Half time ceremonies at HS Football game...

[MT Stringer]

I'm not sure how to prepare for this upcoming game. I think I will have enough light to shoot the game without flash.

BUT, this game is parents night and the players will be escorting their parents. Still not sure if this is will happen before the game starts or at half time. The parent is researching this for me.

What would you use to shoot the half time ceremonies?

My equipment - Canon 20d, Sigma 18-50 f/2.8, or Sigma 70-200 f/2.8, 430EX and Off shoe cord 2. Monopod with homemade flash bracket mounted below the camera.

I'm trying to eliminate/minimize red-eye.

Any suggestions appreciated.
Thanks
Mike

[Curtis N]

Ideally I think you would want a flash bracket to mount the flash above the camera and use your short lens. But this will only eliminate redeye if you're really close, and moving both camera and flash from your monopod to the flash bracket may not be worth the trouble. When shooting chearleaders at HS football games, I used a flash bracket once but still got redeye quite a bit because of the distance involved. So I decided the bracket wasn't worth the hassle.

You could leave the flash mounted low on your monopod, but this might limit your mobility somewhat and slow you down when alternating between horizontal and vertical shots.

I think I would take the expedient route, mount the flash on the camera, use the short lens and deal with the redeye in post. But I don't think there's any single approach that doesn't have certain disadvantages, so it's a judgment call.

A green gel on your flash designed to match fluorescent lights will help you adjust the white balance in post to something more realistic. Sodium vapor lights are nasty.

http://performancephoto.smugmug.com/photos/204598328-L.jpg

[MT Stringer]

Thanks Curtis. I appreciate the help.
Mike