Spot-Light photos

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

I have the honor of photographing the contestants in a beauty contest
as they each walk up the runway arm in arm with their fathers. The
gymnasium will be dark with only a spot-light on the pair as they walk
the runway.
Can anyone help me with a set-up the will capture a quality exposure?
Anyone with any experience with these conditions?
I'm using a 20d, probably the 24-70mm 2.8 with a tripod if I can get
it set up properly. I have the Mets 54 MZ flash gun. I hope to be
within 10 of the each pair when I shoot. Thanks for any help. Ed

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

chebba@hbci.com wrote:

> I have the honor of photographing the contestants in a beauty contest
> as they each walk up the runway arm in arm with their fathers. The
> gymnasium will be dark with only a spot-light on the pair as they walk
> the runway.
> Can anyone help me with a set-up the will capture a quality exposure?
> Anyone with any experience with these conditions?
> I'm using a 20d, probably the 24-70mm 2.8 with a tripod if I can get
> it set up properly. I have the Mets 54 MZ flash gun. I hope to be
> within 10 of the each pair when I shoot. Thanks for any help. Ed

Hi Ed...

I'm not a photographer, just a voracious picture taker...

That said; were I in your position I'd see if I couldn't
somehow arrange for the use of the hall for a couple of
hours, along with the spotlight operator...

I'd bring along friends or family; one lady dressed in
close to white to take the part of the contestant, and one
man dressed in close to black to play the part of the father.

Digital is free, take tons of pics, and make extensive notes.

Just my two cents...

Ken

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

chebba@hbci.com wrote:
>I have the honor of photographing the contestants in a beauty contest
> as they each walk up the runway arm in arm with their fathers. The
> gymnasium will be dark with only a spot-light on the pair as they walk
> the runway.
> Can anyone help me with a set-up the will capture a quality exposure?
> Anyone with any experience with these conditions?
> I'm using a 20d, probably the 24-70mm 2.8 with a tripod if I can get
> it set up properly. I have the Mets 54 MZ flash gun. I hope to be
> within 10 of the each pair when I shoot. Thanks for any help. Ed

The only way to be sure is to test it out ahead of time.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit

Archived from groups: rec.photo.digital (More info?)

chebba@hbci.com wrote:
> I have the honor of photographing the contestants in a beauty contest
> as they each walk up the runway arm in arm with their fathers. The
> gymnasium will be dark with only a spot-light on the pair as they walk
> the runway.
> Can anyone help me with a set-up the will capture a quality exposure?
> Anyone with any experience with these conditions?
> I'm using a 20d, probably the 24-70mm 2.8 with a tripod if I can get
> it set up properly. I have the Mets 54 MZ flash gun. I hope to be
> within 10 of the each pair when I shoot. Thanks for any help. Ed

A big factor will be angle of the spotlight, and where on the people
shadows will be created. If the spot is from a high angle then a fill
flash can assist in minimizing undesired shadows at the expense of
lessening the dramatic view of each pair of people in spot-only light.
However if spotlight is near straight in you might not get much benefit
from the flash (and flash will be distracting to others in the audience
-- a distraction to avoid if you can. Also flash will tend to light up
the the runway and area around it, which may add background clutter to
your photos.

A major challenge will be to not overexpose and blow out highlights,
particularly if either person is wearing white (white shirt of father,
white dress or blouse on daughter). You'll probably be varying
exposure for each pair unless they all will be wearing same "costume"
(such as men in tux, women in specific dress color).

with the 20d I'd suggest using center weighted auto exposure. Set
camera's review (post shoot view) to "On (info)," which will display
histogram with the image and blink any over exposed areas. Review the
first few as you go and reshoot (or try a few early on if you have the
opportunity). After a couple of shots you will probably find that some
exposure compensation might be in order. Still, keep an eye on the
histogram as you shoot.

With the 20d this will be a good use for raw file format. When you
process the raw files you can further adjust exposure compensation and
provide some fill light via highlights/shadows and curves tools if
using Photoshop, or by a fill light adjustment in a raw processor such
as Picmantec's free RawShooter program.

Bob Shomler
www.shomler.com