Above the crowd

I went to an affair where the photographer had a small step ladder

that he used during the reception. Now, I take those shots too but I

usually do a 'hail mary' (camera held high above the head usually wide

angle) or I jump on a chair.

 

What do you do?

A "hail mary' or I've raised the camera on a monopod and fired it with a remote.

This was taken with the monopod. I was assisting and got this while the other photographer was posing the formals.

Sorry, this picture came out huge, though on my computer us says it a 200kb jpeg.

I jump on a chair - I'm usually moving them out of the way, anyhow! :)

Most places do NOT appreciate photographers climbing on chairs or tables. Bring your step ladder (two steps not a six footer). I've recently expiramented with a release and monopod. It acts like a boom. Wouldn't recommend it much with film because you are shooting blind. Sometimes the result is very pleasing!

I recently tried some of the "hail mary" shots at a small concert. With fisheye lens, band was too small in the picture. With 50mm, I missed them (IE, cut off heads, etc) in half the shots. 24mm might have been okay, or 50mm with more practice.

Paul,

<BR>That attachment may be a 222KB jpeg but it is still a 3008 x 2000 pixel photo. This is how it looks on a 1024 x 768 monitor:

<P><center><img src=http://www.geocities.com/dainisjg/bride3008.jpg></center>

I bring a step ladder and use it sometimes at wedding receptions for the "overall dancing" shot, especially if it is frenetic and the dance floor is crowded. Being short, I still sometimes put the camera over my head and shoot blind even standing on the step ladder. For bar mitzvahs, I use the step ladder during the horas always. I put the camera over my head when I can't use a step ladder, like on crowded dance floors and especially when trying to photograph bar/bat mitzvah teens dancing, since they dance in a circle bunched up tight.

After awhile you get pretty good at aiming the camera "blind" and knowing what the coverage will be with a particular lens. Best to shoot a bit loose and crop later. It's not just horas at bar mitzvahs and Jewish weddings. Greek dancing and a bunch of other ethnic dances are best photographed this way. I got some great shots at a Hindu Diwhali (new year) festival a couple of years ago with the camera held at arm's length over my head.

Errol, I always bring along a six foot ladder though I am 6"4" and 195 pds. It just gives me added flexibility-somtimes it is discrete, other times obvious. Often it provides some comic relief for group shots outside and I have captured some of my favourite and more artsy shots this way. Cheers.

I use a small step ladder (two footer) that I spray painted black, so that it's more formal. :o) Seriously, sometimes it is invaluable for getting certain shots. Even on shots where you don't necessarily need it, a different perspective often makes your overall photo coverage more interesting than it would have ordinarily. When my shots are feeling stale, I try to remind myself to look for the different angle. Sometimes, that angle is from just above the crowd.