Beginner Needs Technical Advice for Night Shots of Marching Band

[rdpalgi]

I will be shooting photos of one of our local marching bands during a preview performance next week before they leave for Grand Nationals. I have several friends with sons and daughters in the band, and I told them I would try to get some shots of the kids during the preview performance. I will be using my Canon XTi with a 70-200 2.8 IS. This is strictly a band performance, so I will not have to worry about too many obstacles on the sidelines.

I have only photographed this group once before in an unplanned situation using a 24-105 4.0 IS and no tripod or monopod. I am not very experienced with night photography, so I used the "program" mode with the lens wide open and the ISO set at 800. I managed to prop the camera on a handrail to keep it fairly steady. I got three or four decent shots, but most were blurred due to the low shutter speed.

I would appreciate any advice on how I might shoot the performance next week. Tripod or monopod? Should I shoot from the sidelines or the stands? What would be the best settings to try on the camera? The stadium is fairly new, so I am thinking the lighting might be brighter than the last stadium where I photographed the band. I am also wondering if their white and teal uniforms will reflect light better. Please let me know if you have any suggestions. Thanks.

Becky

[Mike]

If you are going to be moving about I'd go for a monopod as it's more portable. Also, try shooting in AV mode and keeping the aperture as wide as possible - f4 on your 24-105 lens.

[JeffreyG]

Assuming it will be night again like the last time you shot, use the 70-200. Select Av mode and have the lens wide open (f/2.8 ). Take some shots of bands performing before your band and see what shutter speeds you are getting.

Set the ISO for 1/125 shutter bare minimum and 1/250 is better. I'd rather 1/250 at ISO1600 than 1/125 at ISO800. You can smooth noise in PP but blur is forever.

[PhotosGuy]

I'd rather 1/250 at ISO1600 than 1/125 at ISO800. Me, too. But I'd only use "M".
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[JeffreyG]

Me, too. But I'd only use "M".

I probably would use M too, but if you are giving this advice you might want to explain how you would expose the shot (incident light meter, spot meter a middle tone, shoot a few with the meter centered and chimp etc. etc.)

Me personally, supposing the sun was well and truly down so the lighting was constant I would shoot a few of earlier performing bands with the meter centered and chimp the shot. Adjust the shutter speed so that the histogram is crowding the right side but without blowing highlights. Then I'd leave it there.

I do this, OP, so that the camera meter will not be fooled if the background light changes (if I'm swinging the camera around so that what is behind the band is lighter or darker). I also do it to push the exposure up.....I can bring it down later in processing and this will make the noise levels low at high ISO.

[PhotosGuy]

I probably would use M too, but if you are giving this advice you might want to explain how you would expose the shot (incident light meter, spot meter a middle tone, shoot a few with the meter centered and chimp etc. etc.) I agreed with your advice in post #3, which is why I didn't repeat it. I also agree with your advice above. How hard can that be?

[JeffreyG]

I agreed with your advice in post #3, which is why I didn't repeat it. I also agree with your advice above. How hard can that be?

Sorry, don't misunderstand....I wasn't tring to pick a bone with you. Just that since the OP sort of struck me as inexperienced I thought expansion on why to shoot M was warranted so I picked up from your statement.

Sometimes inexperienced photographers think "shooting in M" means picking an aperture and then twiring the shutter speed up and down to keep the meter needle centered. Your comment was a good lead in to clarify how to use M in a controlled setting like a night sport scene.