I`m So Nervous =[

DJMorgan

DJMorgan

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Daniel
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Got a event to photograph soon, its raising money for cancer research, its in like a small place but big enough for a band to play and space for at least 100 ***, mayb more i aint sure. But i have been asked to take photos for them.

I have a basic Nikon D3000, With a 18-55mm VR Lens, Any tips anyone could advice me with please?:)
 
I was going to tell you off for posting the same thing twice :D but I just had a quick read through the other thread and see you didn't get much help offered...

Firstly, nerves are good, they keep you on your toes. Secondly, May is ages away, so don't stress too much, you'll be dead by the time it comes around if you do.

Thirdly, events are pretty easy to shoot on the whole. Tiring, but easy.

You'll probably want to pick up a flashgun with TTL capabilities, not just for this event of course, but generally you'll find it very handy. Then just practice taking portraits in darkish rooms.

As they've asked you to do it, obviously knowing your (lack of) experience, they can't be expecting anything spectacular, so don't stress about it. All they probably want is a record of the event. ie in focus, decently exposed 'happy snaps' for want of a better term.

Keep looking around here and other places online, and practice, practice, practice, relax a bit, and enjoy the event when the time comes around.

I find shooting events can be a great night out if you let yourself enjoy it, you'll doubtless get better shots as well.
 
James Barham gets paid £10,000 for taking pictures which, in his own words, "could have been taken by a drunken man in the street on a Saturday night".

Don't worry about movement in the pictures - use flash to freeze the motion on slow synch (which on Nikon automatically goes to 2nd curtain).

Try hand held shots of some friends in your room - pull the curtains, shoot on ISO 100/200 to get a slow shutter speed, get them to dance about and just shoot them - the shutter drag will record the movement, then the flash will freeze everything on top of the background blur. Perfect it, this technique can be your saviour in so many situations.

Instead of worry about settings and other crap - get your head into gear about the TYPE of pictures they will want - ASK THEM if you are worried. Then get yourself a shooting list - it doesn't have to be in order, just a crib sheet to refer to, might go something like this:
Mayor arriving.
DJ at his desk
Band in full swing
VIP guests - Mr & mrs Plonker, Admiral Hornblower.......

Do you kno the venue? Is there a balcony or raised position where you could shoot the entire dancefloor from? If not - stick your camera on a broom handle/monopod/tripod with legs extended but closed together (so it becomes a pole) and set it on timer....wait for dancing to start....trip shutter and raise it up near the ceiling, being careful not to break the flash off against the ceiling! There is your aerial shot.
 
Thanks guys, May I say I laughed hard at Mr n Mrs plonker lol. I`ll try my best to explain the place for you.

when entering you go up some stairs, into an area Id say within 100ft by 100ft I`m not totally sure, The platform where the band play is in the centre of the room, the stage would be around 20ft round. But again i am not sure, My judgement is not the best.

I cant afford a flash gun or anything so I`ll haved to put up with flash on my camera, Would you say Higher ISO will be better for the images I want to capture?

Thanks so much anyway guys.
 
DJMorgan said:
I cant afford a flash gun or anything so I`ll haved to put up with flash on my camera, Would you say Higher ISO will be better for the images I want to capture?

Thanks so much anyway guys.
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I don't think you'll have much choice but to use a high ISO setting if you're photographing an event indoors at night with the equipment you've got. However, you should still get some perfectly good shots out of it, and a lot of music events can look very good with the added graininess caused by high ISO. Generally, I aim for as low an ISO setting as possible.
 
Sounds like you're relaxing a bit, which is good. :)

I'd still be very surprised if you wouldn't be better using flash though mate. Maybe you can borrow a gun for the night? (And the day before for a coaching session / mess about).

First curtain sync if you're doing portraits, 2nd curtain if doing fancy dance motion shots. And a tripod is a winner, get a bit of a vantage point and do a long exposure of the room. Organisers and venues love them, may even get yourself another client out of it if you do it well. ;)

PS I look forward to your shots of Admiral Hornblower. Sounds like a character.
 
Check my name < lol And yeah I`m a bit more relaxed but closer to the event ill get nervous but theres is a first time for everything.

I dont know anyone who could lend me a flash lol I mean ill probs be shooting the event on auto, But i mean if i can figure out a good setting before it comes up then yey lol

but yeah..
 
I tell you what would probably do the world of good mate. Getting along to a meet sometime before then.

I'm sure there'll be a few people in the NW getting together before then. Nothing like learning in person. I'd be more than happy to help you out myself if I was still living back at home. Unfortunately (fortunately, who am I kidding ;)) I live in Oz now.
 
Lol, So you left the UK? Good move lol its crap here xD! but yeah i will have a look, what section do i look in btw?


Stupid question i just found the section lol
 
Might be worth having a look at what Flash in the pan offers on here - He's just got some TTL compatible flashes for nikon and canon (see FITP) that don't cost the earth.

I haven't got one so can't comment directly on that model but I got one of the older fully manual flashes before xmas, it's not top, top quality but it seems to be well made, very good for the price.

Not had much use in anger yet, but over xmas it helped in a dark room and was able to bounce so didn't upset my lil' niece too much.
 
Well i have 3 flash guns but they are for the older cameras which needed 4 AA batterys lol But i dont wanna mess about with them with the camera *** it cud mess it up or just simply not work lol
 
flash does add another thing to learn but is well worth it imo. fast glass like a cheap 50mm f1.8 (buy,hire,steal or borrow one?) is another way to make the world of difference. also read this:

http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=165114

go somewhere similar before to practice, also learn how high you can set your iso in the dark and still get good results (the grain doesnt show up half as much on the small screen)
 
right, so are you shooting the band, or the event in general.?
if yyour mainly shooting the band, then i agree with b3r.
gig lighting is often awfull, so a fast lens of some descrription would be pretty much a definite.
as said a 50mm1.8 will do the job for not much money.probably hi ISO too.
and get there EARLY.
like, band sound check time, to check out the venue and look at light levels.
rremember to drop your ISO again when you get the flash out and start sshooting punters (been there, done that , unfortunately)

oh , and remember to enjoy it.
and if you have a search around, theres loads of threads on here aboutr gig photography.
oh, and grainy , hi ISO pics look awesome in b&w.
 
Thanks, Im reading up on that thread now, Could anyone define to me what aperture is, I`m really new to all of this so im really looking to it deeply lol
 
Jayst84 said:
Too much beer in me now to reply properly (remember I'm 11 hours ahead of you) but this is more than sound advice. :thumbs:
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good lad. you wouldn't be a proper aussie unless you had beer in you by this time!!

i hope you cracked open the first tinny at 12pm sharp!! :thumbs:
 
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