band performance - no flash

[samantha_long]

I'll be photographing at a church in a month or so and

will be photographing band performances taking place

on a stage. I'm not allowed to use a flash. Here is the

equipment I have : canon 6d, 70-300mm, 50mm1.8,

50mm1.4, 135mm f2. Just need some guidance on how

to take the best quality pictures. I know I'll have to bump

up my iso and will try to use a tripod for stability when

possible. Any tip and suggestions is greatly appreciated.

[Spearhead]

<p>Shoot at ISO 6400. As long as you can get close enough and/or clear shots, shoot with the fast lenses. I'd dump the 70-300. You might try to borrow or rent something between 20 and 35 assuming you can shoot up front, 50 will be long for a full band shot with an audience in front. Skip the tripod if the audience is standing, it usually becomes an impediment. Try to time for the moments when motion stops but the scene is still dramatic - usually musicians do this at the end of a bar or just before a bridge. Use noise reduction in post.</p>

<p>If the light is just too low, you're stuck if flash is not allowed. You should talk to whoever is controlling the lighting to see if you can get them to make sure you have enough. I usually try to talk to the lighting person before the show in a venue that I don't know.</p>

[samantha_long]

Thanks Jeff. Fortunately, the band that will be

performing won't be making any dramatic movements. I

saw a few of the previous performances on the church

website and they pretty much just standing there. Haha!

The audience will be sitting down and I will have full

range of the floor so I can position myself anywhere I

can just not on stage. I'm thinking of using a monopod

as well. I think the 135mm f\2 will work well, maybe? I

don't have any experience of this type of light setting so

I'm just trying to figure things out now.

[Spearhead]

<p>135 is pretty long unless you can get on a balcony. I've always found that wider and up front gives better results than longer. The only exception is working on a balcony, when I've used a 70-200. If everyone is seated and you are standing, you may be OK from the sides and back.</p>

[samantha_long]

OK, I can get my hands on an 18-35mm 1.8. Do you

think that could work for close up shots? There will be

sermon for a good portion of the event as well.

[Spearhead]

<p>Assuming you mean the Sigma, that won't work correctly on a 6D. It's designed for 1.6x sensor cameras, not full-frame. </p>

[JDMvW]

<p>Jeff is the expert here. In my paltry experience, strengthened by years of low light photography on film without flash, GO TO the ISO necessary, as Jeff says, to get the picture. Noise and other effects can often be substantially reduced in post.<br>

I've always preferred the look of ambient light anyhow.</p>

[samantha_long]

Wow, thank you both so much. I've worked as an

assistant to a few wrdding photographers and its

burned in my mind to avoid bumping the ISO too high so

I'm actually surprised to be hearing this! One last

question, I can also rent a canon 24-70 or 24-105, out of

these two options and the equipment that I own (listed

above) what will work best for the on stage close ups

during the sermon and/or band performance.?

[Spearhead]

<p>The 24-70 is a full stop faster and the better of the two to use in this case.</p>

[tom_musselman]

<p>As Jeff states, shutter speed is more important that ISO when shooting bands. Definitely. This may not apply to shooting a band in a church, but I always wear earplugs when shooting bands. In fact, I always keep a pair in my camera bag.</p>

[jcuknz]

<p>If the lens is too narrow for the shot you want it is worth considering two/three overlapping frames and then stitch them together in editing ... hopefully you have an editor with the layer ability but otherwise a 'stitch' program may do it AOK for you. With an editor you have the ability to choose which version of reality you want whereas a stitch program will likely 'mix' between the versions which is not very good.</p>

[Spearhead]

<blockquote>

<p>If the lens is too narrow for the shot you want it is worth considering two/three overlapping frames and then stitch them together in editing</p>

</blockquote>

<p> <br>

This is almost always impossible with a live performance.</p>