Penn State Pioneers Banquet: My first MAJOR EVENT! C&C please!

[JtheVGKing]

Hey guys, I just lucked into my first major event that has put my foot in the door of my decent little town: State College, PA (home of Penn State). Not only might I get published, but I got paid to do it! sort of...

Anyway, these are pics of the Penn State Pioneers: Class of 1957 banquet dinner that took place Friday, June 1st at the Penn Stater Conference Center in State College, PA. All were taken using the Rebel XT and either the 10-22 Ultrawide or the 50mm f/1.4 (first time using both lenses!). Also, I didn't use any form of flash. Comments and criticism sincerely appreciated, as this is my first step into the world of event photography and I want to learn all I can!

#1
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y197/JtheVGKing/Penn%20State%20Pioneers/PSAA.jpg

#2
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y197/JtheVGKing/Penn%20State%20Pioneers/grahampodiummascotcrop.jpg
That's the president of Penn State btw, and that lion dancing behind him-the school's mascot!

#3
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y197/JtheVGKing/Penn%20State%20Pioneers/crazystacheCU.jpg

#4
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y197/JtheVGKing/Penn%20State%20Pioneers/rayglow.jpg
This is the event piano player btw, and got some great shots of him playing, but this one beat out all of them!

#5
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y197/JtheVGKing/Penn%20State%20Pioneers/guywithmedalchillin1.jpg

#6
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y197/JtheVGKing/Penn%20State%20Pioneers/epicguy-2.jpg

#7
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y197/JtheVGKing/Penn%20State%20Pioneers/MISC2.jpg

#8
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y197/JtheVGKing/Penn%20State%20Pioneers/waiterinmindwide.jpg

It was EXTREMELY hard to choose just 8, but I had to do it. It's a decent sampling of my entire set I guess. You can check out the other pics from the event in the following link, and tell me what you think. I have a few other "trippy" ones (including the piano player) that I'd probably call my favorite (in my top 10 overall), but they're not commercial, so they didn't make this top 8.

Anyway, thanks so much for reading my ramblings, and perusing my pics, I really appreciate it!

Jordan

[JtheVGKing]

The website for the rest of the pics is as follows:

http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y197/JtheVGKing/Penn%20State%20Pioneers/

Thanks guys.

[taygull]

Not sure how these are performing arts?

I'd say you need to work a bit on using fill flash, why would you not use flash? These are are not stage or performance shots. Although the perspective in the last two is good the most important thing to remember when doing event photography is to capture faces. In these two you have the backsides??? A few of them seem soft as well, the fill flash and maybe a better work flow on your post would help that.

Probably the biggest problem is shooting at f/2, you are just not going to get the greatest quality of these types of shots shooting so wide open.

Also don't forget the passion and story is in the eyes, you can't see any of those in your shots.

[blackshadow]

Some very nice images there but I have to agree with all of taygull's comments including how are these considered performing arts?

[johnstoy]

It certainly looks like one of those event's I'd have to drive clear cross state to attend... Been meaning to make it to one of those at my old school...

#5 scares me a little... You cut the guy to show the bartender in the background...

Certainly interesting faces...probably destined for the "People" section Jordan...

[moemoe6434]

we are...... PENN STATE! i am an alum.

I like the picture of graham Spanier, i lost to him and his partner at raquetteball true story..... of course it helps that his partner was a woman olympic medal winner. :)

[JtheVGKing]

Thx for the comments guys. And I know it doesn't really count as "performing arts," but it was an event, and I thought those belong here (guess not). And the reason I didn't use flash? Didn't receive my 430 EX yet and didn't want to use the crappy built in one ;) And while I agree that the passion and story is in the eyes, I don't agree that you CAN'T see that in ANY of my shots. Did you look at #3, the pic of the guy with that crazy ass mustache? His eyes are incredibly intense! And I purposefully made it that dark, as I like the menacing feel it promotes. Also, the solemn look in Ray Fortunado's eyes (the piano player, #4) lightens my soul a little. But again, thanks much for your comments, I really appreciate them, and I'll try to constantly keep your words in mind!

[InspiredGraphix]

I won't enter the debate of performing arts or not.

I think some of your shots are a little dark for me. I do like #2 though.

I love the ultrawide shots of the room too, very creative.

Rob

[taygull]

And while I agree that the passion and story is in the eyes, I don't agree that you CAN'T see that in ANY of my shots. Did you look at #3, the pic of the guy with that crazy ass mustache? His eyes are incredibly intense! And I purposefully made it that dark, as I like the menacing feel it promotes.

Understand when shooting an event clients usually are not looking for the "menacing feel" from attendees.


Also, the solemn look in Ray Fortunado's eyes (the piano player, #4) lightens my soul a little. But again, thanks much for your comments, I really appreciate them, and I'll try to constantly keep your words in mind!

Don't forget you asked for C&C not praise, my point is like the other comments you've now received is they are just to dark. The reason the eyes of Ray Fortunado "lightens your soul" is because you attended the event, got to know him, heard him play the piano, so you have something to relate to. To the rest of us they look slightly out of focus and there is no way to tell he is playing a piano.

If you are to shoot these types of events on a regular basis you will need to learn fill flash as well as get yourself a good flash bracket. Good luck and keep at it.

[JtheVGKing]

"Understand when shooting an event clients usually are not looking for the "menacing feel" from attendees."

Haha, thanks for the info ;)

Oh, and I know I didn't ask for praise, and if I sounded hostle in my response to your comments, forgive me, for I didn't intend it that way-I was just offering my viewpoint. Because I really do appreciate what you've told me, it's given me some things to think about. And yeah, I hate the fact that I couldn't use flash as well-but I have my 430EX in my hands (or more accurately on my camera) so I'm going to be using it from now on. Any good flash tips you could give me for events like these?

[taygull]

Yes,

The first would be to check out the Demb Flash bounce cards;

http://www.dembflashproducts.com/diffuser/

Mention I sent you. (Chris at Frisco Style Magazine)

They are fantastic and worth every penny. You need to learn to expose for the bright areas and let the flash fill the darker areas like the face.

The most common mistake people use in flash is the shutter speed is to fast. In order to have a nice balance of ambient light and flash you will want your shutter speed around 1/50 - 1/60. You will need to learn to read a histogram to check exposure.

I always use manual mode and will start with a setting of;

ISO 200
Shutter 1/60
f/stop f/5.6

I then will bump the iso if the histogram shows not enough light. If there is more light then I need (I doubt it) then I'll adjust the f/stop up to f/8.0. I shoot a bunch of events for the magazine and it is always a balancing act for correct exposure.

You also will need to learn how to use your "FEC", Flash Exposure Control". Visit the Flash section and spend a couple of weeks in there, along with practice and you will come back in a month as a new photographer.

Lastly, LEARN TO READ THE HISTOGRAM if you don't know.

[shesgotthepic]

Any good flash tips you could give me for events like these?

As this forum is about Performin Arts, I think you really should ask that question in People or some other subsection of this site that is more appropriately suited for the type of events you shoot.

Cheers

[JtheVGKing]

Thanks tay, I appreciate it. Time to get intimate with my flash!