BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

Photography Question 

Joseph M. Kolecki
 

Indoor Group Shots


 
 
I have a question about indoor group shots...

First, I shoot with a Nikon D200, a 17-55 F2.8 lens and an SB-800 with diffuser.

Ok, so for me, a normal camera setting (handheld) for a relatively dimly lit room is F2.8-F4 at 1/30th - 1/60th of a second ISO 400-500 with sometimes increasing exposure/power on my flash and using a focal length of 35-55.

My results usually end up with well lit people with a decent background. Bad parts of the photo usually involve people not as crisp and clear as they could/should be, especially around the edges.

I would like to increase aperature to F8-F10 to sharpen however my fear is that I will completely lose my background since I do not want to drop below 1/30th of a second hand holding... Can anyone advise?


To love this question, log in above
June 03, 2008

 

Joseph M. Kolecki
  By the way, if anyone is wondering why their is a purple/redish tint to this pic... Its from using a Gary Fong light sphere with an Amber Dome mounted on top and the white balance of the camera turned to Tungsten...

Honestly, it seems I get poor results more often than not using Gary Fong light sphere... I'm not sure if I am doing something wrong but I think I am going to resort back to my good ol Omni Bounce.


To love this comment, log in above
June 03, 2008

 

W.
 
Hi Joseph,

have you already tried upping the ISO to 1600? You would gain 2 stops of light that way, which would work out to around F/8.0.

About that GF diffuser: you may want to try an "ABBC" (A Better Bounce Card), a 2 dime D-I-Y diffuser that runs rings around the screamingly expensive Tupperware diffusers in terms of effectiveness.
http://www.abetterbouncecard.com/.

Have fun!


To love this comment, log in above
June 03, 2008

 
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here

Report this Thread