Looking for Quick Tips...

[SoccerRef]

A photographer who I work with just called and asked me to cover a High School Musical this weekend. I shoot sports and have recently started shooting weddings, but I have never shot a performance in a theater before.

Back in HS I was very involved with the Performing Arts, and I have participated in several dozen musicals, plays, concerts, etc. So I am no foreigner to the theater. But, I have never shot one as a photographer.

I am looking for some "Quick Tips"... Those little things that are easily overlooked until one has some experience. For example, for someone shooting sports, I would suggest two things. First, "Ass to the Grass" - shooting UP at athletes is almost always better than shooting down. Second, Don't stop shooting after a score. Always continue to follow the athlete and catch the post scoring celebration / agony of defeat.

For those of you who have shot many theater performances, what are the two or three things that you have learned that a newbie might overlook? As well as any other advice you can give!!

[René Damkot]

#1: Get some good earplugs.
#2: Watch the light. Seriously. Many people get too caught up in #3.
#3: Look for emotion and interaction. A shot of a "guy behind a mic" is not that exciting.
#4: Don't worry about noise.

[SoccerRef]

Thanks Rene'...

It actually went pretty well. I was restricted to shooting the performance from the sound booth, so I used my 70-200 2.8 for all my performance shots. I got into the pre-show activities and got some good make up application candids, and a few nervous first timers checking themselves out in the mirror.

Before the show I sat in on the techs pre-show meeting and learned that lighting was going to be rather eratic, so I set WB to auto. I then set Shutter Priority to 250, and shot RAW. Most of the photos were at 3200 ISO, and most looked pretty good.

I am amazed at the performance of the 7D at 3200. As soon as I have permission to post a few, I will.