FOC event - Advice on lens, and shooting conditions needed

[dropzone]

Hi guys, sorry if I have been posting threads requesting for advice. Just gotten the camera not too long ago and quite blur about almost everything, but I am slowly learning, please bear with me. Hehe...

Anyway, I will be helping out with my faculty for the upcoming FOC as a photographer. I see this as a good chance for me to improve on my shots as well as taking human subjects and their different expressions and hopefully some nice action shots.

Currently, I have the standard kit lens that comes with the D70 as well as a Sigma 70-300mm. I am actually thinking if I should bring along the Sigma lens for further zoom, or would I use it in the first place. I am hoping to be able to borrow a speedlight from my gf's dad to complement the D70 too. I think its a super old model SB24 or 28, not that sure, but I guess it works with the D70. Correct me if I am wrong.

Secondly, any advice on taking photo shots for such FOC events? Anything to take note etc?

I guess the event will consist of indoor games, night games, as well as a trip to Sentosa . This bring up the concern of maintaining good care of the camera in sandy conditions, say on the beach. Any pointers?

Hope to hear from you guys soon.

Thanks in advance.

 

[NashVillian]

bring both lens, yes and the flash as well.

probably use at least iso 400 for night

low light condition: know your lowest possible handheld speed for both lens, use flash to fill in (do watch out for shallow DOF at the 300mm end though).

expressions of ppl during games are good stuff (avoid too much of wide shots, if cannot see faces ppl usually not so interested unless really meaningful) images need to be memorable of event.

sandy conditions: ppl might play in water, beware of splashing, sand usually not much of prob, bring blower brush to remove.

extra batts, maybe small torch (if really dark so that u can see if need to find something like lens cap in bag)


juz very genral pointers, anyone can correct me if i am wrong

 

[sykestang]

Point to note:

1. I think the SB24 or SB28 flash can't be used on your D70. Understand that the D70 only supports iTTL and nothing else. However this problem can be solved when you set it to Manual or A mode on the flash. But then, a full manual flashing requires skills in control while shooting.

2. Sand is never a big problem to the camera, but water and electronics can't mix well. One advise is to gaffer your camera well before the event as a added protection against sweat, sand, acccident scratches, etc. For gaffering, you may check with espn, he is expert in doing that... ;p

3. For taken events it is simple. Always be mindful of things hapening around you. Your subject may not be always at the front. Do look around you at times. The word to describe a good event photo is 'Commerical Value' for the organiser. Always put yourself at the stand of the organiser, if you were them, what would you like to document for this event?

4. Before the whole thing commence, be there in a hr early to position yourself. Find a good angle/spot. Ask for the programme list if available. Ask for important events happening from the organiser to cover.

Hope all these helps. Should you need further assistance, can always PM me, and do join us at Peninsula Hotel Spinelli Cafe, our regular 'Nikon Council' meet up is always there in the evenings, but do PM me to confirm before you go down.

Cheers

 

[clive]

foc should use digicam to shoot. then will have more fun

 

[sykestang]

foc should use digicam to shoot. then will have more fun

Thought he is using a D70 Digital SLR, isn't he???

But personally I still would not recommend FOC!!! This is ridiculous... There are often organiser being cheapskate looks for or make advantage of photographers here.

For me, I do not offer free shoot especially for events. Even for charitable organisation events, I demand for repayment on films, ie, if they want 100 shots of my digital shoots, I demand they repay me 100 exposures in films, which turns out to be 3 rolls. Whether I throw or sell or give away the films is of my personal choice.

No such thing as FREE photography. Do remember that every click on your shutter counts. A D70 shutter can only last abt 50K MTTF and a new shutter replacement would cost you a $400+. So there is actually a cost involve in every shoot you take.

We buy the camera if for our own enjoyment and not for the advantage of other people. If you really wants to learn and experience, I believe by giving them free labour is good enough, so you should at least charge them for the shutter clicks which I find that the above 'Film Charge' is the best way to gauge for digital photography. Not to mention that you should claims for batteries used in the flash as well. For me although I own 44pcs of rechargeable batteries, I still use normal Energizer Alkaline batteries for FOC events and charge them back for the price. My last event depleted 120pcs of Alkaline batteries...

Point of advise.

 

[clive]

as in..SLR + lenses is bulky...

 

[2100]

Well, for indoor event (eg auditorium), i will always use ISO800 or 1600. You did mention 'action shots', i guess in reality it's just some movement here and there so not too fast lar. Don't really have to be concerned with the noise, unless you are shooting celebrity and you are the official photog who is expected to post printable stuff at say 5R - S8R lor.

