Better Night Club Shots

I'm a new owner of the Canon 20D. A firend of mine owns a night club in the downtown Detroit area and wanted me to take some pictures at a couple Super Bowl parties. I think this job is a little over my head due to my lack of knowledge with shotting in low light situations. I have a decent flash and the starter lens that comes with the camera. Is there anything you would suggest to get better pictures.

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A bit dark. Add more flash compensation. Anyway, you can't rely only on flash lighting for clubbing pictures. That will ruin most of the atmosphere by killing the bar lighting. You need a faster lens. 50 f/1.8 is the cheapest at $70.
If you can achieve shutter times fast enough (1/40s or higher) in available light with those lenses, then you should use the flash only for fill, or no flash at all.
And Welcome to the POTN Forums.

Hi, and welcome to the forum. This is a weak area of my skills and would benefit from more tips on flash, or rather the the use of available indoor light when flash is more destructive.

If you give us the make and model of your flash unit, we'll be better able to advise.

Well my friend, i would sugges a better lens, sigma 24-70 f2.8 is a killer
and it also depends on what mode you are shooting..as A or TV will make a bigg difference!
With Av mode the camera will evaluate the ambient light, and set a time value so that the background is exposed, while leaving the subject to the flash, you can use this mode if the club is lit.
With TV mode you set the timing and the camera will tell the flash how much to light the scene, but the background will not be exposed for, this can be good if the club is dark, only problem being the ability to use focus.Dont worry about what the light meter is telling you, the flash+camera will make sure you subject is lit regardless. Hope this helps, let us know. and of course always use a high ISO, and KEEP STILL!
T

The Flash that i have is the Sigma EF-500 DG ST EO. I normally go between shooting in AV or TV mode. I just have problems when it comes to the shutter speed and setting the apeture.

well, bang the aperture down a few clicks, and dont worry about the time, or vice versa...the camera will do most of the work. Personally I only go with canon flasher, it might be bull, but i think they just work better and give you better and more consistent images.
If you go here http://www.giovanniweb​.it …/pl_05_gn_20050​826_ostia/ you will see a convert I did, it was very dark, I used the 580EX, and look how well lit they are, without spiling from the ambient.
let me know

Kalmo which lens did you use to shoot those pictures. They came out real good. That is the kind of pictures I want to take.

Why not give the nifty fifty a chance? I've had some good results with it:
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=133041

Advantage: you then don't need a flash, most of the time.

PeteR.

Very nice photos peter, i got a nifty fifty as well, but I didnt have it when i took those concert shots.
I used my 70-200mm IS L, the image stabiliser really helps, and the quality of the glass is evident! I know its an £££ lens, but since I got it it never ends to amaze me at the 'pro' looking pics i keep getting!
Try the nifty fifty, its so cheap and chearful!
T

Ok let's take a deep breath here.

Now is NOT the time to buy more equipment. You can do that when you are confident that you know the limitations of the equipment you have, and you're not there yet.

Here are your limitations:
1) A Canon 20D. The finest 1.6 crop camera in the world. That won't be a limiting factor.
2) The kit lens - 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6. A great lens for the money. Stopped down to around f/8 it will make great images for screen viewing, excellent 4x6 prints and decent 8x12 prints.
3) The Sigma EF-500 DG ST. A great flash unit for the money. Guide number 100 to 165 feet, depending on the zoom setting.

With that lens at f/8 and that flash unit you have power for direct flash out to around 12 feet at ISO 100 or 24 feet at ISO 400 (more if you zoom it).

So here's where I would start:
Camera in manual mode, flash in E-TTL mode, pointed directly at your subjects.
(Some would say direct flash won't give the greatest results, but you have to learn to walk before you run.)
1/250 shutter, f/8, ISO 400. Flash exposure comp. + 2/3

If you have a white ceiling that's not too high, you may be able to bounce the flash, but you'll loose a great deal of flash power so change the aperture to f/5.6

Watch your histogram and adjust accordingly. If you decide to bounce it, you may need to bump the ISO to 800.

Expect your first outing to be a learning experience.

Thanks for all the help. I am going to give all the suggestiona try tonight.

What is the nifty fifty. I'm not familar with that one. When I get some cash I was thinking about maybe getting a better lense. I just don't have the funds right now.

Nifty fifty = Canon's 50mm f1/8. Small, lightweight and fast lens. Cheap and not well-built, reported to having a bad bokeh due to small amount of diaphragm blades. But excellent quality for the money (about €80).

P.

ok thanks. I'mgoing to call my local camera stroe and see if the have one. I didn't know it was that cheap.