Nightclub Photography - Advice on new lens, flash and technique

[pptdgc]

I have a Canon EOS 40D and am looking to start in nightclub photography. I was wondering if anyone could recommend me a good lens to use and an external flash unit + reasons for buying?

I am also intertested in any advice on technique - modes to use, apperture, ISO, shutter sppeds etc to get best results?

I will be taking a range of shots to close up people shots, to crowd shots to dj shots.

Thanks in advance for your help :-)

[pptdgc]

I should probably add I currently only have a 17-85 lens, which gives me 4 - 5.6 apperture. Is this a large enough apperture for this time of photography or do I need something faster?

[ogre1231]

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=415099&highlight=night+club+photography


worlds longest nightclub photography post

[Mike]

Hi, welcome to POTN :)

As you are looking to take photos in low light situations a lens with a large/fast aperture is almost a necessity. Something like a Canon 17-55 f2.8 IS has both a large maximum aperture to let in the light and Image Stabilisation which reduces camera shake blur and allows for slower shutter speeds when hand holding, very useful in low light.

Also consider a fast prime lens - 30mm f1.4, 50mm f1.4 or 85mm f1.8. These will let even more light through.

A 430ex flash will be a good purchase as a first flash purchase or, if you can afford it, a 580ex which is bigger and bulkier but also a bit more expensive.

More reading:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=419399

[ogre1231]

it will probably take you all day to read, but loads of good information

[elysium]

I wouldnt really advise on primes since the amount of space varies between shots. 2.8 is more than adequate for use.

I would say minimum requirements is a lens with a reach of 17-50ish mm and a constant aperture of 2.8. Secondly a flash, 430EX will be just fine to be honest, light modifiers are not neccessary.

The effect of each setup and use of settings will give you different results. You get

- Higher ISO, wide open, high shutter speed users
- Low ISO, wide open, slow shutter speed users
- Low ISO, stopped down, slow shutter speed users

All of these would vary but I would recommend starting at having the flash set to ETTL, ISO800 @ f/4 and a shutter speed of 1/40 to start with. REMEMBER - These settings are purely guidelines and will vary from club to club, shooting style, position of the flash etc. You need to have a benchmark and adjust from there. Sadly no expert can give you a universal setting for every club.

Remember, you want to have some ambient light involved so you have the essence of a good time/party.

[René Damkot]

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=559242

[PhotosGuy]

Tips for Xmas Ball Please (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=419399)

[pptdgc]

Thanks for your advice guys - I'm about a 10th of the way through that big long thread... haha.

Looks like I will probably go for the Canon 17-55 f2.8 IS lens with either the 430ex or 580ex flash...

Any advice for my first shoot - setting etc. Best to shoot in M Mode? Any advice on flash settings.

I think the venue is pretty dark but with lots of artificial lights lazers etc. I'l mainly be shooting people and crowd shots.

Also I've read lots about bouncing the flash - can someone please explain this concept to me?

Thanks :-)

[form]

For night clubs f/2.8 hasn't been enough for me without flash. I'd consider faster primes.

[pptdgc]

Well I guess I would mainly be shooting with the flash - feel like i need something that gives me some scope in terms of zoom. Can anyone recommend a good lens?

[HoRnYTuRbO]

17-55 IS w/430 or 580 is very hard to beat

[StylusFunk]

Check out my setup below. It's exactly what people are recommending to you. Check my site here (http://stylusfunk.com/south-beach/deadmau5-mansion) for examples of nightclub photos it can take.

[elysium]

Thanks for your advice guys - I'm about a 10th of the way through that big long thread... haha.

Looks like I will probably go for the Canon 17-55 f2.8 IS lens with either the 430ex or 580ex flash...

Any advice for my first shoot - setting etc. Best to shoot in M Mode? Any advice on flash settings.

I think the venue is pretty dark but with lots of artificial lights lazers etc. I'l mainly be shooting people and crowd shots.

Also I've read lots about bouncing the flash - can someone please explain this concept to me?

Thanks :-)
Everyone who has been shooting nightclubs has a very different style to others. My advise from here is to experiment from the links and info people have posted it. Visit http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=415099&highlight=night+club

For pretty much the most comprehensive topic on POTN with loads of people at hand to help.

[pptdgc]

Thanks guys - think I will go for the setup recommended then - (17-55 F2.8 IS and 580ex II). StylusFunk - Love your shots - does the omnibounce make a big difference?

I'l try and have a good read through that thread and look forward to experimenting with some setings. :-)

[ArtChick]

17-50 MM is the best. I find the 430EX is good . and I love using the 40D as appose to the Rebel's ... gives more depth of field.

Anyone have any recommendations for fisheye lenses?

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j174/digrigioli/sept3.jpg
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j174/digrigioli/satb3-1.jpg
http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j174/digrigioli/canon1.jpg

[taxsux]

Pretty much any short range lens will get you decent results accompanied with a flash gun. No flash = 2.8 is not enough.

By the way if you planning on the Tamron, I used it once and it hunted like a beatch.

[bestfromnw]

tamron 17-50 and 430ex should be good budget setup... i dont think i would be comfortable taking expensive glass to the club

[Terror]

Whats the difference between the 17-50mm and the 18-55 kit lens?
Pretty much the same mm range so why not use the kit lens, does the Tamron have a better f rating or something?

[puzzle]

I have been out to a few clubs shooting just with what I have got and these are my findings:

Using the Canon 85 1.8 - f1.8 was fast enough to take some shots without flash but I had to use the available light from the club lighting itself. This worked well at capturing silhouettes with the subject in shadow and a vibrant club lighting background. But using this technique didn't really give me much control over the shot. Also the 85 focal length proved tricky as people will come and pose infront of you expecting you to take a shot and sometimes it would not be possible to move back far enough to get a good composition because my back was already up against a wall for example. So in summary I cant realy recommend this lens as a good club lens.

Using the Tokina 12-24 - f4 is my lowest aperture here so I had to use flash (on camera). I managed to capture some cool shots this way, I found that I had to ignore the camera settings in regards to exposure and adopted a more trial and error approach. The only things to watch out for when using the wide angle is that the perspecitive is altered around the edges which can be used creativly but can also case an unflattering stretched face effect :/ Lastly there is an area of black at the bottom of my shots where the flash doesn't quite cover the frame. For crowd shots this lens worked well but I still had the problem with the flash not filling the frame.

In fact examples of this black spot problem I mention can be seen on the front page of my flickr page (link below). Does anyone know a solution to this problem when using on camera flash without using an off camera flash?

[René Damkot]

I found that I had to ignore the camera settings in regards to exposure and adopted a more trial and error approach.
Well, the exposure meter in camera will tell you how much you are exposing the ambient, not the flash ;)

The only things to watch out for when using the wide angle is that the perspective is altered around the edges
Perspective is solely affected by position relative to the subject. What you are referring to is distortion.

Lastly there is an area of black at the bottom of my shots where the flash doesn't quite cover the frame.

That's the shadow cast by the lens (hood). Removing the hood might help, as would using an external flash (which sits higher above the camera)