X-Factor Shoot next Thurs !!! HELP !!!

J

Jonathan0104

Suspended / Banned
Messages
17
Name
Jonathan Prentice
Edit My Images
Yes
Hey folks

Ok here's what's happening 3 of the X-Factor finalists are coming to my local night club and I have been asked to take some portraits of them performing and also with the customers.

I am very new to this game and am only doing it as a favour, the club are not looking for any PRO pics just some they can stick on there bebo page and give to customers as souvenirs.

I have a Nikon D80 with a AF-S NIKKOR 18-55mm VR at present and I have no flash except the built in one.

I am looking for some tips from you folks on the gear I need and if possible some shooting tips for in a night club.

Many Thanks
J
 
If you can get hold of a flashgun then definitely get one, it's essential for night club photography.

Setting wise, shoot wide open, high ISO and relatively slow shutter. When I did nightlife photography I shot at around these settings:

Shutterspeed: 1/5 - 1/10.
Aperture: f/4 (was wide open on my lens, but set to whatever is widest on yours).
ISO: 800

Basically you want the shutter low enough to actually expose something since it will be dark in there. Then the high ISO should bring out the background nicely with the flash filling the subject (i.e. the people you are shooting).
 
8utters said:
If you can get hold of a flashgun then definitely get one, it's essential for night club photography.

Setting wise, shoot wide open, high ISO and relatively slow shutter. When I did nightlife photography I shot at around these settings:

Shutterspeed: 1/5 - 1/10.
Aperture: f/4 (was wide open on my lens, but set to whatever is widest on yours).
ISO: 800

Basically you want the shutter low enough to actually expose something since it will be dark in there. Then the high ISO should bring out the background nicely with the flash filling the subject (i.e. the people you are shooting).
Click to expand...

You should be able to go with a faster shutter speed than that, even in a club. I presume there going to be performing so i would recomend a minimum shutter speed of 1/50 to freeze your subject and as wide as your lens will go.
 
Thanks for the replies.

I am looking at getting an SB-600 flash gun. ( Iwould like the 900 but its a bit to expensive at the moment).

I am also looking at purchasing a Tamron 55-200mm f4-5.6 Di II LD Macro Lens - Nikon Fit. Just as a cheap lens to do me at the moment.

Does anyone have any recomendations about these peices of kit or other similar bits that may be useful?

Many Thanks
 
Hi Jonathan
Will you be shooting indoors / outside (night or day).
If using flash should be ok for portraits etc.
If night with gig type coloured lighting it will be difficult and you're going to need a fast lens.
I'd suggest a high ISO, but as low as you can get away with to shoot as fast as poss for sharp image. Hope this makes some sense and I'm sure you'll get better advice too.
Good Luck - look forward to seeing your shots.
 
I echo what Pete says, a diffuser is a must, a large type or bounce card will work best but remember to test before hand so you know what flash exposure adjustment to make to allow for correct exposure. Oh and a pair of ear protector too..... shouldn't be as bad now Diane is out though :lol:
 
Wast of bullets if you ask me, go old school onthere arse and through them in the stocks :D
 
the_doctor199 said:
You should be able to go with a faster shutter speed than that, even in a club. I presume there going to be performing so i would recomend a minimum shutter speed of 1/50 to freeze your subject and as wide as your lens will go.
Click to expand...
Nope, don't shoot at 1/50, it's too high, all that will happen is the subject will be isolated with a nasty black background. It will also really accentuate the flash, making it look terrible.

You want club shots to have ALL the background and the people lit enough so it just looks like a bit of fill flash.

You don't have to worry about the shutterspeed freezing the action, it won't, the flash will do that.
 
Buy a 50mm 1.8 lens. About 75 quid. Definitely worth it, you'll get gorgeous portrait shots from it. And use a Lightsphere II--yes you'll look like a wally but for what you're describing I think it'll be your godsend (or a similar type of diffuser--a Stofen-one may also be good if you angle your flash).

edit: and if you can a 85mm 1.8 lens too. It's one of my best lenses!
 
No, don't buy a 50mm or 85mm, they are no where NEAR wide enough for nightlife photography.

With the flash, use a diffuser and move the head to a 45-degree angle or bounce off a low white ceiling if possible. Gives the best effect.
 
ISO1600
F/3.5
Shoot wide so F stops dont go up in numbers
1/20 shutter
Tripod or mono pod
Flash at 45 degree angle with diffuser / Omnibounce

Move back and forward with the shutter to get pleasing results.

