award ceremony

Hello all,
I am shooting an award ceremony tomorrow. I have the xti with the kit lens and the 70-200 and the 50 f1.8. It will be in a room with large windows. Any suggestions on what lens to use and what settings? I am new to photography and have gotten excellent advice on this website before. Thanks!

Do you have an external flash? How far away from the podium will you be?

I don't anticipate bring too far away from the podium. I do not have an external flash available to use

How big are the windows? What time of day? Where are the windows in relationship to the podium? WHAT 70-200 do you have? Unfortunately, it's really hard to make suggestions without seeing the room, and having big windows really messes things up.

If the windows are behind the podium, you're probably screwed, unless you just blow out the windows to get the subject exposed. If they're located in such a way that they properly illuminate the subject, you're not screwed. If they are off to the side, you'll be sorta screwed

Good luck!

PS - If you plan on doing anything like this on a semi-regular basis, you MUST MUST MUST buy some lighting. A 580EXII is a good place to start.

Ronin - hopefully it is during the day and the windows are facing the podium, providing it with good illumination. Is your 70-200 the IS? If you use that lens, regardless, you'll want to be at least at ISO 800 or 1600 so you can use a fast enough shutter speed to eliminate possible lens/camera shake. If it's the IS version and you are very careful - and not using flash - you can get away with 1/125th.

But as Evan says, you really need a shoe mounted flash if you intend to do these from now on. If the podium is back lighted by the windows, that is about the only way to properly illuminate the subject. I've done weddings in modern "glassy" churches and these are always a challenge, but can be done if:

1. You have a firm understanding of exposure,
2. Pay attention to the strongest light source,
3. Remain aware of where that main source is,
4. Be aware of what #3 is doing to your metering.

Regarding my 4th point, this is why it's often necessary to run your camera in Manual mode, after getting a good meter reading on the subject, and locking it in so the windows don't throw and underexpose your facial shots horribly. You can do this in two main ways: Either (a) get a spot meter reading off the podium/speaker using your zoom - a reflective reading, or (b) getting an incident reading from the speaker's position.

Likely my (b) suggestion won't be easily practical, so try to get a reliable spot reading. Have fun, and let us know if you have any more questions. - Stu

Thanks for the help/advice. It did not go too bad, I was able to get some decent shots. The windows were to the side of the podium, and I was able to get a good one after the award was presented (after I moved so I would not get heads in the photos). I usually don't go to events like these, but after doing it once I have seen that a flash would be nice to have. I think I will look towards maybe the 580exII. Not having a huge need for flash though I know canon makes the 430exII. Not too sure. Thanks though.