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#960 2007-09-14 10:18 GMT |
Hi guys. I really need your help. I am going to my neice's wedding next weekend, and have been asked to take my camera for some evening shots, as the photographer goes home before that. I know how to do it with the basic auto modes, but I want to do it myself. HELP!!!!!!! I have spent hours and days going through my manual but it's not helping. Thanks. Lynn Any help will be really appreciated.
Life is better still. |
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#962 2007-09-14 13:59 GMT |
The first and most important question to ask would be - what are you going to be shooting with? What gear are you going to have available at this time? Are you shooting with a small point and shoot camera or a larger DSLR with a full compliment of lenses and flash guns?
Let us know.
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#963 2007-09-15 03:06 GMT |
I echo PrivateIdaho's comments. We need to know what type of equipment you plan on using whether its digital or film as well. Indoor event or outdoor? I've done some weddings and learned not to be a wedding photographer. Too much grief and work involved for little pay. Dave92706
A great photo begins in the mind not in a camera lens. |
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#966 2007-09-15 04:30 GMT |
Sorry guys. Canon EOS 350D is the answer to the question. With 18-55mm EF-S lens.
Sorry. Lynn
Life is better still. |
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#968 2007-09-15 10:27 GMT |
Do you have an external flash (some examples would be a 420EX, 430EX or 550EX) that you will be using as well? Or relying on the pop up flash possibly?
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#971 2007-09-15 15:37 GMT |
Polli, most better cameras have a flash feature called slow sync and fill flash which used correctly can make a definite improvement on photos. Using fill flash will reduce facial shadows for dusk and even bright light shadows. Experiment with the fill flash during the daytime with a willing subject and create a shadow on their face . Then use the fill flash to see if you can render their face without a shadow on it . During the darkest part of the day or evening hours use a slow sync flash feature if your camera has one. This will give the subject an even flash and illuminate the background as well. I find this method results in a better viewed shot sometimes when the background is worth lighting up. Sometimes you may have a background that you don't want to lighten up . Use the Evening or dusk mode feature on the camera. Remember that if the bride's wearing white and the groom black some of your flash shots may come out with an uneven exposure on the two subjects . This usually occurs if you take flash photos too close to the subject matter. I used an old trick to soften flash by using a cheesecloth covering my flash lens, secured with a rubber band. The results were very good for closeups . Good Luck and start practicing. Dave92706
A great photo begins in the mind not in a camera lens. |
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#973 2007-09-16 06:52 GMT |
Thank you so much guys. You have helped enormously. I am going to spend the week practising your suggestions. Unfortunately, can't quite afford the external flash or other lenses yet, but will do the best I can with what I have. Thanks again! 
Life is better still. |
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#974 2007-09-16 11:27 GMT |
I agree with Dave as well that the slow sync flash feature on your camera can produce much more pleasing dusk time flash shots.....but you will most likely need a tripod to use this feature as well. The slow sync mode does use the flash to illuminate the elements in the foreground - but it also uses a slow shutter speed to get the other elements in the photo properly exposed. This means hand holding is not always possible.
Just thought that I would mention that as well.
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#975 2007-09-16 11:56 GMT |
just relax and you'll be fine. the camera will do all the work. jus be sure the film is high speed and the settings are maximized
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#976 2007-09-16 14:08 GMT |
She's shooting digital......
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#977 2007-09-17 01:56 GMT |
i have the canon 400d model, i believe that the features dave was talking about are found in external flash units.
i used my camera to shot a wedding but the built in flash is only effective for close up shots like 2 meters away and the shot should not be wide like including 7 or 8 people so u should not be the main photographer in the event but with close ups u will get good colors.Most photographers use an external flash and sometimes a slave to aid it.A couple of days ago i had a crazy thought of buying a big flash light(the kind that has 1000000 candle lights power) and using it plus the built in flash but i did not bye it so i do not know what is its effect.
in the external flash u can aim it to the ceiling and bounce off the light for softer light effect
in weddings u need to get great colorfull shots because they last forever so try to buy the new canon 580 ex II it sell for 400 dollars on Amazon or try my option with the 20 dollar flash light and aim it to the ceiling for clos up shots
good luck and what ever u do post a reply and tell us the results
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#980 2007-09-17 02:48 GMT |
i checked out amazon now they are selling Sigma flashes for 180 dollars now i have never used Sigma products but usually they have the same specifications as canon but for half the price.
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#982 2007-09-17 11:07 GMT |
You can pick up a Canon 420EX for $140 bucks and it has much better build quality than the Sigma counterpart. Just a thought. It's the flash that I use and it has been nothing but a great piece of equipment.
Slow sync is not a flash feature - it is a shooting mode that is available on Lynn's camera for sure. And I agree it may be (outside of strict manual exposure) the best setting for what she is shooting and the time of the day that she will be shooting.
