Toga Party

[tim1960]

I've been asked to photograph a toga party next week for a group of high school kids, one which is my son. I'm concerned with blowing the "all white sheets". Anyone ever had the same opportunity? What do you recommend for flash and camera settings? ( I know all situations are different ) I'll be using 20D, 430EX with flash bracket and 28-135 for this. I may even use the 70-200 2.8 but not as primary. The lighting where this event will be held should be OK but it has very high ceilings. Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks,
Tim

[Pete]

Thought about just hanging a bedsheet off a door and taking shots of it? High ceilings won't be too good for bouncing the flash, so just cut back on the FEC.

[Dellboy]

If the ceilings are too high you'll have to use direct flash so a good diffuser will help or shoot available light. A mix of both would be good.

Too get whites white you'll have too set flash compensation too betwen + 1/3 and + 1 2/3 depending on how much white is in the shot. So blowing them out shouldn't be a problem with no FEC. I'd set it to a positive value with a view to playing it safe plenty of chimping should ensure plenty of keepers.

Good Luck.

[tim1960]

Thanks for the replys.

Pete - good idea about the bedsheet. I'll definetly give that a try.

Tim

[RuggerJoe]

The sheets will reflect more light. Wouldn't you want to use a -FEC? Or do I have my thinking backwards?

[Pete]

I think Dell's right Joe. The exposure meter naturally assumes an 18% reflectivity for reflected light, so it'll think that the white sheets would be overexposed, so you'll end up with grey sheets (in the same way that you get grey snow if you happen to shoot snow). For these shots, you need to increase the exposure slightly to get white looking white.

I got it wrong on my first reply, but Dell reminded me.