photographing large groups: I am asked to take pictures of larger groups, sometimes in cramped conditions, and with groups larger than 12 people, what are some ways you use to ensure...

barryb Loc: Kansas

I am asked to take pictures of larger groups, sometimes in cramped conditions, and with groups larger than 12 people, what are some ways you use to ensure sharp focus on the edge of the group? I am using a 24-70 Tamron, and try and use greater than 35mm to make the edges sharper, but any help would be beneficial.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

Ive taken a lot of pix of skating groups, many times with hundreds of people. I get as high as I can, a chair a ladder etc. and I leave a lot of room at the outside edges. Then I crop as need and of course the highest Fstop I can manage.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

If you use your wide angle focal length it is more likely that may encounter distortion at the edges of your field as opposed to softness. If at all possible, perhaps you can arrange shooting with sufficient back up space to enable use of the normal focal length for you camera format.

In large groups where you may have rows of persons behind one and other , wide angle focal lengths can case the head size of the folks in the back rows appear smaller the the ones in the nearer rows.

If you use steps, risers or inclined land to stagger the heights of the rows, you will not need very high elevations. Shooting downward at people with a wide angle focal lengths can cause foreshortening, yet another form of distortion.

If you focus approximately 1/3 into the group at a moderate aperture, f/ 8 or f/11, you should have sufficient depth of field. Most modern lenses shouldn't exhibit significant fall of of sharpness at the edges.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

barryb wrote:

I am asked to take pictures of larger groups, sometimes in cramped conditions, and with groups larger than 12 people, what are some ways you use to ensure sharp focus on the edge of the group? I am using a 24-70 Tamron, and try and use greater than 35mm to make the edges sharper, but any help would be beneficial.

Watch this The Slanted Lens video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMjzK-BiohA&t=318s

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

barryb wrote:

I am asked to take pictures of larger groups, sometimes in cramped conditions, and with groups larger than 12 people, what are some ways you use to ensure sharp focus on the edge of the group? I am using a 24-70 Tamron, and try and use greater than 35mm to make the edges sharper, but any help would be beneficial.

Depending on how many people, have 2/3/4/rows, try to get elevation for your camera position, just enough to separate the heads in the rows front to back. Make a gentle curve to the lines, and get (especially the front row) folks to turn slightly inwards, so they are not square-on shoulder to shoulder. the curve will help give a more equal-distance from faces , to camera.

barryb Loc: Kansas

Thanks all, that's why I asked here first, but should have asked much earlier. Will implement these steps

ronichas Loc: Long Island

I have organized 70 people for photos. What we do is have the back row of people on chairs, then people standing in front of those people. Then people sitting in chairs, in front of the people standing, then some people on the floor in front of them. It always works!

dave.m

another really great tip I got from a pro was to call out '3,2,1, smile' and use continuous/ burst mode. In the second or so you hold down the shutter, there is a very high chance you'll get at least one frame with everyone looking at the camera, smiling (or at least not talking to there neighbour), and reasonably sharp if hand held (never done it with 70 though as may need a loud hailer???)

Since I started using this idea I have never had a problem with the strange expressions. A word of caution - did it once with a family group in Disney World FL and was asked by 3 other family groups to take their photos :)

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

barryb wrote:

I am asked to take pictures of larger groups, sometimes in cramped conditions, and with groups larger than 12 people, what are some ways you use to ensure sharp focus on the edge of the group? I am using a 24-70 Tamron, and try and use greater than 35mm to make the edges sharper, but any help would be beneficial.

Try 2 or 3 vertical shots and do a pano. No side distortion and fairly trivial with most software. Assuming you don't want to stack in rows and have to fret someone face being blocked, etc etc

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

Many useful tips. One more have everyone close their eyes. Tell them to open than take your shots. It is a guarantee everyone has their eyes open and looking at you

achesley Loc: SW Louisiana

A few years back I did a class photo in a room with limited space where getting all in the frame put them really close together. So, separated them enough to see each person and took half the group and the other half with an overlap and merged the photos. Came out very well and the classmates loved it.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Consider a macro prime for the best edge to edge sharpness. Then use the photography calculator at tabaware.com to see what your subject distance would have to be for the group and various ways you might want to arrange them to have good clear face shots at any given distance.

FreddB Loc: PA - Delaware County

ronichas wrote:

I have organized 70 people for photos. What we do is have the back row of people on chairs, then people standing in front of those people. Then people sitting in chairs, in front of the people standing, then some people on the floor in front of them. It always works!

Are the back row folks standing or sitting on the chairs?

Naptown Gaijin

gvarner wrote:

Consider a macro prime for the best edge to edge sharpness. Then use the photography calculator at tabaware.com to see what your subject distance would have to be for the group and various ways you might want to arrange them to have good clear face shots at any given distance.

Tabaware.com link doesn"t exist...typo?

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

FreddB wrote:

Are the back row folks standing or sitting on the chairs?

You need to ask that question??? Why would they be seated, with a row in front of them, standing ???