View Full Version : Ballroom with black ceiling. Your Thoughts?
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8th of November 2008 (Sat), 18:57
In a couple of weeks I will be shooting an event (Navy Ball) in which the ballroom has a black ceiling. The room is pretty much rectangular in shape with the walls being maroon in color up to a chair rail and then white above the chair rail to the black ceiling. Here is a photo of the room (this is not my photo, just one from the hall's website).
http://www.winfieldhall.net/Wedding%20006.jpg
When the chandeliers are dimmed this room can become quite dark. I have (1) 580EX II and (2) 430ex speedlights along with 4 pocket wizards. I will be using my 30D and 50D bodies along with my 17-55 f/2.8 IS and 70-200 f/2.8 IS lenses.
What are your suggestions/thoughts for shooting this room with the equipment I have? I have also considered getting a EzyBox Hotshoe with handle as a portable softbox (using an assistant).
breathless
9th of November 2008 (Sun), 08:30
Using 2 or more flashes will certainly add more depth to the images in such a dim ambient space. The softbox+assistant and on camera flash is a good idea. If it were me, I'd simplify as much as possible and use a diffuser on camera flash via flash bracket, assistant off to the side with diffuser on flash.
cdifoto
9th of November 2008 (Sun), 08:32
Stick a flash in each corner and bounce into the wall. Use one flash on-camera as fill.
PhotosGuy
9th of November 2008 (Sun), 10:24
suggestions/thoughts for shooting this room The whole room, or table shots? When the chandeliers are dimmed this room can become quite dark. Pro trick: Turn up the lights for the full room shots? Stick a flash in each corner and bounce into the wall. Use one flash on-camera as fill. That would work. For table shots, I'd use direct flash from the side & back, with some fill. The softbox+assistant and on camera flash is a good idea. If it were me, I'd simplify as much as possible and use a diffuser on camera flash via flash bracket, assistant off to the side with diffuser on flash. That would work, too.
Here is a photo of the room (this is not my photo, just one from the hall's website). If you want to show something that you haven't personally shot, just post a link to it as there are © issues?
IMAGE POSTING RULES (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=74718)
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9th of November 2008 (Sun), 11:36
Thanks for the tips and the reminder about the rules. This is the first time I have ever posted something that was not mine. I changed the link to point directly to it's origin.
The first half of the night will consist of ceremonies and dinner in which the lights will be turned up. My main concern is the second half of the night where the lights will be dimmed for dancing.
PhotosGuy
10th of November 2008 (Mon), 17:22
My main concern is the second half of the night where the lights will be dimmed for dancing. If they want "atmosphere", then I'd try to shoot without any added light. Tripod. Manual time exposure. Get some movement in the dancers. Maybe kick in some manual flash fill during the time exposure, & try some with a colored filter on the flash.
Go nuts with it. Remember the pro trick: Never show the bad images.
See post #3
Tips for Xmas Ball Please (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=419399)
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