night shots...

beatrix186 · Mar 17, 2008

hello everyone!

I have recently began at a new job where I have to take pictures of people at parties to post on the internet. They are pretty normal pictures in terms of composition and content. I take them at f3.5 and depending on the light 20 to 40 Av with flash.

The problems I am having is with the focusing of the camera, a lot of the times it doesn't focus right, i think it's because it's too dark. Other times the lighting doesn't look too good.

I use a Canon XTi with the flash and lens it came with. What kind of flash and lens would you recommend for this kind of job? Do you recommend any other accessories? or any other kind of technique?

Yahoozy · Mar 17, 2008

dark is tricky to focus properly, your better off using manual focus rather than auto in this situation

Big Mike · Mar 17, 2008

Manual focusing can be pretty hard to do when it's dark, with a slow lens and with the small viewfinders on these cameras.

Check your manual. You can set your flash for AF assist. However, this will cause the flash to pulse like a strobe light, which will suck power and annoy your subjects.

I would suggest getting an accessory flash, the 430EX or the 580EX. Both of these will give you IR focus assist...which will make it easier to auto focus.

Also, these flashes are further away from the lens, which helps to avoid red eye.

Better than that, these flashes can tilt and swivel, so you can bounce the flash to get a more pleasing, softer light.

beatrix186 · Mar 18, 2008

thanks guys!

Warhawk · Mar 18, 2008

well, ive taken alot of party people photos and the pop up thingy really isnt to good and like Mike said, people dont like to get strobed!

Rather get any of those external flashes and shoot at around f4 minimum.

Currently i have a 40D with a 24-70mm lens and the 580ex Mk.II flash.

From what ive seen is that normaly you dont have to much space to move around in, so a wider angle lens might be better to use.

these are some of the shots i took of sober/drunk people with the above

TCimages · Mar 18, 2008

An external flash is the way to go and if you have the money a wireless two flash set up can open up more options for you. I would learn how to adjust your camera to take advantage of any ambient light available to prevent the harsh lighting of direct flash. Ambient light and Flash can make really nice shots.

There are great diffusers that direct almost a 100% of the diffused light forward in the even you can't bounce.

Here is a lot of good info:
http://planetneil.com/tangents/flash-photography-techniques/4-bouncing-flash/

beatrix186 · Mar 18, 2008

thanks...that's exactly the kind of pictures i have to take Warhawk

and thanks TC for the website it was very insightful...

AWD · Mar 22, 2008

I used to take Photos for two night clubs in pittsburgh. (with an Xti and the reg flash and stock lens (until we found the other flash (DJs equipment)

ANYway Being that the clubs lights were allways changing it made it a fun challenge to get a good shot. (@ work now when I go home I will post pics that I took)

Most of the Time I would use Program with a slow syncro (af assit) but after gettting used to the lights (and help of another photographer) I started using Full Manual. Id leave a slow shutter and med-higher ISO to and the flash to make my own slow syncro effect and adjust exactly how much of the background to pull out (or depending how many drinks I had .. if I could hold the cam steady lol) but even started using the club lights for cool shots without a flash.

If there was someone important I NEEDED a photo of though I would stick to Program with flash and either manual focus or af assit.

Good luck and I'll look for the photos I have somewhere on my home comp.

beatrix186 · Mar 23, 2008

here are some pictures of what i usually take...i always have it on manual with flash...f 3.5 and i control the av...but i am definitely thinking of buying the external flash