need advice on shooting play

[fishyone]

My daughters school is doing a play and asked me to be the photographer. I took some pics last night during dress rehearsal using custom white balance. My problem is the lighting changed so often that I wonder if I would have been better off in AWB. All pics with 20D and Sigma 70-200 2.8 or Canon 85 1.8, ISO 800 mostly. What can I do to improve these shots. They have another dress rehearsal later this week. Also I had problems exposing the captain in his black/white uniform under the spotlights. All shots taken in RAW and just converted to JPEG with EC bumped up a little.
http://creationspraise.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p317071811-4.jpg

http://creationspraise.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p51897333-4.jpg

http://creationspraise.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p75033437-4.jpg

http://creationspraise.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p623497777-4.jpg

[René Damkot]

Doing a CWB on an ungelled light will be good.
Setting WB to tungsten will get you in the ballpark as well.

If lights are dimmed they get yellower. Some lights might be gelled for effect, but I'd leave that (mostly) in, since it's intentional.

Shoot Raw, and worry about pleasing tones, rather then absolute accurate ;)

I'd use ISO 1600. IMO 1/250s can be a bit tricky at 200mm. Also, the ability to stop down for a bit more DoF might be nice to have...

[fishyone]

Thanks Rene, I did use a tripod and remote. Since I am shooting in RAW will I see a difference between a CWB and shooting in tungsten? Would I want to switch between the two depending on lighting?

[elader]

I always shoot theater raw and tweak color temperature during the one by one conversions. I almost excusively use the 85mm, dress in black, sit in front, and range from f/1.2-f/2.8 depending on whether the group I am shooting are parallel to me or staggered. I watch the shutter speed closely. Without IS, I try to keep the SS up at 1/16- or bettr and adjust ISo accordingly. I watch the rehearsal, learning where things happen. I shoot wach performance, each time shooting less, filling in the gaps from previous performances. Center focus point only.

You'll ifnd that the more you can fill the frame withthe subject, the better evaluative metering will work. If the stage is dark, subject is in spotlight, and doesnt fill enough of the frame, the camera will overexpose the subject. Shoot RAW, so you can lower the exposure.

see here for lots of examples:

http://www.elader.smugmug.com/gallery/4476362_TQnYe#265979318_qjEiS

[René Damkot]

CWB or Tungsten setting probably won't differ too much, depending on how full the lights are on. I use the Kelvin setting often: Between 2700 and 3400 depending on the color of the main lights.

Shoot RAW, so you can lower the exposure.

Or, if the lighting isn't changing fast, use Manual...