Can I shoot a balet concert with my gear ?

[cmM]

I was invited to shoot a balet concert (rehearsals). I did not answer, because I dont know if I could do it. The stage us pretty low lit (spotlights and stuff like that)....
Could I do it with my DRebel with a 85mm f/1.8 (rented) on a monopod (without flash) ? I could get pretty close to the stage.

I've never done this before. What do you think? CDS :?:

[CoolToolGuy]

It depends how close you can get, but between your 50mm and the 85mm you should have it covered. I say that based on several events in a high school auditorium where there is about 20 feet from the stage to the front row of seats. An f1.8 lens is a godsend for this environment. :wink:

In situations like this I set the ISO to 200 and the white balance to the bulb setting. This has worked fine for me with plays and concerts. The challenge for you might be getting a shutter speed fast enough to stop a moving dancer. Look for the stopped moments. I was not happy with ISO 400 in this setting, but it will give you an extra stop, and there is post processing software to help you reduce the noise if you can't live with the results at ISO 200. I haven't used any of those tools, but others swear by them. 8)

Hope this helps.

Have Fun,

[cmM]

Yea, it does help.
I think I'll give it a try. I'll do it for free for them (or a minimal price), so they can't scream if i mess up. It's known by now that I'm no pro...

[CoolToolGuy]

I forgot to second the motion on the monopod. I think it is a must have.

Have Fun,

[CyberDyneSystems]

cmM

YES!!!

Those two lenses will have plenty of light for the job.. (it's hard to find brighter lenses!)

Obviously a lot hinges on the ballets lighting.. but if the lighting designer is competent.. then she/he will know that a Ballet requires a lot of light!

IF not.. well,. even a folowspot will bale you out :)

I do all my Ballet shoots with a 70-200mm f/2.8 and the 50mm f/1.8


Some day I WILL own the 85mm... but for now I am getting by with the 2.8 zoom :)

But I am NOT there official photog,. so I have to stay back.. thus the zoom. Were I "Tom" there official photog,. I would be using the same 85mm he uses,. :wink: as he can get right up close.

Expect to shoot ISO 800.. and depending on lighting you will want to shoot either shutter priority at 160 or faster... or perhaps in AV at wide open.

The key with Ballet is to get yourself accustomed to the timing of the dance.. in ballet.. ALL great dance has "beats" or moments where the dancers "hold a pose"... get tuned into these beats,. and even with a slow 1/125th or even 1/60th shutter.. you can often pull off a miracle!

White balance is impossible to preset,. as the lighting constantly changes.. you can use auto.. (I do) but shooting in RAW will help a lot!

Thus make sure you have plenty of cards!

Interestingly,. as much as I love a monopod on a nature hike with a long lens.. I never use one in the theatre.. :?

I guess that might have to do with trying to maintain a low profile.

Again,. if you are being askd to be there for the Dance company,. that gives you more leeway. I am only there as the Ballet's guest. So I try to be as inobtrusive as possible.

[cmM]

thanks CDS !
A lot of good advice.

I gotta get another CF card..... I only have one 512MB

[CyberDyneSystems]

Chicago..?

IS it Joffrey?

Say Hi to the the Tech guys backstage,. ask them if the Remember "Keith Prisco" ...

[cmM]

LOL :D
you really think those guys would rely on a noob like me?

It's a community balet school in the richer northern suburbs. They put out quite a good show last year though.

[drisley]

This winter I shot a bodybuilding show with my Rebel and 50mm F1.8.
I was in the 4th row, and at F2.0 I was shooting 1/60sec at ISO400, and 1/125sec at ISO800 (handheld).
I learned from that show not to be afraid of high ISO's as long as your exposure is correct, or slightly overexposed. The noise is amost non-existent.
I have another show to shoot this wknd, and I will definately be using ISO800 and 1600 since the noise is so low.
I bought the 85mm F1.8 for this show, and it should be awesome.
From the 4th row, I was able to capture most of the stage with a 50mm lens, and should be able to focus more on one or two subjects at a time with the 85mm.
The lighting at a ballet will be a little more soft, but I'm not sure if the overall luminance will be lower.
Again, do not be afraid to use ISO800 or 1600 as long as your exposures are correct.
Here are the images I shot, although they are cropped somewhat.

http://www.sharpnsmart.com/mabba2004/index.htm

[cmM]

while I was deciding on the answer..... they found themselves another photographer. :evil: I just found out a couple hours ago.

Oh well... maybe next year. :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[dn7elson]

while I was deciding on the answer..... they found themselves another photographer.

Timing is everything. Why don't you ask them if you can't just come in and shoot along with the other photographer so you can be ready for the next time. Stranger things have happened than having your shots be better than the chosen photographer. If nothing else, it will be wonderful experience, both from a technical standpoint as well as confidence building.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Ditto,... I'd certianly try for the experience if possible... and look a it this way.. now tere is no pressure :D

[timmyquest]

I think that will be plenty, these were taken with my 50mm f/1.8

http://www.antiwall.com/grind-your-beans/images/0131.jpg

http://www.antiwall.com/grind-your-beans/images/0116.jpg

http://www.antiwall.com/grind-your-beans/images/0020.jpg

[cmM]

:? I don't know.... I'll try and see what they say. I don't have much hope though.

[dtrayers]

You shouldn't have any problem...

Here's the gallery of shots I took for a non-profit dance group my daughters are involved in.

http://www.pbase.com/dtrayers/rbda

The were taken with a D-Rebel and either my 85mm f/1.8 or 50mm f/1.8.

I shot them all during rehersals, mostly hand held, no flash, ISO1600.


http://www.pbase.com/image/29179523/medium.jpg

[jgbeam]

Too bad you lost the shoot but you should try to shoot along with the photographer they selected - he (she?) might be glad to offer some tips. I shot a ballet a couple of weeks ago, Midsummer Nights Dream, which has some dim lighting in some scenes. I used a 300D with a 24-70 f/2.8 L, tungsten white balance, ISO = 800, Tv=1/125. During dress rehearsal I was usually standing about 10 feet in front of the stage. I also shot one of the shows from stage left for a different perspective.

RAW vs jpeg depends on what you are going to do with the images. I found the biggest problem I had was filling the buffer too quickly with large jpegs. For dance, you need to shoot rapidly because the dancers forms can change so quickly. Unless you are only going to shoot the Dying Swan, you need to take a LOT of shots. I probably shot close to 1,000 images during this ballet. Quite often, I would fire off a half dozen or so shots because the action required it and then had to wait for several seconds while the camera wrote the files to the card and I stood and watched some potentially good shots go by. I got around this problem by going to medium jpegs.

My goal was to capture as many good images as possible, compile them on a CD and sell them to parents and friends of the dancers (this was a ballet school). For this purpose, the medium jpegs were just fine. Most of the shots will simply be viewed on a computer screen and never get printed. Many will get emailed and the smaller files are better for this purpose anyway. But I did print a few images, without post-processing, and they came out great. My advice would be to avoid raw unless you will be satisfied with taking fewer shots. My preference is to get as many good compositions as possible instead of fewer, less well-composed, but higher quality images.

Because of this experience, I have ordered a 1D Mk II so I can have it both ways.

Jim

[drisley]

Nice Dtrayers! I really like the Sad Old Red picture #crw_4601.jpg .
I cant wait to try out the 85mm in the theatre this wknd.!