Stage Photography - any useful advice

[jd_D60]

Hi folks, dipping into this wonderful pool of knowledge again;

I have been asked to photograph the rehersal for a childrens stage play soon and wondering what advice can be offered. The shots will probably by staged poses.

I've decided to take my two 500W Elinchrom flash units rather than the 550EX for my 10D. Probably my 24-70 f4 lens

I shoot RAW anyway, and i'll have no problems shooting at ISO 100

As I;ll by shooting during the day natural light will be available by low.

The sort of info which would be useful

Light setup (I have two)
Preferred shooting mode (AV etc)
and anything extra I have forgotton or don't yet know

I do read every reply so please feel free to reply even if its just a useful www link.

[DaveG]

Hi folks, dipping into this wonderful pool of knowledge again;

I have been asked to photograph the rehersal for a childrens stage play soon and wondering what advice can be offered. The shots will probably by staged poses.

I've decided to take my two 500W Elinchrom flash units rather than the 550EX for my 10D. Probably my 24-70 f4 lens

I shoot RAW anyway, and i'll have no problems shooting at ISO 100

As I;ll by shooting during the day natural light will be available by low.

The sort of info which would be useful

Light setup (I have two)
Preferred shooting mode (AV etc)
and anything extra I have forgotton or don't yet know

I do read every reply so please feel free to reply even if its just a useful www link.

I used to shoot a lot of amateur stage play shots for newspapers, so I'll plow ahead. Most of my experience is with teen and older actors, so take whatever you want from this when you shoot younger kids.

First I'd never want to do a shoot like this at the real dress rehearsal, and for reasons that will soon be obvious. Just before the D R would be fine. The actors would be fresh, interested, and in costume.

If you are REALLY on a stage, get them to turn on ALL of the lights. If you have to set up lights then you'll have to decide where to put them.

Now I was always after a PHOTOGRAPH at these assignments. A photograph in this context is not a group shot, but that's what's often in the director's head. And almost always the director is looking to a) consolidate their power and b) recognise everyone.

When I showed up I had to change things for my shot, because this is film NOT theatre, if you follow me. It's fine during the performance that Suzie is on that side of the stage while George is five meters away. But it's way too loose to shoot with a camera. So I'd start off by getting them closer together, and many times much closer. Then I'd turn one of the characters away from the other, even though they would be looking at each other in the play's reality. I just want to see BOTH of their faces in this shot.

In acting I've always heard that listening is very important. Sadly listening sucks in a still photo, so I'd often ask both characters to say their lines over each other. If YOU talk while I'm talking it makes me mad and creates some tension, and that's OK in a shot like this. In any case both characters are now doing something.

Meanwhile, while all of this is going on, the director is over there just fuming and mumbling. "That's not in the play... They are much farther away ..." You've taken control from them and they don't like it a bit. But you must compose a good shot with some impact. And that impact can only be visual. The newspaper reader hears not one word of the play when they see this shot, so the have to be moved in another way and most amateur theatre director's are oblivious to this.

The other thing as I mentioned is that they'll want EVERYONE in the shot. And a group photo is NOT a photograph. At least one that would be used as a promo in a newspaper, and you should be trying to shoot to at least that standard.

A few years ago, and on a Sunday afternoon, I was contacted directly at the newspaper by a highschool teacher/director. He was in a panic since he forgot to ask for a promo shoot, which the paper would do if it could. I had nothing to do so I checked with the paper's Art's editor and he gave me permission to go ahead.

I arrived and he was so happy. "What do you have in mind?" he asked. The play was Grease (I still remember the poodle skirts) so I said, "Well perhaps I could have the male and female lead, and a couple of the other actors, to have in the background." "Sure that sounds terrific. Thanks again. Listen I have to make a couple of phone calls. Mrs. Jones will take care of you."

Oh oh.

"Hi Mrs Jones ..." "Yes we want six people in this shot." Oh good I could see this coming. "No ma'am I would like to use four actors. It'll be a much stronger shot and is likely to get used bigger in the paper. So could you please get ..." After a dirty look from her she said, "Well how about seven actors?" NO KIDDING!!! I couldn't believe it, alothough for some reason I expected it! I refused to shoot six and she asked for seven!

At this point I had had enough. So I held up four fingers and said, "FOUR, I WANT FOUR PEOPLE!" and she finally did what I asked!

But from her perspective she wanted recognition for ALL of the kids not just the "stars". But I had to make a good photo or it wouldn't get run. For you perhaps you could do both shots, to make your "Mrs. Jones" happy. But make sure you do the shot to make YOU happy too.

[jd_D60]

DaveG

thanks very much for taking the time to respond in as much details as you have, yu highlight several important factors which I endeavour to take on board.

thanks once again

[jgbeam]

You haven't said what the photos will be used for or who has asked you to shoot them. It will make a difference. I do staged promo shots and head shots for a community theatre and shoot dress rehearsals for the same theatre as well as for a children's dance school. Here's what I have learned:

Try to attend a rehearsal before the actual shoot. Discuss the shots with the director.You will get some good ideas about how you want to set up your shots. A few test shots at that time will tell you if the stage lighting will work or not. If colors are being used heavily, you may need to work with the lighting person to eliminate the colored lights for your shots to avoid excessive color correction in post processing.

For promo shots and dress rehearsals, use the stage lighting. Some fill flash may be appropriate for the promo shots, but stage lighting is usually adequate. Head shots, of course, require a portrait setup.

I find that shooting with a 2.8 lens, a shutter speed of 1/125 in Tv mode at ISO 800 usually works fine, even for dance, as long as the lighting is halfway decent.

Spotlights are murder. Hard to avoid blown highlights without exposure compensation or spot metering.

Technical considerations aside, during dress rehearsals, take lots of shots. Lots. Many will be throwaways, especially with kids. I typically take several hundred shots during a dress rehearsal.

You can also do a search on the forum. This topic comes up from time-to-time and there have been some good ideas posted before.

Jim Grant

[jd_D60]

jgbeam

I was asked to shoot the photos by the Headmaster partly to promote the show (on display stands) and then available for parents to purchase if they wish.

I attended the rehersal yesterday and was FORTUNATE that I got my 2 x 500W lights half decent despite the dimensions of the stage (far bigger than my small home studio.

I synched by lights at 1/200 f12-14 ISO 200 and using the histogram judged by eye the exposure (as my lightmeter wouldn't reach the stage.

Printed 2 dozens proofs off earlier and the school appear very pleased - I guess they would say that.

Your advice is good and I grateful you took the time to respond, I will post a few images to show some of the results, mybe If you pick up the thread again you might comment of them.

John