Charity night

[ruthwebb]

I have been asked to do a breast cancer carols by candle light concert in Sheffield cathedral in December. I was just wondering if anyone had any tips as I am only learning photography and have never taken photos in a church before.
I have a nikon d5100 with the original lens and an external flash.

Thanks in advance

 

[jon ryan]

I have been asked to do a breast cancer carols by candle light concert in Sheffield cathedral in December. I was just wondering if anyone had any tips as I am only learning photography and have never taken photos in a church before.
I have a nikon d5100 with the original lens and an external flash.

Thanks in advance

To be honest, my best advice would be to decline gracefully! This is pretty difficult stuff. Depending on what they're expecting, you may need some pretty sophisticated kit - and the knowledge of how to use it. Certainly you will need to do a practice shoot in a similar environment. Probably flash will not be allowed, and in any case would not work particularly well for depicting a chorister carrying a candle. For a test, see if you can find out at what distance you will be shooting, then take a shot of a friend holding a candle at that distance and in similar light to the cathedral interior.

But really, do think long and hard before agreeing to this.

 

[mike weeks]

I agree with Jon.

Mike

 

[seriousrikk]

Gotta agree with the polite decline if you can.

Candlelight is pretty much the lowest of low light work - and low / changing light is tough.

That said, if you want to do it then you will need to make sure you have either a 35mm F1.8 or a 50mm F1.8 lens. You will need that to let as much light in as possible, coupled with a high ISO (3200 plus I expect) you may get a shutter speed quick enough to avoid camera shake.

 

[The Greek]

Only you know what your capabilities are, IF! you think you are capable then its down to equipment.

What do you own lens wise?

 

[ruthwebb]

They no I am not experienced. But I really wanted to do it as my nan suffered with breast cancer so it means a great deal tbh

 

[phil8139]

I would decline it, or if it's something that you really REALLY want to do, then go along and see how you get on. But be prepared for getting frustrated, flash will kill the shots if you are allowed to use it, and your kit is not upto the job of getting many worthwhile shots without it.

Go to a church this weekend, try it out........ it's hard work

 

[Bristolian]

Ruth, they may know that you're not experienced but do they appreciate how difficult this kind of shoot is? I doubt it very much. They probably think anyone with a "professional" looking camera can do it ... only a photographer will appreciate the difficulties.

No offence but I'm with the politely decline camp

 

[simon ess]

If you really, really, really want to do it, consider hiring a D3 and 24-70 f2.8 for the day.

I've no idea what that would cost though.

 

[phil8139]

If you really, really, really want to do it, consider hiring a D3 and 24-70 f2.8 for the day.

I've no idea what that would cost though.

ermmm - nope. not a time to work out how to use a new camera. The OP is learning photography and never shot inside a church before. Wasting money wont help.

 

[ruthwebb]

I am going to go along and try, I will try my hardest as I do with any other shoot. I have taken photos at a christening in a church and I wasent allowed to use a flash. It wasent too bad.

wish me luck. I just want to do it as its for charity too

 

[simon ess]

ermmm - nope. not a time to work out how to use a new camera. The OP is learning photography and never shot inside a church before. Wasting money wont help.

ermmm - oh, ok.

I am going to go along and try, I will try my hardest as I do with any other shoot. I have taken photos at a christening in a church and I wasent allowed to use a flash. It wasent too bad.

wish me luck. I just want to do it as its for charity too

Good luck

 

[phil8139]

I am only learning photography and have never taken photos in a church before.

I have taken photos at a christening in a church and I wasent allowed to use a flash. It wasent too bad.

make your mind up Lady - as a man I am easily confused

Good luck anyway

 

[ruthwebb]

Well, fellas get confused alot lol. I wanted to do it was just after tips x

 

[viewfromthenorth]

Best of luck, hope you can get something out of it. A lot will depend on how much light there is available, but stick your camera on it's highest usable ISO, open the lens up as wide as it will go, switch on the VR on your lens if it has it, keep the camera steady and keep your fingers crossed!

 

[ruthwebb]

Thank u. It has vr. I have a nikon d5100 with vr kit x

 

[jon ryan]

OK then. I'd suggest you shoot RAW as this gives more latitude in processing (or shoot RAW+jpeg). Have the camera on drive and the focus on continuous, high ISO and shutter at 1/30th or more if you can get away with it, and use your widest aperture. If you can, go and do a practice shoot. Take lots and lots of pictures - and good luck!

 

[ruthwebb]

Thanks johns how do I change my shutter speed ?

 

[Nikon_Nick]

Thanks johns how do I change my shutter speed ?

No offence intended Ruth, but your question here tells me the best thing to do would be to decline.

