How do you capture a Ballet show?

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Hysteria_UK

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Dan Wright
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I am a complete novice when it comes to DSLRs. I know its all a learning curve but my step daughter has a ballet show next month and I was after a little guidence for settings I should be usings. I am assuming the auditorium would be quite dark and the stage well lit. I dont think its a huge venue so there will be little zoom (i only have a 28-100mm anyway)

I am shooting with a Fuji S2. Could someone give me a quick 'Dummies guide' to what settings I should be experimenting with.

I will also be borrowing a monopod incase there isnt enough room in front of me for a tripod.

I thank you in advance for your patience :lol:
 
Firstly you need to make sure parents of the other children involved are happy for you to be taking pictures there.

As far as settings goes - I would set the camera to manual. If the dancers are wearing light coloured clothes take a spot reading from them. Otherwise you could take a reading from your daughters face.

Depending on how much light there is in the hall (I am presuming flash it not an option) you wil need to push the ISO up. Try and avoid going above 800 though.

If you are needng to zoom to get pictures you'll need a shutter speed of 125th to catch the action and avoid shake. If you use the monopod you might get away with slower but you will end up with blurred action.

All you're left with then is to set the apperture to get the correct exposure. f8 would be ideal to give a bit of depth but you might not be that lucky with the light. I which case use the lowest value (widest apperture) you can with that lens.

If you're not able to get the exposure by then you will have to choose between slower shutter or higher ISO and decide if you would rather have a bit of noise in the pictures or a bit of blur.

I'm suggesting all manual for this because the dancers will be moving about a lot and it will be difficult enough to get the focus right without having to worry about shutter and apperture being suitable.
 
Thanks a lot for your reply, it was exactly what I was after. I understand the effects of each setting but when it comes to putting them into action Im all fingers and thumbs.

I know what you are saying about the taking pictures of children thing, it really is a shame that a minority can spoil capturing times with your loved ones.
 
If it is anything like my daughters ballet shows parents were not allowed to take photos as they had an offical tog who also videoed it and any photos or the DVD had to be brought from him. Not that I was ****ed off but the six or seven photos and the DVD cost me about £100 plus the tickets to see the show and the cost of the costume and the penalty, sorry I mean donation for my daughter being in the show
 
Our seats are in the middle on the back row....I dont have a big off white L lens so i might have a go anyway. As you say, you are bent over in all directions when it comes to paying out and its not right. Ill make sure there are only photos of her on there too....not that id be taking random snaps of anyone else anyway

Now how to smuggle a DSLR......
 
you could be the tog, flog prints at cost or cost and a bit, find out subversively if there's a tog there if not offer your services ;)
 
I'm just a guy with a newly acquired camera so I wouldn't want the responsibility. If I had more experience I'd offer to give it a try as I think I'd quite enjoy it.
 
Don't take photos without asking first, You will not be able to use flash so take the advice and set to manual, also a good idea to let people around you know your taking photos. good luck
 
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