PDA

View Full Version : Spotlights


vk2gwk
24th of March 2010 (Wed), 05:07
Last weekend I shot an event with lots of speakers and performers in the spotlight on a fairly dark stage with regularly changing - projected - background colours. A nightmare.....
Using a flash - no bounce possible because of the size of the venue - with or without diffuser I got over exposure on the subject most of the time - because of the spotlight. Without a flash I had to use ISO 1600 or higher to get decent shutter speeds to avoid motion blur.
I used spot metering and evaluative - nothing really could cope with the huge dynamic range in lighting. And the gels they put in front of the spotlight at times did not help the Whiteblance .....

Anyone recognising this sort of situation? If so .... any tips, suggestions.

I think I managed a couple of good ones which I put up in the critique corner (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=845939). But I would appreciate any comments, advice and tips.

blackshadow
24th of March 2010 (Wed), 05:17
Spotlights generally make it easy.

Shoot in M and RAW, set your WB to tungsten - adjust your exposure so the skin is properly exposed under the spots and away you go.

vk2gwk
25th of March 2010 (Thu), 22:35
No other ideas, opinions?

narlus
26th of March 2010 (Fri), 09:20
i just checked out the photos and they look fine. why bother using a flash if the subject already has a spotlight on them?