Event Photograph

[Sigmeister]

This shot is typical of the kind of work I do for my fire department. I would have liked to have had an even wider lens, but used what I had. A little more fill flash wouldn't have hurt any either. Please let me know what you think.

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l14/Sigmeister1/MayorChiefsParadeIII.jpg

[chomish]

Very nice! Kind of looks fake, like theyre walking out of the image.

[Mu Eugene]

Abbey Road?

If you kneel and take the picture, you'll make the Grand Marshall and other dignitaries look heroic and important. Also, the lower angle will stir a sense of nostalgia as it replicates seeing the parade from a child's point of view -- as children, we all have a few fond memories of parades.

[dovate]

Good shot, but I agree on the angle. If you're hired to shoot an event, don't be afraid to get the best shot you can. Walk into the path of the parade, lie on the ground if you have to and get something dramatic. Just be sure to get out of the way when you have to. ;)

When you're at an event like this, what will separate your shots from all the people standing on the side is access. Use it!

[Skrim17]

The building is in great focus, the people, not so much.

I love the look of a wide angle lens at parades, tho I wouldn't want to shoot the whole ting with one.

[Sigmeister]

Wow I've looked at that shot a thousand times and never noticed that the front three actually aren't in focus. I checked the focus spot and there were two! I never shoot with multi spot, but Iguess I did on that shot. Good observation. I had been thinking of getting lower, even to the point of laying on the ground. The logistics of that and getting out of the way would be interesting. Luckily this is a yearly event, so come fire prevention week I'll get another shot at it. Thanks for the insight. Oh and I also think I'll use AI Servo since they will be moving towards me.

[Titus213]

Not bad. I did download it and ran it thru ACR - cranked the Temp way up (+70 for the jpg). Gave the image a whole new feel. My suggestion - warm it up.

Way up!

[Mu Eugene]

Wow I've looked at that shot a thousand times and never noticed that the front three actually aren't in focus. I checked the focus spot and there were two! I never shoot with multi spot, but Iguess I did on that shot. Good observation. I had been thinking of getting lower, even to the point of laying on the ground. The logistics of that and getting out of the way would be interesting. Luckily this is a yearly event, so come fire prevention week I'll get another shot at it. Thanks for the insight. Oh and I also think I'll use AI Servo since they will be moving towards me.


Buy a longboard or a mechanic's dolly and hire an assistant.
Lay on top of either one, on your back like a luger or belly-down skeleton-style. As the parade approaches, your assistant will yank your ankle or a rope attached to the dolly to prevent you from being turned into a road pizza by a parade float.

A legitimate contribution I have is that plan ahead how you want the shots to turn out. Parade will follow a prescribed path thus you'll have a pretty good idea about the relationship between the sun's location, the main subject, and the background.

[Flo]

What was the event?:(

[vk2gwk]

What struck me first when I looked at the shot are the manhole covers..... If you have more than one of this (and I guess you must have had you amera on motordrive or taken mutiple shots) I would select a shot a little bit further back

I think the people are important and the building is only backdrop. So crop out most of the building and concentrate on the people. Why a wide angle ???

[Sigmeister]

The event was Kickoff to Fire Prebvention Week. We do it every year. I did try warming it up at you suggestion Titus. You are right. My pp is weak at this point. It is another art all together. I like the wide focal length for the reasons stated by MU Eugene. I think that this perspective was popular in WWII photography and imagery. I don't want to crop City Hall out any more as i think it creates an association with the local community. I'll get my shot 50-100 feet earlier to avoid to the manhole covers. I need to spend some time taking notes, then reviewing them prior to the next shoot. There is so much work involved in producing a good shot. Its nice to have some of that work appreciated by (you) people who know how much work it really is. John Q public just thinks "well you're just pushing a button". Here is another shot from the same event. Probably my best two shots of the day. I thought I might move the boot w/roses out so it wasn't obscuring any of the names or inscription. Any ideas on it?

http://i995.photobucket.com/albums/af79/Firemeister/MemorialGuardresized.jpg