HELP SAVE MY MARRIAGE!!! Wife needs to learn to use manual mode for low light...

[rocketsan22]

Is there an online tutorial that will help her? She's shooting a wedding in low light, she needs to know how to better use the manual mode. For the love of you know who, please someone point me towards ANYTHING thta will help her make adjustments on the camera. It's a digital Rebel XT. We bought a 430EX II speedlite.

The wedding is going to be a candle lit room.

Any suggestions? I'm tired of arguing about this as I know squat about cameras...but I do know she needs to get her act together in a week or two when she has to shoot.

Appreciate any advice, aside form a good divorce lawyer.

[Akire]

What lens will she be using?

[rocketsan22]

We bought a second Rebel XT that came with an 18-55mm with IS

[Perry Ge]

I don't think she should be shooting a wedding...please tell me she's not the official hired photographer.

[rocketsan22]

doing it as a favour

[ajbalazic]

She should shoot in full automatic mode like most pro-wedding photographers.

[RandyMN]

She should shoot in full automatic mode like most pro-wedding photographers.

Huh? I hope that is sarcasm.:eek:

[friz]

Correct me it I am wrong. Your wife bought a second hand camera, booked a wedding shoot. Has no knowledge of, or experience with wedding photography. It is now your problem that that she does not know what to do.

1. Find the people that hired her and explain the situation. Give them a way out. You don't want to be responsible for ruining the memories on an important day like this.

2. If somehow this doesn't work for you. Diffuser on the flash. Green box on the camera. Shoot like crazy.

3. Get used to drama. With a woman like this you are going to see a lot of it. Enjoy.

[JeffreyG]

Is there an online tutorial that will help her? She's shooting a wedding in low light, she needs to know how to better use the manual mode. For the love of you know who, please someone point me towards ANYTHING thta will help her make adjustments on the camera. It's a digital Rebel XT. We bought a 430EX II speedlite.

The wedding is going to be a candle lit room.

Any suggestions? I'm tired of arguing about this as I know squat about cameras...but I do know she needs to get her act together in a week or two when she has to shoot.

Appreciate any advice, aside form a good divorce lawyer.

can you give us additional information, like, what are the expectations of the bride and groom? One get's the feeling that this is a very frugal wedding, and so this may help with the expectations.

What is the plan? Trying to shoot ambient with candles (yeesh!)? Will there be a white ceiling which flash can be bounced from.

Overall we need:
More information about the venue
More information about the situation and the plan

Oh, and more information about the photographer. How much does she know, and why has she delegated additional learning to you, the assistant?

[edwardbarski]

Isn't there an automatic mode for that camera that says "low light"?

Is there an online tutorial that will help her? She's shooting a wedding in low light, she needs to know how to better use the manual mode. For the love of you know who, please someone point me towards ANYTHING thta will help her make adjustments on the camera. It's a digital Rebel XT. We bought a 430EX II speedlite.

The wedding is going to be a candle lit room.

Any suggestions? I'm tired of arguing about this as I know squat about cameras...but I do know she needs to get her act together in a week or two when she has to shoot.

Appreciate any advice, aside form a good divorce lawyer.

[rocketsan22]

guy at the store suggested that we purchase a Gary Fong light sphere.

very frugal wedding, they didn't want to pay anything. doing it as a favour fo friends.

[rocketsan22]

Isn't there an automatic mode for that camera that says "low light"?

LOL, no, I wish.

[Perry Ge]

guy at the store suggested that we purchase a Gary Fong light sphere.

very frugal wedding, they didn't want to pay anything. doing it as a favour fo friends.

Stay away from the fong bong.

At least you have a flash...she is gonna need to learn how to drag the shutter :confused:.

For low light, no flash:
Aperture: as wide as you can go.
Shutter speed: as low as is reasonable for handholding and capturing motion.
ISO: jack it up all the way.

Low light, flash:
Again, she needs to learn how to drag the shutter.

This is such a bad idea *buries head in hands*.

[swimjax]

Read Understanding Exposure by Brian Peterson. She'll need the basics for shooting in low light, such as trying to use the lowest aperture possible on her lens, high ISO, etc. A tripod would also do wonders, is there someone you know who has one that she can borrow?

Hopefully the expectations are not too high for these photos!

[RandyMN]

Draggin the shutter is going to be pretty difficult to learn in such a short time unless she has lot's of past experience with shutter speeds and apetures.

Possible problems may be blurring photos's even though flash was used, improperly balancing the two light sources, or using it at inappropriate times.

[Perry Ge]

Learning proper photography is hard enough. Learning proper FLASH photography is even harder. Good luck. Don't forget about composition!

