First Time Runway Shoot

[yeahmanh]

I posted this in the share my shots category but thought I should do it here considering I had some issues with my first runway fashion shoot.

The full images came out softer than I had expected. Most photos were shot at 400 or 800 ISO on a 5DMKII. At 100%, they're a bit soft. Clients have expressed interest in purchasing 8x10s. Just wondering if they'd be sufficiently sharp enough.



The rest of my photos can be found at www.yeahmanh.com

Thanks much in advance for the input!

[LoveDSLR]

Originally Posted by yeahmanh

The full images came out softer than I had expected. Most photos were shot at 400 or 800 ISO on a 5DMKII. At 100%, they're a bit soft.

Maybe 5D Mk II poor AF and 85mm @ f/1.8 (EV 7.7 1/250, f/1.8, ISO 400) have something to do with it.

Many runway fashions are EV 7.5-11, so you may to consider settings between f/4.5, 1/250 @ ISO 3200 and f/4.5, 1/500 @ ISO 500.

I prefer using the my D3 and D300 51 fp more than my 5D Mk II for the runway fashion shows.

[yeahmanh]

Originally Posted by LoveDSLR

Maybe 5D Mk II poor AF and 85mm @ f/1.8 (EV 7.7 1/250, f/1.8, ISO 400) have something to do with it.

Many runway fashions are EV 7.5-11, so you may to consider settings between f/4.5, 1/250 @ ISO 3200 and f/4.5, 1/500 @ ISO 500.

I prefer using the my D3 and D300 51 fp more than my 5D Mk II for the runway fashion shows.

Thanks for the input. I never thought about changing the EV. I've only been shooting for less than a year and I'm self-taught... I guess that was one of the things I didn't teach myself! Thanks for the input!!

[LoveDSLR]

Originally Posted by yeahmanh

I never thought about changing the EV. I've only been shooting for less than a year and I'm self-taught... I guess that was one of the things I didn't teach myself!

EV is the sum of ISO, aperture and shutter speed. Please don't be confused with EV compensation.

Your f/1.8 DOF is too shallow. You can change the other value pair (increase one and decrease other) and still maintaining the same EV.

An understanding of EV allows you select with gears to use per assignments and lenses to buy/rent.

Knowing my D300 is good up to ISO 3200 (same as our 5D Mk II). I can use my Sigma 50-150 f/2.8 DC or D3 with 70-200 f/2.8 to shoot runway fashion shows. Both are good for EV 7.5-11 at shutter speed equal or faster than 1/250 @ f/4.5.

[yeahmanh]

Originally Posted by LoveDSLR

EV is the sum of ISO, aperture and shutter speed. Please don't be confused with EV compensation.

Your f/1.8 DOF is too shallow. You can change the other value pair (increase one and decrease other) and still maintaining the same EV.

I acutally did confuse EV for EV compensation. Thanks for the clarification. I knew shooting wide open at 1.8 would yield a shallow depth of field... I didn't want to boost the ISO too high... even though I know the 5DMKII can handle it. I don't know what I was thinking... I guess I wasn't thinking. Lessons learned.

When do you mean when you say EV 7.5-11?

I've Googled the subject and it's more than I can digest right now.

Thanks much taking the time out to help a newbie... much appreciated.

[LoveDSLR]

Originally Posted by yeahmanh

When do you mean when you say EV 7.5-11?

I've Googled the subject and it's more than I can digest right now.

Exposure value (EV) denotes all combinations of camera shutter speed and relative aperture that give the same exposure.

Check out Exposure value - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and Ultimate Exposure Computer.

EV 7.5-11 means that you will encounter this exposure values range in a runway fashion show.

For example:

Your photo was taken at EV 7.7 (f/1.8, 1/250, ISO 400). You can take the same shot using f/4.5, 1/250, ISO 2500 (EV 7.7). However, the first photo in yeahmanh.com is EV 8.3 (1/800, f/1.8, ISO 800).

For the show, you have to decide which combination of apertures, shutter speeds and ISO will give you EV 7.7 to EV 8.3. Of course, you want to restrict the shutter speed faster or equal to 1/250 and a reasonable aperture such as f/4.5.

The same apply to new situations. If you decided to shoot a wedding first time then find out what is the required EV range. Once you know this information then you'll know the right lenses and settings to use.

[kencaleno]

EV = Exposure value

At 400 ISO all the following combinations will give an EV of 7.5:

1/250 sec @ f 1.4
1/125 sec @ f 2
1/60 sec at f2.8
1/30 sec at f 4
1/15 sec @ f 5.6 etc

And for EV 11:

1/1000sec @ f 1.4
1/500 sec@ f 2
1/250sec @ f 2.8
1/125sec @ f 4
1/60 sec @ f 5.6 and so on..... regards, Ken

[yeahmanh]

thanks guys! i've always understood the relationship between ISO, f stop, and shutter speed.... my only problem is that as a newbie, I'm so stuck on shooting in Av mode and rarely think about much else...

thanks again!

[Trigger]

Originally Posted by yeahmanh

I posted this in the share my shots category but thought I should do it here considering I had some issues with my first runway fashion shoot.

The full images came out softer than I had expected. Most photos were shot at 400 or 800 ISO on a 5DMKII. At 100%, they're a bit soft. Clients have expressed interest in purchasing 8x10s. Just wondering if they'd be sufficiently sharp enough.



The rest of my photos can be found at www.yeahmanh.com

Thanks much in advance for the input!

As you have mentioned the Clients expressed interest so there is proof that you are on the right track,bit of PP and presto it works. TFS


cheers