I'm going to the circus on Tuesday...

Fenster

I've been asked to accompany the Youth Circus Project on Tuesday coming as they'll be preforming at the circus in Galway (don't ask me which one, I don't know myself!) and I was wondering if anyone would have advice for that kind of evening/nighttime shooting.

Basically I'll be behind the scenes at the circus that evening and will have a fantastic opportunity to get some great photos of the whole evening, but it will be my absolute first time doing anything like this. I picked up a new tripod and a portable hard drive (€60 at Maplin, go go half-price clearance items) today in advance, but the main part of my gear isn't any more exciting than a Canon 350-D and its provided 18-55mm lens.

Fajitas!

If it'll be dark and if you have spendable money, buy a flash gun! Your pop up flash won't do you too much good in that scenario! (If it's the circus scenario I'm thinking of!)

Hagar

Take care not to spook any animals with the flash.

Fenster

I've a budget of around 60 euro after today's spendings.

Paddy@CIRL

Shoot without flash, Push your ISO up and keep your aperture wide open, whats the best lens you have ?

Fenster

The 18-55mm that came with my Canon. Its also the only one I have. :[

Fajitas!

Paddy@CIRL wrote:

Shoot without flash, Push your ISO up and keep your aperture wide open, whats the best lens you have ?

Your still gonna need a dead steady hand (and risk a hella grain) if it's as dark as I've seen in circus tents. Might be a problem if there's anything fast moving.

If your budget won't allow for a flashgun, use manual focusing so you don't get the series of flash's as the AF works. That gets pretty annoying for some. (epileptics particularly :eek: ) (sorry )

Fenster

Fajitas! wrote:

Your still gonna need a dead steady hand (and risk a hella grain) if it's as dark as I've seen in circus tents. Might be a problem if there's anything fast moving.

If your budget won't allow for a flashgun, use manual focusing so you don't get the series of flash's as the AF works. That gets pretty annoying for some. (epileptics particularly :eek: ) (sorry )

lHaha, I had this sudden, horrible vision of you running away, camera in hand, from a group of twitching, frothing people on the ground.

Zillah

Get something like this: http://altura.speedera.net/ccimg.catalogcity.com/210000/210600/210669/Products/ca001_largev.jpg

Basically, its like a tripod, but only has one leg. So, you run around and its nice and light but you have something to lean on when you need to. I've always loved the idea, it essentially gives you a steady hand.

Fajitas!

Yup, monopods are fairly handy to have. Use it for balance, as a walking stick, and for fending off pikeys/drunkards. (or in your case, animals and angry epileptics)

Borderfox

Keep the lens at the 18mm end to keep the aperature as large (f3.5) as possible. Good luck, everytime I read the topic I keep hearing circus music

melekalikimaka

Fenster wrote:

I've been asked to accompany the Youth Circus Project on Tuesday coming as they'll be preforming at the circus in Galway (don't ask me which one, I don't know myself!) and I was wondering if anyone would have advice for that kind of evening/nighttime shooting.

Basically I'll be behind the scenes at the circus that evening and will have a fantastic opportunity to get some great photos of the whole evening, but it will be my absolute first time doing anything like this. I picked up a new tripod and a portable hard drive (€60 at Maplin, go go half-price clearance items) today in advance, but the main part of my gear isn't any more exciting than a Canon 350-D and its provided 18-55mm lens.

what is this half price sale you speak of? wha sorta hard drive/tripod...i'm looking for a new hd

Fenster

It was the last one. I took it apart to have a look at it and its nothing more elaborate than a laptop hard drive with a battery and card reader attached. It was the last one they had and clearance, so I got a nice price on it.

EireRoadUser

I was at a circus last year ,one that was outside blanchardstown shopping centre.
What i noticed/thought about when I got home was that the lighting was changing all the time and shots were very hard to get.

Keep your eye on the lighting if it changes colour all the time and try and get the rhythm of it.