I appreciate its something you really want to do though, so I wish you the very best of luck.

Probably best to set your camera on aperture priority, set to the widest aperture possible, and the camera will take care of the shutter speed. If it isn't quick enough, you need to raise your iso until you do get a usable shutter speed.

Cheers

Nick

 

[ruthwebb]

Thanks nick. Just setting it now as I am going to do a test shot. x

 

[Nikon_Nick]

Thanks nick. Just setting it now as I am going to do a test shot. x

No worries, let us know how you get on ;0)

 

[ruthwebb]

Cheers nick. I will do. It's something I want to have a go at.

 

[Phil V]

Thanks nick. Just setting it now as I am going to do a test shot. x

For testing - avoiding teaching my Gran to suck eggs, but the light in the cathedral at night will be vastly different to daytime - even at this time of year.

If I was still working in Sheffield I'd offer to meet you at the cathedral and give you a few pointers. You really do need to get hold of a fast lens. don't worry about high ISO's, the old maxim - a noisy shot is better than a blurred shot every time.

Personally with your gear I'd turn it down - but if you really want to do it....

 

[The Greek]

Thanks johns how do I change my shutter speed ?

No disrespect, but if you really want to do this, I would suggest you shoot fully automatic.

As I said, no disrespect, but don't think you have the skill or enough time to learn.

 

[Simon photo]

Where is the sense behind all the decline comments!
Seriously people, its a charitable event, asking someone to give it a go, free of charge. Its not as if cancer research is asking for promotional shots for their next campaign!
No matter what you ney sayers say something tells me she's going to shoot it anyway.
So! With your equipment OP, you should be able to push the iso up to compensate for low light. Shoot it aperture priority and let the camera work out the shutter speed, only use the flash for say, close quarters shots but try and balance the flash with the ambient light.
Here's a thought, do you have a tripod? I can see potential for a few lovely long exposures, will there be a procession? Can you get a high vantage point? Perhaps a long exposure of people walking with candles making a river of light?
A long exposure of perhaps the people holding candles, you will get movement and the image will be abstract but that might be all you need to capture the ambience.
When I say long exposure i don't mean minutes, more seconds.
Low iso, small aperture (big number like f22) and see what shutter speed it throws back, longer the better.
And if it all goes wobbly then at least you tried and you were there.
How will anyone learn through declining or dropping out?

 

[jon ryan]

Unless Ruth's camera has a shutter minimum setting, I'd be wary of AP. All too easy to find yourself hand-holding at 1/2 second...

I'd set Manual, 1/30th, highest ISO, widest aperture - and use the crossed fingers setting if available.

 

[ruthwebb]

Thanks Simon. Yes I do have a tripod. X

 

[seriousrikk]

Unless Ruth's camera has a shutter minimum setting, I'd be wary of AP. All too easy to find yourself hand-holding at 1/2 second...

I'd set Manual, 1/30th, highest ISO, widest aperture - and use the crossed fingers setting if available.

Spot on.

Then look at the screen just in case there is more light than anticipated and it comes out over exposed.

 

[ruthwebb]

I like being thrown in the deep end. Used to all that with being a dental nurse. No one will find out if they don't try.

I no my kit isn't as good as most photographers but at least I said I tried x

 

[chimpsinties]

The best advice I heard for a churchy/cathedral choir shoot was to tell them that they're going to have to pose for you. You only need two or three good shots. One of them (looking like they're) walking down the aisle, one of them all stood together, one of the lead singer etc. They'll have to be dead still for all these and not singing but maybe looking like they're singing. You'll never get a good enough shot if they're swaying or opening/closing their mouths. Any chance you can attend their practice session or grab them 15 mins before the doors open?

 

[chimpsinties]

Also, read a quick tutorial on something like "photography 101" try googling it. You'll want to understand the basics of Aperture, shutter speed and ISO and how the three interact with each other. It's basically dead easy and it'll change the way you use your camera forever (for the better) once you understand it. You could also try youbute for something like "photography basics" or "manual camera settings basics".

That way you will know how to use your camera

 

[ruthwebb]

Thank u. That's really useful x

 

[phil8139]

Where is the sense behind all the decline comments!
So! With your equipment OP, you should be able to push the iso up to compensate for low light. Shoot it aperture priority and let the camera work out the shutter speed, only use the flash for say, close quarters shots but try and balance the flash with the ambient light.
Here's a thought, do you have a tripod? I can see potential for a few lovely long exposures, will there be a procession? Can you get a high vantage point? Perhaps a long exposure of people walking with candles making a river of light?

