Bar Tips?

Dragnut06 · Aug 23, 2011

Hopefully this is the right place to post this. I've been doing photography for about 2 years now but haven't got to use my camera alot of im still pretty new to it all, but heres the deal. So I got offered to photograph a DJ at a local bar next week for a magazine. This is my first photoshoot event and a little nervous. I have no experience photographing in a bar (or in low light for that matter). What are some good tips and general settings I may need. Still a little new to photography. I'm shooting with a Nikon D60 w/ 18-55mm and 55-200mm and a Nikon SB-600. Thanks and will appreciate any advice.

brandibell · Aug 23, 2011

I would take the 18-55 and definitely use external flash . I usually bounce the flash in a bar settings or use a defuser if I'm pointing directly at the person/people. I use a large aperture and have my shutter speed fast enough that I can hand hold it without any blur. I try and keep my ISO as low as possible to avoid noise.

anthonymichael · Aug 23, 2011

I would use a slower shutter speed, and expose for the flash with your aperture. With the longer shutter speed, like around 1/4 of a second, you will be able to capture the ambient light from the dj's lights. Use rear-curtain sync for your flash. The pop of the flash will freeze your subject and still capture the ambient light and the feel of the bar instead of just looking like a snapshot. What I would do is try it both ways, I've had good shots with settings like f/4 with a shutter speed of around 1/200 of a sec. with a flash at 1/4 power; and I've had great shots with f/14 with a shutter speed of 1/4 sec. with a flash set at full power. Remember that your shutter speed controls your ambient light and your aperture controls the flash. You just have to find the balance and what works best for you in the situation you're in. Hopefully I've helped a little.

scorpion_tyr · Aug 23, 2011

If you want some motion blur follow advise above. If you're trying to get some shots without any motion blur you're going to have a difficult time. If you have $100 you can spend I'd say get a 50mm f/1.8, because you're really going to need a large aperture to keep your shutter speed fast and your ISO down low. Definitely use your flash. Bump the exposure compensation up somewhere around +2/3 and bounce it off the ceiling. Keep your aperture as open as you can and use a shutter speed of around 1/250 if you can. You're ISO is probably going to be very high, so use noise reduction in PP.