Event photography in low light - is a 580EX and a tripod enough

I have an upcoming event that will take place indoors between about 7 and 9am and was wondering if I would need to purchase any more equipment. I prefer to shoot without a flash but have not been able to master it in low light - photos are much too dark and a lot of detail is lost. There will be a few people addressing an audience and would prefer not to distract them with a flash.

Also, is there any way I can minimise shadows that arise from flash photography or is it something that it taken care of by Photoshop?

Eternal Framed wrote in post #7285967
I have an upcoming event that will take place indoors between about 7 and 9am and was wondering if I would need to purchase any more equipment. I prefer to shoot without a flash but have not been able to master it in low light - photos are much too dark and a lot of detail is lost. There will be a few people addressing an audience and would prefer not to distract them with a flash.

Also, is there any way I can minimise shadows that arise from flash photography or is it something that it taken care of by Photoshop?

What is the room like? How bright are the ambient lights? Unless you've been to the room before and tested it with your camera, there's probably no way to know if its bright enough to shoot without flash. You'd probably have to fall back on flash. If somehow the lights are bright enough, bring some prime lenses. With apertures of 1.4 and some decent lighting, you might be able to shoot without flash... but I wouldn't count on it.

Can you bounce flash in that room?

Thanks for the advice. I haven't been there before so I want to be prepared for worst case scenario. I think that most challenging part of the shoot will be not to interfere with the concentration of the person speaking. I have a 100mm however the aperture is 2.8.

How would I go about bouncing the flash? Where would be the ideal place to direct the light?

Eternal Framed wrote in post #7286008
Thanks for the advice. I haven't been there before so I want to be prepared for worst case scenario. I think that most challenging part of the shoot will be not to interfere with the concentration of the person speaking. I have a 100mm however the aperture is 2.8.

How would I go about bouncing the flash? Where would be the ideal place to direct the light?

Off a white ceiling is best and shouldn't disturb the speaker either. If the ceiling is very high then the effect is minimized and then you start looking at bouncing off a white wall, if there is one close.

I usually like bouncing off of a wall and if the walls don't work then go for the ceiling. Bouncing off a side wall gives you directional light which is more appealing the light coming straight down from the top. It's like creating a large window wherever you want it.

The wall or ceiling does have to be white or neutral colored to work.
It also has to be close enough to the wall or the ceiling like MrCoons said. So it helps to have a stronger flash and bump ISO.

What gear do you have?

Thank you to everyone.. you have all been such great help to my newbie questions.

I have a 400D with Canon 100mm and am in the process of deciding whether to buy a 430 or 580. Been reading a few reviews on the 2 and think that if I end up getting the 430, I will regret it. When I eventually upgrade my camera, the 580 should be much more suited. Will it be over kill for my camera now?

As for bouncing light off walls or ceiling. Walls are a dark purple and ceiling has patches of white which may work and will definately be tricky. Is there a safe distance to direct flash at subject without severely distracting them?

I should also add that I've reasearched the venue and should have decent light from floor to ceiling windows on one side of the room. My aim was to get away without using flash at all however I realise that this may not be an option.

Any more insight will be greatly appreciated.

If all you have is a 100mm lens that's pretty limiting. Are you shooting people on a stage, or people mingling, or semi-studio style? A standard zoom would be a good idea, the kit lens will even do. Either flash will do the job, a 580EX will make it slightly easier with more power and a pull out white bounce card.

Pointing the flash at your subject may mean dark shadows in the background and washed out subjects. Bounce or possibly use something to diffuse the light. There's a few modifiers you can use to soften the light.

The 100mm is VERY limiting though! You really need something like a 17-50, 24-70 or a 24-105 to shoot events. A zoom makes life much easier.

Also the reason you get dark backgrounds is because you have probably underexposed the ambient light making the flash the only light able to expose your subjects. Try using M mode and set your ISO/ss/aperture to get some ambient light in.

I'll be shooting people speaking and also people at tables at the venue. I wasn't going to take along my 17-55 but as your comments suggest, this would be a good idea.

Not sure about using a bouce card because I want freedom to be able to move around without having to adjust the card. Making use of what ambient light I do have seems much more ideal to me.

Thanks again to everyone for your help. I have a much better understanding of what I'm up for and I'll post a couple of my shots in the next week and a half.

Leave the tripod. Far too cumbersome.

Ideally get yourself a flash bracket and an external flash. Help to reduce side shadows.

It seems you have little experience, so i'm just going to tell you how i'd do it:

People speaking on a stage: 100mm lens, F2.8, Av mode, ISO up to 1600. If your shutter speed is below 1/100th then use manual mode, ISO800, F4.0, 1/100th, flash exposure compensation at between zero and one, flash pointed directly at them.

People seated: 17-55 F2.8 IS, manual mode, ISO800, 1/80th, F2.8 (though go to F5.6 if there are rows of people), flash pointed towards ceiling with bounce card out.

I would want a 580 EX II and a CP-E4 so I had plenty of power with a good recharge time.