bungee
22nd of August 2007 (Wed), 11:39
I made a quick trip up to Edinburgh this weekend just past to see Colm Byrne's new play Choke Point. Colm is an LA based writer and an old friend. The play's successful premier in Edinburgh should now see it move to New York.
An hour before the play was due to start Colm asked me if I would take some photographs for him. As I had my gear I agreed but I was understandably nervous having never done any performing arts photography. How I would have loved to have shot a quick query to this forum asking for tips but I was on my own.
The only restrictions were
i) no flash
ii) no moving about - as I would interfere with the audience view in the small theatre
iii) no access to the theatre beforehand - shows are run back-to-back during the Fringe
iv) keep noise down if possible
v) the light would be low and/or varying
vi) the actors do not stay still
vii) I will be in complete darkness
Technique : (please criticise as I made it up)
I set up a tripod and with shortened legs I used it mostly sitting down in the front row to keep out of the audience view. All shots were taken with a 17-55 IS on a 400D (XTi) @ ISO 1600. I tried a mix of manual focus - too cumbersome with the actors moving - and selecting individual focus points (worked OK for framing once I had an idea of where the action was happening). I tried to stay wide open for single actor shots but had to decrease aperture up to f/5 for multiple actors to get better DOF. I used average meter mode (no spot on the 400D) and single shot. I also used AV and AI servo. The shutter was fired using a wireless remote.
In retrospect I don't know how helpful the tripod was and most of the shots could have been handled with the IS. The tripod cost me some shots through being cumbersome (it's a Gitzo CF with a ball head) but improved some over the IS in very low light (where the actor finally stayed still for a second). I was acutely aware of the sound of the shutter sounding like a gun going off during quiet moments though the actors later said they were aware but unperturbed by it. Whether the audience were disturbed I'll never know.
I was reasonably pleased with these first shots and then (as mates do) I was asked - this time on even shorter notice - if I might take some more of the final part of the play. After rushing off to get my gear I only just caught the end of the play but I had set up the camera and lens on the tripod while in the taxi so I could run in and start immediately. I shot from a different angle this time but had some problems with one blue light that seemed to throw the exposure off on the odd shot. In the end I got what I wanted as the cast, writer and producer were very pleased with the results,
though i'm sure it could have been easier and the shots could have been better.
That's it. Sorry about the double pic post but I don't have a web site yet. Please c&c the pics and the technique. I would love to do this again.
An hour before the play was due to start Colm asked me if I would take some photographs for him. As I had my gear I agreed but I was understandably nervous having never done any performing arts photography. How I would have loved to have shot a quick query to this forum asking for tips but I was on my own.
The only restrictions were
i) no flash
ii) no moving about - as I would interfere with the audience view in the small theatre
iii) no access to the theatre beforehand - shows are run back-to-back during the Fringe
iv) keep noise down if possible
v) the light would be low and/or varying
vi) the actors do not stay still
vii) I will be in complete darkness
Technique : (please criticise as I made it up)
I set up a tripod and with shortened legs I used it mostly sitting down in the front row to keep out of the audience view. All shots were taken with a 17-55 IS on a 400D (XTi) @ ISO 1600. I tried a mix of manual focus - too cumbersome with the actors moving - and selecting individual focus points (worked OK for framing once I had an idea of where the action was happening). I tried to stay wide open for single actor shots but had to decrease aperture up to f/5 for multiple actors to get better DOF. I used average meter mode (no spot on the 400D) and single shot. I also used AV and AI servo. The shutter was fired using a wireless remote.
In retrospect I don't know how helpful the tripod was and most of the shots could have been handled with the IS. The tripod cost me some shots through being cumbersome (it's a Gitzo CF with a ball head) but improved some over the IS in very low light (where the actor finally stayed still for a second). I was acutely aware of the sound of the shutter sounding like a gun going off during quiet moments though the actors later said they were aware but unperturbed by it. Whether the audience were disturbed I'll never know.
I was reasonably pleased with these first shots and then (as mates do) I was asked - this time on even shorter notice - if I might take some more of the final part of the play. After rushing off to get my gear I only just caught the end of the play but I had set up the camera and lens on the tripod while in the taxi so I could run in and start immediately. I shot from a different angle this time but had some problems with one blue light that seemed to throw the exposure off on the odd shot. In the end I got what I wanted as the cast, writer and producer were very pleased with the results,
though i'm sure it could have been easier and the shots could have been better.
That's it. Sorry about the double pic post but I don't have a web site yet. Please c&c the pics and the technique. I would love to do this again.