[Croasdail]

Practice, Practice, Practice. It can be done, just not easily. Probably a good buy that is under $100 is a 50mm f1.8. Next, have her practice taking low light shots, how to brace herself, be rock steady when she shoots, and how to look for those low motion shots - which fortunately at weddings there are tons.

If she is going to use a flash, have her practice with using it to bounce the light. Also have her spend time at how to adjust the flash down so you don't overpower the ambient feel of the venues lighting. Look at simple light modification tools such as a simple bounce card which you can create yourself for pennies and stuff from around the house.

And don't let the peeps around here make you feel bad that you are trying to do a friend a favor. As long as expectations are set right, your are doing the right thing. At least she isn't charging for it and not knowing what she is doing.

She does have a tall learning curve here if she really wants to do it right. Make sure she has a list of shots that she and her friend want to get. You can't go back and do a redo... that is the high risk side to these events. Have plenty of CF cards, and then pray, light candles, create Karma, what ever it is you do to ensure it goes as good as can be. But most of all, get the light modification thing down pat. Be ready to be a model for her while she practices.

[Skrim17]

If they would otherwise have no photos and she is doing it as a favor don't sweat it. Use the flash pointed up with something for it to bounce off like a white index card taped to it. Set the ISO to 800 and the F to the lowest number it will go to and shoot away. She might want to brush up on her photoshop skills...

[Skrim17]

She also might want to pick up a nifty fifty for about 100 bux and shoot with that at f2.0 or 2.8 remembering that she can will have a very narrow depth of field for focus.

[rocketsan22]

What's a nifty fifty?

And why the discouragement on the "Fong Bong"? The guy showed us some great pics done with one...

Thanks for the positive posts, folks!

[Skrim17]

canon 50mm f1.8 an inexpensive lens that does better than your kit lens in low light.

[Perry Ge]

What's a nifty fifty?

And why the discouragement on the "Fong Bong"? The guy showed us some great pics done with one...

Thanks for the positive posts, folks!

It does nothing. You can get the same results or better without it using proper bounce flash technique and maybe an index card taped to the back of the flash.

[JeffreyG]

Let's not get too far into the Fong Bong. Enough to say it isn't going to fix this challenge. OP and wife need to learn how to bounce, diffuse and balance flash with ambient.

The best thing the OP can do is:
1) Light a bunch of candles at home.
2) Have wife shoot pictures of OP.
3) Post examples back here at POTN. We will critique and explain what to do.

Round and round until understanding is reached.

Oh....what color is the ceiling at the place of the wedding and how high is it? This is about the most important thing for us to know right now.

[friz]

Correct me it I am wrong. Your wife bought a second hand camera, booked a wedding shoot. Has no knowledge of, or experience with wedding photography. It is now your problem that that she does not know what to do.

1. Find the people that hired her and explain the situation. Give them a way out. You don't want to be responsible for ruining the memories on an important day like this.

2. If somehow this doesn't work for you. Diffuser on the flash. Green box on the camera. Shoot like crazy.

3. Get used to drama. With a woman like this you are going to see a lot of it. Enjoy.

Sorry, Didn't realize it was pro-bono. Go with it, and learn all you can. Maybe see if you can get a hold of, or borrow, a nifty 50 for the low light stuff. My suggestion would be to have a go at a similar set-up. If a great deal of the wedding and reception will be by candle light. Light some candles tonight and start practicing. Find the exposure settings that work. Chimp, Chimp, Chimp. Load em on the computer for scrutiny. This is how we all learn.

[Perry Ge]

Shoot RAW.

[Croasdail]

There are a lot who get all crazy about the gary fong thing. It does work, but there are cheaper and just as good ways of achieving similar results. Don't let this get dragged down the light sphere rat hole. The LS does work, but you have to know when and where is is most practical. I know of several well respected and highly paid photographers that use them. But for her, now, for this, too much money and not as versatile as some other options.

Highly recommend the Canon 50 f1.8 for her. Very cheap investment she will be able to use in a lot of situations. Spin over to the lighting area for some good recommendations about low light flash modifiers.

[400dabuser]

We bought a second Rebel XT that came with an 18-55mm with IS


Just make sure it is set to lower than 24mm, otherwise barrel distortion will take place, ISO setting should be around-ish 800, though can do 400. Try to avoid the 1600 as much as possible, otherwise it will start to get noise on it

Best to put a test situation in place and start learning about what is the best settings etc...

[Perry Ge]

Just make sure it is set to lower than 24mm, otherwise barrel distortion will take place, ISO setting should be around-ish 800, though can do 400. Try to avoid the 1600 as much as possible, otherwise it will start to get noise on it

Best to put a test situation in place and start learning about what is the best settings etc...

