Advice Please 10D & 550EX for outdoor school photos

[jd_D60]

Got a shoot tomorrow with 10D and 550EX and looking for advice on settings.

The group is 17 children grouped together and with 28-135IS at about 50mm - 10m away should suffice.

My current defaults are (P) mode, evaluative metering, ISO 100, ETTL. no Flash or exp compensation applied

any advice on these......

also should I FEB or AEB.

I'll be shooting RAW and I'll only be able to grab 3/4 shots

thanks in advance advice as always appreciated

John

[Pekka]

Just few thoughts:

From that distance use F8 @ 50mm or less.
Line up kids so that lineup is not too deep.
Take care that shadows do not fall on faces (happens easily with multiple flash systems)
I'd use Manual mode + flash in ETTL.
ISO 200 is easier for flash.
Take couple of shots without flash if light is good (no direct sunshine).
Tight composition = more face detail.
Keep the kids happy while you work!

[jd_D60]

One other question,
is the catchlight facility any good for outdoor photography ?

[rdenney]

Pekka wrote:
Just few thoughts:

From that distance use F8 @ 50mm or less.
Line up kids so that lineup is not too deep.
Take care that shadows do not fall on faces (happens easily with multiple flash systems)
I'd use Manual mode + flash in ETTL.
ISO 200 is easier for flash.
Take couple of shots without flash if light is good (no direct sunshine).
Tight composition = more face detail.
Keep the kids happy while you work!



The only thing I'd add is to make sure that the ambient light doesn't overexpose the image with the manual settings in use.

I'd also arrange the children in an arc with the camera at the center, as long as the DOF at f/8 is enough (it should be). The more consistent the distance from flash to child, the more even the illumination.

Rick "who thinks even the nose flash will give you catchlights" Denney