How do I ?

geoffd70

geoffd70

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Geoff
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I have been asked to photograph the local mayor lighting the bonfire at the Annual Lions Club firework display this coming Saturday. This event is the largest of it's type in the surrounding area and attracts many hundreds of spectators.

I don't normally do this type of shot and was wondering how to go about it. Do I use flash or will that spoil the mood, or use a longer exposure without flash. Also any posing ideas would also be helpful.

The image/s will be used by the Lions Club for publicity. Incidentally, I am not making any charge as the President is a close friend.

Any help from you guys would be much appreciated.
 
Wow that was quick! Thanks for that Andrew, your images of the Biggarbonfire are just the ticket. The 3rd & 4th shot are the sort of shot I was after. What kind of settings would you have used if you don't mind me asking?
 
Of course I don't mind you asking. :) For the two you mention - ISO 1000 1/60th @ f/8 with flash - lens @ 34mm taken on a D3. Most of the flash pics would be at these settings. High ISO to get fast recycle times. No flash used in shots of the fire itself.
 
Thanks again Andrew. My D300 doesn't have the ISO capabilities of the mighty D3 but will adjust accordingly. Although the D300 is usually OK up to ISO 800.

Geoff
 
I used to have a D300 - you should easily get good results up to 1600 ISO - maybe more.
Post some pics when you get them.
 
Nikon Dave said:
I would stick the flash on TTL and drag the shutter slightly maybe 1/10 ?
Click to expand...

Funnily enough David that was going to be my next question. I was going to go speed priority and TTL on the SB800. I know all conditions are different but would you back off with the power output when doing close work on face shots in the dark?

awp said:
I used to have a D300 - you should easily get good results up to 1600 ISO - maybe more.
Post some pics when you get them.
Click to expand...

That's interesting Andrew, I don't seem to have much success with anything much over ISO1000.
 
I would suggest you do some trial runs of night portraits with your flash to take some pressure off on the evening.
 
B****y good idea!
 
If the close up shots are to bright then maybe make the aperture smaller /higher f number or drop your iso or yes drop the power down on the flash .
 
Thanks David - will get practicing tonight. ------ Now lets start a fire! :D
 
Do a quick search for night club photography, you'll use similar techniques, perhaps not dragging the shutter as much.

Personally id go for 2nd curtain flash, as big an aperture as possible (f1.8), slowish shutter speed (1/20th), ISO as low as you can get away with (200 should do) and if you can get it on time a gary fong light sphere!

Hope that helps
 
Thanks for the advice matt - not quite sure about 2nd curtain, don't know enough about it, but will experiment. Funnily enough I sold a Fong Lightsphere on here earlier in the year. Just couldn't get on with it.
 
SORRY -IGNORE THIS - POSTED IN WRONG THREAD (REMOVED)
 
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