elaine marie Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 I finally got it into my brain the concept of dragging the shutter.<P> Thanks to Nadine,Marc,Ann, and many others that have been kind and patient enough to explain over and over again how this is done.<P> It was a very dim lit room with only chandeliers and a disco ball at times. I was shooting at 1/10- 1/20 with bounce flash Iso 400. The lighting looks great and the captures are sharp with no motion blur. Thank you!! Thank you!!! Thank you!!!!!! Now that I feel I have the technical down I can consentrate on the artistic side. Please check out my Amanda and craig folder and let me know what you think.The small images dont look any where near as clear as they are full res.<P. Thanks<P>Elaine Marie<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elaine marie Posted September 27, 2006 Author Share Posted September 27, 2006 Heres one more of my favorites<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddlaffler Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 Elaine, personally I'd go with ISO 800 and around f 3.5 or so, and then watch the back of the room open up even more. Just give it a try one time and see what you think. Also, you may need to be careful with 1/10 of second that you don't get ghosting on moving subjects that are dancing etc. Good luck, and enjoy the process. :) Todd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roxyandkaidotcom Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 I love that second pic! I dont think it needs to be any brighter at all in the background. It's perfect - the dancers stand out but the background is there, too. Congrats! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdp Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 Welcome the Shutter Draggers club! I usually shoot dark reception halls around 1/25-1/40 around 4-5.6 At this point I'm not using 2ndary lighting or a light person so draggin' is what I do to open the background. I'm working on the 2nd lighting person and how it affects my shoots. I help out another photographer as her light person, her pictures are really nicely light and a nice depth with that other light source. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annealmasy Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 This is awesome, Elaine!!! Great work! I know your clients will be so happy with these beautiful reception images :) <p> Next you can practice your skills for rooms where bouncing ISN'T an option: Have an assistant hold a flash on a monopod. (You might want to add diffusion in the form of a flash-based softbox, etc.) An assistant can also just hand-hold the flash for more flexibility. They can hold the light out over your subject and you can use PocketWizards to remotely fire the flash. It will light up the subject AND add more dimension to your lighting than would an on-camera flash. <p> <a href="http://www.almasyvisualarts.com/SC/index.cfm? fuseaction=ThumbnailPage&tpg=1&CFID=10873&CFTOKEN=D2C548E0- AB56-11AC-221AC701D2DAF2B6&rand=70777F26-1393-63AA- B71FEFDC4DB2AE07"><u>Here's a link to a wedding where our assistant held the flash off-camera to provide directional lighting.</u></a> (The ceiling in this venue was angled, 45 feet high, and dark wood!) Check out pages 2 and 3 for the reception images. <p> Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picturesque Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 You go, girl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotografz Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 Beautiful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elaine marie Posted September 27, 2006 Author Share Posted September 27, 2006 Thank you Everyone for your comments. Todd ,I will try using the higher Iso just to see, thanks. Elaine Marie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
conraderb Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 hey elaine - just wanted to check - I'm guessing you are using a DSLR, right? you practiced your technique before the wedding, right? I remember when each image was $1. that made it hard to practice - I wrote down my settings and compared prints to prints very carefully. now, just do the trigger button. if you don't think that you can simulate what a reception hall is like, put a lamp in one corner of the room and turn it on. turn off any other lighting and bam - you have a reception hall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barry_davis___st._louis__m Posted September 27, 2006 Share Posted September 27, 2006 Question..do you go to second curtain synch with the lower shutter speeds as she did..1/10 or 1/20? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elaine marie Posted September 28, 2006 Author Share Posted September 28, 2006 Barry, I used first sync curtain but I want to try it with the second also. I couldnt belive how low I could set my shutter a few I was even at 1/8 and no blur. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savagesax Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 Pics are great! In even darker rooms or churches feel free to hit ISO 640 or 800 if needed. Your setup right now looks just perfect. Nice job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Gardner Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 Elaine, Excellent!!! Anne,Nadine and Marc would be proud. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake_holt Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 One thing to keep in mind is that if you get in a situation where there is a light overhead, even a dim one, shutter speeds like 1/10 or 1/8 will give you some ghosting on the face that may be hard to see on a small DSLR screen. However, you will see it on the computer monitor or print! Practicing in a few different situaitons will ensure that you'll catch this before it becomes a problem. I also recommend trying ISO 800 to open up the background even more. Anyway, great job trying something new - this technique will open up so many new opportunities! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picturesque Posted September 28, 2006 Share Posted September 28, 2006 I've gotten used to upping the shutter speed for brighter overhead lights and bright lights or windows behind my subjects (to avoid ghosting), but still am having trouble with video lights. It's hard to tell sometimes just how bright the lights are and they get turned on by the videographer without much chance for you to absorb the fact that the ambient suddenly got brighter when you're concentrating on the action, plus the border between what is bright enough to cause ghosting/blur is hard to define. It's gotten me a few times--ended up with motion blur. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medina photography cherry Posted September 29, 2006 Share Posted September 29, 2006 Sometimes I use the videographers light as a rim light- when it arises! Good job Elaine. I love dragging the shutter. At my last wedding I restrained myself to two rigs, a 1D MKII with 24 1.4 @ f2 and a 20D with 50 1.4 @ 1.8 and dragged the shutters. The wide open aps give some awesome DOF images. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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