Prom Pictures

DT · May 9, 2000

Well, I have a tracking number that shows it's on its way! Sure hope so, this has been pure agony.

Well, another question to ask. Dear daughter's prom is coming up and again it will be time to take the photos of the event. Having spent to much on both a wide angle, and telephoto lens, cf cards, recharger, batteries, adapter, and card reader like most of us have, I now have no money at this time to get an external flash before the big date. We always take the date pictures in front of the fireplace which has extra track lighting above it which helps with the light. However, any suggestions on getting better pictures in this situation and avoiding the redeye problem without the external flash? Also any other tips on this type of photography for the novice? BTW, they won't let me follow them to the restaurant or dance, and she WON"T be taking my 990, guess it's one of those throwaways.

ian · May 9, 2000

DT said:
We
always take the date pictures in front of the fireplace which has extra
track lighting above it which helps with the light. However, any
suggestions on getting better pictures in this situation and avoiding the
redeye problem without the external flash?

The best thing would be to get some sort of light behind you, that
they can see, to contract their irises. Basically it's just a
big red-eye reduction light. A light in the hallway or in a
pinch a small flashlight will do, like a mini-mag with the lens
taken off (just a bare bulb). Make them look directly at the
light for a couple seconds and then look toward you, and take
the shot. Not all that complicated.

Get as close as you can get away with.

ian

Ralph Encarnacion · May 10, 2000

If you live anywhere near Austin Texas, you can borrow my SB-22S flash and bracket.
Ralph

DT said:
Well, I have a tracking number that shows it's on its way! Sure hope so,
this has been pure agony.
Well, another question to ask. Dear daughter's prom is coming up and
again it will be time to take the photos of the event. Having spent to
much on both a wide angle, and telephoto lens, cf cards, recharger,
batteries, adapter, and card reader like most of us have, I now have no
money at this time to get an external flash before the big date. We
always take the date pictures in front of the fireplace which has extra
track lighting above it which helps with the light. However, any
suggestions on getting better pictures in this situation and avoiding the
redeye problem without the external flash? Also any other tips on this
type of photography for the novice? BTW, they won't let me follow them to
the restaurant or dance, and she WON"T be taking my 990, guess it's one
of those throwaways.

Richard13955 · May 10, 2000

See if you can get away with not using a flash. Use a tripod and the largest apeture possible. You'll get a better picture and no red eye. Do a manual white balance before taking the pictures.

Richard

DT said:
Well, I have a tracking number that shows it's on its way! Sure hope so,
this has been pure agony.
Well, another question to ask. Dear daughter's prom is coming up and
again it will be time to take the photos of the event. Having spent to
much on both a wide angle, and telephoto lens, cf cards, recharger,
batteries, adapter, and card reader like most of us have, I now have no
money at this time to get an external flash before the big date. We
always take the date pictures in front of the fireplace which has extra
track lighting above it which helps with the light. However, any
suggestions on getting better pictures in this situation and avoiding the
redeye problem without the external flash? Also any other tips on this
type of photography for the novice? BTW, they won't let me follow them to
the restaurant or dance, and she WON"T be taking my 990, guess it's one
of those throwaways.

Mike Kelley · May 10, 2000

DT said:
batteries, adapter, and card reader like most of us have, I now have no
money at this time to get an external flash before the big date.

Ian's got the best ideas, but it's a real shame after spending thousands you can't afford to spend even $130 or so (maybe even less depending upon where you buy it) for an SB-22 that will improve your pictures, oh, about 1000%

My daughter's prom was back before they invented photography, so I can't exactly put myself in your position, but I know I would have spent the money to get great shots that will last forever.

That said, my best advice is to go outside and take the pictures. Assuming the prom is in June there ought to be plenty of daylight still available when the young man arrives. And that golden twilight ought to be just perfect, far better than any indoor flash (even an external one). Grab some shots in the garden she'll remember to her children.

DT · May 10, 2000

Dear Ralph,

That's so very thoughtful of you. Actually I'm on the Texas border (Texarkana, but AR side), but Texas is a big state! Still, thanks for the offer. Everyone had such great ideas and I plan to try them all. If I do get a good picture I'll post it for ya'll to see.

Ralph Encarnacion said:
DT said:

Well, I have a tracking number that shows it's on its way! Sure hope so,
this has been pure agony.
Well, another question to ask. Dear daughter's prom is coming up and
again it will be time to take the photos of the event. Having spent to
much on both a wide angle, and telephoto lens, cf cards, recharger,
batteries, adapter, and card reader like most of us have, I now have no
money at this time to get an external flash before the big date. We
always take the date pictures in front of the fireplace which has extra
track lighting above it which helps with the light. However, any
suggestions on getting better pictures in this situation and avoiding the
redeye problem without the external flash? Also any other tips on this
type of photography for the novice? BTW, they won't let me follow them to
the restaurant or dance, and she WON"T be taking my 990, guess it's one
of those throwaways.

