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Photographing a PlayNeed some help / advice

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Posted by MN: Tue Jan 27th, 2015 09:28

1^st Post

Hi Folks,
One of my kids is in a drama club on the weekends. I have taken some photos with my D3200 and Tamron 18-270 lens with no flash and I am struggling to get anything better than "just OK". There is very little light, except for the spots on the performers, and the light they use has a very orange / yellow hue.

The best results I've gotten are in shutter priority mode, set to between 1/100 or 1/200 and then over exposing etc. in Lightroom. The results are typically disappointing unless I convert them to B&W. Poor color rendering, etc.

Any suggestions as to how to take better photos of these plays? I am up for renting a lens or two to see if they make a difference. Feel free to offer any suggestions you have!!

Thanks a lot!

Posted by amazing50: Tue Jan 27th, 2015 10:30

2^nd Post

Are you using a tripod?
What ISO setting are you using?
What white balence and picture mode if any are you using?

I've used a D5100 and the 18-270 for a lot of stage shooting and I think the D3200 has better resolution and hi ISO.
Sounds like you're underexposing and trying to crank it up, which won't usually give you good results.

Renting another lens may only help if you have your camera set up properly in the first place.

____________________
There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept ;~) Mike Grace

Posted by MN: Tue Jan 27th, 2015 11:12

3^rd Post

Thanks for the reply. I have set the ISO to a max of 3200. The camera goes to 12,800. I guess I could crank that up all the way before trying something else. No picture mode and WB is Auto.

Thanks!

Posted by Gilbert Sandberg: Tue Jan 27th, 2015 12:28

4^th Post

re: very little light,
That is a general problem with most stages.
Nikon makes lenses for those circumstances, but alas: very few zoom lenses, and most of them costing more than your camera+lens.
E.g. Nikon 200 2.0 VR at circa USD 5000 a unit.
Shorter focal lenses tend to be chaper, like the 85mm 1.8 and 1.4.
If you want to get rid of mixed color lighting: consider processing the pictures in black and white.
Regards, Gilbert

Posted by Eric: Tue Jan 27th, 2015 18:11

5^th Post

Shooting in raw enables easy adjustment of temperature after the event.
I routinely shoot in mixed light and need to fine tune colour to taste.

As far as correct exposure is concerned, is it not possible to get close up to the stage at audition? and get a light reading off the actors. Then set the camera to manual ...to these figures?

High ISO will always be less pleasing under artificial light. The shadows will especially take on colour casts and more noise when lightened after the event....so over expose by half a stop or so on your predetermined reading, if you want some shadow detail.

Not familiar with Lightroom, but if you HAVE to to adjust exposure afterwards, if you have Highlight and Shadows feature in Lightroom it will better separate the light parts from the dark parts and give more control than just globally lightening.

____________________
Eric

Posted by amazing50: Wed Jan 28th, 2015 14:37

6^th Post

For my stage shots I don't try to adjust the coloured lights to white.

Only adjust the levels a bit if necessary.

When the director wants white lights they will be turned on.

____________________
There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept ;~) Mike Grace

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