|
Re: Shooting "Studio Booth" at Conference with D700 - Help!!
In reply to ahheck,
6 months ago
|
ahheck wrote:
jkjond wrote:
ahheck wrote:
So, two huge questions:
1) I'll have 24 hours to practice - what tips and tricks will I need to know so I minimize missed opportunities? What do I need to know about using the D700 to maximize results in the studio setting, then switching to the event setting (dimly lit audience, stage well-lit)?
Will you have the lights in advance? The two issues there are light placement and how you connect to them. Wireless will give you most flexibility, its annoying using a sych lead if it keep popping out, though as you'll be tethered you won't be fully mobile. Shooting from a tripod could well be and option, though if the people come through in mixed size groups a tripod would be a bind.
Don't try to re-invent the wheel, just go to any bog standard book on studio lights and copy a setup that look fine. I'd take two lights min so I could control background shadows, though three starts to complicate things - and there's no reason why one won't deliver.
Shooting with studio lights will be very straightforward once set up, I'd set them to light the full area so that you don't need to touch them again. Fully manual with the camera, 250th synch and f8 for decent depth of field.
If you can get the strobes well in advance, then do that and perfect the setup using your canon before the event. Then you can use the 24 hours to get to know the nikon rather than wasting it on lighting.
I will be renting, so the strobes will show up the day before the event. We won't have access to the location until noon the day of, and the doors open at 5pm. No pressure.
Do your homework on setups - there are loads of options, but you need to be clear in your mind so that you don't waste any time on location experimenting. Get there, set it up, a couple of test shots to balance light and away you go.
I'm getting some of our equipment from lensrentals.com - Is there a strobe kit there that you think would make sense for this?
A lot to go through on there. Some come with radios, others with leads. Non match my kit, but I'd expect it to be similar. I have one set of low power heads that are radio controlled but compact, and my larger bowens set which use a cord. I prefer to use the wireless - but with a 9' background I doubt you're going to be talking massive distances from your lights so a cord will be fine. That will attach to one light and the other will trigger on a sensor. You should also be able to use the pop up flash on the 700 to trigger the lights.
You aren't going to need massive power, so any of their kits will do the job. I'd still go for something with a bit of oomph rather than base level as you can always turn them down. I prefer soft boxes to umbrellas, but the difference can be subtle. Brollies give a parallel light, soft boxes diffused. But take a softbox too far away and it becomes a point light source rather than making use of the size of the box.
Power source - will you need a battery pack?
I can't give you any setup clues as I like to play on location, its great fun and very easy with the modelling lights to see pretty much what you will achieve. Rough guide, generally start with a light at about 7' height to the right, and then depending on the space to the background I'll have the other to the left and a bit lower and far lower power. Avoiding shadows on the backdrop is worth striving for. The room you shoot in will make a difference as a bright room will have light bouncing around all over. I've bounced lights quite successfully with no brollies or softboxes fitted - it gives a softer light, less studio feel.
Exposure is pretty straight forward using the telly on you camera set to blinkies and histogram. 250th will minimise ambient light which will be a different colour temperature, as will f8. Distance of the lights from the subject and power settings don't need much experimentation to get an exposure that works. People who know about these things will use flash meters, but you don't need one. They simplify the job if you know what you are doing, but complicate it if you don't.
Think about your working space and power leads. You don't want to have leads where people can trip over them. That's one advantage of power packs. Wind the power cord round the light stand to the base so that if someone does trip on a lead they aren't pulling directly on the top of the stand which will cause it all to topple over. Sandbags on the stand bases are recommended. If using wall sockets you may need an extension flex or two - so be prepared.
2) I've been asked to rent the strobes and whatnot. What is all the equipment I'll need to make sure I rent? I need to be able to sync up with the strobes, the 'un-sync' when I go into the actual event room. At least while synced up to the strobes, I need nearly instant review on a computer nearby - I'll have a partner doing the reviewing/editing/uploading. What's the best way to do that - usb? What software (using 15" Retina Macbook Pro)?
I haven't shot tethered, but usb sounds slow to me.
For the event area, if you can't use flash, then auto iso taking care over the min shutter speed according to which lens you use and your own hand holding ability, iso 3200 max should be OK but make sure you test this for yourself and not take my word for it, 1600 would be comfortable.
You could set up the banks in the d700 so that you can switch between strobe settings and walkabout, but if you tie yourself in knots I'd make sure you know the two sets of settings and how to get it back how you want it without relying on the banks - I find the way they are implemented totally useless as do many others.
Thank you so much, in advance! The event is next Friday, so I'm under a bit of a time crunch. Thank you!
--
UK wedding photographer in the Lake District
http://www.johnleech-weddingphotography.co.uk
For my landscapes and fine art photography:
http://www.johnleechstudio.co.uk
Thank you for such thorough advice!
I may just have two 16gb cards that I swap out regularly. It doesn't have to be 100% real-time.
Make sure they are both formatted before the do.
The biggest question I have now is exactly what I need to rent. Two strobes with translucent umbrellas and a wireless sync system of some sort?
Do your research on what you can achieve with lights, then talk to the rental place. They'll be able to tell you exactly what will suit the venue - providing you can give them enough info!
Thanks again.
--
UK wedding photographer in the Lake District
http://www.johnleech-weddingphotography.co.uk
For my landscapes and fine art photography:
http://www.johnleechstudio.co.uk
| Post (hide subjects) | Posted by | When | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 months ago | |||
| 6 months ago | |||
| 6 months ago | |||
| 6 months ago | |||
| 6 months ago | |||
| 6 months ago | |||
| 6 months ago | |||
| 6 months ago | |||
| 6 months ago | |||
| 6 months ago | |||
| 6 months ago | |||
| 6 months ago |
   |
|
Connect with dpreview
|
