Group Shot

I will be doing a group shot in front of this building:

http://www.blackgate.net/gallery/v/travel/Hawaii_2003-12-02/100_1990.jpg.html

 

It will be 10:00 AM; there will be 40 people, all behind and around the rock

wall-type sign in front of the building. The eight dignitaries will be

standing directly behind the wall on ground level. Most of the others will be

standing on a foot high riser just behind the dignitaries. The sun will be

shining in the subjects' faces and to their left a little.

 

Any thoughts on a preferred set-up for a picture like this? I will be using a

20D and a 17-35 L lens. I have a 580 and two 430's and a STE-2 transmitter.

Could or should I position these flashes directly in front of me to illuminate

the subjects for some fill flash? Today I went there to do a test shot with

the flashes in place, and only one of them fired dependably (one didn?t fire

at all). What shutter speed/aperture combo would be preferred? I assume that

I should go with ISO 100...correct?

 

I think I will take three shots with flash and three shots without. That

should give m,e enough pics to choose from in case of closed eyes or yawning

or something like that. And a small enough amount of pictures so that the

dignitaries don?t get indignant.

 

Help with suggestions please...

If this sample shot is shot at 10 am, I'd wait for shade(later in the day). A camera mounted flash will work fine as fill too.

I'd use the 580 as the master on-camera. Slaves on stands both sides outside of my field of view for the shot.

 

Bring a ladder.

 

For settings I would either shoot ISO 200, 1/250, f/11 or f/8...or ISO 400, 1/250, f/11 or f/16. All flashes set to manual and full power and dial down as needed.

 

Good luck. Is that at UH Manoa?

The first thing to find out is if you can photograph when the whole front of the building (or majority) is in shade, if that ever happens. Doesn't sound like an option.

 

If you can't do that your only path is to use fill flash. You should use ISO 100 at 1/250th at f8-f10. f8 if you can hold the background from blowing (which it will if the sun is shining on white), f10 or f11 if you can't. You will not have enough flash to fill if you stand more than 12-15 feet away from your group, and even so the people in the back may have more "racoon eyes" than the people in the front. You should probably set the flashes on manual full, one on each side with the 580EX on camera balanced with the other two (using manual partial power).

 

You triggering problem is something you'll have to work out--don't know much about the wireless system other than it is somewhat flaky at times.

 

Or, you can just use your on-camera 580EX to fill the diginitaries and let the rest of the folks go. That might be OK if the sun is low enough that it doesn't create massive raccoon eyes and you can control the squinting, and if you can get all the people in the sun--no part of them in, part of them out.

Yeah--forgot to suggest the ladder, Grant. Can you really shoot bright sun on a white building at ISO 200 f8? I would think it would blow out for sure.

If that sample shot was taken at the time of day when you are going to take the shot then I'd try and reschedule for the afternoon.<p>

In that direct sunlight, I'd hope for a giant scrim :-) But that's probably not practical for the size group you have. So reschedule if possible.

Robert, I just checked our weather forecast and you may get lucky and get some nice cloudy shade if the shot is some time this week...you may want to have an alternate site if it rains...it is raining as I type this. I'm not sure your 3 shots without flash will do you any good. I would stick with flash for all 6 shots.