How to show the fun...??

[vk2gwk]

Some time ago I was asked to be the "official" photographer for a Rotary function. An evening with plenty of speakers interlaced with food and drinks (or was it the other way round). I had to follow the VIP's in particular and took some extra shots of the members of my own club (I am also in Rotary). The shoot was last night.

I am sure there are others that are in the same position and I would appreciate tips and tricks to liven things up a bit. I try to catch people unawere but sometimes you really have to accept "poses". And without the chance to shoot speakers "posed" one has to click a lot...

What I shot is on the internet for all to see (http://rotarynelsonbay.org/zone8_inst) . I would appreciate feed back and tips how I can make my next shoot better...

[snyderman]

They're all good shots. I think you were looking for more like #34 on your site. OTOH, the event, from what I saw in your pics, didn't provide you with a lot of 'wild fun' to shoot. You got a really good representation of the speakers, guests and the event in general. Job well done. At the end of the shoot, it is was it is!

dave

[Christopher Steven b]

Your site doesn't work on my (firefox-xp-flash enabled) browser.

[Flo]

Took a long time to load, I gave up:(

[joedlh]

Are there any photographers in the world who like table shots? I personally hate them. When using a flash, you're faced with considerable depth. So the people closer to the camera are blown out and/or the people farther away are lost in darkness. The ones closest to you either have their backs to you or they're twisting in a most uncomfortable manner, usually showing on their faces. If you smoosh them all to one side, then they're uncomfortable being so close to their neighbor. Most times it seems to be their arch-nemesis rather than the youngest hottie/hunk in the room, to whom they wouldn't mind getting a little closer. And then you have to go so wide that you don't really see anybody's face all that well. When forced to it, I ask everybody on the side close to me to get up and stand behind those seated who are already facing me. That's if the hall left enough room between tables for somebody to stand without holding their breath and somebody is willing to hold the floral piece that would otherwise block three heads. If you don't have winning ways to cajole reluctant subjects who are self-conscious about "never looking good in pictures", then you have to choose the moment when the alcohol has made everybody mellow, but the depressant effects have not yet cut in.

Did I mention that I hate table shots?

[Flo]

Are there any photographers in the world who like table shots? I personally hate them. When using a flash, you're faced with considerable depth. So the people closer to the camera are blown out and/or the people farther away are lost in darkness. The ones closest to you either have their backs to you or they're twisting in a most uncomfortable manner, usually showing on their faces. If you smoosh them all to one side, then they're uncomfortable being so close to their neighbor. Most times it seems to be their arch-nemesis rather than the youngest hottie/hunk in the room, to whom they wouldn't mind getting a little closer. And then you have to go so wide that you don't really see anybody's face all that well. When forced to it, I ask everybody on the side close to me to get up and stand behind those seated who are already facing me. That's if the hall left enough room between tables for somebody to stand without holding their breath and somebody is willing to hold the floral piece that would otherwise block three heads. If you don't have winning ways to cajole reluctant subjects who are self-conscious about "never looking good in pictures", then you have to choose the moment when the alcohol has made everybody mellow, but the depressant effects have not yet cut in.

Did I mention that I hate table shots?
Lol....;)

[DragonDan]

I had no problems in my WinXP/ firefox browser on that site. The pics are okay, given what you had to work with. Maybe the thing to do is use a longer lens on a tripod, and shoot people across the room that aren't posing- just being themselves. I've seen ads for the "street shots" lens that has a 90° mirror, so people don't think you're aiming at them.

[vk2gwk]

Thanks for the comments so far.

Yes "table shots" are not my favourite either.... But I do not like them posed and when necessary usually take them from both sides of the table to get the "face" of the people that show their backsides in the other one.

The lighting is tricky indeed. When possible I use indirect flash but in a big hall that is not always an option. This reduces the wash out of the closest people and the white table cloth. In PP I use the "Adjustment Brush" in ACR a lot on these photo's. Bring up the exposure on the whole of the picture to get the distant faces right and then brush the closer peoples backs (white shirts, tablecloth and so on) down a stop. That usually balances the picture sufficiently.

Shots with a long lens on a tripod need sufficient exposure time and with people moving about.... I am not so sure that would work. For the "overview" shots like IMG_2672.jpg I had to use ISO3200, F/4, 1/15sec. In that one people were fairly quiet and standing still - singing the National Anthem... :) ("Australians All") but when they are moving about....