maxamillion Loc: Hampden Maine

Before any one starts telling me I shouldn't do this--I know. I've been volunteered and didn't say no. So what I would like is some help on setting up. The event is a father/daughter dance at an elementary school. (Previous photographer can't do it and I believe she used on camera flash.)

The set-up will be in the hallway and I believe is lit with florescent lighting. I have a black background--it will have butterflies on it to follow the theme. The dads will be sitting on a stool with daughters next to dad. The shots will be full length so the girls' dresses can be seen. This is what the committee requires.

I have a Canon Xsi and a 18-55mm IS lens (also have a 75-300). I have a 430ex with a small plastic diffuser and a tripod. I also have a monolight with a soft box (son's cast-off.) I have no reflectors.

I have thought about using the soft box tipped to the vertical placing it adjacent to the camera with the camera at about eye level to the father. The soft box would be slightly higher than the camera with a slight tilt. Or I could just use my flash on-camera with the diffuser. I would also like any input you have on camera settings. I was thinking an using AV with f/11 to make sure everything is in focus. (and BTW--what should be my main focus point?)

I am worried about the school lighting and whatever I decide to use especially concerning color cast. I have no way to practice the exact lighting situation here at home and can't get into the school until night of. I am going to practice the different set-ups today when my friend brings her granddaughter over to see about hot spots or nasty shadows.

I guess my question is about the combination lighting. Do you experienced folks think this will work? Sorry if the post is so long but wanted to give you as much detail as possible in order to help any responses I might get. I will greatly appreciate any help given. TIA.

snowbear

Do you have time to get a couple gel for your flash?

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/03/lighting-101-using-gels-to-correct.html

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Bounce the light from the on-camera flash off of the ceiling for fill (and slave trigger), use the monolight with a softbox as your main light. This way you don't have to rely on the fluroescents for fill. Also, get a big piece of white foamcore for a fill card on the opposite side of your softbox, which I hope is 2 x3 feet or larger. In this case, where you want to light the whole dress, I think I would opt for big shoot-through umbrella. Try for an exposure of f8 or 11 should get it- the people will probably be in the same focus plane. Make sure your shutter speed is fast enough to eliminate the ambient light so you don't get a color cast from the fluroescents. Shoot Manual maybe iso 200 1/200th @ 8 (or 11 if you don't trust your focus) Your mono light may play tricks on your speedlight, so set the speed light to manual as well...try 3/4 power to start and evaluate the effect.

I'd probably go with the 18-55 - if you use this setup remember that if you back up, you'll reduce the fill from your on-camera flash so once you get set up, put tape on the floor where you need to stand.

What kind of monolight?

maxamillion Loc: Hampden Maine

There is one camera store here. I can check with them. Thank you for the link. Are you suggesting to just go with a gelled flash? Do you have any suggestions for camera settings?

maxamillion Loc: Hampden Maine

Thank you very much for your reply. This is just the kind of information I was hoping for. You suggest bouncing my flash off the ceiling, I'm not sure what the ceiling are like there--it has been years since I was in the school. I will try to find out to make sure they are white and not too high.

I forgot about using foam core as a reflector and I believe my soft box is big enough. Again thanks for the input--it is greatly appreciated.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Yes, ceilng height is important.
Around here they aren't too tall.
I have a piece of foamcore that's maybe 4 x 4 feet, slit down the middle and taped so it's foldable. Super cheap and when is gets dirty, just make another. I also have lightform panels for bigger jobs, but the foamcore is just as effective.
Another great strobist link to make your own panels :
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/08/home-depot-your-lighting-improvement.html

You can thread shock cord inside the tubes on the simpler designs to make them even easier to assemble.

Bookmark the strobist site for lots if tips.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

A big umbrella will hide a lot of problems.
The umbrella and a big reflector, used up close- just out of camera frame, will probably be enough to do the job. You'd just be using the 430ex as a trigger.
I like to use the umbrella as a shoot through, rather than reflected- you can get it in closer, which makes the light more diffuse.

snowbear

B&H and Adorama carry gel sheets. I'd say it wouldn't hurt to have a gel, in case. I don't know about shipping costs to ME. I can't suggest settings for portraits - maybe a mid aperture since you want the background.

maxamillion Loc: Hampden Maine

Again thank you. I have marked the strobist site and will do some reading this afternoon. I'm not sure about the umbrella because I don't really want to invest anything into a job that is non-paying but I will see what the camera store has. I have my measuring tape all ready so I can record things when I do my practice shoot this afternoon. I plan on taping my spot, where the girls are to stand and where dad needs to put his feet so it doesn't look like the girls have three legs (that is what they look like from last year--girls with their feet apart and dads foot in between--not a good look!)

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Let us know how it turns out and what you wound up doing.
I almost "got" to do dance photos for my kids high school.
Glad that job went away. I could do it, no problem, but the trauma of having a parent at the dance would be terrible for my kids.
I did shoot the 8th grade class photo last year in the gym. Kids were on the bleachers, PE teacher helped arrange them..the whistle worked wonders! I used three A/C powered 2000 w/s studio strobes on full power bounced off the ceiling- worked fine. The hard part was Photoshopping a boy's one fingered salute. He did it in every frame except a couple of test shots. He got in a lot of trouble.

maxamillion Loc: Hampden Maine

Kids--just gotta love 'em. I was a librarian in a high school so I know some of the tricks the little darlin's come up with.

I appreciate all your help and if I can get one to come out--I will post it. I'm just beginning to realize the pressure to get it right--arghhh!

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Just be glad it's NOT a wedding. I'm sure whatever you get will be fine.

Cappy Loc: Wildwood, NJ

Hopefully you will have an assistant to place dad & daughter and make sure dress looks good, his tie is straight, no 3 legged people, etc. The assistant should have a short checklist and pad to get the names and put down the corresponding photo number. This way you can concentrate on taking the photos and putting the subjects at ease.

Remember to take your time.

DavidT Loc: Maryland

I see lots of good advice, and I am not one to argue with portraiture experts. But, you mentioned something about shooting in the hallway. Ugh! I'm envisioning a corridor of lockers. For that situation, I might consider using the long telephoto zoom with large aperture to get the lockers out of focus. You would need a wireless trigger device though - maybe even on a more focused spot flash.

Post Edit: I reread your long email again and saw that you have a black background, so perhaps my suggestion above is not relevant. Sorry.

ephraim Imperio

One big problem with your scenario is the ambient fluorescent lighting which will cause green color cast on the peoples faces. You could either get at 18% grey card exposure reading or use gels. PLease read this on the subject of "Gelling for fluorescent"
at the Strobist website.

http://strobist.blogspot.com/2008/04/lighting-102-61-gelling-for-fluorescent.html