help for first time being requested
Oct 1, 2017 09:42:13 #
bob fleer
Loc: Annapolis, MD
folks doing a community native plant planting in our community area have asked me to photo shoot before, during and finished project. Just want to get it right. The area is wooded light will be coming from behind me and filtering through the woods. I will be using a my Canon 70D thinking about my 10-18 EFS for wide angle and or my canon 24-105 L lens to capture the project as it is underway. Shooting in cloudy white balance mode. The good thing is I can go there and practice in advance. Might bring my flash for some additional lighting if needed. Please any thoughts, want this to go right. Pictures may be published on the Water Shed Academy web site.
Oct 1, 2017 09:54:53 #
Oct 1, 2017 10:01:53 #
Oct 1, 2017 11:04:14 #
I agree with adding fill flash. There are a couple of things I would recommend. A speedlight is a small light source that produces harsh, high contrast light. Get a diffuser to diffuse the light and make it a larger light source. I use the 8-inch Vello Octa Softbox on my speedlight. They make a 12-inch version of it also. Also, dial in negative flash compensation. If you fire the flash at full power, it can be obvious that flash was used. If you dial in some negative flash compensation, you can often produce fill light that appears natural.
I would just use the 24-105mm lens. The 10-18mm will exaggerate front to back distance too much.
I would just use the 24-105mm lens. The 10-18mm will exaggerate front to back distance too much.
Oct 1, 2017 11:11:39 #
Wide angle might capture overall scene, but I'd go for 24-105 and shoot in close on individual plants. Not a fan of flash, myself. Wind (breeze) might be your biggest challenge. Try carrying an umbrella to block the breeze and give you better chance of longer exposures. Yes to cloudy WB. Other than including participants in the scene(s) the day before and day after will likely avoid the crowd.
I can imagine image of someone's hands placing a seedling into black loamy soil. Looking forward to the results!
I can imagine image of someone's hands placing a seedling into black loamy soil. Looking forward to the results!
Oct 1, 2017 16:49:44 #
Oct 1, 2017 17:00:48 #
bob fleer wrote:
folks doing a community native plant planting in o... (show quote)
If you can register your precise location for the "before" and "after" shots that would be cool. You would also take detail shots. If you were doing a slide show, a dissolve transition from "before" to "after" would be cool. Another idea would be one rig with a wide angle on tripod and do a time lapse sequence. Have fun!
Oct 1, 2017 17:11:28 #
bob fleer wrote:
folks doing a community native plant planting in o... (show quote)
I would take both lenses but default to the 24-105. Flash (off camera if possible) could be very useful. What flash do you have? A couple of off camera speedlites ( I use 580 EXII / 580 EX) units with diffusers as appropriate can balance and enhance ambient light very effectively.
Good luck.
Oct 2, 2017 07:06:51 #
This is a shoot that screams for a tripod. Using one will slow you down and allow you to really think through your shooting. I'd let the White balance float--I'd also shoot RAW--and keep the aperture around f/11. Overshoot. You can't recreate "before," so it's better to have 100 shots you don't need than one shot you need but don't have. I'm not a flash user, so I'll defer to others on that item. I'd use the 24-105 and leave the 10-18 at home. Super-wides are great, but they introduce a range of distortion problems you don't need.
Be patient. Overshoot. Have fun.
Be patient. Overshoot. Have fun.
Oct 2, 2017 08:47:45 #
If you are going for before and after shots I'd keep the aperture the same for all, maybe use aperture priority mode or full manual and keep it set on the same f number: f8 or f11. A tripod really helps, but if you are handheld make sure the shutter speed is fast enough. Raise the ISO a bit if needed to get fast enough shutter speed (you'd have to check, your camera might need you to be in full manual to give you control over ISO). If you have the software, shoot in RAW. If not raise the quality setting in camera to the highest your software can handle.
Green leaves are pretty much neutral in exposure in a scene, spot metering a leaf and bracketing the exposure should get a perfect exposure, or your evaluative meter will probably do great with light coming from behind your back.
Green leaves are pretty much neutral in exposure in a scene, spot metering a leaf and bracketing the exposure should get a perfect exposure, or your evaluative meter will probably do great with light coming from behind your back.
Oct 2, 2017 09:28:04 #
Oct 2, 2017 09:36:35 #
Make sure you take the initial establishing shots from a point that won't be affected by the project so you can duplicate the point of view as progress is made.
Oct 2, 2017 10:25:36 #
Oct 2, 2017 11:37:50 #
A rule of Documentation: Start wide and end Wide.
Who, What, Where, Why and How - answer these if possible.
Who, What, Where, Why and How - answer these if possible.
Oct 2, 2017 16:13:29 #
sirlensalot
Loc: Arizona
Lens choices are good. On camera fill is good, off camera on a stand or having someone holding a flash behind an umbrella or bare, is better.
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