Events lens

Ricky91t

Well iv been told id be in with a good chance for being the official prize giving ceremony photographer at Athea road race.Im not 100% sure if ill be doing this but iv already got a press pass for this event.IM just wondering what lens would be good for group shot and trophies being handed over etc etc as if i do get this i dont want to make a mess of it.The trophies etc are handed out at the end of the day of racing at around 6 ish so it'll still be sunny depending on the day.At the moment im using a 28-105.

Cheers all

mervifwdc

Your probably fine with that, provided you can stand back a little bit. Just so long as it will go wide enough, depending on what your trying to get into the frame. Frame the image with a little space around the subjects.

In terms of speed of the lens, for groups you probably want to be shutting down to F4 or F5.6 anyway, so the speed of the lens is ok.

Be sure and have a lot of space on your card as they will not stop for you to swap cards, or play with any settings.

if it's sunny, and if you have a decent flash see if you can put the sun 100% behing them, and shoot straight at the sun (hiding it behind one of them). That way you get an even rim light around each of them. Hit them with the flash to get rid of shadows.

next best is the sun behind you.

after that, look for shadows to hold the whole thing in.

if you allow the sun to come in from one side or the other, then you'll get blown highlights on one side of the face and dark shadows on the other. if you've a decent flash, meter the camera to save the highlights, and let the flash bring up the shadows.


if you've not done one of these before, make sure you get them looking at you, not all round the place. Tell them your going to take a few to make sure they all look good, and take a few of each group. You will be amazed at the number of blinkers you will get.

Merv.

Ricky91t

mervifwdc wrote: »

Your probably fine with that, provided you can stand back a little bit. Just so long as it will go wide enough, depending on what your trying to get into the frame. Frame the image with a little space around the subjects.

In terms of speed of the lens, for groups you probably want to be shutting down to F4 or F5.6 anyway, so the speed of the lens is ok.

Be sure and have a lot of space on your card as they will not stop for you to swap cards, or play with any settings.

if it's sunny, and if you have a decent flash see if you can put the sun 100% behing them, and shoot straight at the sun (hiding it behind one of them). That way you get an even rim light around each of them. Hit them with the flash to get rid of shadows.

next best is the sun behind you.

after that, look for shadows to hold the whole thing in.

if you allow the sun to come in from one side or the other, then you'll get blown highlights on one side of the face and dark shadows on the other. if you've a decent flash, meter the camera to save the highlights, and let the flash bring up the shadows.


if you've not done one of these before, make sure you get them looking at you, not all round the place. Tell them your going to take a few to make sure they all look good, and take a few of each group. You will be amazed at the number of blinkers you will get.

Merv.

Thanks for the prompt reply
Yeah iv done work experience with a local paper and we spent the week doing group shots etc.And i have a sigma flash gun to so ill be sure to bring that.I just dont think my lens will be wide enough.And it might struggle to foucus etc

Borderfox

Group shots I use a 24-70 on a 1d body which is plenty wide. Maybe if you can borrow a 17-40 you might be better equipped? I shot presentation shots yesterday and the sun was playing havoc so much that I moved everybody around to get the best shot and upped the fec by a stop. I use a Canon 580exII with a CPE4 battery pack for fast recycling..

melekalikimaka

i'd say something wide round 2.8 would be ideal

Ricky91t

Borderfox wrote: »

Group shots I use a 24-70 on a 1d body which is plenty wide. Maybe if you can borrow a 17-40 you might be better equipped? I shot presentation shots yesterday and the sun was playing havoc so much that I moved everybody around to get the best shot and upped the fec by a stop. I use a Canon 580exII with a CPE4 battery pack for fast recycling..

Id be best off shotting raw if it sunny?
Im planning on saving for a 17-40 dont know anyone that has one though...Is there any rental places in ireland?

Ricky91t

My flash charges quick enough anyway so i should be ok for that

Borderfox

Yeah shoot RAW and large JPEG, that way if they look good you dont need to convert them.