Need very situational advice (crowded space + low light)

[Sp3ed_Demon]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and photography in general. I've done countless hours of research over the last few weeks since I got my Nikon D5100 and I feel like a have a pretty good grasp on the basics.

I have an event coming up soon (nerd alert!) Dragon*Con in Atlanta where I'll be taking photos of thousands of caped crusaders, and was hoping to gather some pearls of wisdom here before my trip. I'm doing as much research as I can to try to make sure I'm prepared, and here's the situation. It is a convention at a few host hotels, so the floor will be very crowded, there are no ceilings in most of the photography areas to bounce a flash off of, and the light is relatively low. What I've gathered so far is since I'll rarely be able to back off of the subject very far at all, I'll need a wide angle lens. My kit lens is an 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6, so while it's probably wide enough to suit my needs, it's not particularly fast. I test-fit a 35mm prime f/1.8, and while it seems like it would be fast enough I had to back way too far off of my friend to fit him in the frame (10-12'). I'd never be able to do that at the con, traffic would instantly start flowing between me and my subject. I wouldn't object to spending $4-600 on a new lens, but I'd rather avoid it if possible, and regardless haven't been able to find a good fit anyway (outside of the $2k range that is, haha)

So I'm basically looking for tricks of the trade that could help me overcome this issue. I'd like to avoid using a direct flash if possible, since many of the costumes have either lighted elements or thin fabrics that become semi-transparent under that much light. I'd also like to avoid high ISOs for obvious reasons.

If the answer is suck it up and either use a flash or high ISO, then so be it. I'm a big boy, I can deal with harsh realities

Thanks in advance if anybody actually read this far, haha. I'm loving this forum and am looking forward to becoming a member of the community!

[inkista]

You wanna talk crowded? I was at Comic-Con.

Be fearless. Direct your subjects. Drag them over to less-crowded corners with good backgrounds. And bring some off-camera flash. That's what I did with a 9" softbox. Results weren't bad. If you can force a friend to be your VALS (voice-activated light stand), you'd probably do even better.

[Chip]

Hi, Chris - I've never shot an event like the one you're describing, so I'm just going off my general experience.

Have you thought about a Tokina 11-16 f.2.8? Sure it's not a f1.8, but it is reasonably fast, quite wide and a very nice lens. I have one and love it. Cost is about $659 at B&H. And a constant 2.8 might work well with . . . .

high ISO. I have a D90 (which I understand has pretty much the same sensor as your D5100 - yours may even be better). But as long as I don't underexpose the photo, I can get good get results at ISO 3200:



and even at 6400 (as long as there aren't too many blacks and other dark colors in the photo):



No noise reduciton was done on either of these photos.

So, maybe high ISO and f 2.8 would be a solution? Any chance you can experiment in lighiting conditions similar to what you'll get at Dragon Con with the 35mm prime (or other fast lens), but set the aperture to 2.8?

Sounds like a fun challenge. Good luck, and please post some photos once you're done.

[scootermcq]

Maybe something in the range of an f/1????

[Sp3ed_Demon]

Thanks for the replies! I'm on my phone at work so it's hard to see any of this with great detail, but I'm looking forward to checking your photos out when I get home. I could put up a few pics from years past to try to give a better idea of the conditions. From what I can see on here your higher ISO pics look pretty clean.

One of these days I'll make it out to Comic Con, haha. My tiny little 40k attendee Con will have to do until then!

[Sp3ed_Demon]

Originally Posted by scootermcq

Maybe something in the range of an f/1????

Hah! If I could afford a $3,700 lens I'd jump right on that

Thanks again for the replies everybody!

@Chip, the noise on those pictures is quite impressive indeed, especially considering the ISOs you were at. Anything taken at 6.4k with my kit lens looks like you're viewing it through wax paper, haha. Not that bad obviously, but still, it gives me hope!

Here are a few shots from D*C last year if you want to get an idea of what it's like there, taken with my old point and shoot. It did decent considering, but I can't wait to see how the Nikon does!

[hpotter101]

no other choice but to bump up ISO or have a off hand flash

[Chip]

Hi, Chris -

About noise and high ISO, the lens shouldn't make a difference. The biggest things that influence noise are the ISO setting, the sensor and the exposure of the photo.

So, if you have to increase the ISO, and if you're stuck with the sensor in your D5100, then the only variable left is exposure.

By overexposing the photo (in camera) slightly - say maybe 1/3 or 2/3 of a stop - or by at least not underexposing the photo, the noise should be minimized. This holds true regardless of the lens you're using.

For any given aperture and ISO, overexposing means you'll need a longer shutter speed - which can create its own set of problems.

[Sp3ed_Demon]

Thanks for that Chip, but I guess that exposed a fundamental flaw in my understanding of how lens speed works. I had always understood that a lens with a large aperture (small f number) was called a fast lens because it took in more light which would allow you to reduce exposure time while maintaining the same ISO. I always looked at it like a triangle, one side has to give if you move another. ISO up, either shutter speed quickens or aperature shrinks to maintain the same exposure. Guess I have some re-educating to do...haha.

[Sp3ed_Demon]

Oh! Nevermind, I see where you're coming from now. Yeah, the reason I was looking for a large aperture was so I could still keep low ISOs in low light. I realize I'd still have to keep the shutter open longer, but I've got a pretty steady hand and a tripod if need be. Thanks, haha, sorry for the confusion!