A long exposure of perhaps the people holding candles, you will get movement and the image will be abstract but that might be all you need to capture the ambience.
When I say long exposure i don't mean minutes, more seconds.
Low iso, small aperture (big number like f22) and see what shutter speed it throws back, longer the better.
And if it all goes wobbly then at least you tried and you were there.
How will anyone learn through declining or dropping out?

None of that will make any sense with the op with the following being said :bang:

Thanks johns how do I change my shutter speed ?

And it's not really a case of the ney sayers, Ruth wants to and will give it a go, she will get a few keepers, there is a huge difference between giving it a go with the knowledge that it will be hard but a good learning curve, and going in blind and feeling dejected for not getting what you thought.

There are a few weeks ahead where Ruth can practice, learn and improve her chances of an enjoyable evening.

 

[davecurley]

Ruth,

Try and get access to the location and just try a few shots using different settings, THis will give you an idea of whether you can get the shots you want. Have a quick chat with the Verger and ask him to reduce lighting to the levels you can expect on the night. I am sure he or she will help you.

 

[Cagey75]

Where is the sense behind all the decline comments!
Seriously people, its a charitable event, asking someone to give it a go, free of charge. Its not as if cancer research is asking for promotional shots for their next campaign!
No matter what you ney sayers say something tells me she's going to shoot it anyway.
So! With your equipment OP, you should be able to push the iso up to compensate for low light. Shoot it aperture priority and let the camera work out the shutter speed, only use the flash for say, close quarters shots but try and balance the flash with the ambient light.
Here's a thought, do you have a tripod? I can see potential for a few lovely long exposures, will there be a procession? Can you get a high vantage point? Perhaps a long exposure of people walking with candles making a river of light?
A long exposure of perhaps the people holding candles, you will get movement and the image will be abstract but that might be all you need to capture the ambience.
When I say long exposure i don't mean minutes, more seconds.
Low iso, small aperture (big number like f22) and see what shutter speed it throws back, longer the better.
And if it all goes wobbly then at least you tried and you were there.
How will anyone learn through declining or dropping out?

I would say there is plenty of sense behind suggestions to decline!

The people who are asking her to shoot it most likely think she knows what she's doing, because she happens to have a dslr. No offence to OP, but she's admitted herself she doesn't have a clue, basically. Not the best time to go experimenting when there are people probably hoping for great pictures from the event. What if she bottles it when the first few frames turn out pitch black?

We have no idea just how many candles there will be, will the church be gloriously lit up with 1000s? or just a few hand held candles by the participants at the service?

It sounds like a job for a pro, not someone just learning the ropes. Best advice is to decline, be honest and say you're afraid to stuff it up, and you've never shot in such a dark scenario before. Or, get learning fast. A few tips on here won't do any good if you simply forget them on the night.

 

[big soft moose]

The best advice I heard for a churchy/cathedral choir shoot was to tell them that they're going to have to pose for you. You only need two or three good shots. One of them (looking like they're) walking down the aisle, one of them all stood together, one of the lead singer etc. They'll have to be dead still for all these and not singing but maybe looking like they're singing. You'll never get a good enough shot if they're swaying or opening/closing their mouths. Any chance you can attend their practice session or grab them 15 mins before the doors open?

That

The other option being to go for a long exposure and a deliberate movement blur and light trails (you need a tripod for that so you only get deliberate movement, not camera shake)

That aside I'd fall into the politely decline camp as well - as if you don't even know how to change your shutter speed you have nowhere near the experience / or knowledge required to do a good job. (or if you are really determined to do it, is there anyone more experienced in the neighbour hood who could go with you and back you up and give you help and advice ? - If I were closer i would, but sheffield is a tad far from devon)

 

[new2me]

Just a thought, after looking at a couple of your other threads; why not ask if this gentleman can travel over from Warrington to help

Ruth. if you ever want to get in front of the camera again drop me a pm I would love the opportunity to shoot you, no fees just TFCD.

 

[ruthwebb]

Right ok. Thanks for all the help but I have sent an email saying I will decline.

I don't want to make a fool if myself if the photos come back awful

Thanks again

 

[chimpsinties]

Right ok. Thanks for all the help but I have sent an email saying I will decline.

I don't want to make a fool if myself if the photos come back awful

Thanks again

That doesn't mean you can't take this as an opportunity to learn all this stuff anyway and end up being able to use your camera much better. Maybe in 3 weeks you'll feel much more confident and can just do it for yourself as an experiment. That way if you get some great shots you can let them have them but without the pressure

 

[phil8139]

Right ok. Thanks for all the help but I have sent an email saying I will decline.

I don't want to make a fool if myself if the photos come back awful

Thanks again

Why Ruth, could you not have been open, say you will do it but for experience, let them know you may not get anything but if you do it will be available?

The pressure will be off, you get to try it out and learn a little bit more?

Phil.