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BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Indoor/Low-Light Photography

Photography Question 

Bode 		 

Photographing People in a Club


 
 
I'm shooting in a club for a magazine. I need to capture the natural light and color of the club, but I need the 20 people in the bar sharp and no grain. What do you think the best way is to do this. Shooting this weekend . Thank you very very much.


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May 27, 2005

 

Samuel Smith 		  Welcome Bode,
You didn't say what kind of camera you had, type of lens or lenses. Do you have a light meter? Have you taken any test shots? Bright natural light or low natural light? Today's Sunday, so it's probably too late. Don't forget, drink after the shoot.
sam


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May 29, 2005

 

Bode 		 
 
 
Hey Sam, thank you for answering. Not too late. I'm shooting 8 clubs. The ones I shot already are just sitting-still shots of people drinking. They are pretty good. Yes, I have a meter and 2 pro foto light kits and also 3 tungsten heads. I'm shooting with a D1x Nikon. I have several lenses. The club is dark, and I want to get people dancing and capture the light on the dance floor. But I need sharpness and little grain.


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May 29, 2005

 

Bode 		 
 
 
Hey Sam, thank you for answering. Not to late. I'm shooting 8 clubs. The ones I shot already are just sitting still shots of peope drinking. They are pretty good. Yes I have a meter and 2 pro foto light kits and also 3 tungston heads. I'm shooting with a D1x Nikon.I have several lens.The club is dark and I want to get people dancing and capture the light on the dance floor. But I need sharp and little grain.


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May 29, 2005

 

Bob Cammarata 		  You will probably need flash to freeze dance moves in a dimly-lit club setting ... and flash used normally will probably dominate and overpower the light on the dance floor you're trying to capture. A combination of a slower shutter speed in conjunction with the flash will record ambient light AND freeze the dance moves. Don't go slower than 1/30 second, though, or the ghosting of the action of the dancers might be too noticeable.


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May 29, 2005

 

uche oji 		  I'm Uche Oji from London. I've actually taken cramped-location-dimly-lit club shots with live Dance DJs on my digital SLR with great results. Firstly, you've got digital so afford to experiment with shutter speeds and check results. Secondly, focus manually unless your autofocus works quickly in dark locations. I shoot at ISO 400 and f8-f10 (to ensure sharpness if focus is slightly off) between 1/30 to ½ second: the long exposures show the strobe lights in action. Try f8 at 1/8, handheld. Fit a flash to your hotshoe, hold still when you take shots. Or you can meter off the lights, and use flash to fill in the people. It's your call. Good Luck.
To see my examples email uche_oji@hotmail.com


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June 02, 2005

 
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