Ya, ballroom with all the lights on might be bright, but not bring enough, still need to use flash...
Prom night settings? HELP!
- Thread starter Abuddlah
- Start date
- Status
Your lenses should be fine.. For the candid shots that you're talking about, the 18-55mm will do when paired with a flash. Get a hotshoe/external flash by hook or by crook.
For performances, you definitely need a F2.8 lens. Don't be afraid to pump up your ISO. Non-photogs are more tolerant of ISO noise than photogs.
As for the entry thing, since you're doing them a service, they should at least have the basic courtesy of granting you free entry.
For performances, you definitely need a F2.8 lens. Don't be afraid to pump up your ISO. Non-photogs are more tolerant of ISO noise than photogs.
As for the entry thing, since you're doing them a service, they should at least have the basic courtesy of granting you free entry.
Actually i don't see why they cant give me free entry. Cause apparently i will confirm eat already then come. I bet the food is gonna taste like ****. But the thing is, i don't have an external flash, i'm not really a pro in photography yet
The "bright lights" will not be bright enough for sure. Try taking a picture in your own home at night with the lights on and see what you get.
Your chairman is obviously oblivious to the constraints. But that is to be expected from someone not very familiar with photography. If I were you, I'd try to to reason out with him. If that doesn't work, make sure you give him a disclaimer in case the pictures don't turn out as expected.
And I agree that as much as an external flash will help, you'll need to know how to actually use it.
Your chairman is obviously oblivious to the constraints. But that is to be expected from someone not very familiar with photography. If I were you, I'd try to to reason out with him. If that doesn't work, make sure you give him a disclaimer in case the pictures don't turn out as expected.
And I agree that as much as an external flash will help, you'll need to know how to actually use it.
Whatever it is. The fact here is, you are shooting indoor. And are the lights in the ballroom going to provide you with lights as bright as daylight?:think: i doubt so. Yes, you might say the ISO may be able to compensate on your end of pushing your camera to take faster pics. However, do not be surprised about taking shots as slow as 1/10 at f2 with flash on. If i were you, I would have told my chairman, there are only 2 options for him.
1) Give me a free entry + cash for me to rent a flash; then you will appear for the event.
2) No free entry + no money to rent flash. You will not be going for the prom night.
I believe since they are working on tight budget. They would require as many people to attend as well as to pay for thier entry fee to cover cost. 1 person out, means one less amount to the amount to cover cost.:devil:
1) Give me a free entry + cash for me to rent a flash; then you will appear for the event.
2) No free entry + no money to rent flash. You will not be going for the prom night.
I believe since they are working on tight budget. They would require as many people to attend as well as to pay for thier entry fee to cover cost. 1 person out, means one less amount to the amount to cover cost.:devil:
You're not paid. You're no pro. So you should only shoot because you want to shoot. I agree that you'd need a flash, but if you don't want to spend money, and the chairman clearly stated that he doesn't want to spend the class's money, don't rent the flash. If the pictures come out underexposed, and they sort of tekan you (maybe jokingly) saying that your pictures not good, tell them that they didn't want to chip in a few dollars to get the flash.
Either way, just up the ISO to 1600 and underexpose by 1/3 - 2/3 stops (grad night halls are always dark to the eye).
Either way, just up the ISO to 1600 and underexpose by 1/3 - 2/3 stops (grad night halls are always dark to the eye).
wah, then why u say yes in the first place?
actually, I covered my prom nite with a film camera at ISO1600 and a 35-70mm with no on board flash so nothing's impossible.
if you are meeting with budget constraints, i guess you have to go with what you have. use your on-board flash at manual mode so you can have a better control of the shutter speed and exposure, the lenses you have would suffice to take those candid shots. just make sure your battery is fully charged so it can last through the night becos you'll be pumping your flash quite hard. Push your ISO to 1600 lor, it should look ok as long as the photos aren't blown to A3 size or something. Furthermore, there's always the Lightroom noise reduction function ^^
actually, I covered my prom nite with a film camera at ISO1600 and a 35-70mm with no on board flash so nothing's impossible.
if you are meeting with budget constraints, i guess you have to go with what you have. use your on-board flash at manual mode so you can have a better control of the shutter speed and exposure, the lenses you have would suffice to take those candid shots. just make sure your battery is fully charged so it can last through the night becos you'll be pumping your flash quite hard. Push your ISO to 1600 lor, it should look ok as long as the photos aren't blown to A3 size or something. Furthermore, there's always the Lightroom noise reduction function ^^
My suggestion is, before prom night, find out how to decide what settings make a good exposure. There's no way we can tell you for sure what settings to use without being there to see how bright or dark the lights really are. And what if the ballroom is not evenly lighted?
