Well, this could be interesting...(Lighting/Fashion photography help needed)

[Austin Greene]

UPDATE: Photos from the show have been posted! Check out THE BOTTOM of page 2 if your interested.





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Original Post:


Well, this could be interesting. A couple weeks back I offered to a fashion club on campus (UCD) that I'd be happy to experiment a bit with them in some of the available on campus studios, with lighting equipment and backdrops I could check out from on campus resources. I figured it would be a good way of getting some portraiture experience, of which I have zip. Of course, I explained to them that I have zero fashion/portraiture experience, that I mainly shoot wildlife, and that it would be a learning experience for me from which they might get a decent shot or two for their time.

This past week, I was contacted by the club. They told me that they simply "didn't have the time" to do a studio shoot, but instead they would like me to come to their fashion show this Friday and just take some shots for them. I wouldn't be the only photographer of course, but I'm assuming I'd get some kind of special access. I was a bit nervous. I've never done portraiture. Sure I've read up on things, but never actually put any real effort into it, wildlife takes up 99% of my time behind the viewfinder. So, trying to familiarize myself I asked about the lighting there would be, only to be told that there would be a couple spotlights lighting the models from above, besides that only very dim ceiling lights. Keep in mind that my reasoning for inviting them to try a studio shoot was that then I could borrow equipment from the campus, equipment I dont have or largely need for wildlife, for example Speedlights, strobes, etc. I called and theres no way I could even check out so much as a flash to take to this show. So here I am with this club wanting me to come shoot the show, without any lighting equipment, and a room thats going to have the equivalent lighting to a handful of matches.

Oh, and did I mention my only prime is a nifty fifty? Yep. It would have done me fine in a studio with massive strobes, but right now I'm feeling pretty much like this at the moment....

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q128/TogaLive/Jackie-Chan-WTF.jpg

Any suggestions? I'm still interested in shooting the show just for ****s and giggles, and I've told them not to expect much if anything, but I'd still like to find a way to pull a decent shot or two out of my rear for my own personal satisfaction. Oh, and at the moment its not really in my budget to pick up a flash :/ I suppose I'm just crossing my fingers that I can find some angle somewhere along the runway that might give me some options, but its honestly getting to me a bit being so limited.


Thanks everyone,

Toga

 

[cgipson1]

Is it a runway type shoot?

Do you know how to use flash? Is it allowed? Pick one up, rent one.. whatever.. get a diffuser for it (Demb Flip-it, or a Light Scoop.. preferably), on a bracket (higher and off to the side a bit)! You will be fine! As long as you know how to use flash!

That way you have good consistent lighting.

The other way is use what ISO your body can handle at whatever aperture you feel comfortable with.. and pray!

 

[Derrel]

Well, a 50mm is a fast lens, well-suited to poor lighting. You will definitely need to shoot in RAW mode, for the most post-processing "save-ability"...I know the Canon 50 1.8 and its somewhat erratic AF performance under poor lighting conditions...I can still hear mine hunting....dzzitt-dzzzit-dzzitt-dzt--lock! That means nothing but a royal PITA under bad light and subjects basically coming directly toward the camera, the way runway models do.

Yeah...the lighting will probably suck...my suggestion is to set up where you can get a decently-framed shot as the models do their stop-and turnaround. Crank the ISO up to 1,250 or 1,600. Shoot at f/2.2 from 20-25 feet away. Pre-focus, and most likely, switch the lens OUT of its AF mode...you are familiar with the way the 50/1.8 EF-II stumbles and bumbles around in poor light, right???

Focus on making ONE good shot, as each model stops at the end of the runway. You are basically sitting there, in a stationary location, and waiting for the subjects to come to you, and for the subjects to hit your focus point.
If they will let you, put a small, discrete blue masking tape X right on the spot where the models will stop, turn, and then return. You will have probably around five seconds for each shot.

 

[Austin Greene]

Is it a runway type shoot?

Do you know how to use flash? Is it allowed? Pick one up, rent one.. whatever.. get a diffuser for it (Demb Flip-it, or a Light Scoop.. preferably), on a bracket (higher and off to the side a bit)! You will be fine! As long as you know how to use flash!

That way you have good consistent lighting.

The other way is use what ISO your body can handle at whatever aperture you feel comfortable with.. and pray!

It is a runway type shoot, and based on their not mentioning anything previously when I suggested flash, it would seem allowed. I feel pretty comfortable that I'd be able to figure it out pretty quickly at least to some degree, enough for it to be satisfactory. I've been asking around to see if anyone local has one I can borrow, but to no avail :/ and I'm not in too much of a position to be pumping out money on renting equipment. Still, I'll look into renting, maybe I can find a decent deal somewhere.

If not, I'll be doing just that. I hate to think about the uncertainty of it it, but I'll likely be doing quite a bit of hoping/praying!

