Settings Help, Photographing Inside Barns

[kehoka]

I am going to be taking photographs at a huge poultry show this weekend and wanted to bring my new Nikon d5300. I'm very new to DSLRs, so I'm wondering what settings I should plan on using. I have the kit lens, and I'm assuming the lighting will be pretty good but not very bright and I CAN'T use flash. I am going to be taking portraits of the birds. Any tips or tricks? I'll have my iphone 5 as backup since it has done well in the past with shows

Here are some images that I've taken at previous shows with my iphone. This gives you an idea of what I'm dealing with. I just would like to be able to do this with my Nikon!
Poultry Shows - a set on Flickr

 

[tirediron]

This will be a big challenge without a flash. There are no 'settings' that can be suggested, conditions vary a lot. Your best bet will be to set the camera to aperture priority (~1/100), auto ISO and 'Green box' mode. Your images will be noisy, but you should still get some sap able images.

 

[Big Mike]

I would imagine that a typical barn would be fairly dark, but it's impossible to know before seeing it. Without flash, and without a lens capable of a large aperture, you will be in a tough spot.

Unless is very bright, you will likely have to resort to a rather high ISO, in order to maintain a shutter speed that is fast enough to give you sharp photos.

I think Tirediron's advice is a bit confusing, so I'll try to reword it. Use A mode, and set your largest aperture (lowest F number). Keep an eye on your shutter speed, and if it's lower than 1/100, then raise your ISO.

Don't use the 'Green' fully auto mode, as that will likely make the flash pop up.

Auto ISO would be OK, but you may have to go into the menu and make sure that it's set to be able to use high enough ISO values.

 

[tirediron]

Hey Mike... it was early. :er: Yes, that was confusing. Let me re-phrase: SHUTTER priority (at 1/100s) and auto everything else, including ISO. I know that aperture priority would be a more common mode, however, based on the fact that it's going be very dim (I've spent a lot of time in places like this) regardless of how bright it seems to you, and the fact that the OP lacks experience with DSLRs, and the poultry will be moving, I felt that a minimum shutter speed would be of more value than minimum DoF.

 

[kehoka]

Ok thank you, I will have to play around with it when I get there since I've never been to this building before. It shouldn't be terribly dark, because it has to be light enough for the judges to work and see everything. I guess it's not really a barn, it's more of an event hall sort of thing.

Yeah, no flash though because I don't want to spook the birds. Wish I had a prime lens to work with but I haven't invested in one yet. If it doesn't work out this time I'll just pull out the iphone.

 

[elementgs]

Respectfully, I disagree with the requirement to have a flash and quite honestly prefer shots without it. The soft shadows caused by ambient or indirect light is significantly preferred to me over hard light cast by direct flashing of your subject.

From what it looks like, you'll be primarily shooting the chickens themselves meaning you'll simply need to bring your own light source.

Try using a soft, diffused, consistent light source to spot light the shots you need. There are a variety of light sources you can use for such an isolated shot ranging from home made box kits to professional racked lights. How you go about it is entirely up to you. I picked up a smaller LED lantern with an adjustable intensity setting and wrapped it with a thin pillow case to diffuse the light. I just have a friend hold it for me when I need it. It looks goofy but I don't care, I'm getting paid.

Good luck.

 

[keethjon]

You might also want to consider the "P" program mode. It is basically similar to the automatic mode. But it gives you a couple of quick options to adjust for lighting or movement. After taking a test shot, you can quickly and easily adjust either the aperture or shutter speed in either direction that you feel will improve the image.

Keith
Easy Basic Photography

 

[tirediron]

Respectfully, I disagree with the requirement to have a flash and quite honestly prefer shots without it. The soft shadows caused by ambient or indirect light is significantly preferred to me over hard light cast by direct flashing of your subject...

If you're getting hard light from your flash, you're not doing it right!

 

[robbins.photo]

I am going to be taking photographs at a huge poultry show

Poultry.. shows? Huh.. ok. Wonder what the radio ads for those are like..

"Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!!! The Chicken Extravaganza to END ALL CHICKEN EXTRAVAGANZAS!!!"

Lol

 

[vimwiz]

*tripod* ? - And then use shutter priority (Tv mode) and a low speed to maximise the light.

 

[table1349]

Respectfully, I disagree with the requirement to have a flash and quite honestly prefer shots without it. The soft shadows caused by ambient or indirect light is significantly preferred to me over hard light cast by direct flashing of your subject...

If you're getting hard light from your flash, you're not doing it right!

Look up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane.............it's Light Science and Magic time.:lmao:

 

[table1349]

I am going to be taking photographs at a huge poultry show

Poultry.. shows? Huh.. ok. Wonder what the radio ads for those are like..

"Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!!! The Chicken Extravaganza to END ALL CHICKEN EXTRAVAGANZAS!!!"

Lol

 

[kehoka]

Haha, YES.

But really, it's exhibition poultry like what you would see at a State fair but at a whole other level. Truly beautiful birds. See the Flickr link for what I'm talking about

I do have a tripod, but I don't think I'm going to be able to use it. I have ducks I'm showing and I am not going to be able to carry around a tripod or extra lighting equipment. I will try it in P, A, and S modes and fiddle around with the settings to see what I can get. So pretty much up the ISO and increase shutter speed. I'm hoping the lights are halfway decent!

 

[vintagesnaps]

I usually use manual settings but whatever you use, you'd probably want the shutter speed so it's not slow enough to cause blur from movement - you wouldn't want it set too slow but not too fast either. The faster the shutter is moving the less light it's letting into the camera and since you'll be in low light you don't want to cut the light too much.

I usually keep the shutter speed at least at around 1/100 or 1/125th of a sec. using a camera hand held. Faster shutter speeds will help freeze movement but if you're in low light you may not do well with a really fast speed.

 

[deeky]

I am going to be taking photographs at a huge poultry show

Poultry.. shows? Huh.. ok. Wonder what the radio ads for those are like..

"Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!!! The Chicken Extravaganza to END ALL CHICKEN EXTRAVAGANZAS!!!"

Lol

Also known as "fly tiers' porn". In the Flickr set, the last shot of the rooster - nice cream badger cape, great cream saddle, and looooong schlappen out the back....

(In my best Homer Simpson voice) Mmmmm. Hackle.