Expose properly and ISO 1600 is absolutely fine. I've shot with great success using a rebel at ISO 1600.

[mattmacf]

I'd recommend checking a crafts store for a hunk of white foam and making a better bounce card (http://abetterbouncecard.com/). Alternatively, an index card and a rubber band can be used.

Depending on the ambient light (I'm assuming dungeon-ish), I'd suggest shooting in Av or M with roughly -2 EC, ISO 1600, wide open, perhaps FEC of +1/3. Try not to let the shutter speed drop below 1/30.

Also, shoot RAW and pray.

[Yola]

She should shoot in full automatic mode like most pro-wedding photographers.

Wonders if you are for real ? :cool:

[friz]

This might help

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-50mm-1-8-Camera-Lens/dp/B00007E7JU/ref=pd_cp_p_0?pf_rd_p=413863501&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000TFTGE2&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1BA5E086EPBC320AKSWN

[Steve In Kentucky]

Huh!!

[_aravena]

Prayer and the realization that ya'll are screwed. ;)

The couple is aware of the inexperience your wife has right? If they are then all should be ok. If they are actually thinking because she has a DSLR they can be cheap and cut out a pro photographer then they have another thing coming. Bring a P&S and tell everyone else to so there will be plenty of photos anyhow.

[H2Ohta]

A sto-fen diffuser will be easier for her to use and cheaper (around $10ish for the 430EX). The nifty fifty that people are talking about is the Canon 50mm f/1.8 prime lens (prime means no zoom) which means she will have to move her feet in order to zoom. It is cheap ($100ish) and for the money will give you good image quality. If she does not know how to do any of the things that people are talking about buy Understanding Exposure or have the people you are shooting for buy it for her. Though never the best option, there is always the green box (auto) and blasting away.

[friz]

Wonders if you are for real ? :cool:

I think the photog that my brother in law hired for his wedding shot in auto. I met a magazine photog that couldn't tell me which wheel on his 40D controlled the aperature in manual mode. The green box is not just for soccer moms anymore.

[rocketsan22]

Maybe I need to update, wife has phot experience, but she is old fashioned and she didn't want to get on the digital train. She's great wiht a non-digital camera, she's just a technophobe and having difficulty with all the manuals and dials on the new camera...

[Skrim17]

Then she should shoot film and call it a day.

[Perry Ge]

Maybe I need to update, wife has phot experience, but she is old fashioned and she didn't want to get on the digital train. She's great wiht a non-digital camera, she's just a technophobe and having difficulty with all the manuals and dials on the new camera...

The principles are all still exactly the same. The relationship between ISO, shutter speed, and aperture have not changed with digital, nor has the proper use of flash.

[JeffreyG]

Maybe I need to update, wife has phot experience, but she is old fashioned and she didn't want to get on the digital train. She's great wiht a non-digital camera, she's just a technophobe and having difficulty with all the manuals and dials on the new camera...

Tell her that shooting digital is exactly like shooting color slide film, except that is is usable up to at least ISO1600.

Otherwise the controls on a digital camera are pretty much exactly like the controls on film cameras with two exceptions:
1. You set the ISO via buttons instead of by changing rolls of film.
2. You set the color temperature of the film with a button instead of by changing rolls of film. Big bonus is that if you shoot RAW you can skip worrying about color temperature while shooting.

[H2Ohta]

Don't stress out!!! For what she is being paid for her time and efforts she will do fine.

[Yola]

Fritz............literally READ THIS


The best of Wedding PHOTOjournism techiques and images .,,, the pros

BILL HUNTER

read ..............books really help .. {BIG TIME }

[strmrdr]

kiss
manual mode f-4, iso 800, 1/60th, simple diffuser on the flash don't bounce.

Test to see if any fec is needed.

shoot in raw + jpg

Shots will come out old school style but at least she should get usable images.

[friz]

Old school style?

[strmrdr]

Old school style?
all flash, little ambient lighting

[SuzyView]

Best thing to do is practice. If there is low light situations, I go with flash, ISO 800, F2.8 (since that's all I use for indoor work). If over-exposed I go f4. Other adjustments in Manual mode and see what I get. Always get the lighting before you have the event. You should read up on Lloyd's (PIctureCrazy's) off camera flash tutorials. Those are amazing.

[rocketsan22]

You should read up on Lloyd's (PIctureCrazy's) off camera flash tutorials. Those are amazing.

Where are they located?

[Karl Johnston]

I suggest you both drop everything and go to costa rica.

THAT will save your marriage.

[nuffi]

Read Understanding Exposure by Brian Peterson. She'll need the basics for shooting in low light, such as trying to use the lowest aperture possible on her lens, high ISO, etc. A tripod would also do wonders, is there someone you know who has one that she can borrow?