Click to expand...

DT · May 10, 2000

Dear Mike,

I know your right, and it's such a temptation. Don't you also have to buy the bracket thing too? Can you get both for about 130? If so, I might dip into my mad money fund. Any places where this is possible? I do want to get good pictures when she's all decked out in evening wear. She's really sort of a cowgirl, riding her horses, so it's a change from her usual pictures.

Mike Kelley said:
DT said:

batteries, adapter, and card reader like most of us have, I now have no
money at this time to get an external flash before the big date.

Click to expand...

Ian's got the best ideas, but it's a real shame after spending thousands
you can't afford to spend even $130 or so (maybe even less depending upon
where you buy it) for an SB-22 that will improve your pictures, oh, about
1000%

My daughter's prom was back before they invented photography, so I can't
exactly put myself in your position, but I know I would have spent the
money to get great shots that will last forever.

That said, my best advice is to go outside and take the pictures.
Assuming the prom is in June there ought to be plenty of daylight still
available when the young man arrives. And that golden twilight ought to
be just perfect, far better than any indoor flash (even an external one).
Grab some shots in the garden she'll remember to her children.

DT · May 10, 2000

I will do this! I can just hear it now, "Another one? MOM hurry up!"

Richard said:
Richard

DT said:

Well, I have a tracking number that shows it's on its way! Sure hope so,
this has been pure agony.
Well, another question to ask. Dear daughter's prom is coming up and
again it will be time to take the photos of the event. Having spent to
much on both a wide angle, and telephoto lens, cf cards, recharger,
batteries, adapter, and card reader like most of us have, I now have no
money at this time to get an external flash before the big date. We
always take the date pictures in front of the fireplace which has extra
track lighting above it which helps with the light. However, any
suggestions on getting better pictures in this situation and avoiding the
redeye problem without the external flash? Also any other tips on this
type of photography for the novice? BTW, they won't let me follow them to
the restaurant or dance, and she WON"T be taking my 990, guess it's one
of those throwaways.

Click to expand...

DT · May 10, 2000

Very good idea, I think I need to enlist someone to flash the light in their eyes.

ian said:
DT said:

We
always take the date pictures in front of the fireplace which has extra
track lighting above it which helps with the light. However, any
suggestions on getting better pictures in this situation and avoiding the
redeye problem without the external flash?

Click to expand...

The best thing would be to get some sort of light behind you, that
they can see, to contract their irises. Basically it's just a
big red-eye reduction light. A light in the hallway or in a
pinch a small flashlight will do, like a mini-mag with the lens
taken off (just a bare bulb). Make them look directly at the
light for a couple seconds and then look toward you, and take
the shot. Not all that complicated.

Get as close as you can get away with.

ian

Mike Kelley · May 10, 2000

DT said:
I know your right, and it's such a temptation. Don't you also have to buy
the bracket thing too? Can you get both for about 130? If so, I might dip
into my mad money fund. Any places where this is possible? I do want to
get good pictures when she's all decked out in evening wear. She's really
sort of a cowgirl, riding her horses, so it's a change from her usual
pictures.

You are breaking my heart. Okay, you're right, you'll also need the bracket (SK-E900) and cable (comes with the bracket) which will cost around $50. Sigh. All right, here's what I'd do -- buy the bracket (you're going to need this and will buy it eventually down the road anyway). Now all you need is some kind of external flash -- any kind of flash (well, it needs to fit a hot shoe) -- and if you have no photographer friends that will loan you one email me quick and I'll send you my old one from my Canon 35mm (I haven't used it in years so there's no great sacrifice there). I need to make sure it will work with the 990 (there were voltage issues on some flashes with the 950, but I'm under the impression this has been cleared up on the 990), so before you spend any money on the bracket let me go home tonight and test it.

Trust me, the difference in quality is night and day, so let's do this right.

Rob Patterson · May 10, 2000

The 990 will easily take some fine shots of the big event under the lighting conditions you describe. Use a tripod and have your subjects stand still.

DT said:
Well, I have a tracking number that shows it's on its way! Sure hope so,
this has been pure agony.
Well, another question to ask. Dear daughter's prom is coming up and
again it will be time to take the photos of the event. Having spent to
much on both a wide angle, and telephoto lens, cf cards, recharger,
batteries, adapter, and card reader like most of us have, I now have no
money at this time to get an external flash before the big date. We
always take the date pictures in front of the fireplace which has extra
track lighting above it which helps with the light. However, any
suggestions on getting better pictures in this situation and avoiding the
redeye problem without the external flash? Also any other tips on this
type of photography for the novice? BTW, they won't let me follow them to
the restaurant or dance, and she WON"T be taking my 990, guess it's one
of those throwaways.

