Photographing a large event: HELP!

Big Mike · Sep 22, 2011

Really a flash in the daytime?

Absolutely, that's a great time to use a flash.

I think that hand holding a flash with a cord, is not really necessary in this situation. Just stick the flash on the camera and go with that. Take plenty of batteries as the flash will have to work hard if it's bright outside.

dakkon76 · Sep 22, 2011

I have the same camera and can say you don't want to shoot at higher than 400 ISO. 400 is okay but not great... 800 looks like total crap. If you're comfortable controlling it, then I'd set it on 200 and work with that... just be mindful that you can go up or down by one on either side of the 200. Aside from that... depending on whether or not you're shooting action, I'd practice some panning if you haven't already. With the lenses you've got, light might end up being an issue, which might be somewhat corrected by panning if they're going to be horse riding, etc (not sure what sort of girl scout even it is). Aside from that, since you're probably used to shooting in either manual or AV mode, you may want to play around with TV mode and go with a fixed shutter speed for some of the action shots.

If you can get your hands on a flash, that could come in handy too.

Big Mike · Sep 22, 2011

Sorry, this forum used to be much friendlier. :roll:

ShutterFly · Sep 22, 2011

UV filters are used to reduce haziness and glare created by ultraviolet light. A UV filter is mostly transparent to visible light, and can be left on the lens for nearly all shots. UV filters are often used for lens protection, much like clear filters. A strong UV filter, such as a Haze-2A or UV17, cuts off some visible light in the violet part of the spectrum, and so has a pale yellow color; these strong filters are more effective at cutting haze and glare,[SUP] [/SUP]and can reduce purple fringing in digital cameras. Strong UV filters are also sometimes used for warming color photos taken in shade with daylight-type film.

DiskoJoe · Sep 22, 2011

Just keep shooting. See what you get afterwards and see if you can crop things to make more intimate moments. but should be easy with lots of happy smiling little girls that will ham up the camera for you.

DiskoJoe · Sep 22, 2011

ShutterFly said:
UV filters are used to reduce haziness and glare created by ultraviolet light. A UV filter is mostly transparent to visible light, and can be left on the lens for nearly all shots. UV filters are often used for lens protection, much like clear filters. A strong UV filter, such as a Haze-2A or UV17, cuts off some visible light in the violet part of the spectrum, and so has a pale yellow color; these strong filters are more effective at cutting haze and glare,and can reduce purple fringing in digital cameras. Strong UV filters are also sometimes used for warming color photos taken in shade with daylight-type film.

Girl, they guys you are giving definitions to are professional and have probably been professionals for most of your life or longer. Take the advice you get on here with a grain of salt and make of it what you will.

But you'll be fine. Should be good practice for you.

Big Mike · Sep 22, 2011

ShutterFly said:
UV filters are used to reduce haziness and glare created by ultraviolet light. A UV filter is mostly transparent to visible light, and can be left on the lens for nearly all shots. UV filters are often used for lens protection, much like clear filters. A strong UV filter, such as a Haze-2A or UV17, cuts off some visible light in the violet part of the spectrum, and so has a pale yellow color; these strong filters are more effective at cutting haze and glare,[SUP] [/SUP]and can reduce purple fringing in digital cameras. Strong UV filters are also sometimes used for warming color photos taken in shade with daylight-type film.

Digital cameras have built-in UV filters (they are designed not to be sensitive to UV light). So besides the protection aspect, you gain nothing by using it on your digital camera. And as others have mentioned, adding a filter can cause flare/haze and general loss of quality.

ShutterFly · Sep 22, 2011

Big Mike said:
Really a flash in the daytime?

Click to expand...

Absolutely, that's a great time to use a flash.

I think that hand holding a flash with a cord, is not really necessary in this situation. Just stick the flash on the camera and go with that. Take plenty of batteries as the flash will have to work hard if it's bright outside.

Thank you!

ShutterFly · Sep 22, 2011

DiskoJoe said:
ShutterFly said:

UV filters are used to reduce haziness and glare created by ultraviolet light. A UV filter is mostly transparent to visible light, and can be left on the lens for nearly all shots. UV filters are often used for lens protection, much like clear filters. A strong UV filter, such as a Haze-2A or UV17, cuts off some visible light in the violet part of the spectrum, and so has a pale yellow color; these strong filters are more effective at cutting haze and glare,and can reduce purple fringing in digital cameras. Strong UV filters are also sometimes used for warming color photos taken in shade with daylight-type film.

Click to expand...

Girl, they guys you are giving definitions to are professional and have probably been professionals for most of your life or longer. Take the advice you get on here with a grain of salt and make of it what you will.

