What’s Your Preference?

BigFuzzy · #11 (**permalink**) 08-16-2010, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digidave

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but you don't stand a chance with these conditions. If you want non-blurry, crisp shots, even a seasoned professional would have trouble with these conditions. If you can use a flash, you may have a chance but that is going to blind people & be irritating to all involved. With that little of light, you really need to add some or you will never get a good shot. I think the best you can do is get some posed shots of the group before they start bowling with all the lights on.

Though it is/will be incredibly difficult to get crisp, well-lit shots in these conditions, I cannot agree that it's a technical situation where you "don't stand a chance" or "will never get a good shot".. No offense Dave, but I think that's a bit of lazy thinking. There are way around those conditions with some thought, preparation and creativity.

I say this because I've shot in these exact conditions and came out with perfectly usable (in a social not professional sense) shots. It involved knowing the lighting conditions, and using a very fast lens (f/1.8) with 3200iso. Try to go scout it in advance, see if there are any particular areas that are better lit than others. See if there's a moving light that hit certain areas at certain times so you can work out timing.
Find out if you can bring a powerful flash light which you can shine from behind the subject to light them as you shoot which would keep the light out their face.

Alternatively, you can use off camera flash that doesn't need to be distracting as you can place it behind and to an angle to the bowler... and if you're at one of the end lanes, you could point the light to light the subject from behind and to the side and the remaining light would just bounce off the wall.. much less distracting, though not totally. But I'm assuming if it's a large social gathering, it's to be expected that some will be using flash.

Also, before and/or after the event, you can do some posed "action" shots where you can use flash without risk of disruption.

The key, is you have to know what you're doing. Don't rely on any auto settings. Know the conditions. If you're someone that's just going to rely on auto settings, yeah you may be screwed, but if you put a little time into knowing what your camera can do and how to use the settings, and are a bit creative, you can pull this off.
I'll try to see if I can find examples that I shot, but I'm not at home right now.

Here's some quickies I found on Flickr as examples that it can be done, though you do have to put some thought into the composition and timing!
Disco bowling! | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Disco Bowling | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Disco bowl | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (sometimes motion blur works!)
Disco Bowling | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (example of flash from behind)
Bowling Disco | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (heck, even a decent job with an iphone!
So, if you see. most of these were P&S, so if you take advantage of what your DSLR can do, you will pull something out of this event.

remember, they asked you to come to take photos, this gives you a lot of freedom to move around and "be in the way" a bit after all, so take advantage.

Things to think about..
shoot just after they released the ball, there tends to be a pause in movement so if you have a slower shutter speed, it may work out.
Shoot just before they start moving towards the lane, again, no movement=no motion blur.
Consider using gels on your flash that mimic the ambient light.. will be less distracting to those around you.

As I always tell people, prepare yourself for the situation, go there knowing what to do to put yourself in the best possible position to pull off the shots. If you just show up and wing it, I daresay you're screwed.

Best of luck, post some results here!
Al

BigFuzzy · #12 (**permalink**) 08-16-2010, 10:02 AM

I do realize what lenses you have are far from ideal.. but try to borrow someone's 50mm 1.8 or something like that.. or heck, even rent one for a day, shouldn't be too expensive for one day.

creative_one · #13 (**permalink**) 08-19-2010, 02:04 PM

I had tons of fun between bowling & photographing the event! i got out of the 200 & something pic i took a good 104 pics that are good! thanks for everyone that posted helpful tips & advice!!!