Shooting at the Ball

[cleanpig]

Hello!

I'm a total beginner to photograhpy, I barely knew the basic stuffs. Yet soon my gf is going to have a ball and she asked me to make some nice photos. And I really need help with that.

1. The ball room will be poorly lited probably. (high iso? Around 1000?)
2. She will be afar, like 15 meters? (Focal point rougly at 20-40?)
3. She will be dancing in a huge dress. (1/400 shutter speed?)

So poor light, fast moving model, not to mention the distance. :meh: I really need a few tips on how to make a few good photos and ( IF! ) if I really need an equipment, what should I buy. (That's last resort guys!)
As of now sadly I only have a Nikon D3200 with 15-108 VR KIT. That's it. :meh: (Just started recently...)

I tried to make a few photos based on this, but the result was terrible. Blurry photos, totally dark ones, not sharp, not enough DOF etc etc. Does any of you have some tips or other pictures with great composition regarding this topic? Should I just video tape it?

I would greatly welcome any kind of help here! Thanks in advance guys!

 

[tirediron]

The only way you're going to make this work is by adding light. Buy, borrow or rent a speedlight. A Nikon SB700 or SB910 used in Auto/TTL should get you decent pictures of the event.

 

[Patrice]

Tough gig buddy! As suggested above your best bet is more light. Better yet, convince her that she might have more fun and bring back happier memories if you attended the ball with her, instead of hanging out at the sidelines 50 feet away.

 

[MLeeK]

Buy a speedlite. YOu are talking more like ISO 12800 than 1000. A speedlite that tilts and swivels allowing you to bounce and some time spent on Strobist will step your game up much!
When is this event?

 

[kundalini]

Kenny Rogers sang it best......
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.

This is a time to fold 'em, IMO. Have fun on the night instead of worrying with the camera. If you're bound and determined, set the camera on Program Shooting Mode. If nothing else, you can blame it on the gear.

 

[cleanpig]

This is a custom here. It's basicly a prom. There will be an opening dance (the country's waltz + another one) , then class dances along with a few things, then it will end with another waltz. The whole thing is roughly 2-3 hours. The dancers are of course, the students. No outsiders allowed.
The guests are not allowed into the dance field so we can only see it from the sidelines. So you suggest that I buy a good flash? (and ONLY that? no stand or such? just a flash attached at the device?)

How should I use a SB700 for example? Attached on the device or some other way?

Thanks in advance for all the help guys!

 

[cleanpig]

Buy a speedlite. YOu are talking more like ISO 12800 than 1000. A speedlite that tilts and swivels allowing you to bounce and some time spent on Strobist will step your game up much!
When is this event?

Will be at Nov 24. Two weeks later basicly. So you are suggesting a flash too? Should I use it on a camera or at a tripod? (and if a tripod which one should I buy? then I need a bag for it too. -_- Damn this is a pricey hobby! )

 

[KmH]

If the ceilings of the venue are high, like a ballroom, you probably won't be able to bounce flash.

Yes, just put the speedlight on the camera's hot shoe so you can be mobile. I recommend you start reading your D3200 users manual regarding using a hot shoe flash in iTTL modes, and down load the SB-700 user's manual so you can start studying it and it's setting s for iTTL use.

Your D3200 doesn't have flash Commander mode which allows you to use and control a SB-700 off the camera.
However, the SB-700 does have SU-4 mode which allows the SB-700 to be triggered by the D3200's built-in flash unit. You would have to use both the D3200 and the SB-700 in manual modes though.

Using flash, you don't need to turn up the ISO. Note that it takes an SB-700 from 2 seconds to several more seconds to recharge after a full power flash, and assuming you use NiMH batteries.

 

[cleanpig]

So I can't shoot the SB700 flash with D3200 via wireless along with the built in one? Is that true? Oo

This is so damn complicated... Where am I gonna put the hotshoe? There will be seats and such and I don't even know if I'm gonna be at the first row.. (I can be rude and take a spot there though..)

 

[MK3Brent]

You can trigger a SB700 with any flash. Problem is, anyone else's flash will set it off too.

 

[cleanpig]

Like I can't give a different chanel or group or such for it? For example Group B Chanel 11?

 

[MK3Brent]

From my knowledge, the 3100 does not support CLS.


But to answer your question from the original post.
The answers you need are something we cannot really answer not seeing the situation.
And to be honest, it takes LOTS of practice to get proficient with a flash.

Go, try your best, and have fun.

 

[cleanpig]

From my knowledge, the 3100 does not support CLS.

I got a 3200, not a 3100.

 

[MK3Brent]

3200 should have it.
Check out your manual about how to assign your pop-up flash to communicate on the channel you want.

 

[cleanpig]

Question is, will the flash improve my pictures? I mean I'm an almost a total beginner. Made a few photos, had an event where I took lots of pictures etc etc, but I'm still quite the beginner. It's not a cheap device that I should just invest to half heartedly!

Here you can see my pictures.

cleanpig's deviantART gallery

They are not great, just a few tries and I was still learning my camera.

So what do you guys think? Should I invest to flash or leave it for the moment? Will it help me in making better pictures at the prom (and later on) ?