Finals of a band contest (Grand Prix of The Netherlands)

[Mike Philippens]

Some shots of the finals of a Dutch Band Contest (the HipHop/RnB leg of it that is) in Paradiso, Amsterdam (12/9/06).

#1-Grootmeester Jan (Grandmaster John)
http://www.philippens.net/concertpix/d/4293-1/da2b8184.jpg

#2-GMJ met een attitude
http://www.philippens.net/concertpix/d/4305-1/da2b8207.jpg

#3-Shock-E
http://www.philippens.net/concertpix/d/4315-1/da2b8230.jpg

#4-Blaxtar means business
http://www.philippens.net/concertpix/d/4353-1/da2b8337.jpg

#5-Singer of Perry Mystique
http://www.philippens.net/concertpix/d/4367-1/da2b8361.jpg

#6-Perry himself
http://www.philippens.net/concertpix/d/4371-1/da2b8376.jpg

#7-GMB
http://www.philippens.net/concertpix/d/4393-1/da2b8453.jpg

#8-A shining Blaxtar hears he won the contest
http://www.philippens.net/concertpix/d/4425-1/da2b8548.jpg

More fun from the finals at my Gallery (http://www.philippens.net/concertpix/v/concerts/finale_ggpnl/).

This was by the way the first time that I dared to use ISO800 on my 1D. I tried it before, but the result was terrible. After some tips from other forum members I tried not to underexpose this time and it worked perfectly. With some aid of Noise Ninja to remove the worst I'm very happy with the result. Also, the lighting was quite bright at Paradiso, so that helped too. For some people the noise will be too much, but I'm very satisfied with this result. Still...I'm getting a MkII in a couple of months and keep my 1D as backup body.

[Mike Philippens]

Just one more (couldn't resist) of the winner and some members of his family and his son (or nephew?) carrying the trophy:

http://www.philippens.net/concertpix/d/4435-1/da2b8561.jpg

[narlus]

This was by the way the first time that I dared to use ISO800 on my 1D

are you serious??? you'd shoot 640 or lower, or use flash?

my god, even my 350D got perfectly fine shots @ 1600 w/ no Noise Ninja or the like.

i can't see the EXIF but there looks to be loads of available light.

on to the photos, #4 is the best by far. not a big fan of the lean/slant images of the last two.

[Mike Philippens]

are you serious??? you'd shoot 640 or lower, or use flash?
my god, even my 350D got perfectly fine shots @ 1600 w/ no Noise Ninja or the like.
It's a matter of light. I've been at a lot of gigs with terrible light. Remember the 1D doesn't have the CMOS that your 350D has. It produces a lot more noise than your 350D.

[René Damkot]

I like #4 and #9 (nice expressions). On #3 it would have been nice to see the background ('Grote Prijs' and 'Grolsch') a bit better...
Looks like you used flash on 7/9 images. Why? A bit too much IMO in some cases.

On the noise: What noise?
I've shot a 1D at ISO 1600 if needed. Not too much noise IMO (http://www.atak.nl/plaatjes/actpics/051105rockarty/rhd20051105RArt096.jpg). (No noise reduction done)

[johnstoy]

the picture quality and framing is excellent...

the mikes in the mouth and the elbow in seven are a bit of a distraction though...

I shot at ISO 1600, and now am comfortable with just 1250...Have no problems with grain...It's only after extensive sharpening that the noise surfaces...

thanks for sharing...

John

[livewire-photography.com]

Im with john on the framing and quality, nice set, me likes No.s 1 and 4,

Rene, im being a bit stupid, but are you saying the 1D is not that good (noise wise) at 1600? or u saying u dont have to go tht high with it cuz its faster??? sorry to ask i feel stupid asking but thought id better lol
Cheers
James...

[DwightMcCann]

Do any of these people play instruments or do they just chant? It is hard to tell this is a musical performance with no instruments showing ... these guys could be giving a speech. :-) No women? As for noise reduction on 1D Mark II[N], I don't use any noise reduction and the only time I am dissatisfied is at 3200, although there is some noise in the darker areas of high ISO images.

[Mike Philippens]

Do any of these people play instruments or do they just chant?
It's rap/hiphop/RnB, so mostly singing/rapping. Some had a band of sorts to accompany the lyrics, some had a DJ.

