What would be the best spot for theatre shooting?

[hennie]

Because some photo's I have previously shot in our local theatre were liked by the theatre's staff they asked me to do do some shooting during a performance of a musical at the end of June.
I will be able to take pictures at the premiere and come back later if needed.

Previously I had to shoot from my seat between the audience, but now I am given the oportunity to pick any spot to shoot from.
I do not want to walk around to much, I think that will annoy others watching.
I also do not want to use flash. Monopod can be used. I do not want to change lenses in the dark.
If the lighting is similar to previous occasions it will permit shooting at 400ISO, 1/80 and F2.8.

My gear is a 40D, 350D sigma 10-20,30/1.4 and canon 50/1.4 100/2.0, 135/2.0, 24-105L and 70-300IS.

I have considered the following spots:
- The box used by the lighting/sound man, using a tripod will be no problem, good overview pictures but maybe to far away for headshots. Perhaps the 70-300 can be used for some shots from this spot.
- somewhere on row 4, in the centre. Better headshots, and use the 30 for overview.
- Front Row and in front of front row nice close-ups,
- Take shots from side of stage, out of sight of the audience.

So my questions to you are:
- What spot would you take first, and what spot when you come back later?
- What lens to put on 350D (Rebel XT) and what lens to put on 40D?
- What camera settings will give the highest keeper rate?

[DDCSD]

Any chance you can shoot the dress rehearsal?

[hennie]

No chance to shoot dress rehearsal, there is none.

[tfd888]

How could they not have a dress rehearsal in theater? Extremely odd.

I usually shoot the dress rehearsals from the audience in the first row (sometimes I'm even leaning or sitting on the front of the stage) and for the live shows I'm in the wings.

Most of the time the theaters that I shoot at don't want a photographer in the audience during a live show as the shutter can become quite distracting for the audience. Shooting from the sound/lighting booth is typically too far from the stage but can deliver some good results if you had to. Do you have access to a catwalk you could shoot from? You can get some really cool shots from up high depending on the theater.

If I were you, I would bump up the ISO to 800 to get a faster shutter just to be on the safe side.

As for which lenses to use, how big is the stage and the theater?

[René Damkot]

Use a higher ISO. 1/80s is too slow for longer lenses or freezing motion.

[Roy Mathers]

No dress rehearsal! Are you sure? I've never heard of that before - I'd check again if I were you.

My experiences are the same as tfd88's. I've always shot shows (plays and musicals) during the dress rehearsal, at which you have plenty of opportunity to wander around and get the best angle. You certainly don't want to be doing it during a live performance, except from the wings.

[hennie]

It is an amateur performance in a local theatre, so rules are not that strict.
Limiting movement is partly my own choice in order not to cause avoidable distraction.

Dress rehearsal would also have my preference.
There will be a dress rehearsal, but without full make-up.
Since the musical will be Beauty and Beast, the beast will not look as a beast......

Bumping up the ISO with the 40D will be less of a problem than with the XT, but 800 can do.
1/80 with 30/1.4 is okay, with longer lenses I agree that is is too long.
So put the faster lens on the XT with ISO800 and the slower lens on the 40D with 1600?

[Roy Mathers]

That's difficult to comment on, because it's quite unusual. I am very involved with amateur theatricals and, in my experience, all dress rehearsals have (or should have) full costume and full make up. Photographs of these productions are always taken at dress rehearsals. Even at an amateur performance, the audience is entitled not not be disturbed by a photographer - they are, after all, paying for their tickets.

Again, without knowing the lighting, it's difficult to comment, but I have always managed with 800ISO and and f/4 lens.

[hennie]

Following your advice I will again ask about the dress rehearsal, that can do no harm anyway.
I would agree that shooting on stage will be the best spot.

[Roy Mathers]

Shooting on stage is not the best spot. Shooting from the auditorium is the best spot. Shooting on stage (or from the wings) is a useful addition.

[hennie]

Point taken.

What row would you advise?

If I sit in the middle of the auditorium I can take the whole stage with a 50mm from row 8, the music / lighting box is on row 12.
to give you an idea of the size / lighting of the theatre:
This picture is taken from row 4 with a 50mm
http://webdisk.planet.nl/hkleywgt/publiek/album/Links/IMG_4133.JPG

[Roy Mathers]

Again, a difficult question to answer. I think being in one seat, or one row, is the way to go - that's why I'm saying that the dress rehearsal is the time to do it. Then you can move around and get the best angles depending on how the action on stage changes.

[hennie]

Thnx sofar.
I will show some results end of june.

[Roy Mathers]

I look forward to them.

[tinrooster]

My gear is a 40D, 350D sigma 10-20,30/1.4 and canon 50/1.4 100/2.0, 135/2.0, 24-105L and 70-300IS
<...>

I have considered the following spots:
- The box used by the lighting/sound man, using a tripod will be no problem, good overview pictures but maybe to far away for headshots. Perhaps the 70-300 can be used for some shots from this spot.
- somewhere on row 4, in the centre. Better headshots, and use the 30 for overview.
- Front Row and in front of front row nice close-ups,
- Take shots from side of stage, out of sight of the audience.

