Photographing a birth at the hospital.

[delmama]

I am extremely excited that my friend asked me to photograph the birth of her third daughter at the hospital, I have 3 kids so I know what it is like. But I have never been "on the other side" I was always the one giving birth!
I have my canon 50d I own 3 lenses 18-55, 50 and 70-300, I also have an external flash which I dont normaly use because I work with natural light but I am afraid of low light in a hospital room.
I would love some advice as to what to bring, and how do I make sure I have the right lighting in the photos....just looking for some words of advice!
Thanks!;)

[nanette37]

im pretty sure i read somewhere that its bad to use flash for new borns.. but im not entirely sure. im sure someone will correct me if im wrong ;)

[airfrogusmc]

I am extremely excited that my friend asked me to photograph the birth of her third daughter at the hospital, I have 3 kids so I know what it is like. But I have never been "on the other side" I was always the one giving birth!
I have my canon 50d I own 3 lenses 18-55, 50 and 70-300, I also have an external flash which I dont normaly use because I work with natural light but I am afraid of low light in a hospital room.
I would love some advice as to what to bring, and how do I make sure I have the right lighting in the photos....just looking for some words of advice!
Thanks!;)

I work/photograph in hospitals almost everyday and the lights for birthing will be very good. The Drs have to be able to see. Go available you should be OK and shoot at 1/160 of a sec or faster if you can. You will still probably be at ISO 400 f/4. at 1/160 but meter off something about 18% gray. Custom color balance and it will save some hassles later even if you shoot raw.

[Kara's Mommy]

check out these
http://karasmomphotography.com/blog/category/birth-photography/

I use my flash a lot during a birth mainly because it is usually REALLY REALLY dark in the room so even shooting at ISO800 at f/1.4 does not cut it! ;)
just bounce it off the ceiling or wall and it'll be alright!

[airfrogusmc]

check out these
http://karasmomphotography.com/blog/category/birth-photography/

I use my flash a lot during a birth mainly because it is usually REALLY REALLY dark in the room so even shooting at ISO800 at f/1.4 does not cut it! ;)
just bounce it off the ceiling or wall and it'll be alright!

Ya mean they didn't have over head surgical type lights? Those are very bright. They have to be. :confused:

I shoot in ORs and hospitals almost everyday its what I do.

[Kara's Mommy]

Ya mean they didn't have over head surgical type lights? Those are very bright. They have to be. :confused:

I shoot in ORs and hospitals almost everyday its what I do.

the births that i attend are very natural and no midwife will "disturb" a mom with bright lights like that!

The 3 hospitals here have "spot" type lights that shine "on the area" where there needs to be light for them to see and thats it (and those only come one once the mom starts pushing)

[airfrogusmc]

The should even be enough light in the rooms even if they don't have spots. You have higher ISOs use them. Heres 400 ISO IIRC in an open heart case. 5.6 at 1/125

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/airfrogusmc/_MG_50622-1.jpg

The nurse is lit with only the overhead fluorescents.

They need light to be able to see. Even if you have to go to 3200 from this example that you gave 800 ISO at 1.4 that would be 2.8 at 3200 4 at 6400 but I have yet to be in a room that was that dim during a birthing or any kind of procedure in a hospital.

[delmama]

well the hospital where I gave birth had very low lights, too dark for "natural light" and yes they had the spot lights which came on when my kids came out, this is for a regular birth, I know that C-sections have more light due to all the procedures that need to be done.
Thanks for all the help!

[airfrogusmc]

well the hospital where I gave birth had very low lights, too dark for "natural light" and yes they had the spot lights which came on when my kids came out, this is for a regular birth, I know that C-sections have more light due to all the procedures that need to be done.
Thanks for all the help!

Your 50D is perfectly capable of handling the light levels just about anywhere in a healthcare environment. Trust me on this one.

[suecassidy]

I've done 3 hospital births, used existing light only, and found there was plenty of light for the birthing process. airfrogusmc is right. Of course, I had to use higher isos and fast lenses, but you should be able to do the same with your gear. That is not to say that you can't use bounced flash after all the excitement has died down, but I would find flash intrusive during the process itself.

[delmama]

Your 50D is perfectly capable of handling the light levels just about anywhere in a healthcare environment. Trust me on this one.

Thanks I got my 50d a couple of weeks ago so I am still studying the camera, testing and having fun with it, so far I LOVE IT!