Hopefully the expectations are not too high for these photos!


I have expereinced this sort of thing in the past, and wqas very successful using a monopod with a fast prime (50mm f/1.4 for example). It might be worht hiring one for the day if you don't have one handy. They're very cheap.

The monopond allows you greater mobility, and you can get decently sharp images at 1/4 of a second exposure if you're calm and steady.

It seems to me that the flash shots wouldn't be what the bride is looking for, if she's going for this candlelit ambience. Firstly, the flash exploding light into the room would be horrible for everyone, and secondly, she obviously loves the soft look candlelight gives.

The other suggestions in this thread are also very pertinent. Practice a few different times with different distances between candles and subjects. Hopefully you have time to do a couple of sittings, including post processing to better understand what it takes. IT would be especially great if you could shoot in the space with teh candles, then you know what to expect before hand. Will there be a rehearsal that you could look at...?

Also, it is *crucial* you explain to your friends what they're asking. Make sure they undertstand that this is a best effort situation, and that you have serious doubts about the quality in the end. Once you've had that chat, you can relax and just do whatever you can do. Enjoy it for the learning experience it is.

[Bubble]

Maybe I need to update, wife has phot experience, but she is old fashioned and she didn't want to get on the digital train. She's great wiht a non-digital camera, she's just a technophobe and having difficulty with all the manuals and dials on the new camera...

you got to be kidding right? what happen to your camera manual? don't you or your wife even read it? if you don't have it, dl the pdf file from canon. you can't label it as "experience" if you don't know the basic of exposure stuff. I hope this is just a joking thread you create for fun. :)

[Croasdail]

There was a day when you viewed your aperture though a little window in the viewfinder, you adjusted on the lens, shutter speed was a simple nob on top of the camera, and a simple needle let you know if you exposure was right. That was it. No extra buttons. No exposure compensation - one button to focus, another for exposure... yada yada yada. Not everyone is into the camera stuff... but rather are just into photography side of it. Odd, but true.

[SuzyView]

This is one of Lloyd's threads:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=615193

You can find him in members list.

[Haru]

Well she isn't going to learn if she has no will to learn. Stick the flash on E-TTL and point the flash head up, 800 ISO, f/5.6, shutter speed at 1/40-1/125 and go at it. Remember to bring lots of batteries!

[Microcosm]

There was a day when you viewed your aperture though a little window in the viewfinder, you adjusted on the lens, shutter speed was a simple nob on top of the camera, and a simple needle let you know if you exposure was right. That was it. No extra buttons. No exposure compensation - one button to focus, another for exposure... yada yada yada. Not everyone is into the camera stuff... but rather are just into photography side of it. Odd, but true.
It still is! Just put your camera on manual! You control the aperture with one button, the shutter speed with another, and a digital meter in the viewfinder tells you how your exposure is! You can still use one button to focus, and another to take the shot.. or you can even use the same button for this!

Now there is one addition. One tiny, tiny addition to all of this. You can set the ISO on the camera, rather than depending on what film you're using. Can you handle this one extra button? You should certainly be able to!

As for flash lighting, it seems to me that has always been the same. Just because we're not recording the image to 35mm film doesn't mean the basics of lighting an image have changed at all. If anything, you can now review your image instantly and make improvements on spot. But, if you'd like, you can completely ignore the screen on the back of the camera and pretend you're shooting film.

Edit: I should add, my girlfriend shoots like this. Really doesn't much care for the technical aspects behind the camera, the lens used, or anything like that. And still she will often come out with better photos than I have. Just because it's a digital world certainly doesn't mean picture taking must be any different.

[Mrsjperry]

There's nothing like hands on!

Read, study, apply and practice!

If you're tight on money, the 50mm is great for portraits. Keep aneye on your ISO and aperture settings. The lower the f/ the better.

I can relate to your wife, keep being a supportive husband.

:)


*****Hey perry, didn't see you at the family reuion, hows it going?******

[Yola]

No need too stress ,, she cannot focus and tranfer her camera toward a apputure literally se is playing correct??????

[egordon99]

If she is an experienced film photographer, digital isn't that much different. Just figure out how to set the f-stop, shutter speed, and ISO on whatever body you're using.
Shoot RAW so you don't need to worry about white balance.

It's not like the nature of light has changed once the world went from film to CMOS sensors :lol:

[KylieKiwi]

I can't wait to see the photos after reading all of this...please promise you'll post some on once she has taken them..... :-)

[goforphoto]

Weddings are really stressful to begin with so trying to learn digital when you have only shot film will end up driving your wife mad.

My advise has already been mentioned but scrap the digital idea and pick up 20 rolls of film or more and tell her to use what she already knows.

By the way, what film body is she used to?