How to take big group shot from above...

This is a large group shot taken in a conference hall. I learned the technique from this forum, and like to share the result here:

http://www.pbase.com/image/1907159

1. mount G1 on monopod, tilt camera down slightly
2. flip LCD pointing down
3. set to Self-Timer mode, press shutter release

4. rise camera up using monopod, steady rest it against corner of walls, look up LCD to frame
5. sample photo was taken in P mode, manual color balance, no flash, 0.4s, F2

• YP -

YP said:

This is a large group shot taken in a conference hall. I learned
the technique from this forum, and like to share the result here:

http://www.pbase.com/image/1907159

1. mount G1 on monopod, tilt camera down slightly
2. flip LCD pointing down
3. set to Self-Timer mode, press shutter release
4. rise camera up using monopod, steady rest it against corner of
walls, look up LCD to frame
5. sample photo was taken in P mode, manual color balance, no
flash, 0.4s, F2

• YP -

Click to expand...

i've tried this in the past, with my camera, it's a bit cumbersome, it tends to bob around. it works best if your not at the bottom of a hill or the effect is lost. pointing it downward somewhat, i have views that look like they were 20 feet off the ground. i was able to get a pretty good shot of my house in one shot, from the driveway. where as before, i'd have to be across the street.

a good trick - don't do it near powerlines.

---Mike Savad

--
http://www.pbase.com/savad/

This reminded me of something I wanted to try at my aunt's wedding this summer. I want to take a photo of the whole congregation from the church balcony and am wondering what kind of flash coverage I'd be able to get with the 420ex. I'd like to bounce it off of my collapsable reflector rather than direct but I'm not sure if the 420ex would be able to handle this. Anyone tried something from this distance with the 420ex and with/without a reflector?

Michael

YP said:

This is a large group shot taken in a conference hall. I learned
the technique from this forum, and like to share the result here:

http://www.pbase.com/image/1907159

1. mount G1 on monopod, tilt camera down slightly
2. flip LCD pointing down
3. set to Self-Timer mode, press shutter release
4. rise camera up using monopod, steady rest it against corner of
walls, look up LCD to frame
5. sample photo was taken in P mode, manual color balance, no
flash, 0.4s, F2

• YP -

Click to expand...

--
http://www.pbase.com/mooremwm

With a GN of only 30 or so(at 50mm), I doubt it has enough power, even without reflector.

Mickey said:

Michael

YP said:

This is a large group shot taken in a conference hall. I learned
the technique from this forum, and like to share the result here:

http://www.pbase.com/image/1907159

1. mount G1 on monopod, tilt camera down slightly
2. flip LCD pointing down
3. set to Self-Timer mode, press shutter release
4. rise camera up using monopod, steady rest it against corner of
walls, look up LCD to frame
5. sample photo was taken in P mode, manual color balance, no
flash, 0.4s, F2

• YP -

Click to expand...

--
http://www.pbase.com/mooremwm

Click to expand...

Mickey said:

This reminded me of something I wanted to try at my aunt's wedding
this summer. I want to take a photo of the whole congregation from
the church balcony and am wondering what kind of flash coverage I'd
be able to get with the 420ex. I'd like to bounce it off of my
collapsable reflector rather than direct but I'm not sure if the
420ex would be able to handle this. Anyone tried something from
this distance with the 420ex and with/without a reflector?

Click to expand...

Fo shots at this distance I think the reflector will absorb too much light. You'r probably better using the flash in straight ahead mode. People in the back will still be underexposed relative to those in the front.

I have my own version of the camera-on-a-pole trick. I just tilt the LCD down and hold my arms overhead. The camera seems to be high enough to get over the heads in front of me.

Of course, I'm 6'10 (207cm for the majority of the world) and with any higher that 9-1/2 feet off the ground causes my G1 to get dizzy.

LarryRz

This shot was taken by a professional at my cousin's wedding last year and I'm hoping to get something similar this summer:



It looks like he used a flash (direct, no reflector) due to the shadow under the front row's chins, but the exposure is fairly even. Do you think the G2/420ex combo could do something like this, with perhaps a bit of slow sync to even out the people in the background?

I guess the reflector would be out for this type of shot, but I'm hoping to be able to use it in conjunction with a bounced 420ex for small group portraits like of the wedding party. The reflector has a shiny silver/gold side which should help prevent too much light loss if the diffuse side absorbs too much, but I don't think I'll be able to get much coverage with it. Although it may be a bit annoying for the subjects, I guess I'll just have to do some experimenting.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Michael

LarryRz said:

Mickey said:

This reminded me of something I wanted to try at my aunt's wedding
this summer. I want to take a photo of the whole congregation from
the church balcony and am wondering what kind of flash coverage I'd
be able to get with the 420ex. I'd like to bounce it off of my
collapsable reflector rather than direct but I'm not sure if the
420ex would be able to handle this. Anyone tried something from
this distance with the 420ex and with/without a reflector?

Click to expand...

Fo shots at this distance I think the reflector will absorb too
much light. You'r probably better using the flash in straight
ahead mode. People in the back will still be underexposed relative
to those in the front.

I have my own version of the camera-on-a-pole trick. I just tilt
the LCD down and hold my arms overhead. The camera seems to be
high enough to get over the heads in front of me.

Of course, I'm 6'10 (207cm for the majority of the world) and with
any higher that 9-1/2 feet off the ground causes my G1 to get dizzy.

LarryRz

Click to expand...

--
http://www.pbase.com/mooremwm

i believe you are going to have to cancel the flash, use ambient light, tripod, and bracket the exposure. jan