Shooting in nigh clubs?

Hello all,
I was invited recently to shoot for a friend who is throwing an event at a night club. Can someone say horrible lighting?

I will be purchasing an external flash soon [the Sigma EF-500 Super DG to be exact] for my 350D. For the most part, I am required to take pictures of the people. Sort of like the photos that can be found here: http://nightfunctions.​com/thursdays/090105/

However, I do NOT like the results they have... you know, the deer in headlights look from direct flashes . Can anyone offer me some advice or tips on how to avoid this? Do I need to invest on some sort of diffuser? If so, how would I utilize it in this type of situation?

Thanks to all,
-Liang

You know what'd be really cool?

Long shutter speeds with flash.

Shove her in Av and meter for ambient light. The flash will freeze motion, but the rest of the stuff will be blurred.

Try it in a dark room.

I tried to do this at a birthday party but it didn't work out. I just wasn't prepared. Practise makes perfect!

As for diffuser, the white card with rubber band is the most cost effective. Bounce bounce bounce if you can! It'll be softer light. Flash photography is difficult. It takes toones of practise. I haven't even BEGUN to master it... Good luck!

if it has a low roof, try just tilting the head of your flash so it bounces off the roof (?).
and be sure to get lots of photos of the attractive girls - everyone knows clubs main promotion is good looking girls.

i agree with kev about the flash long shuttering, on the dance floor
if you can get to higher ground, and shoot a 3 second shutter shot with a hefty fill flash, it might turnout great, with the frozen image of everyone in half a dance move, then a blur of arms and feet with lasers and strobes everywhere, would make it look uncanny,

EDIT: *looks at section title* i'm no where near a professional, take anyone elses advice over mine.

I will reference a bunch of previous posts that I have replied to .

YES you need the external flash , use BOUNCE flash, long shutter speeds, Second curtian sync, just plain experiment.

THe one rule I follow: Forget about normal skins tones and other general lighting, go with what works.

Othere recommendations:
Have the people show emotion and movement. All posed shots tend to get staic and boring.
Boost your ISO
Crazy different angles
Also forget about the Histogram.

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=62296

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=90282

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=89152

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=79713

The way I do it:
- Av mode.
- Set ISO so your shutter speeds are reasonable. ISO 3200 on a 20D's fine for prints up to 8*12. High ISO means less blur of the ambient background light. Aim for the same shutter speeds you'd use in daylight - eg 1/50th for a 50mm lens.
- Flash straight on at around FEC-1 (works better because there's almost always some light on the subjects). Diffuser the flash a little if you like.
- IMHO don't bounce the flash, you'll get poorly illuminated subjects with big shadows under their eyes, unless you have a little direct flash, and you'll partially illuminate the background, which you don't want in clubs - the idea is to capture the ambient cool lighting.

This has always worked fine for me. I did something similar on the weekend and got great shots with this setup. Watch your histogram, check for blinking highlights and watch the curve.

Thanks alot for the advice guys =) I just bought a Sigma EF-500 Super DG on ebay. I'll be experimenting with it as soon as I get it in the mail. Hopefully I'll get some neat pics at the club.

i made my living for some time shooting club events, getting published in mags and having images used for flyers and cd covers

i know im a bit late, but i would have strongly recomended against the sigma flash in favor of a used 550ex. you need to learn how to use rear curtain sync, and buy a flash bracket... it is very needed

hey! its not horrible! i spend a great deal of my time setting up that stuff! that 'horrible lighting' is generally what pays my bills!

I agree tho, not the nicest for photography :P

Lighting in clubs and concerts is great. It take a true professional and a full crew to set up, Program, and run a great show along with a lot of money.

MattL- what type of vneues do you work in, Clubs? concerts?


I just posted some new photos with some very good lighting from a concert/ event on Sunday night:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=96859

Take a look at this gallery and the amount of lighting and rig this place has. It is Space Miami if you are familiar with it.

http://www.ekreating.c​om …ry/list.php?exh​ibition=40

Eric - Most of my work is actually in Tv (thats television) - I've lit around 20 episodes of NZ's Top of the Pops. I have done a few big dance parties which were absolutely crazy.
Its really something, when you've got 10,000 people infront of you watching so intently what your doing with you lights. Next to the lights and the pretty girls theres really nothing else to look at!
Your photos look great - i know how hard it is to get good shots.

The photographer of one of the production companies I work for is getting pretty good at capturing the life of night club scenes. Have a look in at the website : http://www.oceania-audio.co.nz Click on lightingon the bottom menu, then 'light show' in the new top menu.

He really trys to capture the atmos / lighting - which i think is key to showing people having a good time. Heres one he took :

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