@johnstoy: try taking a photograph of a rapper (in action) without a mike in/at the mouth :lol: Next to impossible... And 7 was 100% intentional. I thought it was an interesting pose, but it may not be everybodies cup of tea.

@rene: I used flash in all images, but if you look closely at the shadows you see that the flash doesn't disturb anything. I had it dialed back all the way (-1 3/4 FEC) so it's just a tad of fill flash. The lighting was very bright (the opposite of what I experienced for example in 013) and the flash helps to soften the shadows.
The noise is not a big problem in these pictures because of the bright light. But you know that it's not always that bright, and the 1D doen't quite cut it if there is poor light. This time I was able to use Av, but in poor lighting it suggests shutter times of half a second or something. So then I put it at M and use flash (also dialed back quite a bit) to compensate.

[livewire-photography.com]

Cheers Dwight! im still saving for one, hopefully Santa will deliver the good LOL
James...

[René Damkot]

I used flash in all images, but if you look closely at the shadows you see that the flash doesn't disturb anything.

Bit too much for my taste in a few images, okay in others. Didn't notice it in 2 ;)

and the 1D doen't quite cut it if there is poor light. This time I was able to use Av, but in poor lighting it suggests shutter times of half a second or something. So then I put it at M and use flash (also dialed back quite a bit) to compensate.

Sounds like underexposing and then pulling up. That *does* give noise. Lots of it.

in 013

[hears a bell ringing] Didn't we meet at may 5th there? I had been photographing 'Dutch Rare Groove' (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=191334). Name sounds familiar... There was someone with a Canon using fill flash. I asked about that.

Rene, im being a bit stupid, but are you saying the 1D is not that good (noise wise) at 1600? or u saying u dont have to go tht high with it cuz its faster??? sorry to ask i feel stupid asking but thought id better lol

I'm saying I don't find the 1D (either version) to be excessively noisey at 1600. ISO 3200 is very usable on the Mk2 IMO.

[Mike Philippens]

Sounds like underexposing and then pulling up. That *does* give noise. Lots of it.
Yeah, but...if there's not light, I don't see another way... Or is there?
[hears a bell ringing] Didn't we meet at may 5th there?
Nope, it wasn't me.
I'm saying I don't find the 1D (either version) to be excessively noisey at 1600. ISO 3200 is very usable on the Mk2 IMO.
It depends... If there's enough light, it's not a problem. But if you're in a situation where you can't expose properly, the CCD is not an advantage I guess.

I'm not the professor on photography. If there is something I need to learn to prevent underexposing in very low light situations, I'm open to suggestions. I know that a properly exposed image is the best way to avoid excessive noise, but what if the situations forces you to underexpose? I use flash to fill in the gap but it that the best way then?

[René Damkot]

Hhmmm. If I can't get the image at f/1.4; 1/30 ISO 3200 (Mk2 here ;)) I try to freeze the action at a slower speed by using good timing and a monopod. If that doesn't work, I'll use flash, or put the camera away.
I try to expose as close to 'good' as possible however.
As a last resort, there is noise reduction software.
Post #14 and further here (http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=222969) might be of interest.

[Mike Philippens]

Thanks, that helps! Monopod is not always an option, but if possible... Also IS lenses should help a bit. On the other hand...it's better to try and fail then not to try at all. So I'll always try to get the shot I want. I can always discard it later.

[gcobb]

It almost looks like someone is saying the XT has less noise at 1600 than the 1D. That just doesn't compute to me. There are a few times where I have horrible noise from the XT at 1600, f/1.8.

[René Damkot]

It almost looks like someone is saying the XT has less noise at 1600 than the 1D.

1D Mk1? I think so, yes.

That just doesn't compute to me. There are a few times where I have horrible noise from the XT at 1600, f/1.8.


Read the links I gave above, and expose properly.
Also, shoot some ISO 1600 film once in a while. Helps to keep things in prespective ;)

[Mike Philippens]

Read the links I gave above, and expose properly.
True. Maybe not everybody knows that the 1D has a CCD sensor and is not designed to be noise-free low-light shooter. It's a 'F1 meets Hummer' among the camera's build for speed and handling. The more modern CMOS sensor have much less noise, but if you want, you can get terrible noise at ISO100 with any camera...