2877975211_ca5791439a.jpg


Job done.
 
Rockshifter said:
Hi Jonathan
Will you be shooting indoors / outside (night or day).
If using flash should be ok for portraits etc.
If night with gig type coloured lighting it will be difficult and you're going to need a fast lens.
I'd suggest a high ISO, but as low as you can get away with to shoot as fast as poss for sharp image. Hope this makes some sense and I'm sure you'll get better advice too.
Good Luck - look forward to seeing your shots.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the replies.

It's gonna be indoors at night. With club lighting when the acts are performing the majority of the club disco lights will be off and stage lighting will be illuminating the singers (white lights I believe).

When they are not performing they will be in VIP and its mostly mono tone lighting in there aswell no strobes or that.

Does anyone have any advice on the flas e.g. is the SB 600 flash the best flash for a nikon in that price range or is there better.

Cheers
 
8utters said:
Nope, don't shoot at 1/50, it's too high, all that will happen is the subject will be isolated with a nasty black background. It will also really accentuate the flash, making it look terrible.

You want club shots to have ALL the background and the people lit enough so it just looks like a bit of fill flash.

You don't have to worry about the shutterspeed freezing the action, it won't, the flash will do that.
Click to expand...

I meant that if the act is onstage, there's a good chance flash wont be allowed, and the stage lighting will usually be enough to get a good enough shot

Jonathan0104 said:
Thanks for all the replies.

It's gonna be indoors at night. With club lighting when the acts are performing the majority of the club disco lights will be off and stage lighting will be illuminating the singers (white lights I believe).

When they are not performing they will be in VIP and its mostly mono tone lighting in there aswell no strobes or that.

Does anyone have any advice on the flas e.g. is the SB 600 flash the best flash for a nikon in that price range or is there better.

Cheers
Click to expand...

The sb-600 will work great, i use it and its a very good flash.
 
the_doctor199 said:
I meant that if the act is onstage, there's a good chance flash wont be allowed, and the stage lighting will usually be enough to get a good enough shot
Click to expand...

Oh rite...yeah then you're right :)

It is a club though, they will allow flash so no need to worry. Everyone in there will be taking photos with their cameras and phones which will all have flash, so it's highly unlikely they will restrict the photographer. I've done exactly the same kind of thing (photograph 'celebs' in nightclubs) and have always been allowed to use flash.

What kind of club is it Jonathan?
 
If the club has decent spots and you have a fairly fast lens you'll probably be fine without using flash when they are on stage.
 
8utters said:
No, don't buy a 50mm or 85mm, they are no where NEAR wide enough for nightlife photography.

With the flash, use a diffuser and move the head to a 45-degree angle or bounce off a low white ceiling if possible. Gives the best effect.
Click to expand...

The two primes have worked great for me a number of times but I'm used to being shy and standing at the back ;)
 
Hi Jonathan, is this at Chicago's or Liquid??? I did the X factor thing for about 2 years at a few different clubs around and about.
Stage shots - no flash, wide open, iso 4-800.
Club shots - slow all the way. the flash will freeze the subject, diffused if poss.

Its Chico time!!
IMG_0065WEB.jpg


Dean:)
 
No it's in CITY.

Here's a picture of what the lighting looked like at the Red Hot Chillie Pipers bash.

3102568253_71bdcc3eec_o.jpg


There was alot of light there. I'm going in on wed to have a look at the real lighting setup for the night though.
 
Jonathan0104 said:
No it's in CITY.

Here's a picture of what the lighting looked like at the Red Hot Chillie Pipers bash.

3102568253_71bdcc3eec_o.jpg


There was alot of light there. I'm going in on wed to have a look at the real lighting setup for the night though.
Click to expand...

If the lighting is anything like that, you'll be fine without flash and able to use some high shutter speeds :)
 
Yeah I was thinking that but I was in today. We now however have some BBC lighting engineers to come in to spruce things up a bit. But I am still under the impression that it's going to be mono lighting and well lit while the acts are on.

I took the plunge yesterday and bought:

Hoya 52mm Haze UV 2
Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA 4 Pack 1
Ansmann Photocam III Charger 1
Nikon SB600 Speedlight 1
Tamron 55-200mm f4-5.6 Di II LD Macro Lens - Nikon Fit 1

for Thursday night.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top