Large Football Group Outdoors

[vbriner]

I have to shoot a large group photo of about 260 football players and coaches. They want it taken outdoors, in the bleachers, around 6 pm, before practice.

I don't think one flash would work well for shadows but even using two, I can't get them high enough.

I could stand in the bleachers on the other side of the field for better angle and use zoom. Should I not worry about flash?

Any suggestions or thoughts?

Thanks!

[Big K]

I would not worry about it too much because in the end it will not matter. Unless they are printing a huge print, you will not be able to see anyone in the picture anyway if there are 260 people in it. Do your best to use the sun and hope that at least 75% of the people are visible and not behind the head of the person in front of them.

That is a tough assignment they have given you. Best of luck.

[rjcanon]

I used to work for a company that specialized in shots like this. Portable power and strobes are your friend... on camera flash will do just about nothing for you. Slightly back light em then fill with one centrally located strobe or two evenly spaced with decent reflectors. We used white lightning strobes (3200 I think).

Edit.. We used 6x17 and/or RB67's too so High MP count os a must if you want to see faces.

[Dennis_Hammer]

Take several and make a panoramic shot stitching them together. It will be easier to fill the frame top to bottom. Makes for a big impact picture also.

[rjcanon]

Unless you're going to use a true panoramic head i wouldnt use that method... it will be a bear to stitch together and will be slightly bulged in the middle.