MarcusPhotographic
Oct-01-2009, 05:21 PM
Hi friends, I have been a lurker here for a short bit...spent the past 6 months figuring out smugmug...slow learner I guess! Forgive me...I should have asked for advice a long time ago...appreciate any suggestions by any fellow shooters.
Tomorrow, I'm shooting in an elegant ballroom in NYC for an event with about 300 people. It's black tie and saris / gowns...so lots of color and contrast. The room has multicolored paisley mosaics, oranges, tans, yellows, light wood floor, and i'm imaging the lighting is going to be mood and/or generally a bit low. I'm shooting mostly attendees and candids.
I have a D700 that can be pushed to 2500 ISO without difficulty, an SB900 flash and lumiquest diffuser that extends upward and allows a 45deg bounce through white, silver, gold, or about 40% card. I've had decent luck with this off camera - have a flash sync cable as well. I will mostly be shooting with Nikon's 24-70 2.8 - prime lens. i also have the 70-200 2.8 prime for distance. Will plan on f4 or f56 for the tables and 2.8 for the candids / will watch focal distance to get everyone sharp (i've made that mistake before...noses watery and eyes clear).
I'm imagining groups of 10-12 at tables at the most plus 1-4 persons at a time. My concern and weakness is flash photography. I'm wondering if I should use a color bounce card or a gel - i have 3 that came with the SB900 and/or any other adjustment. If any one has any advice...I am totally open. This is the most glitzy event that i've done so far...so hoping to get nice skin tones, even lighting, and good drama...the last of these being most likely with no flash. Table shots - should I use a bracket, off-camera hand-held, or on-camera with a diffuser or one of those plastic diffisers (i have that too)?
Thanks to anyone who has anything to share!
www.marcussimpsonphotography.com
here's the room:
http://www.princegeorgeballroom.org/the-prince-george-ballroom/
Warm Regards,
Marcus
Tomorrow, I'm shooting in an elegant ballroom in NYC for an event with about 300 people. It's black tie and saris / gowns...so lots of color and contrast. The room has multicolored paisley mosaics, oranges, tans, yellows, light wood floor, and i'm imaging the lighting is going to be mood and/or generally a bit low. I'm shooting mostly attendees and candids.
I have a D700 that can be pushed to 2500 ISO without difficulty, an SB900 flash and lumiquest diffuser that extends upward and allows a 45deg bounce through white, silver, gold, or about 40% card. I've had decent luck with this off camera - have a flash sync cable as well. I will mostly be shooting with Nikon's 24-70 2.8 - prime lens. i also have the 70-200 2.8 prime for distance. Will plan on f4 or f56 for the tables and 2.8 for the candids / will watch focal distance to get everyone sharp (i've made that mistake before...noses watery and eyes clear).
I'm imagining groups of 10-12 at tables at the most plus 1-4 persons at a time. My concern and weakness is flash photography. I'm wondering if I should use a color bounce card or a gel - i have 3 that came with the SB900 and/or any other adjustment. If any one has any advice...I am totally open. This is the most glitzy event that i've done so far...so hoping to get nice skin tones, even lighting, and good drama...the last of these being most likely with no flash. Table shots - should I use a bracket, off-camera hand-held, or on-camera with a diffuser or one of those plastic diffisers (i have that too)?
Thanks to anyone who has anything to share!
www.marcussimpsonphotography.com
here's the room:
http://www.princegeorgeballroom.org/the-prince-george-ballroom/
Warm Regards,
Marcus