How would you Photograph Lantern Festival: The Missouri Botanical Garden has an event that has been here most of the Summer it is called the Lantern Festival and it is brought over...

Skneemiller Loc: O'fallon, Mo

The Missouri Botanical Garden has an event that has been here most of the Summer it is called the Lantern Festival and it is brought over here from China. They have multiple structures that light up. The Garden will not allow mono or tripods at the event. What type of camera settings would I need to use. in order to capture these beautiful structures.

One of the structures at the festival

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

With my camera strap (peak design), I can tension it between the tripod lug and my belt if need be. I'd also suggest a wider lens as it's easier to hand hold. It also depends on the camera too, some have really good built-in stabilization. 1/4s handheld exposures are quite doable with my setup, which would more than suffice for this type of subject.

So, what's your camera and lenses?

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

I would use a fast IS lens or a fast prime, like a 1.4
Also, do your shooting before it gets completely dark so the ambient light can help you. The lanterns themselves might be surprisingnly bright.
Also, you can use Tv +/- 100 on Auto-ISO, that way you're not always cranked way up.
On manual, the light intensities might be different everywhere you point your camera! Good luck. ;-)
SS

Skneemiller Loc: O'fallon, Mo

SharpShooter wrote:

I would use a fast IS lens or a fast prime, like a 1.4
Also, do your shooting before it gets completely dark so the ambient light can help you. The lanterns themselves might be surprisingnly bright.
Also, you can use Tv +/- 100 on Auto-ISO, that way you're not always cranked way up.
On manual, the light intensities might be different everywhere you point your camera! Good luck. ;-)
SS

Thanks SharpShooter, I will try to get there earlier I was planning on going late but I see your point.

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

If they have trees around or benches, they make good supports.:):) I can't wait to see your shots. Sounds like fun!

Skneemiller wrote:

The Missouri Botanical Garden has an event that has been here most of the Summer it is called the Lantern Festival and it is brought over here from China. They have multiple structures that light up. The Garden will not allow mono or tripods at the event. What type of camera settings would I need to use. in order to capture these beautiful structures.

Skneemiller Loc: O'fallon, Mo

Cdouthitt wrote:

With my camera strap (peak design), I can tension it between the tripod lug and my belt if need be. I'd also suggest a wider lens as it's easier to hand hold. It also depends on the camera too, some have really good built-in stabilization. 1/4s handheld exposures are quite doable with my setup, which would more than suffice for this type of subject.

So, what's your camera and lenses?

Cdouthitt, I have a Canon T2i most of my lenses are Kit lenses. I do have a Tamron 17-50mm 1:2.8. I was also thinking of renting a lens from a local camera store to play with.

Skneemiller Loc: O'fallon, Mo

Erv wrote:

If they have trees around or benches, they make good supports.:):) I can't wait to see your shots. Sounds like fun!

Thanks for the advice, not sure what they have around it has been years since I have been there. I hope the weather holds out, right now they are calling for rain on Saturday:(

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Skneemiller wrote:

Thanks for the advice, not sure what they have around it has been years since I have been there. I hope the weather holds out, right now they are calling for rain on Saturday:(

This may sound rather sophomoric, but keep your left hand UNDER the lense, keep your elbows in tight and keep the camera firmly braced against your head. Gently press the shutter. These basics can give you a 1 to 2 stop advantage in exposure. Also remember that a little noise resulting from a higher ISO is not always a bad thing.

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

Mogul raises a good point.
Noise is preferable to motion blur.

But, could also experiment with intentional motion blur.

jfn007 Loc: Close to the middle of nowhere.

The advertisement looks really awesome. Maybe you can get your tripod, determine the way the wind is blowing, and set up right outside the venue.

Skneemiller wrote:

The Missouri Botanical Garden has an event that has been here most of the Summer it is called the Lantern Festival and it is brought over here from China. They have multiple structures that light up. The Garden will not allow mono or tripods at the event. What type of camera settings would I need to use. in order to capture these beautiful structures.

Sherman A1 Loc: St. Louis, MO

I went to the festival last Thursday evening, we got there about 6pm and had plenty of daylight to capture many of the sights prior to them being lit at 8pm following the acrobat show. I also got some great late day shots around the Japanese Garden and some good reflections on the lake. I used my t2i with a Sigma 18-250mm with a variety of settings and focal lengths. I will note that the crowd makes it difficult to get good photos, so just take a bunch and hope for the best. You will miss some and certainly do not take a tripod or monopod as it would be an obstruction for others and after dark it would be dangerous.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Skneemiller wrote:

The Missouri Botanical Garden has an event that has been here most of the Summer it is called the Lantern Festival and it is brought over here from China. They have multiple structures that light up. The Garden will not allow mono or tripods at the event. What type of camera settings would I need to use. in order to capture these beautiful structures.

I attended a similar event last September in Pomona, CA. The L.A. Co. Fair.

Yes, fast lens. raised ISO. Here is one I shot. This was reduced for WEB use. I did not feel like searching for the original final version. Beautiful stuff. They are returning this year and I plan to attend again.

Pentax K-5 Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7 lens, at f/2.8, 1/250 sec, ISO 1600.

(Download)

Skneemiller Loc: O'fallon, Mo

lamiaceae wrote:

I attended a similar event last September in Pomona, CA. The L.A. Co. Fair.

Yes, fast lens. raised ISO. Here is one I shot. This was reduced for WEB use. I did not feel like searching for the original final version. Beautiful stuff. They are returning this year and I plan to attend again.

Awesome picture!

Skneemiller Loc: O'fallon, Mo

Sherman A1 wrote:

I went to the festival last Thursday evening, we g... (show quote)

Thanks Sherman A1, Someone else mentioned going earlier too, so I am going to try and do that. They did have a night where you could pay to walk around with a professional photographer and use your tripod and get his help with settings but I missed that.

Skneemiller Loc: O'fallon, Mo

jfn007 wrote:

The advertisement looks really awesome. Maybe you can get your tripod, determine the way the wind is blowing, and set up right outside the venue.

jfn007, most of the structures are in the middle of the Garden and not visible from outside the venue. But, thank you!