Team Picutre - 70 Kids - How should I light it?

HI Guys.

Once of the local leagues that I shoot action for has ask me to do a full league team shot. I have done team photos of 15-20 kids, but not one with 70 +. They want to have them seated in the bleachers for the photo.

Here is what I have to work with as far as lighting on my 40D:
- (2) 580 EXII
- (1) 430 EX

I have the CyberSynch systems with transmitter and 2 receivers.

I have (2) 8ft lightstands with 45 & 60" umbrellas.

We are shooting it at 10am on a Saturday.

Thanks guys...

Is this outside? Bleachers could be inside (volleyball) or outside (softball, baseball, etc)
Sounds like outside since you include the 10am time reference.
Tom

tomd wrote in post #6196129
Is this outside? Bleachers could be inside (volleyball) or outside (softball, baseball, etc)
Sounds like outside since you include the 10am time reference.
Tom

DOH !! Sorry .

It's Youth Football and it will be outside.

I generally do a hs band similar/larger in size. Have the sun behind them so they don't squint.
I climb a ladder and shoot with my 40d and 580EX on camera. The key is to get the best exposure possible with a small aperture- I like f11. I than add the flash for some fill- I don't remember my settings. REMEMBER to have lots of room on the top and sides of the kids so that when you make an 8x10 it fits

jillybean wrote in post #6196833
I generally do a hs band similar/larger in size. Have the sun behind them so they don't squint.
I climb a ladder and shoot with my 40d and 580EX on camera. The key is to get the best exposure possible with a small aperture- I like f11. I than add the flash for some fill- I don't remember my settings. REMEMBER to have lots of room on the top and sides of the kids so that when you make an 8x10 it fits

Thanks for the response. Are you using any lights from the sides at all? Or just the one off your camera? Yes, your right, must allow for the crop ratio. Thanks again.

If you have umbrellas and stands it can't hurt to use the other flashes.

My flash is just on camera for the band shot I referenced that was outside.
I have done an indoor shot where I had 90 kids on the floor of a gym and I set up a light on each side of me and again I was on a ladder. I did not use remote triggers just the lenght of the cord that came with my AB's.

My advice... go with the natural light, and use a single flash on camera for fill only.

I was concerned that a single flash source would not provide enough "fill" for such a large crowd.

I would switch it to near sunset and use the best light source available the sun that is if the bleachers are facing the right way.