Need help to shoot stage show at night time???

I have D-100 and I want to shoot one of the stage (indoor) cultural show.
It’ll will be @ 8PM

I will be sitting 20 ft away from the stage; I have 75mm-300mm, 35mm-85mm, 28mm-70mm, 50mm, and SP80dx flash

Can u please advice me what is the best way shooting this event.

Should I use manual setting, if manual what do u thing F will be and S?
What is ISO setting should be,

Thanks in advance
Suren

Hi there Suren!

I have done some band work in wery low light, it all depends on the stage lighting, if you are shooting a performer I would try to get a spot meter reading from his face and try to take it from there, I find that if I have iso 200 I am around f2 and 1/30 you can of course up the iso to get more speed. I am not sure what 20 ft are since I am in the metric system but my bet would be the 50mm lense, but if your 28-70 is the 2.8 afs beast thats your lens.

Good luck
Bragi

Suren said:

I have D-100 and I want to shoot one of the stage (indoor) cultural
show.
It’ll will be @ 8PM
I will be sitting 20 ft away from the stage; I have 75mm-300mm,
35mm-85mm, 28mm-70mm, 50mm, and SP80dx flash

Can u please advice me what is the best way shooting this event.

Should I use manual setting, if manual what do u thing F will be
and S?
What is ISO setting should be,

Thanks in advance
Suren

Click to expand...

--
Less is more!

I agree with the last post (use spot metering if you can specially when doing faces). Use your fastest lenses. Depending on how wide the stage is and how well spread the actors/actresses are you may make a choice between speed and zoom.

Are you one of the audiences? The reason that I ask this question is because if you have enough space take a small tripod/monoped with you. Most stage shots that I have seen were at ISOs 200-800 and a few at 1600 (stay away from 1600 if you can)

Bragi Haraldsson said:

I have done some band work in wery low light, it all depends on the
stage lighting, if you are shooting a performer I would try to get
a spot meter reading from his face and try to take it from there, I
find that if I have iso 200 I am around f2 and 1/30 you can of
course up the iso to get more speed. I am not sure what 20 ft are
since I am in the metric system but my bet would be the 50mm lense,
but if your 28-70 is the 2.8 afs beast thats your lens.

Good luck
Bragi

Suren said:

I have D-100 and I want to shoot one of the stage (indoor) cultural
show.
It’ll will be @ 8PM
I will be sitting 20 ft away from the stage; I have 75mm-300mm,
35mm-85mm, 28mm-70mm, 50mm, and SP80dx flash

Can u please advice me what is the best way shooting this event.

Should I use manual setting, if manual what do u thing F will be
and S?
What is ISO setting should be,

Thanks in advance
Suren

Click to expand...

--
Less is more!

Click to expand...

I have photographed revue shows on stages in Las Vegas, live, during shows.

The best for me was to be all the way in the back, using a solid tripod and an 50-400 Nikkor VR zoom lens.

Exposures can be tough as often the performer's face is really washed out with a strong spotlight.

You also have to test the white balance.

I found (after the first go round) that setting the camera to underexpose 2 f stops was best, using a spot meter reading off a face.

Best bet is to shoot and look at your histograms, or if you don't know how to read them, look carefully at the LCD image (bring a loupe).

Also, carry a tiny flashlight.

If you are in a theater seat, then I suggest a mono pod.

Make sure you don't bother people seated around you.

I assume you have permission from the talent and the theater?

If not, try to get it.

Here is an example of exposure (a little soft, as she was jumping up and down and moving toward me)... but it is to show the exposure taking a spot reading off the face and shooting UNDER 2 stops.

Now, you may find that NOT what your camera will give you the best result. You MUST test and check. Thanks to digital we can do that.

This was taken at the Riviera Hotel showroom with the 80-400 VR on tripod.