MT Shooter Loc: Montana

I once did a Boy Scout Jamboree group shot of over 480 scouts. I shot it from the roof of the camps lodge with a Pentax 645 and a 35mm lens, was barely able to get them all in, but at least you could see all their faces on the 30" x 40" print, and all were easily identifiable too. A crop sensor is hardly the right tool for this job.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

Break them down into groups of related family i.e. aunt bess and the kids, etc and take seperate shots and stitch together until you have composit. You cannot shoot 900-1500 people and see any faces. I would be curious as to what you plan to print the photo on - you will need about a 4X8 foot piece of paper,

Coker Loc: Havana, IL

Actually, I did one of these. WE had to use a lift to get the photographer up in the air. If you are not above the 1000 subjects, you will never see them all. Today, I realize I could have done a whole lot better. Even light was a problem. Hope this give you something to think about.

stan0301 Loc: Colorado

You do need a tripod that will go high--maybe higher because it is sitting on something--like the back of a pickup--then you need--for sure--a cable release--then go by Radio Shack and buy (cheap) a bull horn--don't get your self into attempting the impossible--and your communication with them is all you have to photograph--and without communication you have nothing. I would suggest a "object of interest" like some kid blowing up a balloon until it pops to get their attention. As for lenses I would first reach for a 50mm 1.8--or 2 if you have one. With wider if you have to. I have photographed groups this large that turned out rather well--but you have got to eliminated camera shake and you certainly don't want them facing into the sun--so figure out a way to shade your camera so you don't get flair. Shoot at about f8 iso 200--Sams club has very reasonably priced 20x30's but you must--repeat must--color balance in Photoshop (or equivalent) first--also Photoshop "smart sharpen" at about 1 at 50%, and in Bridge push the clarity slider quite a ways to the right.
Stan

Jim Peters Loc: Pittsburgh

We Have Done Shots Like This In A Corporate Parking lot.We Rented A Cherry Picker,Why? Because To See Everyones Face You Need To be up High. And The Cherry Picker Has Wheels To Get Back Farther.Hope his Helps JP

Jim Peters Loc: Pittsburgh

Not Bad But This Also This Brings Up Lighting And The time Of Day To Illuminate Everyone Well. Shade Or The Sun coming From Behind At A low Angle Would Be My Choice. But I've Seen Equal As good With Low Angle Direct.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

In the old days they used large format Kodak panoram cameras for this. - Today, cost is no object, I would use a Sony A99 and I would do an in camera sweep panoram with about a 28mm lens in the portrait format position from a high camera position on a cloudy day outside.

winterrose Loc: Kyneton, Victoria, Australia

I have the perfect solution for you. If there are say, one thousand of them, take a portrait shot of each one then distribute nine hundred and ninety nine photos appropriately to each family member. See, easy!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

A great lens on a great camera !

winterrose Loc: Kyneton, Victoria, Australia

Just adding to that, each family member can then make a nice collage, on the wall in the hallway, the bedroom ceiling so they can think of family before going to sleep or on the garage roof to show off their blessings to passengers in low flying aircraft. Another advantage with that would be that if someone really can't stand pesky little Johnny, always running around and screaming, disrupting serious talk at dinner parties, or Auntie Maude with the bad wig and always talking too much, or silly old Pops with the bad breath and forever complaining about his gammy leg injured in "the big conflict", they can always tear up the photograph of him/her/him and chuck it in the bin.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

Canon EF-s 10-22 f/3.5-4.5 USM

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

With what equipment I have, it would be the 5x4 Sinar.
A. for the large neg size'
B. For the tilt movement to give me enough rows of people in sharp focus.
C. And all the luck in the world that the people would co-operate.

dasloaf

I think the best answer was to have the people hire a person who can do it. Thanks for your help in this matter!

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

I hate reviving old threads but the Strobist website has a new article on this: "Lighting and shooting a 1,300 person group shot" for those who are really interested.
Lighting and shooting a 1,300 person group shot.
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2013/07/qa-lighting-1300-person-group-shot.html
Unfortunately, there is no example photo.



Gear Pack

The absolute bare minimum that MIGHT make it work (but probably not) is:

1. A good (FF 35mm) camera and a sharp 50 and 35 to go on it. D800 and 45TS being pretty ideal here.

2. Four Paul Buff Einstein e640s or equivalent. (Actually, make it five.) That's a sketchy minimum. More power would be better. If you can source only one Big Gun, like a Profoto 2400, you'll want that as your key light and support it with e640s, maybe. Also, you could gang 640s for the key. That's the 5th flash I am suggesting. Getting ugly fast here.

3. Stands and standard reflectors for each. Or maybe 11" high-output reflectors as seen below.

4. A 30-degree grid or two for feathering control. But they eat light. Oh crap.

5. Power for the e640s (VMLs or long AC cords and known locations of power outlets.)

6. A remote or a short sync cord. Both is safer.

7. Two assistants.