Dance Recital
Mar 8, 2013 07:57:11 #
GPoyner wrote:
If you are in back shot with your 70-200 (boy do I wish I had the 2.8), don't shot in front of the stag....parents want to see their children dancing, not your head (had that a few times over the year). Are you shooting for the studio (meaning every dance) or just for yourself (meaning for your own child). I'm actually leaving here in a bit for my daughter's dance classes, I'll try and get on later tonight and give you my settings, or you can look up my topics. When is the recital?
I made the mistake of being in the front row...not good from many standpoints. I was shooting my granddaughter and some of her friends. She's in high school, so I only have 3 more chances to get it right!
Mar 8, 2013 08:00:29 #
DPFotos wrote:
My daughter has been dancing since she was 4 years... (show quote)
If I remember correctly, I was trying to shoot at a faster shutter speed (I"ll have to find the photos in my archives). That's why I was having so much trouble. ISO was around 4000.
Mar 8, 2013 08:05:01 #
DPFotos
Loc: Pembroke, Ma
nat wrote:
quote=DPFotos My daughter has been dancing since ... (show quote)
yeah at times you have to pick you shots when they aren't moving real fast so you don't blur...I have a friend who has a 7D and it is a little noisier than the D7000, but not that much.
Mar 8, 2013 08:27:38 #
I've shot a lot of dance photos - both for a company that also provides video and for my own daughter's school. You have the right lens and camera for the job.
Get yourself set up at the back of the theatre with a tripod and either stand or get a high chair so that you are shooting above the heads of the audience. Also, you will be less likely to disturb people with your shutter.
I set my camera on manual with aperture of 2.8 and a shutter speed of 500 usually. I use auto ISO because for where I shoot, there can be drastic differences of light levels at different places on stage. Most shots end up aroudn 1600 or 2000 iso.
The feedback from competitions where I'm shooting has always been positive.
Get yourself set up at the back of the theatre with a tripod and either stand or get a high chair so that you are shooting above the heads of the audience. Also, you will be less likely to disturb people with your shutter.
I set my camera on manual with aperture of 2.8 and a shutter speed of 500 usually. I use auto ISO because for where I shoot, there can be drastic differences of light levels at different places on stage. Most shots end up aroudn 1600 or 2000 iso.
The feedback from competitions where I'm shooting has always been positive.
Mar 8, 2013 08:35:22 #
Mar 8, 2013 08:59:33 #
picsbywayne wrote:
I've shot a lot of dance photos - both for a compa... (show quote)
Wonderful shots. Very inspiring!
Mar 8, 2013 09:02:42 #
Thanks for the praise. It's a very small selection.
On an average day of shooting a competition I can easily shoot 2000 photos. And that's only an average of 15 shots per dance.
The other important thing for doing this is to stay relaxed. When I first started by around noon my shoulders were up around my ears. You have to be ready for the high points and if you're not careful, you tense up.
By the way - none of these shots were done using burst mode. Each shot was taken as a single press of the shutter. It all becomes a matter of timing.
Cheers and happy shooting.
On an average day of shooting a competition I can easily shoot 2000 photos. And that's only an average of 15 shots per dance.
The other important thing for doing this is to stay relaxed. When I first started by around noon my shoulders were up around my ears. You have to be ready for the high points and if you're not careful, you tense up.
By the way - none of these shots were done using burst mode. Each shot was taken as a single press of the shutter. It all becomes a matter of timing.
Cheers and happy shooting.
Mar 8, 2013 09:02:44 #
Mar 8, 2013 09:34:49 #
ole sarg
Loc: south florida
I think this is a great reason to use either a light meter or arrive early and have the person who runs the recital darken the auditorium and light the stage. Get light readings on stage - thats where the light is and use your hand or a grey card to calibrate your settings. Tell the recital person they can have a free set of the shots and you will send them on line.
Mar 8, 2013 10:09:30 #
I shoot my granddaughter's recital every year and borrowed a 200mm 2.8 (one year), which worked. I found that my 18-200mm f3.5 worked as well, using ISO of 1600-3200. I prefer using the incandescent white balance in manual mode, everything is subjective. I usually windup sitting about half way back and can get good shots without bothering other people. I use a D300s and shoot in RAW. I like the variable lens since it gives me the ability to zoom in if I so choose. I also would like to get a faster lens for low level light. Good luck.
Mar 8, 2013 10:13:24 #
Mar 8, 2013 10:17:43 #
altfox wrote:
I shoot my granddaughter's recital every year and ... (show quote)
Thanks for the feedback. I'm really getting the message about shooting RAW and shooting in manual mode. I wonder about using auto white balance, since the light changes so frequently. Ever tried that?
Mar 8, 2013 12:33:16 #
I have gotten good results shooting my granddaughter's dance with a 135f/2.
Mar 8, 2013 12:50:17 #
Mar 8, 2013 17:41:24 #
Just a though. When I done dance rectials I used to go and get most of my photos the night before at the dress rehersal. There you can get much better shots and you can use flash. And you can move around where ever you need to be even up on the stage. You can pose each little girl to make sure you dont miss anyone. Then the night of the rectial you can get your avalble light shots. Everyone was always happy with the outcome. We always made a large album for the dance studo. And the others could buy the photos that they choose.
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