whether it is good idea to use flash in the first place is another question.

If you're using flash, get a moderately powerful flash for effective bounce. What model of flash do you have?

_BEE_ · 14th April 2004

I will be using my new purchase. It's METZ 54 MZ3 on my EOS 300.

Ah Pao · 14th April 2004

Good enough, at par with the 550EX.
With a low enough ceiling it shouldn't be a problem getting beautiful bounced flash.

Other things you may want to take into consideration, and for others to chip in as part of the discussion:

Consider what lenses to bring (if you have a range to choose from in the first place)
How many rolls of film to bring [personally I think to be kiasu than to live on the edge]
Post processing: which lab are you bringing the films to process and print

_BEE_ · 14th April 2004

Well, my equipment, very limited (as expected).

Lens - 28-100
Films - 4 rolls
Processing - Grace Digital (have not tried but heard not bad) or Konota
Bounce Card - Will be buying plastic compressed corrogated cardboard, cut into a rectangle and somehow stick to my flash (??)

chrisleng · 14th April 2004

Originally Posted by _BEE_

Hey Chris. How's your wedding photography assignment coming along? Moi panicking now.

Well,

I guess right, it's you. Hee Hee. Well, can't find anyone to shoot. Prepare to give up on the assignment

centrino · 14th April 2004

28mm should be wide enough if u use film body..
get more film lah, 4 roll where got enough, once a life-time event leh...

Kelvin^Newbie · 14th April 2004

Bee... ROM ceiling relatively low... that time i was using 380 for my eos50e when i reach the stair i bounce the flash up... the photo came out underexpose... this is wad i know hope it help...

edit : maybe can find someone to backup u too...

_BEE_ · 14th April 2004

Oh god! I thought I could kick away the habit of being too kiasu. Guess most photographers are the same (????). So, how many rolls do I need to bring? The areas I am shooting are probably :
- At the ROM before the event
- Inside the room
- Fort Canning maybe
- Small gathering at restaurant

Base on the previous reply on the films, can I use the ASA400 throughout for the entire affair, even if it's oudoor for the later part?

_BEE_ · 14th April 2004

Chris, if that's the case, then u won't get the cert leh.

Kelvin^Newbie · 14th April 2004

Originally Posted by _BEE_

Oh god! I thought I could kick away the habit of being too kiasu. Guess most photographers are the same (????). So, how many rolls do I need to bring? The areas I am shooting are probably :
- At the ROM before the event
- Inside the room
- Fort Canning maybe
- Small gathering at restaurant

Base on the previous reply on the films, can I use the ASA400 throughout for the entire affair, even if it's oudoor for the later part?

At the ROM before the event : 1/2 roll enff liao.. maybe 1 roll if their family want to take photo with them...
Inside the room : 1/2 or 1 roll... not realli much time to change film...
Fort Canning maybe : another half roll... erm... u intend to take their family too?
Small gathering at restaurant : use up the half roll...

actaully i think 2 - 3 roll is enough... get a xtra roll for backup...

chelsea · 14th April 2004

4 rolls = 144 photos.. that's quite a lot in my opinion.
although it's once in a lifetime thing, but it's only ROM!
but of cos, u can always be kiasu and bring more.. i think u will only use 2-3 rolls

Aton · 14th April 2004

I believe you bring 4-5 rolls will be enough. The average I have taken is 3 rolls for friends, including the lunch reception.

If they are rushing to the lunch reception, I doubt you will have time to get many shots at the Fort canning park.

Use a fresh roll before going into the solemisation room, unless you want everyone to wait for you to change a new roll.

Yezrah · 14th April 2004

I believe the advice given already are more than sufficient. However, I would like to add in a word of caution: Don't try to play with flashlights if you are not confident enough.

Since this is your friend's once in a lifetime event, it is better if you can do some test shoots first with your flash before shooting the actual event. Standards asked in this kind of shooting is not very high unless you are very well paid. If not, just relax, treat it as an experience and better ask for a backup.

Recce Fort Canning if you are required to shoot around the place. It will not appear good on you if you can't decide what is the next location to shoot.

scanner · 15th April 2004

Originally Posted by _BEE_

Hi! I am absolutely new and I would like to seek some "enlightenment" on some issues (I do not own a digital camera yet).