But you'll be fine. Should be good practice for you.

Excuse me, but I was asked a question and was responding the best way I know how. Please do not speak to me in such a demeaning way. It is extremely disrespectful to me. I respect those with more experience than myself and do no need to prove myself in any way.

ShutterFly · Sep 22, 2011

Big Mike said:
Sorry, this forum used to be much friendlier. :roll:

Yeah, I wish I had joined back then. A few people on here are definitely ruining my first impression of this forum.

ShutterFly · Sep 22, 2011

Big Mike said:
ShutterFly said:

UV filters are used to reduce haziness and glare created by ultraviolet light. A UV filter is mostly transparent to visible light, and can be left on the lens for nearly all shots. UV filters are often used for lens protection, much like clear filters. A strong UV filter, such as a Haze-2A or UV17, cuts off some visible light in the violet part of the spectrum, and so has a pale yellow color; these strong filters are more effective at cutting haze and glare,and can reduce purple fringing in digital cameras. Strong UV filters are also sometimes used for warming color photos taken in shade with daylight-type film.

Click to expand...

Digital cameras have built-in UV filters (they are designed not to be sensitive to UV light). So besides the protection aspect, you gain nothing by using it on your digital camera. And as others have mentioned, adding a filter can cause flare/haze and general loss of quality.

Thanks, I was just sharing what I was informed of. I guess I was misinformed. Thank you for being so nice about it!

LiquidGrace · Sep 22, 2011

A lot of good advice has been given in terms of what you should shoot. Lots of comradory and try to use your knowledge of girl scouts to help you in what you think would be a great representation, not only of this event but girl scouts all together. A flash outside is a great great tool to use. For me I find it really helps to eliminate harsh shadows and fill the photo nicely overall. If you're in a photography class is there any way you could rent out equipment from the class? (provided that's available).

In terms of this forum, I've been a lurker and while the opinions may be 'strong' you have to understand you came here looking for answers. No of course you don't have anything to prove. But to me sharing the info you did about your professor was rather snoody. If I was one of the professionals answering you after what you said, my answer then to you would have been "Well then go ask him.". I guess what I'm trying to relay is when you come to forums have an open mind and be open to the possibilities that everyone will relay their message in different ways. Someone saw that you were misinformed and told you. Regardless of how it was said you should give them some credit instead of retorting about your professor or getting upset. A rule I live by is if someone comes to me with 'new' information I ask questions. ie. "Oh I didn't know that. Could you explain this a bit further so I understand." A bit of humility goes a long way. I don't assume they are incorrect or get defensive. I pine to learn about this craft every day, I would never get upset or defensive when someone tries to correct me / help me learn.

Goodluck all the same. I hope you have a wonderful time.

ShutterFly · Sep 22, 2011

LiquidGrace said:
A lot of good advice has been given in terms of what you should shoot. Lots of comradory and try to use your knowledge of girlscouts to help you in what you think would be a great representation, not only of this event but girl scouts all together. A flash outside is a great great tool to use. For me I find it really helps to eliminate harsh shadows and fill the photo nicely overall. If you're in a photography class is there any way you could rent out equipment from the class? (provided that's available).

In terms of this forum, I've been a lurker and while the opinions may be 'strong' you have to understand you came here looking for answers. No of course you don't have anything to prove. But to me sharing the info you did about your professor was rather snoody. If I was one of the professionals answering you after what you said, my answer then to you would have been "Well then go ask him.". I guess what I'm trying to relay is when you come to forums have an open mind and be open to the possibilities that everyone will relay their message in different ways. Someone saw that you were misinformed and told you. Regardless of how it was said you should give them some credit instead of retorting about your professor or getting upset. A rule I live by is if someone comes to me with 'new' information I ask questions. ie. "Oh I didn't know that. Could you explain this a bit further so I understand." A bit of humiliation goes a long way. I don't assume they are incorrect or get defensive. I pine to learn about this craft every day, I would never get upset or defensive when someone tries to correct me / help me learn.

Goodluck all the same. I hope you have a wonderful time.

I do not appreciate your assessment of my comments. The comment of my teacher ws directed towards the one person I was in conversation with about flashes. It was in no way a "snoody" remark. It was simply an explaination of what I know and and have been taught and looking for advice about it. I was not getting upset, however I will not stand for someone talking down to me. I have to say I am extremely dissapointed with this forum and will be deleting my account after barely a couple of hours.

Maybe some of you should take your own advice and calm down a little bit. Learn to accept that not everyone is a proffessional. Speak to them as your equal, not your lesser.

I will be moving to a new form of forums and deletin my account from this site. I wish you all the best and that most of you learn to respect those around you.