Still, in general, for dark conditions, I suggest the 50mm, biggest aperture (f/1.8?) ISO 1600, shutter speed as low as you can get without things blurring (I assume you have enough practice with the lens to know), and shoot in raw (if you know how to edit raw. if you don't know, learn or get flash). Note: This is assuming the ballroom lights are not bright. If it's as bright as day / your photos end up over exposed, lower the ISO. If the photos still turn out way too dark and cannot be fixed even in raw, tell your chairman too bad, he should have paid for the flash rental. And yeah, I agree with the rest, the very least he could do is to offer you free entry when you're going to spend the night working, and more hours after processing the photos.
Still, in general, for dark conditions, I suggest the 50mm, biggest aperture (f/1.8?) ISO 1600, shutter speed as low as you can get without things blurring (I assume you have enough practice with the lens to know), and shoot in raw (if you know how to edit raw. if you don't know, learn or get flash). Note: This is assuming the ballroom lights are not bright. If it's as bright as day / your photos end up over exposed, lower the ISO. If the photos still turn out way too dark and cannot be fixed even in raw, tell your chairman too bad, he should have paid for the flash rental. And yeah, I agree with the rest, the very least he could do is to offer you free entry when you're going to spend the night working, and more hours after processing the photos.
I have to go luh. I just paid for my ticket just now. &#!(@##* luh!! i think i will just go there and take photos for myself only. Or maybe i won't even bring my camera
Yup. Definately must grant you the free entry. If not just ask chairman to ask another person to take his/her PnS to shoot.
And i must point this to you. Its YOUR night. You are PAYING GOOD MONEY to enter that area. Its not cheap, neither is your camera depreciation because of the night. Also I would rather ask a junior take photos if i were you. I'm sure they will be MORE than glad to enter that perstigious hall. Just buy him some food like hokkien mee
Anyway my school got like. 3 SB-600, 2 D 80 with kit lens, some prime lens. My teacher got Tokina 28-70mm F/2.8, Tokina 70-200mm F2.8, Tokina 20-35mm F/2.8, Nikon 12-24mm F/4, Nikon 16-50mm F/2.8, Nikon 18-200mm F/3.5-4.5, Tokina 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6, Tokina 100mm F/3.5 macro, Nikon 10mm fisheye, Nikon 50mm F/1.8, Nikon D100 and Nikon D200. And my friend got a whole network of Nikon user. So ya, i lose to dark pressure, swayed to the dark side!
And i must point this to you. Its YOUR night. You are PAYING GOOD MONEY to enter that area. Its not cheap, neither is your camera depreciation because of the night. Also I would rather ask a junior take photos if i were you. I'm sure they will be MORE than glad to enter that perstigious hall. Just buy him some food like hokkien mee
Anyway my school got like. 3 SB-600, 2 D 80 with kit lens, some prime lens. My teacher got Tokina 28-70mm F/2.8, Tokina 70-200mm F2.8, Tokina 20-35mm F/2.8, Nikon 12-24mm F/4, Nikon 16-50mm F/2.8, Nikon 18-200mm F/3.5-4.5, Tokina 80-400mm F/4.5-5.6, Tokina 100mm F/3.5 macro, Nikon 10mm fisheye, Nikon 50mm F/1.8, Nikon D100 and Nikon D200. And my friend got a whole network of Nikon user. So ya, i lose to dark pressure, swayed to the dark side!
Last edited:
We're agreed on free entry should be provided because
1) People buy tickets to prom to enjoy themselves. He's going to be working (taking photos) instead of enjoying the event.
2) It's like if you ask someone, "Hey, can you do me a favour? I know this favour that will take you hours and hours and cost you $100 or more, but I still want you to give me another $100." Sounds reasonable?
1) People buy tickets to prom to enjoy themselves. He's going to be working (taking photos) instead of enjoying the event.
2) It's like if you ask someone, "Hey, can you do me a favour? I know this favour that will take you hours and hours and cost you $100 or more, but I still want you to give me another $100." Sounds reasonable?