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#985 2007-09-17 15:20 GMT |
Slow sync is built into a lot of Nikon and many other brands of cameras. My old Minolta Z1 digital had it as well. My Nikon N6006 SLR has it. Not all brands have this feature. I don't know if Canon has it. I don't own any Canon cameras anymore. You can always refer to your owner's manual in the flash section to verify whether your camera has this feature.Using a wireless slave set up on a tripod with a flash unit mounted on it can also be used. I've tried this many times for fill flash in studio shots. Dave92706
A great photo begins in the mind not in a camera lens. |
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#989 2007-09-18 07:33 GMT |
Thanks guys. You have all been vey helpful. My husband got a bonus at work last week. So surprised me with a new Canon 420EX last night. I am going to practise like crazy. Thanks again you've all been wonderful.
Life is better still. |
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#991 2007-09-18 22:56 GMT |
Congrats on the new equipment......the 420EX is a GREAT flash and you will enjoy it immensely. Your flash photography will improve overall as well. You should get some good quality rechareable NiMH batteries for your new flash and a good charger. You will not want to use normal AA in that for very long. Give the manual a good read through and let me know if you have any questions on that flash.
I look forward to seeing some shots taken using your new equipment.
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#998 2007-09-20 00:09 GMT |
Don't be afraid to use the higher ISO settings also. There are some cheap noise fixing software that makes it a viable option. Sometimes you just can't be flashing all about. hand held shots are a must. If you have a 50mm that's the lense for this. usually they are f1.8 or f1.7 with ISO1600 makes a 30th/s image possible in dimly lit rooms. Natural ambient light will ALWAYS trump flash. A little bit of blur on moving things often creates a desirable art feel and removes the kinda sterile 'perfection' and other issues like red eye.
My point is, don't shoot 500 photographs ALL with flash. Get your flash shots, then start shooting like crazy without. Often you only get one 'shot' then the jig is up. I giant light burst will make all but the most brazen (or drunk) people change their behaviour. Shooting with a 50 (75mm with FOVcrop) from the next table will often be unnoticed!
Good luck.
PS REMEMBER TO SET THE ISO BACK DOWN!
"help, help, I got ions all over me!"
IONclad |
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#999 2007-09-20 00:20 GMT |
the last drop - a tripod and (or) monopod - are the real help, if not keep yourself very stady and hold your breath during shooting. Or use walls and the other stardy things as a holder. Good luck, get a lot of cards and camera and flush batteries - and press the triger frequently.
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#1064 2007-09-26 15:44 GMT |
Learn about using the flash exposure lock (FEL) feature if the 430 can do it. It will help greatly with exposure. At receptions in dark places I look for light in the background and shoot very slow (1/5-1/15 SS) at 800 ISO.
James Ireland
J.IrelandPhotography |
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#1249 2007-11-06 15:41 GMT |
Guys, shooting for the first time at night, Need some good tips on Subject Matter, that, hopefully, will be Deer. Looking for some close-ups and using FujiFilm Finepix S602Zoom. Help me!
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#1262 2007-11-09 00:50 GMT |
I can't say much, other then bring a tripod. and try to set yourself up hidden from view. Shooting at night, far away, where the subject matter MOVES is just about THE hardest thing one could do, except maybe photographing puppies with a pinhole camera.
Seriously, it's worth the experiment, but do expect grainy, blurry and mostly dark images.
There are exceptions, but with the camera you mention the strategy is:
1.get close
2.use wider angle settings to help with light gathering and focus, halfway would be a good place to start, most rangefinder lenses perform best in low light in the wider area of the zoom. (at least in my experience)
3. Choose a night with a good moon. This does add a bit of light.
4. Use a high ISO setting. If the range is 100-3200, use 800 or 1600. The more in the middle or near the lower settings of course will work better. Usually the highest ISO settings produce mostly garbage in low light.
5. Try to shoot when an animal is still and use longer exposure times to add light. Even at dusk you quickly exceed the capabilities of the 'film' and need to resort to longer shutter times.
6. Mind the wind. Deer can smell you and hear you a mile away. If your still, they can still smell you if your scent is being blown right to them.
Other then that... good luck. Next time you should pick something easier, like shooting the moon from a hang glider.
"help, help, I got ions all over me!"
IONclad |
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#1263 2007-11-09 20:05 GMT |
Finepix S602Z is a good camera, but you would not have good pictures at night, if not a full moon. to have some device to connect your camera to the tree - could be helpfull, tripod is a bit too aukward in hidden shooting. It is one possibility - to convert your camera to infrared ( i did it with Fuji 4900) - in this case you will have reasonable shots, but it is a big chance to loose the camera during transformation, and for sure you would not want to transforme it back....
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#1612 2008-03-27 19:08 GMT |
One other thing no one has mentioned is that wedding photography can be very stressful and not worth it unless your getting paid haha - i can almost gaurentee you wont be doing anything else but photos for the rest of the night :P
Oh also i got the Sigma 500DG flash - which is apparently equivalent to the Canon 540EX but it has almost NO FEATURES its quite annoying actually.
Check the features and not the specifications when getting a flash
"Time goes on, things change from moment to moment, and a photo is all that remains of the moment past..."
mbaker.com.au |
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