So my questions to you are:
- What spot would you take first, and what spot when you come back later?
- What lens to put on 350D (Rebel XT) and what lens to put on 40D?
- What camera settings will give the highest keeper rate?



I've shot from some interesting vantage spots in theatres. Including the grid and fly rail. It can depend on whom you are shooting for; local amateur theatre with parents in the audience probably benefits from more traditional perspectives.


30 & 50 1.4, 135/2.0, 24-105L would be my personal choice. UWA is useful, but too slow for the sorts of lighting I usually encounter. YMMV.

On the 50D, I set C1 and C2 (custom setting 1&2) as ballpark settings for dark and full wash (well lit) scenes, repectively, and go from there. M, spot metered, generally no smaller then 5.6f.

shot from the pin-rail, SR mid-bridge:

http://tibfibphoto.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p765435001-4.jpg
50D/EF-85 / 1/200 / f/1.8 / ISO 200


see this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=587375&highlight=dance&page=2) for some ideas regarding settings.

[alan_potter]

If at all possible, I'd suggest that you try to be slightly higher than the surface of the stage.

That way you're not shooting up people's noses/ skirts / whatever, and you get to see people's feet - dancers, especially, like that.

For an amateur group not to have a dress rehearsal with makeup and scenery is very curious. It doesn't bode well for the opening night!

Where possible, I like to be able to wander around a lot, giving me all sorts of options for close-up and wide shots. Some companies are quite happy with this (they'd better get used to dealing with distractions because audiences don't sit stock-still), some are less so (don't put them off, especially the kids - they're having a hard enough time as it is).

My photos live at http://www.stagepics.co.uk and http://www.flickr.com/photos/atp/collections/72157605174789525/ - feel free to look at them and decide whether to place any credence in my remarks. :-)

regards,
/alan

[Sir Vic Alsmear]

It is an amateur performance in a local theatre, so rules are not that strict.
Limiting movement is partly my own choice in order not to cause avoidable distraction.

Dress rehearsal would also have my preference.
There will be a dress rehearsal, but without full make-up.
Since the musical will be Beauty and Beast, the beast will not look as a beast......

As someone who is very involved in amateur theatre, that has to be the most disturbing post I've ever read on the subject!

[Roy Mathers]

I am also heavily involved in amateur dramatics Vic - and I agree with you. The rules are every bit as strict as in the professional theatre - and a dress rehearsal without full costume and makeup is unthnkable.

[philip11]

what would be the best spot? my answer is i don't know. there are no best spot for a professional photographer. you must get a perfect shot wherever spot you are. you just must look in different angles and try to follow the movement of the actress and actors.

[alan_potter]

Hey, I'm thinking we need a UK Amateur theatre sub-group here :D

regards,
/alan

[Roy Mathers]

:D:D

[Sir Vic Alsmear]

Hey, I'm thinking we need a UK Amateur theatre sub-group here :D

regards,
/alan

Bring it on!! :-)

[alan_potter]

Probably we should take it to http://www.amdram.co.uk/forums - there are lots of luvvies and a couple of photographers of luvvies hang out there.

regards,
/alan

[hennie]

Hi I've just got back from short holliday, thnx all of you for the great tips.

Last week I made some pictures of other performances in the same theatre and found that use for 24-105 is very limited.

I really have to thank you guys for the tips about the dress rehearsal.
There actually is one next thirsday, the first "real" performance is on friday.
I was asked by the people involved in making flyers and such who were not aware of the full dress rehearsal.

I will be able to shoot on both occasions.
During the dress rehearsal I plan to be shooting mainly from row 6 (slightly above stage) using 135 on 40D and 50 on 350D.
On friday I will be shooting from the front row where I can walk around a bit, 30 on 350D and 100 on 40D.

I will keep you informed.

[Burnt Toast]

I take the photos during dress rehearsals. The stages I shoot at are low enough that I can usually shoot right from the front. I've even had a few directors tell me that I could get on the stage and move around if I wanted.

[malibubts]

There is no best spot! Move around! I'm on crew for my High School Theatre and have plenty of time to shoot during dress, but I did have to deal with Cats (http://www.flickr.com/photos/malibubts/sets/72157617153328904/). My advice is to go the dress rehearsal and move, if you can go to two dress rehearsals so that you know what is going on and can prep for a great shot.

[hennie]

I thank you all for your advice.

First I have taken shots at the last dress rehearsal, not all was right yet.
Main "problem" at dress rehearsal was they used white patches to attach the wires for the microphones.
Being able to freely move around during rehearsal was such a convenience that undoubtly it is the best time.

During the actual performances I shot from the first row, the forth row, side of the stage and halfway the auditorium.
When close to the stage I had to get around speakers and lamps placed on the stage.
The variation in the spot from where to take the shot created nice variations in the shots.

My 100/F2 and 135/F2 got me the best pictures, but in the end even the 70-300 IS showed usefull.

[mattyb240]

Looks good! But white tape?! Are they serious?

[hennie]

White tape only at rehearsal.
At the performance they used colored tape.