My concern and experience is that often people go down to say 1/100s when using the long end of 100mm (35mm effective) thinking that they have good handholding skills but in reality stuff like the hands and head are going to be blurred coz the subject is moving. Even the best and shapest lens in the world won't matter. So you just see what is suitable and be mindful of this unless you want blurred hands/legs to depict a sense of movement. You want sharp, just be mindful of using at least like 1/160. And using a 2.8 lens at slight tele focal lengths wide open has its set of problems too even if it gives you enough light to play with (ie very limited DOF, your AF better be good and no matter how fast the AF is, the subject could have moved some 10-20cm away or towards you).

Night games, i think you might have a problem with AF. In this case, use MF, pre-focus on another spot which is similar in distance from the subject. If you need to use f11 direct flash for more DOF, do it. Taken shots in near-total darkness before, the AF assist be it the SB800, won't help much esp if it's action shots. If you need to push ISO, do it. My policy about getting shots esp for low-light events is to get the shot with decent sharpness, never mind if it's noisy or underexposed.

If you need to shoot in burst esp the overhead-kinda-from-the-top burst, AF and switch to MF too. Else the AF is going to hunt due to the action, besides you sure you will get the subject in the center AF box?

Lots more tips lar, but these are the basics lor. You are the official photog, so restrictions are only yourself and your creativity. Have fun man.

 

[2100]

But personally I still would not recommend FOC!!! .

I usually ask for food/water/transport. Once i got a nice buffet at a 6-star hotel.

 

[Adzz]

Hi guys, thanks for the quick response. BTW, this is my new nick, Adzz. The former nick will not be in use anymore. Should have done this eariler.

Sykestang: I am planning on shooting this FOC (freshman orientation camp) using P mode most of the time (easy but I know I will not learn much, I guess), hence by setting the SB24 or 28 to auto, will it be working fine? For this FOC event, I actually volunteer for this. I, being a sub-comm have to go for this event, but since I thought I am going, why not make use of this chance to try for photo shots? Being part of the sub-comm for my faculty, I guess there is no reason why they will pay me for this services. Haha, if they pay me, and I screw up the shots, it would be worse. keke.... At least for now, it's kinda relaxing, and the admin fee of 10 dollars is waived taken into account that I am their photographer. I think the best I can ask for is more batteries to compensate my shutter clicks! (or anymore items you guys can think of?) Haha. Anyway, for a 4D3N event, how many batteries would I be expecting to use? I will get in contact with ESPN for the gaffering method.

Clive: Digicam would be smaller, I agree, but I guess I have not much of a choice since my main body is the D70, and my spare camera is my Sony Clie, being able to take 1.3MP only. Keke!

2100: True, I think I will want sharpness compared to a low noise level. Probably will be using flash and high shutter speed, and MF. You were saying about the use of f11 for more DOF. This brings up another question... I am pretty worried about the DOF. On occasions where I want to isolate the subject, I guess the kit lens does the job at wide aperature. But I am not so sure of what settings to use when I want more depth of field using kit lens. F11-F14 will do fine?

Hmm... I think I will ask for 3 CR2 batteries in case the main battery dies, and 12 AA batteries? Thanks guys for the advice you gave me. I hope this event will be a success and a good learning experience for me.

 

[mervlam]

People - FOC in university stands for FRESHMEN ORIENTATION CAMP - not FREE OF CHARGE :bsmilie: :bsmilie: :bsmilie:

by the way, which FOC are you shooting for?

i'm the photog i/c for NTU Eng. Camp this year and have 5 photogs under me.

one good advise would be to focus on shots that are sellable, i.e. no artistic or abstract that normal non-photog folks dont understand. otherwise, what's the point?

another point. most FOC runs on a shoestring budget. please dont be ridiculous on your demands.

batteries. bring an extra batt for your D70. avoid using the preview LCD too much as that is a power sucker. bring chargers along. bring extra sets for the flash (i myself am planning to bring 2 extra sets of 4xAA)

beach games. try to stay off the water. warn of anybody not to horse around you at the water's edge (or else i bet you know the consequences). after the beach games, at night, try to wipe down your camera and lens with a damp (not wet) cloth.

 

[clive]

wah..merv your rank big

 

[espn]

Huh?? What has gaffering got to do with me? I don't even own a DSLR! :embrass:

 

[Adzz]

Huh?? What has gaffering got to do with me? I don't even own a DSLR! :embrass:

hehe! but sykestang says you are the expert in this field on how to protect cameras. Care to give some advice?

