suzanne carey Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 I have been asked to do a family reunion and the largest group shot will be 50 people set up on bleachers. Just wondering if you feel the 20D is up for the task? What settings, lens choice would you use? I have tripod and remote cable to help with the task. Thanks in advance for your help! Suzanne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin cook - stratford upo Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 Shot at a wedding last week - 67 people taken from an upper storey on a 20D and Canon 28-135 IS.No problems Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wedding-photography-denver Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 That should be easy enough to achieve, but how large a print do you want? I found the largest (reasonable) print from the 20d to be 16x20 or 16x24. I've printed a 20x30 with it and it was just acceptable, just.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anndee Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 This picture has over 60 people in it and prints beautifully as a 10x20 or 12x24. You can see every face clearly. It was taken with a 20D handheld. http://www.anndee.com/TOW/index.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anndee Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 Let me try again on the upload ... http://www.anndee.com/TOW/index.htm<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anner Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 If they will all be on bleachers.. perhaps you could be on a picnic table? I think it will be easier and more flattering if you can get level with the middle to top group. <br><br> Otherwise I would have 4 rows of 12(ish) with the little people in front row sitting, 2nd row kneeling, 3rd row standing and leaning forward, 4th row of really tall people. My family has to self-organize the group photo every year with someone's camera on the tripod! ;-) <br> <br><center> <img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/ 47b5dc01b3127cce90358a209a4b00000016108AcMmbRy3Zt-"><br><br> <i>Obviously we aren't too concerned about formality, but it's amazing when it turns out so well every year ;-)</i></center> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anner Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 Sorry.. I sidetracked. I would use ISO 100 or 200, center-weighted or spot metering (espeically if the sky is bright behind them), evaluative focus, AWB, One Shot, aperture at f5 or above, shutter at 1/60th or faster, and probably the 50mm (if I have the room) to minimize distortion. Definitely the tripod and saying something to get their attention. Taking 3 shots in continuous mode with the bracketing turned on (over and underexposing 1/2 to 3/4 stop) at least 3 times (for a total of 9 group shots). Now that I've done all the work.. have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffc1 Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 Suzanne: Wide lens, 20mm or 50mm lens (depending on the space you have to work). Depending on how "deep" you have them (2-3-4-6 rows etc), I would use the Av Mode on camera to control aperture (depth of field). Start with F/5.6 for a group that large if 2-3 rows. If more rows, then increase the F-stop to, say, F/8. Set, and leave, the ISO at 100. Yes, use tripod just to be safe. Ask that everyone hold steady and have eyes open. No flash. Try to pick a day/time when you do not have bright direct sun light so it doesn't look like you took photo of a bunch of raccoons (shadows will be too harsh), but avoid low of light. The use of a remote is up to you, but if on tripod you should be ok without. You could use timer, but if you have to, use remote rather than timer for better timing control. Consider a polarizer filter too depending of the brightness. Leave all the above settings as stated above, and only adjust the aperture from Av Mode starting with F/5.6 and go up from there. Take several exposures at different F-stops. You will be happy with results. You could also do the same using manual mode. Just play, and have fun! Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rds801 Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 Instead of leaving the camera in a program mode, wouldn't using a handheld incident meter be better? If it's going to be 50 people, I think you would have the time to meter. Putting the camera on manual would be a good idea...as was stated above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry schaefer - chicago, Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 Suzanne, If 50 people are amicable to standing/sitting for a group shot you should have no problem experimenting as you have the digital advantage of seeing and validating what you have shot. Ms. Ruthmann has again put a wealth of experience on the table this time with a bit of a martyrish twinge at the end. It is doubtful that there will have a hellish setback. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry schaefer - chicago, Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 Sorry for the bad articulation. I meant that, it is doubtful that you will have any hellish setback. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anner Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 Martyish? :-) I'm notorious for free advice... I should really stop that if I want to make any money! Oh wait.. that's why I'm becoming a teacher. Still won't make any money, but at least I'll have benefits! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjogo Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 that's all we use..takes the place of our Hasselblad ... Will this be indoors //?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben_manring Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 I wouldn't use a 20 mm lens, as someone suggested. Pictures of people almost always look better with a longer lense. 85 mm to 135 mm (35 mm film equivalent) is standard for portraits, and it's even more important for large groups to keep the people on the back rows from appearing like Lilliputians. If they're on bleachers you probably have enough room to move back and use some telephoto. This advice has to be balanced by the lighting, in case you're doing it with a camera mounted flash. If you get too far away you won't have enough flash to light your subjects. Hopefully you're outside with such a large group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watermelon Posted July 6, 2005 Share Posted July 6, 2005 Your camera will be up to the job, but take lots of frames and try different methods for each! Very hard to check whos eyes are open etc with lots of people.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruben leal Posted July 7, 2005 Share Posted July 7, 2005 Suzanne, The 20D is very capable for that picture. Just don't use a wide angle lens if you have more than two rows of people (and you will have more than that in a 50 people setup). See how the people in the back of the image in this thread looks so small in comparison to the people in the front: http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00CSA3 If you try the timer option, use the 20D's custom function to Lock Up the Mirror (MLU), that way you will have a shorter timer (2 seconds -I believe- instead of 10 seconds). The lighting is key for a good result. Try having the sun where you can't see shadows and highlights in their faces. Maybe is better to have the sun behind them, but not reaching directly your lenses. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzanne carey Posted July 8, 2005 Author Share Posted July 8, 2005 Hi guys! I cannot thank you enough for such WONDERFUL advice! This will definently be bookmarked. It ends up they are going with a friend who will do it for FREE. I told her, well you can't argue with free. But despite not getting the job, I find your information invaluable and I truly appreciate the time. I have not had good experience with groups and my 20D, but I think I may attribute that to my lens. (Tamron 28-75) The lens works good for me, but in groups, people are a little fuzzy. I was even stepped down to 13 with camera on tripod and remote cable. I think I may try my good ole' "nifty fifty" next time. Thanks again for all the wonderful feedback! Suzanne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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