Candid nighttime shots.

[angtomczak]

The party will be at night and outside. The area will be lit by tiki torches, a bonfire, and some porch lights. I have the D90 with kit lens (18-105mm), and have the 50mm 1.8 on order (yay!). I want to get some good candid shots of the guests throughout the night.

Can you tell me a good starting point for camera settings? Should I use the 50mm because it performs well in low light, or the kit lens because I can stay farther away from the subjects? Or will I have to be close to use the flash? ... I have a million more questions, but I'll spare you...

I'd just like to know a little about what to expect, so I don't torture people (too much) throughout the night trying to figure things out.

Thanks!

[wulf]

I don't know how candid it will be if you keep firing the flash! You might get better results with the 50mm. Leave it wide-open or no more than a stop or two in. You also want a relatively slow shutter speed and might also want to push the ISO up above the minimum.

Next, scout out the best spots. You want to be standing far enough away that the narrow depth of field at f/1.8 is not a problem (20' will give you about 3.8' of sharpness; 30' increases that to almost 8') and probably somewhere darkish. You want your subjects to be positioned in good light.

With that preparation, you can then keep an eye on the spots you have identified. Rather than trying to take pictures in near darkness, you have tipped the odds in your favour and only have to be alert for things to happen at those places.

Wulf

[angtomczak]

I was hoping you would say that I could go without the flash! I wasn't sure....

Thanks, thanks, thanks so much for the tips!

[smc1377]

I'm willing to bet that you can't do this without a flash, even wide open at 1.8.

I shoot nightlife stuff all the time and your best bet is to have a hotshoe flash point upwards with a diffuser of some sort. I had another mod from here to with me once and he attempted to use his 50mm f1.8, and no dice. Still not fast enough.

[angtomczak]

Disclaimer: Super, duper novice here....

Can I turn down the flash so it's not so bright and doesn't blow out the subjects? In my little mind, it just seems like that would work....

[wulf]

Yes - flash can be turned down. That's probably a good idea but don't forget that will reduce the range it covers even more.

The best strategy would be to set up a remote flash unit near to and pointing at your target zone... but that probably requires a bunch of gear you don't have.

I still think f/1.8 might work IF you can find some well illuminated patches. Any chance of experimenting before the party?

Wulf

[angtomczak]

Uh, you are right... gear I don't have... I'm going to practice next time we burn some yard trash! Sounds like fun huh..

For me, the hardest thing about being a newbie is knowing it's wrong, and then trying to figure out where I went wrong, without knowing where to start.... What I'm trying to say is, thanks for your direction.