Here goes :
- Why are my photos so grainy when I use only ASA400 indoors? The brand was Kodak.
- I am photgraphing my friends' ROM next week and I am worried about the turn out. Besides the bounce flash thingy (which I have not tried), my next worry is about the grainy prints.
- Things to look out for while photographing ROM.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Regards,
b

If you can, go down to the site to do some test shots with the flash. Try to be farmilar with the flash. Normally for wedding, flash is a must!!! Apart if you are doing with extra high speed B&W film, that will be a different story.

Use films such as NPH400 or press 800 kinda of pro film, it perform better.

If you know the shots going to be underexposed, ask the lab to push the film, in that way, you might able to savage the situation.

My 2 cents worth of input.

Pro-New · 15th April 2004

Is ROM ceiling good for bounce flash? Not sure. Outside waiting area is definately no. Inside can't remember liao....so long never go there. But its good to have a white card on the flash when bounce.

bishop · 15th April 2004

Yup..Use Fuji Film..at the very least Superia Xtra 400...If you want Fine grain and high contrast rich colors Fuji NPC160 (but its slower than 400 film) but the grain is unbelievable...

One thing is to bring some Xtra film I know 4 or 3 seem to be too much, but it
doesnt hurt to have a couple of rolls xtra just in case.

14th April 2004	#1
_BEE_ Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 65	Films and ROM Photography Hi! I am absolutely new and I would like to seek some "enlightenment" on some issues (I do not own a digital camera yet). Here goes : - Why are my photos so grainy when I use only ASA400 indoors? The brand was Kodak. - I am photgraphing my friends' ROM next week and I am worried about the turn out. Besides the bounce flash thingy (which I have not tried), my next worry is about the grainy prints. - Things to look out for while photographing ROM. Thanks in advance for any advice. Regards, b

14th April 2004	#7
Ah Pao Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 1,578	Good enough, at par with the 550EX. With a low enough ceiling it shouldn't be a problem getting beautiful bounced flash. Other things you may want to take into consideration, and for others to chip in as part of the discussion: Consider what lenses to bring (if you have a range to choose from in the first place) How many rolls of film to bring [personally I think to be kiasu than to live on the edge] Post processing: which lab are you bringing the films to process and print

14th April 2004	#11
Kelvin^Newbie Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 294	Bee... ROM ceiling relatively low... that time i was using 380 for my eos50e when i reach the stair i bounce the flash up... the photo came out underexpose... this is wad i know hope it help... edit : maybe can find someone to backup u too... Last edited by Kelvin^Newbie; 14th April 2004 at 09:32 PM.

14th April 2004	#17
Yezrah Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Sembawang Posts: 300	I believe the advice given already are more than sufficient. However, I would like to add in a word of caution: Don't try to play with flashlights if you are not confident enough. Since this is your friend's once in a lifetime event, it is better if you can do some test shoots first with your flash before shooting the actual event. Standards asked in this kind of shooting is not very high unless you are very well paid. If not, just relax, treat it as an experience and better ask for a backup. Recce Fort Canning if you are required to shoot around the place. It will not appear good on you if you can't decide what is the next location to shoot. Last edited by Yezrah; 14th April 2004 at 11:53 PM.

14th April 2004	#2
leadwe Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: East Posts: 918	Try using Fuji Superia 400. I feel they are better compared to Kodak comsumer level 400 films.

14th April 2004	#10
centrino Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 332	28mm should be wide enough if u use film body.. get more film lah, 4 roll where got enough, once a life-time event leh...

14th April 2004	#15
chelsea Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 182	4 rolls = 144 photos.. that's quite a lot in my opinion. although it's once in a lifetime thing, but it's only ROM! but of cos, u can always be kiasu and bring more.. i think u will only use 2-3 rolls

14th April 2004	#16
Aton Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Bedok South Posts: 92	I believe you bring 4-5 rolls will be enough. The average I have taken is 3 rolls for friends, including the lunch reception. If they are rushing to the lunch reception, I doubt you will have time to get many shots at the Fort canning park. Use a fresh roll before going into the solemisation room, unless you want everyone to wait for you to change a new roll.

15th April 2004	#19
Pro-New Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Singapore Posts: 197	Is ROM ceiling good for bounce flash? Not sure. Outside waiting area is definately no. Inside can't remember liao....so long never go there. But its good to have a white card on the flash when bounce.

15th April 2004	#20
bishop New Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: AMK,Singapore Posts: 24	Yup..Use Fuji Film..at the very least Superia Xtra 400...If you want Fine grain and high contrast rich colors Fuji NPC160 (but its slower than 400 film) but the grain is unbelievable... One thing is to bring some Xtra film I know 4 or 3 seem to be too much, but it doesnt hurt to have a couple of rolls xtra just in case.