Experts Look! What Would you do if...

[Eoseni]

You had to shoot this Extreme Bright/Shady Formals


Here's where the Couple wants their Formals:
In the shady area under the tree, on a similarly bright afternoon. As my first paid wedding, I'd like to get it as perfect as possible of course.

Her formals include groups of up to 10.
Bride's in WHITE. Groom in black. Everyone in the shade. Background as shown, and I don't want to overexpose the background or sky. Background can be out of focus, ideally, but still identifiable.

You are limited to (what I have):
20D, tripod, bracket, 580, 420EX., 42"disc reflector, an assistant, Sekonic L-358 flash/light meter, 24-135mm f3.5-5.6 Tamron, 50mm f1.4, 100mm macro f2.8.

Please comment especially, if possible, on:
1. Metering - in detail - so whites in fore-and background, are not overexposed.

2. Fill flash, EC, FEC, FEL ...all that good stuff. This is my MAIN concern: How to light them with only my flashes!
I read 580's IR won't work well in bright sun but I will attempt it. I might be limited to on-camera fill flash.

3. Methodology, i.e., step by step, what would you do first, second, third,...
I'm counting on the exemplary generosity of the folks in this forum... I'm very grateful. (Newgen, Jamie, Tim....and so many others)

I shoot RAW, Use Canon's DPP for post and PS7.

regards,
TW

[Rhinotherunt]

I sent you a PM on a PP technique...

[jamiewexler]

Here's what I would do:

- meter the scene exactly as you did for the example you posted, and lock it in as a Manual setting. Make sure your ISO is as low as you can go so you have the flexibility to bring the subjects up in post if necessary.

- It's only 10 people, so fill flash with a single on camera strobe. If you have time, set your flash on manual, your camera on a tripod and take a few test shots until you're just under the brides dress blinking.

- Don't worry so much if you're under by a stop or less, since you can bring up your subjects in PP if necessary.

Honestly, my biggest concern wouldn't be the DR issue, it would be the dapples of light coming through the tree. One dapple on dad's forhead will stand out, and is pretty much impossible to overcome with strobes (uless you bring them up to the intensity of the sun), and that will make everyone look overflashed!

Shoot, I might even be tempted to shoot this in P mode, with +2/3 to + 1 FEC...

[picturecrazy]

I agree, the little bits of light coming in through the leaves are the worst things to deal with.
If you have an assistant, maybe invest in a flag attached to a long boom. That way, if your assistant can hold it up high enough, he/she may be able to block all the splotches of light. If I don't have a flag on hand, I use an umbrella on a light stand to try and block the light.

Other than that, it's already been covered.

[amonline]

I'm not an expert quite yet, but I have VERY good portrait results by metering on FLESH while it's in the shade. (in the exact same conditions) ISO can be anything you prefer really; I just find that a little higher ISO than normal helps in the shade. Meter in on someones face, recompose and shoot... you should get great results. Try it... I think you'll see what I'm talking about. I will admit it's going to be harder with a group that big though.

[RobKirkwood]

I'm not an expert quite yet, but I have VERY good portrait results by metering on FLESH while it's in the shade. (in the exact same conditions) ISO can be anything you prefer really; I just find that a little higher ISO than normal helps in the shade. Meter in on someones face, recompose and shoot... you should get great results. Try it... I think you'll see what I'm talking about. I will admit it's going to be harder with a group that big though.You'll blow out the sky and possibly most of the background doing it this way. Jamie describes the sensible way of getting this shot in camera (rather than spending ages in PP comping different exposures).

...oh and another vote for avoiding the dappled light!

Rob

[amonline]

You'll blow out the sky and possibly most of the background doing it this way. Jamie describes the sensible way of getting this shot in camera (rather than spending ages in PP comping different exposures).

Weird... I'll have to go back and look at the settings of the image I'm thinking about because I remember the background being a beautiful blue nearly that of what the eye was able to distinguish. However, I will agree it's possible with that white building in the picture that this will happen with my method..

[tim]

I read 580's IR won't work well in bright sun but I will attempt it. [/B]I might be limited to on-camera fill flash.

You mean in master/slave? They don't work so well outside, but if you point the master flash head directly at the slave it's usually ok. I'm not sure why you'd want to bother doing that when you're outside anyway, just use on camera fill flash IMHO.

[Eoseni]

You mean in master/slave? They don't work so well outside, but if you point the master flash head directly at the slave it's usually ok. I'm not sure why you'd want to bother doing that when you're outside anyway, just use on camera fill flash IMHO.

Yes, In master/slave. I did this for the engagement session in shady areas and it worked quite nicely. I like the shape enhancing dimension side- lighting gives to a photo, and I fill it with the on-camera flash a little.