 

[Austin Greene]

Well, a 50mm is a fast lens, well-suited to poor lighting. You will definitely need to shoot in RAW mode, for the most post-processing "save-ability"...I know the Canon 50 1.8 and its somewhat erratic AF performance under poor lighting conditions...I can still hear mine hunting....dzzitt-dzzzit-dzzitt-dzt--lock! That means nothing but a royal PITA under bad light and subjects basically coming directly toward the camera, the way runway models do.

Haha, oh yes, I am quite familiar with the good old eratic nature of the f/1.8. Normally I find it humorous, if not fun, but I suspect it wont be the same case this time around. At the moment, with no flash in sight, I plan on jacking up the ISO to 1600 at least, and then using LR to clean up the noise, praying not to lose too much detail.

Yeah...the lighting will probably suck...my suggestion is to set up where you can get a decently-framed shot as the models do their stop-and turnaround. Crank the ISO up to 1,250 or 1,600. Shoot at f/2.2 from 20-25 feet away. Pre-focus, and most likely, switch the lens OUT of its AF mode...you are familiar with the way the 50/1.8 EF-II stumbles and bumbles around in poor light, right???

Will do. I'll either set up in portrait with the tripod, or maybe just bring a chair.

Focus on making ONE good shot, as each model stops at the end of the runway. You are basically sitting there, in a stationary location, and waiting for the subjects to come to you, and for the subjects to hit your focus point.
If they will let you, put a small, discrete blue masking tape X right on the spot where the models will stop, turn, and then return. You will have probably around five seconds for each shot.

I really appreciate this tidbit on timing. I honestly had no idea what to expect, hell I usually don't give a flying you know what about fashion, but this really gives me an idea of what it'll be like. I'll ask them about the masking tape!

 

[cgipson1]

If you had a NIKON.. I would loan you a flash....lol!

 

[Austin Greene]

Haha! Well I appreciate the gesture Charlie

 

[Austin Greene]

Hmmm, found these meme's and thought they might also pertain to my situation...

http://memeblender.com/wp-content/u...-idea-what-im-doing-dog-flying-helicopter.jpg

http://chzscience.files.wordpress.c...experiments-memes-dog-science-fuzzy-logic.jpg

But I will say, I do feel slightly better now with some information gleaned from the past experience of others

 

[o hey tyler]

My head is full of fawke.

 

[rexbobcat]

From my experience, flash isn't really needed for runways if there is a spotlight. The spotlight is fairly consistent, however, when they get closer to the light I had to increase the shutter speed a bit. The only thing I would be worried about is focus with the 50mm. It doesn't exactly have....the best focus.

I could show you some examples but the show I did....was a campus drag show....not really the usual fashion subject matter that is posted here.

I'll post them if you want...

 

[cgipson1]

From my experience, flash isn't really needed for runways if there is a spotlight. The spotlight is fairly consistent, however, when they get closer to the light I had to increase the shutter speed a bit. The only thing I would be worried about is focus with the 50mm. It doesn't exactly have....the best focus.

I could show you some examples but the show I did....was a campus drag show....not really the usual fashion subject matter that is posted here.

I'll post them if you want...

I dare ya! lol!

 

[Austin Greene]

From my experience, flash isn't really needed for runways if there is a spotlight. The spotlight is fairly consistent, however, when they get closer to the light I had to increase the shutter speed a bit. The only thing I would be worried about is focus with the 50mm. It doesn't exactly have....the best focus.

I could show you some examples but the show I did....was a campus drag show....not really the usual fashion subject matter that is posted here.

I'll post them if you want...

It would be appreciate, lighting is lighting! As for the focus, I'm decently capable with manual focus

 

[Village Idiot]

Buy, rent, borrow, or steal a strobe and a set of triggers.

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Buy, rent, borrow, or steal a strobe and a set of triggers.

^^^that

 

[Mike_E]

A strobe and trigger would be a good thing.

As stated the spotlights should be good enough if you get your white balance done before hand.

Let's step outside of the box for a minute. You say that you have done wildlife, right?

Try imagining that the models are examples of the wild lynx and the runway is a game path. Since you'll have consistent light no matter what, get your blind set up and then choose a spot on the path that you know will give you the best chance for a good capture (most likely the end of it as that's where they pose a bit and then turn so that you can get some action shots) and zone focus if you need to. The only real concern with this is that you get enough depth of field for sharp shots.

Put you camera on a tripod or monopod and fire away. Don't be afraid to use your longer lens if you can get enough light and have enough room to use it. Head shots are nice but fashion is All about the dress.

Using the spots would be beneficial here in that unless you have some pretty good strobes they won't recycle fast enough to get both the pose and then catch them moving but moving slow enough to not have too much blur (a little motion blur in the hair isn't a bad thing).

best of luck