Looking for ideas and suggestions for a fun composition.

[praline3001]

Hi!
I just got my DSLR last night, before I was using a G10. Only mentioning that because I don't have many lenses yet and am still VERY new to DSLR's!

My 15 year old son got the funniest present tonight. They are shock tanks for him and his dad to play with. The basics is that if you hit the other guy's tank they get a very painful shock from their controller. Yes, I know demented. So is my family

It was tons of fun watching them run around the house and scream like little girls from the shock. I wanted to get some really nice photos of them bonding. I tried and failed horribly tonight =( I know its my first project idea for my new camera and I shouldn't expect miracles hehe

So I am looking for ideas to make the composition really stand out. The action is out of this world FAST. The threat of being shocked half to death tends to make people move REALLY fast. hehe Also lighting is not great due to it being inside in my family room. The tile floor is important for the tanks to be able to move.

Anyone have a creative way I can set up that stand out shot? As silly as it sounds, I know when my son is old and gray he will look back on those photos and smile. Its one of those father/teenage son moments. I am just not sure how to go about making something worthy of passing down to him.

If you want to get an idea of what they look like and how bad I really failed, I uploaded them to my flkr account (link in siggy)

The main issues I had were blur and trying to get a good composition without interfering with their war. I am open to any ideas =D

[Doug Sundseth]

First, I don't think you failed. "That looks like it hurt" works really well for me. The blur shows the motion well and I get a story from the photo that a frozen image wouldn't give me. Plus the lines in the floor and the intersection of the walls and ceiling gave a composition that works well, too.

So, that said, it sounds like for many of the photos, you're looking to freeze the action better with more consistent lighting, and get more consistent compositions. One at a time, then:

Freezing the action in low light: You either need faster lenses and a camera body with better high ISO performance ($$$$$), or you need to add light. Since the former is probably not timed well ( ), I'd try a couple of off-camera manual flashes bounced off of opposite corners of the room. This should give you light that's somewhat directional, but that is relatively constant in total intensity anywhere the subjects are.

Consistent compositions: Look for good backgrounds and time your shots to get the subjects in front of them. You might also try composing fairly loosely in camera and planning on cropping in post. You will lose some detail this way, but you'll be able to pick your framing when you're not trying to dodge screaming maniacs. (NTTAWWT)

[praline3001]

Thank you, you are very kind. I do really like that particular photo BUT only because I know what was being said and being done behind the camera
When your 15 year old gets to be 10 foot tall and bullet proof with a mouth the size of the Grand Canyon, its hysterical watching him scream like a girl.

I can add more light to the room. I have a couple of very bright halogens I can put them in there, off camera. I have a speedlite as well. I am not a huge fan of flash photography and really don't like the washed out 2D look flash gives. Thats more of a personal taste then anything else. I enjoy no flash photography so much more!

I was kind of looking for ideas on how to set the scene up to make it stand out*ish*.

[Doug Sundseth]

I wouldn't recommend on-camera flash, but if you move the flash off camera you can get quite nice lighting. For more information, take a look at this post at the Strobist. In particular, take a look at the sample photos in that article, none of which is especially flat.

For reference, even quite hot halogens won't give you as much light as a small flash, though adding halogens would surely help.

[praline3001]

Thanks. I started reading his articles and am now EXTREMELY confused lol

I kind of sort of understand the lumopro kits from that site. They have a starter kit for $277 which isn't bad. However I have the Canon Speedlite 430EXll and my canon 3ti camera.

What do I need equipment wise to be able to get the off camera flash to work right? Do I need the Speedlite transmitter? Its $300. Looking at cost, the Lumopro is the better deal as the $277 gets you everything you need, I think?

This is what Strobist is suggesting for the newbie:

Strobist® Starving 1 Light Kit MPEX

How to I turn my speedlite into off camera lighting like Strobist suggests?

[Doug Sundseth]

I'll reply on your other thread.