DT · May 10, 2000

Great! Looked through older camera stuff, found a Minolta Auto 200X flash with a hotshoe. Would this work? If so, I will buy the bracket and use it. The flash was for a Minolta XD or XG camera. Thanks again for your kind offer. Now I'll have to send you a picture!

Mike Kelley said:
DT said:

I know your right, and it's such a temptation. Don't you also have to buy
the bracket thing too? Can you get both for about 130? If so, I might dip
into my mad money fund. Any places where this is possible? I do want to
get good pictures when she's all decked out in evening wear. She's really
sort of a cowgirl, riding her horses, so it's a change from her usual
pictures.

Click to expand...

You are breaking my heart. Okay, you're right, you'll also need the
bracket (SK-E900) and cable (comes with the bracket) which will cost
around $50. Sigh. All right, here's what I'd do -- buy the bracket
(you're going to need this and will buy it eventually down the road
anyway). Now all you need is some kind of external flash -- any kind
of flash (well, it needs to fit a hot shoe) -- and if you have no
photographer friends that will loan you one email me quick and I'll send
you my old one from my Canon 35mm (I haven't used it in years so there's
no great sacrifice there). I need to make sure it will work with the 990
(there were voltage issues on some flashes with the 950, but I'm under
the impression this has been cleared up on the 990), so before you spend
any money on the bracket let me go home tonight and test it.

Trust me, the difference in quality is night and day, so let's do this
right.

Mike Kelley · May 10, 2000

DT said:
Great! Looked through older camera stuff, found a Minolta Auto 200X flash
with a hotshoe. Would this work? If so, I will buy the bracket and use
it. The flash was for a Minolta XD or XG camera. Thanks again for your
kind offer. Now I'll have to send you a picture!

Since I wrote last I did some checking to see if I knew what I was talking about -- sort of. I'm not sure the Minolta Auto will work because it looks like the flash needs to be Nikon compatible (and I don't really know what this means). However, I did find a couple of flashes by Sunpack that will work and are under your budget :> ) The Sunpak Auto266D with a dedicated Nikon mount is $50. The Sunpak Auto433D is more powerful (which is always better) and is only around $80. That plus the bracket will keep you at that $130 figure. These are flashes that others are using with the 990 and 950, so we know they work.

Others here who have a lot more experience with Nikon than I do can answer whether your Minolta will work. But at the very least you can put together a $100 or so solution that will make you happy (incidentally, there is a wealth of flash information at http://www.panix.com/~donwiss/flashfaq.html However, some of it is beyond my experience.

Post a separate query here about your Minolta with that as the subject line and I'm sure you'll get more answers. And let me know, because I can still check my flash at home to see if it will work.

DT · May 10, 2000

Thanks Mike, can always count on a fellow Texan (I'm from Longview). I will definitely post the question and look into getting one of those flashes.

Mike Kelley said:
DT said:

Great! Looked through older camera stuff, found a Minolta Auto 200X flash
with a hotshoe. Would this work? If so, I will buy the bracket and use
it. The flash was for a Minolta XD or XG camera. Thanks again for your
kind offer. Now I'll have to send you a picture!

Click to expand...

Since I wrote last I did some checking to see if I knew what I was
talking about -- sort of. I'm not sure the Minolta Auto will work
because it looks like the flash needs to be Nikon compatible (and I don't
really know what this means). However, I did find a couple of flashes by
Sunpack that will work and are under your budget :> ) The Sunpak Auto266D
with a dedicated Nikon mount is $50. The Sunpak Auto433D is more
powerful (which is always better) and is only around $80. That plus the
bracket will keep you at that $130 figure. These are flashes that others
are using with the 990 and 950, so we know they work.

Others here who have a lot more experience with Nikon than I do can
answer whether your Minolta will work. But at the very least you can put
together a $100 or so solution that will make you happy (incidentally,
there is a wealth of flash information at
http://www.panix.com/~donwiss/flashfaq.html However, some of it is
beyond my experience.

Post a separate query here about your Minolta with that as the subject
line and I'm sure you'll get more answers. And let me know, because I
can still check my flash at home to see if it will work.

Mike Kelley · May 10, 2000

DT said:
Thanks Mike, can always count on a fellow Texan (I'm from Longview

Actually, I'm in Nevada -- but we're both Westerners (give me those wide open spaces anytime).

Coly · May 10, 2000

DT,

One more thing (that I didn't realize): the camera will work a little funny until the internal rechargeable battery gets charged up. So have the batteries in the camera overnight if possible, before you take the big picture. And best wishes for it, can't wait to see.

Coly

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