andrew_sillett

<p>Here's how it went.<br> Did I make the right choice?<br> Many thanks again for all your help.</p> <p>https://onsightphotographic.wordpress.com/2015/11/10/low-light-awards-night/</p>

<p>The theatre lighting in the venue gives me 1/125 at f4 ISO 1600 so I am tempted to try the shot without bringing heads. <br> If I did bring a couple of Bowens with umbrellas, would this add more light to the scene enabling me to shoot with a deeper DOF, or overpower the theatre lighting?</p>

<p>Hi, <br> I wonder if I could benefit from some of your collective wisdom about the best low light focusing techniques for people at parties and corporate events.<br> I shoot with a Canon 5D mk 3 and have just bought a Sigma 35mm f1.4 lens to use for candid shots at evening/low light interior events. <br> I plan to shoot wide open.<br> Normally I focus using the * button on the back (customised instead of AF-ON) in One Shot mode and take at least a couple of shots at a time at ISO 3200 or more and at least 1/60 - faster if they are moving.<br> My questions are: given the narrow DoF at f1.4, would I get sharper shots using AI Servo?<br> Is AI Focus any good?<br> Is focusing and recomposing the shot an issue at f1.4?<br> For couples or small groups I will use a flash and a 24-70mm.<br> I look forward to hearing what you think.<br> best wishes,<br> Andy</p>

<h2>Response to Lighting a large group (40) indoors(Category:Lighting Themes)</h2> <p><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=1008200" rel="nofollow">Sheldon</a>, I like your style (I tend to worry myself sick overcomplicating things). I have seen it work in a video where the photographer bounced it off dark wood in a church.<br> <a href="/photodb/user?user_id=2237443" rel="nofollow">Pete S.</a> Yes, I think you are right about the DoF. I have seen a wedding photographer shoot similar groups at 5.6. I think I'm being overcautious because closer up I've found I need f8-f11 when one person is standing behind another. <br> <br />Umbrellas would be easier, but I was told they would not light a group as evenly as softboxes.<br> So you're suggesting shooting into an umbrella reflector, rather than shooting through, then hanging the fabric in front of the umbrella to diffuse the light further?<br> Not tried that before. My reservations are lack of power and I want to position the heads higher than the group, so that could be tricky hanging it up there.<br> <br />Why wouldn't you use a large softbox, Pete? <br> <br />Another option has presented itself for this job - I might be able to enlist the help of the stage lighting technician who could put a couple of spots on the group. I was advised not to do this as I should "have more control with my own lights" but right now I don't see me having a lot of good options.</p>

<p>Hi <a href="/photodb/user?user_id=4527384">Andrew</a>, <br> That's what a colleague recommended. I have plenty of time to set up, but having heads on high stands in a crowded area is a concern.<br> <a href="/photodb/user?user_id=5114531">Jon</a>, thanks for your response. The umbrella at the back row technique makes sense. <br> There is a white wall behind one of the areas, but it is some distance away (60ft maybe). There are also some white side walls, although they are cut with recesses. Could they be an option, do you think?</p> <p> </p>

<p>Hi Harry,<br> Thanks for the response.<br> I am not aware of any special lighting at the event. The black ceiling area is rather dark - would need to shoot at ISO 6400 without a flash.<br> The other area is just standard indoor lighting, but as the ceiling isn't white, I am not sure a speed light would do the trick.</p>

<p>Hi,</p> <p>I wonder if anyone can give me the benefit of their experience for a corporate event where I have to shoot a group of 40 people?</p> <p>There are a couple of places large enough in the venue:</p> <p>One has a black ceiling but has a potential advantage in that I can shoot downwards onto the group from some stairs.</p> <p>The other has a silver coloured ceiling and white walls.</p> <p>There is no natural light in either area.</p> <p>I have a couple of Bowens 500w heads but I am told these won’t have enough power to light the group evenly, so my plan is to hire either:</p> <p> a couple of 1000w heads and shoot through large softboxes on either side of the camera axis, high up (10 ft).</p> <p>Or I have an option of hiring 4 500w profoto B2 heads and a variety of softboxes and aiming 2 at the front row at about 45 degrees and 2 at the back row on either side of the camera axis, again high up (worried about so many light stands in a crowded venue, but at least they wouldn't have cables).</p> <p>I’ve only shot a large group once before – young children. I followed some advice from a forum that time and used my 2 Bowens 500w heads without modifiers, each aimed at the opposite end of the group, with a speedlight in front of the group to fill in any cross shadows.</p> <p>That time I wasn’t v.happy with the results – rather strong shadows cast by the front rows and an overall harsh look.</p> <p>I will be shooting with a Canon 5d III which has low noise at ISO 800 or higher.</p> <p>I want to shoot at f11 or smaller to be on the safe side, focusing about 1/3 into the group.</p> <p>I will use a 1/125 shutter speed, although I guess I could go slower (not sure how slow to be safe).</p> <p>I will try to move the lights back as far as I can to avoid too much difference in fall-off from the front row to the back.</p> <p>And I plan to shoot from 35mm – 50mm to avoid big heads in the front and small in the back.</p> <p>I have a 7ft parabolic umbrella but I was advised against using this as it would create a hotspot, so am therefore planning to use large softboxes.</p> <p>Any advice based on experience would be gratefully received.</p> <p>Best wishes,<br> Andy</p> <p> </p>