advice on shooting the mayor :D

[sc0ttie]

sorry, poor title perhaps. Tomorrow I am shooting an event at the college I work at. The mayor is handing out certificates to learners with learning disabilities at a formal awards ceremony. It is all very low budget hence I am doing it for free as it gets me out of the office for a bit. It is being held in the college hall, which is a cold poorly lit large space. I have a black background on a support system which I HAVE to use, but wanted some opinions on lens and lighting.

If I use my ex150 flash heads which lens is better to use out of these two;

18-55m Nikon kit lens

70-300mm sigma lens

I have been told to photograph the mayor and each student together receiving the certificates, from the waist upwards.

Or should I go for high iso and no flash?

 

[specialman]

Shooting the mayor: Aim for the head....

Photographically? I'd use some flash, a set-up that isn't to moody (i.e. one harsh light) but not too flat (one light ether side at equal power). I'd also go with the 18-55 - at 55mm it's long enough to compress things a bit and not distort faces without having to stand miles back like you would using the long zoom. Also gives you a bit of scope if a group shot is required.

watch for reflection though off the mayor's gold thingy

Just make sure you set the lighting sorted prior and also make sure that you are using your light and not an of the ambient - if the ambient changes and you don't notice it, it could throw you.

 

[sc0ttie]

Shooting the mayor: Aim for the head....

Photographically? I'd use some flash, a set-up that isn't to moody (i.e. one harsh light) but not too flat (one light ether side at equal power). I'd also go with the 18-55 - at 55mm it's long enough to compress things a bit and not distort faces without having to stand miles back like you would using the long zoom. Also gives you a bit of scope if a group shot is required.

watch for reflection though off the mayor's gold thingy

Just make sure you set the lighting sorted prior and also make sure that you are using your light and not an of the ambient - if the ambient changes and you don't notice it, it could throw you.

Thanks for that. I was hoping to get away with one flash head as with a softbox as i will be positioned in a middle aisle of chairs where students make their way to the front and having two much equipment is a worry to me as some of them are not exactly light footed. I suppose with the 18-55mm i will be closer to the mayor as well so can have the flash close to me as well where i can make sure it wont get knocked over.

 

[specialman]

One light should work, just don't make it too directional and moody.