one option would be to take shots of the full dress rehearsal rather than actual performance... then use the flash as necessary, subtly... you would be able to capture better images, and you would also not disrupt the actual performance and distract the audience with your movements...
Arts Performance, no flash allowed
- Thread starter Cleopatra
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not a bad idea!
ahbian
Senior Member
It is rather difficult to expect the lighting of the performance to change to suit your needs, so you would have to work around that limitation.
As many as mentioned, I think its important you bring your gear down and attend as many rehearsals (full dress or otherwise) as possible.
1) To familiar yourself with the lighting
2) To see how much you can push the ISO of your camera
3) To know the "peak" moments of the choreography and thus know where to stand and anticipate, its not only about capturing sharp pictures
4) To take pictures with more freedom as compared to when audience is present
Sometime ago, I was also asked by a friend to cover a dance performance. I had no prior experience in that whatsoever, but I think my attending several rehearsals helped to a large extent. For me, I rented a camera with a good ISO capability and a prime lens, and and used my own gear as a backup.
You might be right that rentals of Pentax is not as easier found as the other brand, perhaps you would consider renting a setup other than Pentax in this case and using your own gear as a backup.
As many as mentioned, I think its important you bring your gear down and attend as many rehearsals (full dress or otherwise) as possible.
1) To familiar yourself with the lighting
2) To see how much you can push the ISO of your camera
3) To know the "peak" moments of the choreography and thus know where to stand and anticipate, its not only about capturing sharp pictures
4) To take pictures with more freedom as compared to when audience is present
Sometime ago, I was also asked by a friend to cover a dance performance. I had no prior experience in that whatsoever, but I think my attending several rehearsals helped to a large extent. For me, I rented a camera with a good ISO capability and a prime lens, and and used my own gear as a backup.
You might be right that rentals of Pentax is not as easier found as the other brand, perhaps you would consider renting a setup other than Pentax in this case and using your own gear as a backup.
sgcamerastore
Senior Member
Basically it all depends on how much your camera can really push the ISO - If u are doing in concert Hall - The Most important is your ISO and and lens of the aperture.
F2.8, F1.8, F1.4 or F1.2 and a fast long lens if possible
Flash is a No No during performance .
But if u can go earlier to the place . Look around the most suitable spots to take as after once u are in , not much of a movement is allowed , so Find the best angle for your Shot but sometimes , your Place of angle is being Fix by the organiser usually .
Also not forgetting the most important rule , find out with the Art / creative director or someone , what the do and dont , some may not like the idea of you start clinking and clinking all the way during the performance as it may cause alot of distraction
A small Case ; when we we will doing Football Football ( singapore Art Festival 2010 ) the Director told our Guys can only shoot during when there is sound eg , claping , music laughter .no movement is allowed ( in this case the location and your super long lens comes in )
again best to take pictures is still the rehearsals ( where u dont have to worry and and start blasting your camera away
Hope this helps .
F2.8, F1.8, F1.4 or F1.2 and a fast long lens if possible
Flash is a No No during performance .
But if u can go earlier to the place . Look around the most suitable spots to take as after once u are in , not much of a movement is allowed , so Find the best angle for your Shot but sometimes , your Place of angle is being Fix by the organiser usually .
Also not forgetting the most important rule , find out with the Art / creative director or someone , what the do and dont , some may not like the idea of you start clinking and clinking all the way during the performance as it may cause alot of distraction
A small Case ; when we we will doing Football Football ( singapore Art Festival 2010 ) the Director told our Guys can only shoot during when there is sound eg , claping , music laughter .no movement is allowed ( in this case the location and your super long lens comes in )
again best to take pictures is still the rehearsals ( where u dont have to worry and and start blasting your camera away
Hope this helps .
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it is a room, with no windows to be exact, but they have stage light lighting in the room. there is no stage, the performance is actually on the floor. the lightings programmer was told that the subject was more on the music but not on the performers, there are lighting, but no face light. he is not very willing to reprogram the lightings. im so sad, especially that my friend is having high hopes and expectations of me. sigh...
i was there already, now im super gan chiong.
i've come to realized that singapore dont have a lot of companies renting pentax items.
As I've mentioned, be prepared to forget about exposing for the face. Expose only for the well lit areas. Its what the choreographer and lighting specialist intents anyway.
You said you did test shots. Care to show them with EXIF intact? (to see how bad the lighting is)
Gear wise, a fast 50 (f1.4, f1.7 or 2) is a good bet since you can move around and there is no barrier. Otherwise, at least a f2.8mm lens (which you have 2, which is good).
Teufelhunden
Member
1) Work closely with the artistic director on this, make sure you know what is the intent of the performance, especially with regards to how they want it to be portrayed. This is important, in performances that rely on lighting effects as part of their act, and they may need the photos to show something unique about it for publicity purposes.
2) Some people have said rent another system, and use your body as a backup. I would suggest having two similar systems would be more effective, since you would not want to have to control two vastly different systems if for e.g you only have short instances to take a few shots each time.
3) Get a f1.2 medium telephoto, and a wide F2.8 zoom. You could get pretty much a balance between tack-sharp shots and clarity by stopping down to f1.8/1.4 for the medium tele.
4) Go for rehearsals to get a feel for the color temperature, sometimes multiple light sources/types can be a hassle to manage. If you can take lots of photos during final dress rehearsal, please take more then in case you don't have the chance to do so at the actual performance.
I may be rehashing some points but this is just some advice from me.
2) Some people have said rent another system, and use your body as a backup. I would suggest having two similar systems would be more effective, since you would not want to have to control two vastly different systems if for e.g you only have short instances to take a few shots each time.
3) Get a f1.2 medium telephoto, and a wide F2.8 zoom. You could get pretty much a balance between tack-sharp shots and clarity by stopping down to f1.8/1.4 for the medium tele.
4) Go for rehearsals to get a feel for the color temperature, sometimes multiple light sources/types can be a hassle to manage. If you can take lots of photos during final dress rehearsal, please take more then in case you don't have the chance to do so at the actual performance.
I may be rehashing some points but this is just some advice from me.
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