 

[Adzz]

People - FOC in university stands for FRESHMEN ORIENTATION CAMP - not FREE OF CHARGE :bsmilie: :bsmilie: :bsmilie:

by the way, which FOC are you shooting for?

i'm the photog i/c for NTU Eng. Camp this year and have 5 photogs under me.

one good advise would be to focus on shots that are sellable, i.e. no artistic or abstract that normal non-photog folks dont understand. otherwise, what's the point?

another point. most FOC runs on a shoestring budget. please dont be ridiculous on your demands.

batteries. bring an extra batt for your D70. avoid using the preview LCD too much as that is a power sucker. bring chargers along. bring extra sets for the flash (i myself am planning to bring 2 extra sets of 4xAA)

beach games. try to stay off the water. warn of anybody not to horse around you at the water's edge (or else i bet you know the consequences). after the beach games, at night, try to wipe down your camera and lens with a damp (not wet) cloth.

Hi Merv, I am shooting for SBS. I am not sure if there are any other photographers around to help out, I hope there are, if not will die man. Haha! But maybe NTU Eng FOC is big scale, hence the need for more Photographers (PG). I think for my FOC, the most is 100 people, think I should be able to manage it.

Point taken, you are right, I will try to focus more on shots that are sellable. Besides group shots? What else people might buy? Will take into consideration for video editing. I hope there is a videographer around too.

Merv: BTW, are you in the NTU Photographic club? I am planning to join this coming sem, hope its not too late for a year 3 student.

 

[2100]

F8-11 will give you pretty deep DOF esp if you are shooting wide angle. Just remember that wide angle (eg 18-35mm on your present lens which is equiv to 28-50 in 35mm speak) has deeper DOF compared to telephoto at the same apertures. Eg, more will be in focus at 18mm/f8 compared to 70mm/f8. I think for now, don't worry about perspective in the image composition or what. Be very careful about using settings like 70mm/4.5 when the subject is non-static. (besides, not sure about your D70 + 18-70DX which has a recorded and verifiable history of backfocusing).

If you are not chimp happy, 1 battery should be enough for 1 day. By that i mean you don't do LCD plaback at all or very very rarely. You can still switch on LCD review so that the shot + whatever info like histo or blinking highlights is displayed. With very regular use of AF, 500 shots is definitely attainable. You will probably run out of storage before battery. You may wish to try this, after every shot the LCD will let you review the shot for maybe 10 seconds or whatever duration setting you chose in the menu right? If you half press shutter, even for a while like 0.2s, it will go off. That saves battery.

The specs when using CR123 is a bit jokey. It's like 3 times less capacity than EN-EL3 and 3 pcs of that costs $12 the cheapest. You might as well run down to Eastgear and get a $30 3rd-party one. But recommend that you buy an original EN-EL3, $75-80 can get 1. Next time go holiday don't have to be worried.

 

[2100]

one good advise would be to focus on shots that are sellable, i.e. no artistic or abstract that normal non-photog folks dont understand. otherwise, what's the point?

I learnt that the hard way. Abstract can take for personal use...hobby hobby critique here in the gallery forums lor. Show them stuff in the photo galleries found here and most will scratch their head.

 

[mervlam]

wah..merv your rank big

what rank??? i left army liaoz, civilian rank... dont come and por me....

 

[mervlam]

Hello Adzz,

when is BS FOC?? Eng FOC is from 5th to 10th Jul

Oh, SBS....
Other photographers? maybe you can ask your main comm about that. think he/she dont mind you asking.

No lah. Eng FOC aka Camp Insinyur wasn't that big till this year when there are new engineering course introduced in NTU and the increase in cohort intake. i had planned for my photogs to rotate shifts so they can take part in some of the activites as well. all work and no play is dull leh. FOC is a time to have fun.

Grp shots are nice! some actions are good too. but mainly it's the grp shots (be it posed or having the OG in action) that sells.

I was PVS member since year one. next year final year liaoz, so me "retiring" from ECAs to concentrate on studies. No. it wouldnt be too late to join up, but if you want to hone your skills, i suggest that you also join the publication comm of the major clubs (eg. BSC or CAC) where they have regular activities which need photo coverage.

 

[sykestang]

Huh?? What has gaffering got to do with me? I don't even own a DSLR! :embrass:

No... No... :nono: You don't own a DSLR... but you do own a webcam remember and you gaffer it well...

Not to mention you gaffer your touch light as well. ;p

 

[espn]

Well.. bring your camera along with a pair of scissors & roll of gaffer tape and meet up with me during one of the Nikon Council sessions, I'll do a live demonstration of gaffering it the espn (aka KS) style.

btw... sykestang :kok: