Large GROUP people - photography

[AussieCat]

I have been using the 400d with basic lens 18-55.

I have a new 40D with the 17-85 is usm lens. that i have yet to use.

I have been doind social events photography.

i have found an issue with the lighting not being smoothed out and balanaced

so i bought the gary fong lightspear diffuser

yet to use it but i know i have to start usinga diffuser.

anyhow - i am facing an issue with the lighting and poor quality whne i do group shots where there are more than say 5 people in the frame.

anything from 5-50 people the lighting seems to be pooerer than than what i like

(for indoors only im talking about)

i have not bee usinga tripod, and i have not been going lower that 1/50 or 1/60 of a second for shuuter speed,

i am guessing that these are the main 2 issues.

see - i have been shooting at about 1/60 shuuter speed and when doing group shots i have a n appature of about f9-f13

i get afraid to use say 3.5 or 4 f stop as then the focus may from the lens may not be in the whole group....

i love the lighting and backdrop colours when i use 3.5 f stop but the focus is not the best for gripus shiotrs so i revret to f stop 9-13.

my probelm is, the lighting is then worse and i feel i need a tripos so i can go down to a slower shutter speeed....


pleasds- can u guys please share your thoiughts on what settings are best when u are doing gropus shots indoors.

do i have to use a f stop of say 9-13 to have a moe broad focus on the group?

and if i do this, do i then need a tripod to compensate for the lack of light and lack of not usinga nice slow shutter speed?

etc....

please help

details answers appreciated


.

also i have been told the new 40d with the 17-85 lens is so much better as u dont need a tripos as much as u can go to lower shutter speeds without shack....

[snapmando]

I would suggest, possibly bouncing your flash (The 580 EX) off the ceiling. That spreads out the lighting in the room. But if it's a high ceiling, that becomes less effective. A white ceiling is prefered when bouncing. Once you have everyone positioned where you want them, pre focus on the middle row. Make sure and use F11 or F16. This will insure that eventhough you pre focused on the middle row, the front and back row people will be in focus too.

Another Tip:

Large Family Portraits can be a chore, one person usually always gets caught with their eyes closed.

So, I got a tip for you that will rid you of this. Once you have everyone positioned where you want them, pre focus on the middle row. Make sure and use F11 or F16.

Now tell them "We're gonna play a little game".

Ask everyone to close their eyes and smile, tell them, Only open them when I say to you. "Open"

Now your role once you say "Open", is to wait 2 seconds and then snap the picture.

This is a sure way of never taking a shot, with someones eyes closed.

After you take the shot, you can explain why you told them to do that.

BTW, this trick works all the time....

GoodLuck & Happy Holidays

[AussieCat]

thanks for this tip

it seems to be a duplicate from another post but cheers anyhow.


its good advice.

I would suggest, possibly bouncing your flash (The 580 EX) off the ceiling. That spreads out the lighting in the room. But if it's a high ceiling, that becomes less effective. A white ceiling is prefered when bouncing. Once you have everyone positioned where you want them, pre focus on the middle row. Make sure and use F11 or F16. This will insure that eventhough you pre focused on the middle row, the front and back row people will be in focus too.

Another Tip:

Large Family Portraits can be a chore, one person usually always gets caught with their eyes closed.

So, I got a tip for you that will rid you of this. Once you have everyone positioned where you want them, pre focus on the middle row. Make sure and use F11 or F16.

Now tell them "We're gonna play a little game".

Ask everyone to close their eyes and smile, tell them, Only open them when I say to you. "Open"

Now your role once you say "Open", is to wait 2 seconds and then snap the picture.

This is a sure way of never taking a shot, with someones eyes closed.

After you take the shot, you can explain why you told them to do that.

BTW, this trick works all the time....

GoodLuck & Happy Holidays

[AussieCat]

anyone else?



thanks for this tip

it seems to be a duplicate from another post but cheers anyhow.


its good advice.