Advise on doing a large group shot

Call_to_Arms · Sep 17, 2007

My brother is a part-time fire fighter and his department is dues to have a big group photo taken, they asked if anyone knew anyone they trusted to do it right the first time and I got volunteered. I was feeling good about it, I had to change there original plan slightly because they wanted to shoot infront of a fire hall in the morning when the sun would have been behind them, I moved them out on the lawn, so I should have the light over my right shoulder. I had planned on using my XT and my A-1 on back-up, but just yesterday I was informed they want to enlarge this to something like 18"x24", will my camera do that? specifically, has anyone used a 8mpix XT with the 18-55 lense on it the shoot and enlarge that big? Will my A-1 allow me to go that large? Id find some premo film and probubly use my fast fifty on a tripod ofcourse. I dont have any medium format stuff..... yet, so this is what I have to work with. Is it do-able?

Garbz · Sep 17, 2007

At that size you are looking at printing around 100DPI. You can quite acceptably upsample the image using a lanczos or if that isn't available sharp bicubic resampler to get this to 150 or 200DPI which should be more than enough to make a picture that large.

Just don't expect it to be tac sharp if someone sticks their nose on it. From a reasonable viewing distance it is perfectly doable.

elsaspet · Sep 17, 2007

I do this all the time at receptions with groups between 100-600. Can absolutely be done, but you will need one extra light at a lens between 15-24.
Hope that helps

Call_to_Arms · Sep 20, 2007

thanks guys, maybe thats my problem right there, I am accustomed to tac sharp images, ive gotten spoiled. Just checking, you are talking about doing this with the digital? it will be outdoor, im not using lights.

Garbz · Sep 20, 2007

Yep even at 8megapixels chances are sharpness will be determined by the lens. Just like using 35mm slide film.

Neuner · Sep 21, 2007

Anytime I've done large group shots and I've got 'one chance', I set my shutter to continuous and fire off as many as I can. Guarantee someone will have their eyes closed, making a weird face or something. Usually about the 3rd or 4th shot is the one that has everyone looking serene.