No luh, this even is not in charge by teachers. It's one of my school's CCA leader take charge. Which is my chairman. well, i guess i just have to take photos for my own. i'm not gonna be the photographer
Plus its not very comfortable to be a event photographer. You got to hold your camera and all the stuff necessary. 3 hours still ok but once after the 4th hour, it will start to ache. You also have to keep moving around and try not to block people too much, later they get pissed and lots and lots of problem.
Also if the programme is super tight, he wount get to enjoy the show and chat and enjoy with your friends which is basically the whole point of prom night.
Without budget, its going to be quite hard to take decent photos. Then show the teacher, the teacher ask who takes this kind of bad photos and starts being upset and all that.
So it boils down to this
1) Paying $100 to take photos. (Photoshoot)
2) Carrying all your stuff.
3) Probably making others pissed by blocking and taking underexposed/blurry/noisy photos because of equipment limitations.
4) $100 is not easy to cough up. He should be PAID $100 not paying $100.
5) Abuddlah should talk to his teacher regarding this issue. 450d + kit lens just wount cut it.
Also if the programme is super tight, he wount get to enjoy the show and chat and enjoy with your friends which is basically the whole point of prom night.
Without budget, its going to be quite hard to take decent photos. Then show the teacher, the teacher ask who takes this kind of bad photos and starts being upset and all that.
So it boils down to this
1) Paying $100 to take photos. (Photoshoot)
2) Carrying all your stuff.
3) Probably making others pissed by blocking and taking underexposed/blurry/noisy photos because of equipment limitations.
4) $100 is not easy to cough up. He should be PAID $100 not paying $100.
5) Abuddlah should talk to his teacher regarding this issue. 450d + kit lens just wount cut it.
No luh! i'm not asking him to pay me luh. I mind, i dont mind doing it for free. Since we are friends for 4years. But then, i told him that my lens is not suitable for that event. Ask him to like give me $$ to rent the lens for the event. He gave me the -.- face and walk off.
Erm... i saw all the post about having another lens and all those but you cannot afford, I am going to take pics in my sch prob this yr too.... tagging along a Tam 17-50 f2.8. But if you really want to get the best of what you have, i think of you don't mind noise, 3200ISO and build in flash, and the 50mm la if what i saw earlier was right, CANDID only... as mentioned, it will NOT get everthing inside.
Actually any of your friend has a fast lens (canon mount)? You could borrow from them.
Or pump up the ISO and under expose abit, use photoshop to edit the photos later. Like someone said above, non-photographers wouldnt really be irritated by noise and the use of built in flash.
Or pump up the ISO and under expose abit, use photoshop to edit the photos later. Like someone said above, non-photographers wouldnt really be irritated by noise and the use of built in flash.
I guess you still don't get it, even put all the best gear in your hand does not mean you can deliver the photos...
and many of the people here also don't get it,
shoot events, you need a flash, a powerful flash, any professional can't go to an event without flash, but why some people can shoot without flash? cos the end results are for news print or web only.
if you gonne make some prints out from the high ISO shots, you have to live with all the noise. some more the color are so hard to correct, unless you make all of them B&W.
anyway, if you are keen to shoot, just use whatever you have, and tell them to accept whatever results come out, simple as that.
and if you don't think you can shoot, just tell them you can't, let them go and find someone else to shoot for them.
don't make other people problem become your own problem, unless you able to solve the problem. and don't let yourself become other people problem too.
and many of the people here also don't get it,
shoot events, you need a flash, a powerful flash, any professional can't go to an event without flash, but why some people can shoot without flash? cos the end results are for news print or web only.
if you gonne make some prints out from the high ISO shots, you have to live with all the noise. some more the color are so hard to correct, unless you make all of them B&W.
anyway, if you are keen to shoot, just use whatever you have, and tell them to accept whatever results come out, simple as that.
and if you don't think you can shoot, just tell them you can't, let them go and find someone else to shoot for them.
don't make other people problem become your own problem, unless you able to solve the problem. and don't let yourself become other people problem too.
say "NO!"
theres no free entry for you and u still need to shoot?
u don get to enjoy as well..
i tell u .. tat night is for u to take photos with those chicks
i am sure after tat night .. u will have lots of targets :bsmilie:
cos u never know tat they all become so chio with make up on :heart:
theres no free entry for you and u still need to shoot?
u don get to enjoy as well..
i tell u .. tat night is for u to take photos with those chicks
i am sure after tat night .. u will have lots of targets :bsmilie:
cos u never know tat they all become so chio with make up on :heart:
- Status
