faygo Loc: Tucson, AZ

Got it. Thank you.

faygo Loc: Tucson, AZ

So having talked with the director, I find out that there will be approximately 500 people in this photo. My only option here is to take a group photo and not worry about details in faces etc. Unless someone has an idea on this size group.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Do you have the option of saying "No!"?

faygo Loc: Tucson, AZ

I can...has anyone done a group this size?

dickwilber Loc: Indiana (currently)

Yes, using a specialty Fuji (using film) group panorama camera mounted atop a tall ladder. We had to stake out an area in a trapezoidal shape (which conforms to the picture frame when shot looking down from that height) and carefully line up our subjects within it. It requires practice and knowing your equipment.

I have also taken a very large graduating class (500? - not quite) sitting in their stadium bleachers, again from atop a tall ladder. This came out well. And a couple of good sized school groups lined up to spell something out, from the school roofs. These were in the hundreds - one might have been 500.

With that many people you are not going to be taking "portraits" showing each individual face as you are with more reasonable sized groups of 20 or 30, maybe up to 50 individuals. Assuming that the entity you're doing this for either has done it before or has a real good idea what they want, let them set this up! Concentrate on getting the correct exposure and focus! Focus on individuals one-third of the way back from the front of the group, and use f/8 for a crop sensor and f/11 for a full frame sensor.

500 people, if they are on a level surface, pretty much requires a HIGH point of view in order to see them all! If they are seated in a stadium so that those in the rear are higher than those in front, you need to be up at a level at or slightly above the mid point of the group!

It can be fun! (500 in one group - bring a megaphone!)

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Our high school graduating class (almost 60 years ago) was 160 or so (we weren't sure how many would graduate; district certifications were delayed). We had a three level stage with most in chairs, a few of us taller guys standing in back and a line of people sitting on the front edge of the lowest level of stage. The school/district/city photographer had to rent a lens and bag bellows from SAN Francisco. He took about a dozen or so slightly different shots. We then took off our gowns, helped him repackage the rented equipment and I drove him back to Greyhound Package express (rental fees were hourly). The pictures were horrible. Our official graduation picture had us standing/sitting on the front steps of the school while a local firefighter took the picture with his Leica (lens unknown) from atop the only pumper in the towns fire department. He shot four rolls with frequent changes in the posing order and produced a number of outstanding shots. He also shot a roll in his Argus C2 or C3, all of which were quite acceptable. BTW 151 graduated.

lngroller

This requires extra trips and extra access to the roof. take your tripod, lenses and find a spot on the roof you are comfortable shooting from. looking in the direction you will shoot find a midpoint mark it in your mind or a bean bag or some other object that won't bounce throw it to your center point or have someone place it for you. mark it... now go down and using your center point measure about 60' both left and right giving you 120' width total. now measure about 30' back mark off a large rectangle approx 120' x 30' depending on the size of the people you are photographing this should easily hold 50 across x 10 rows. mark the roof where you place your tripod and find the longest lens that will cover full depth and just over your midpoint by a few feet. shoot the group in 2 shots, left then right, or whichever way you want just keep consistent. pan don't move your tripod shoot several images as stated before and at these distances not necessary to string the group. Don't forget to put the big shots front center. I would probably take another shot straight don the middle just in case you need to use that if something gets bumped and you can't get a good seam when you put the two halves together, nothing worse then messing up the big shots in the center :) Find what time of day the sun is at their backs and check your histogram to make sure the faces are exposed well, pray for a cloudy day with even illumination, and maybe do a shot properly exposing the background before the group shot in case it is too blown with the sun at their backs. Set up and make sure everyone knows what hand signals you will be using to indicate when you are shooting or as suggested a bull horn so they can hear. If they are determining the time of day use that in your consideration of which direction to shoot. Dont be afraid to tell them the time or direction they chose won't work because of lighting

lngroller

oh, use a cable release, with 500 faces every small vibration will show

faygo Loc: Tucson, AZ

Did the pictures ot turn out because he did not know how to use the camera and lens? Seems odd they were so bad.

faygo Loc: Tucson, AZ

This is a good Idea, I had thought about putting chalk marks for where I want people to stand.

faygo Loc: Tucson, AZ

Someone suggested I have a good filter for my lens. I am assuming the ND filter?

dickwilber Loc: Indiana (currently)

NO! A polarizer lens may help if the sun is high.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

The biggest problem was his using daylight film under an odd mixture of lighting. There were also issues with subject movement, the gym wall being too obvious (indicating an unfortunate combination of aperture and shutter speed). Also, since he couldn't get the district to pay for the lens rental, argued about mileage and usually had to wait until the second week of the following month to get paid, perhaps he was not highly motivated to produce the best images.

On the other hand, the fire fighter who took the final photos had a son in the graduating class and was motivated to produce an acceptable photo, plus he was a nice guy with a willing team in a community oriented department.

faygo Loc: Tucson, AZ

That's definitely a bad combination. Thanks for all of your support. I will let you know how this turns out, perhaps I can even attach one of the photos.

faygo Loc: Tucson, AZ

So I did my 500 group shot this past Sunday and wanted to let everyone know that they turned out pretty darn good...I think. All the faces were lit, and IDENTIFIABLE! Thanks for all the tips and tricks everyone gave me.