A little help please...

Mank

Mank

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Rob
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Hello all.

A friend sent me a link this morning about a local event and they need a volunteer photographer. So I fired off an email and my name is on the press list. I'm no pro so happy for a bit of experience and being pushed outside my comfort zone a little.

Info:
http://westonphest.co.uk/
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118399074905522

They said they are after photo's mostly like this:

http://www.wearebarnsley.com/photos/fake-festival-by-blue-lights-photography/

So mostly candids and a few band shots by the looks of it.

Looks like some of it will be indoors and most outside too.

Right, question time...

What kit would you suggest I should take?

I'm thinking about just taking my 35mm f1.8 and borrowing a friends nifty fifty. Possibly take my flash for the indoor stuff.

Would you take anything else?

The rest of the kit I have is:

Nikon 18-105
Nikon 10-24
Nikon 55-200
Nikon 60mm Micro

Should I leave my bag in the car and go back if I wanted to get something different after a few hours, such as some wide shots or take the bag with me?

I have spare batteries and cards etc...

Any info or help is appreciated.

Thanks :)
 
I'd be inclined to take as much as I could comfortably carry, as I'm more of a 'just in case' mentality :lol:

If you wanted to keep the kit to a minimum however, I'd suggest perhaps the prime and then the 55-200 to have a little more reach should you need it.

Certainly pack the flash, just in case the weather turns and the indoor shots end up darker than the night!

ETA: If you have (or have access to) a second body, might be worth taking that, too, just in case.
 
Thank you Superman!

I carried all my gear with me last Sunday at Silverstone and after the day my shoulders were killing :lol: Also I think me and others would get fed up of my bag banging into them whilst I wonder around. I may take my shoulder bag though as its quite small but dont really know what to put in it to keep it light.

55-200 could be a good shout though, its not really heavy and I suppose it can come in handy for those non in your face candids.

Reason I'm happy to take the 2 primes is they're both small and light and should be better for inside photos.

I wont be there all day, just a few hours so don't want to take a back up body. This is more for experience. If I only get 10 or so photo's and my camera packs up I'm not too worried as they said to to just stay as long as I am comfortable for! (maybe 5 mins if the nerves kick in) :lol:
 
I would go for the 35, 18-105 and the 60 micro :) and a flash.

105 will be like 157 on a D90 so the 18-105 should cover semi-wide and tele all in one lens. the 35 will be 52 equivelent and a fast 1.8 as a light weight general lens and low light/subject separation. The 60 will be nice as it can act as a low light/head and shoulder mid tele portrait lens and has macro.

But at the end of the day, whichever you choose. know the limitations of the gear you have chosen to carry on the day and work around it. I have shot an entire wedding before with just a Nikon 70-200mm 2.8 VR and also an entire relaunch party with only a Canon 85mm 1.8. It can get crazy, but not impossible :)
 
I don't know nikon but if it's a crop camera then the wide lens is great for stage shots she you're close to the stage. Something around 70-200 is great for candids and close ups of artists. What have you got for low light?
 
R.Y.K. LEE said:
I would go for the 35, 18-105 and the 60 micro :) and a flash.

105 will be like 157 on a D90 so the 18-105 should cover semi-wide and tele all in one lens. the 35 will be 52 equivelent and a fast 1.8 as a light weight general lens and low light/subject separation. The 60 will be nice as it can act as a low light/head and shoulder mid tele portrait lens and has macro.

But at the end of the day, whichever you choose. know the limitations of the gear you have chosen to carry on the day and work around it. I have shot an entire wedding before with just a Nikon 70-200mm 2.8 VR and also an entire relaunch party with only a Canon 85mm 1.8. It can get crazy, but not impossible :)
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Hmm, 60mm is quite heavy and slow to AF as nice of a lens it is I think i'll be leaving it at home. :)

18-105 is possible though. I can see the advantages it can give as you have stated.

Yea I was tempted to just take the 2x primes (35 & 50) and see what I could do. But then maybe though of taking another lens too to get something different. Either the 10-24 or 55-200. Will have to have a think.

Byker28i said:
I don't know nikon but if it's a crop camera then the wide lens is great for stage shots she you're close to the stage. Something around 70-200 is great for candids and close ups of artists. What have you got for low light?
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Yea thats why I thought of taking the 10-24 to get some nice stage and crowd shots to help capture the atmosphere of the event, sort of get it all in.

Low light I have 35mm f1.8 and 50mm f1.8. :)
 
Now that you mention it, the 60 is a little heavy and slow. Is it also similar to the 105 VR macro in that it auto stops itself down to like f/3+ at certain distances?

I think the 35 and the 50 is a no brainer, those 2 weigh next to nothing :)
 
Thanks Ray, yea its a cracking lens but if you're wanting to capture someones expression quick it can hunt a little to get focus and then the moment passes... :(

Problem is solved now anyway!! I have some friends coming along to the event to enjoy the day... so leaving my bag with them :lol:
 
Mank said:
Thanks Ray, yea its a cracking lens but if you're wanting to capture someones expression quick it can hunt a little to get focus and then the moment passes... :(

Problem is solved now anyway!! I have some friends coming along to the event to enjoy the day... so leaving my bag with them :lol:
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Nicely done Rob :lol: Nothing quite like having your entire kit at your disposal without having to drag it around with you on your back the whole day :)

All the best mate, have a great time :thumbs:
 
50mm f1.8 is great for when you are close to the stage. Just remember the depth of field.
 
Byker28i said:
50mm f1.8 is great for when you are close to the stage. Just remember the depth of field.
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Thank you! I will try my best! :)

Another quick question, they want the pics that night / tuesday. What size should I save them at? They are going on a website.
 
You may have to ask. Largest I ever do for websites generally are 800x600 but there's always the exceptions like a banner shot.
 
DannyDMR said:
i do mine at 500px with watermark if there not paying, good advertising

I did a music festival last night, took my 18-125 and 70-300, hardly used the 18-125 as i could get that close to the bands plus they were in the back of a truck so looked crp

Heres some of my pics

http://www.dmr-photography.co.uk/index.php/Bands-Gigs/Elm-Farm-Music-Festival


im no pro so they aren't very good but them venue were happy :)
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Cheers Danny!

Well I took it all, mostly used my 2 primes my 55-200 for close ups and candids and my 10-24 for some different stage shots.

Was a good learning curve today, light was an arse at times. Bands were in the back of a wagon thing / makeshift stage which was a bit dim and gloomy with the bright sun behind. Inside wasn't too bad as I just used my flash, good to use it though and get to grips a bit more with it.

Byker28i said:
You may have to ask. Largest I ever do for websites generally are 800x600 but there's always the exceptions like a banner shot.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I've saved them at 800 on the largest side and stuck my email address on as a watermark.

Will post some pics tomorrow. :)
 
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