Shutter too LOUD?

[banpreso]

i was photographing a classical guitar concert (Andrew York). it was him playing solo, and the room was so quite you can hear a pin drop. i was in the front row, trying to fill my frame on my 50mm, took aim right after he started playing, focused and hit the shutter... and

*KAPzzzzz

there goes the shutter.

he gave me one look and a slight shake of the head, and that was that. i only took picture in between songs after that.

i know it's a bit odd of an situation, the room being so deadly quiet, with just one classical guitar playing. but... do you guys have any good ideas to reduce shutter speed? or is the only way to stand further and use a telephoto lens?

the camera is a 350D btw.

thanks

[René Damkot]

Either a rangefinder (Leica M) or a sound blimp.

[Jim G]

Some cameras have a quiet/silent shutter mode... the 1D IIIs effectively makes it quieter but it's still a looooong way from silent in that sort of a situation.


Heh. Was at the zoo not long ago with a friend with a 1D II and there was a moment of silence as an owl flew over the crowd... both of us let fly with the motor drive to get a nice bird in flight shot and attracted rather more attention than we had wanted in the silence

[Roy Mathers]

I used to use a Hasselblad film camera, and you ought to hear that! If you want a quiet shutter, I agree with Rene - get a Leica.

[Anke]

Originally Posted by René Damkot

sound blimp.

How much!?!

How about coughing when pressing the shutter?

[Roy Mathers]

I've tried that as well in the past Anke! It very often works

[Anke]

Originally Posted by Roy Mathers

I've tried that as well in the past Anke! It very often works

[bacchanal]

If you shoot the moment the audience starts applauding, you can sometimes get some good shots without being noticed. There is not much you can do when it's a single classical guitarist.

You could probably make your own sound blimp out of a pelican case, but people might think you're carrying a bomb around.

[banpreso]

sound blimp is a bit too much $$$. coughing is a good idea but with me in the front row, and the guitarist staring down at me... haha

i managed a few shots in between the songs, but it's a shame to have missed the shots during performance all part of the game i guess

[skifurthur]

When I was working a gig at Carnegie Hall the venue had a machine that read the db of each camera. If it was too loud, they didn't allow you to use that camera.

[stathunter]

If you shoot a lot in areas that require silence-- the only way to do it is sound blimp or make your own-- I rented one once-- then made my own with a pelican case-- found the plans on the web.
Small rooms are tough--- big rooms easier with longer lens.

[90c4]

Get a 5D2 - the silent mode is very quiet

[stasber]

Originally Posted by bacchanal

If you shoot the moment the audience starts applauding, you can sometimes get some good shots without being noticed. There is not much you can do when it's a single classical guitarist.

That's sound (or quiet!) advice and takes some of the sting out of the situation, and sometimes it's all you can do, so enjoy the show and be prepared between the pieces. If you're shooting on a job or for someone else, it's good to forewarn them of the feasibility of pictures in such performance scenarios as some may have expectations beyond your means in such a situation.

I had one of those moments described by the OP once - classical guitarist, small theatre (250 seats), and pin drop dead silence - and I was down low by the stage lining up for a shot and had about 2 seconds to decide 'do or dont', and at the point that she had finished, there was the echo of the final 'plink-k-k-k-k-' into supreme silence, followed by the almighty thunderous:

Originally Posted by banpreso

*KAPzzzzz

there goes the shutter.

of my 20D.

I got a stern telling off for it but in retrospect I'm happy out as it was the best shot from the recital (see it here). Certainly memorable, if for the wrong reasons! I do exercise more discretion these days though!

Really should go back and re-process that one, not looking that hot these days!

[The Moose]

Originally Posted by skifurthur

When I was working a gig at Carnegie Hall the venue had a machine that read the db of each camera. If it was too loud, they didn't allow you to use that camera.

Wow, that's going really far to make sure you're not a nuisance!

[Nouks]

I've got both a 20D and a 1D2. 20D is a lot more silent than the 1D2. 350D has a kind of funny shutter sound, pretty disturbing. 1D2 does "KLABAM", so I'd really consider using my 20D instead in really silent situations....