Lighting For D60 (ballet Show)

[kris.r-photography]

hey, been asked by my girlfriends mum (who is a ballet dancer) who runs a class 2 or 3 times a week, she wanted me to take some pictures for her, the location is going to be in a theatre so i was wandering if i need a flash gun instead of using the d60 build in flash, also how would i set the flash gun up etc etc , never really used a flash gun before except for my old 35MM SLR,

thanks guys (&girls)

Kris

[lostmysnorkel]

If you are doing a show, then I would assume you are in the threatre for dress rehearsals, in which case, you should get away with the stage lighting (watch the colour balance though).

It all depends on the situation and whether you can get on stage with the dancers and stop them in a 'frieze or not.

[kris.r-photography]

well she said it wouldent be in a rehearsal but it will be live and the parents would pay for the pics, so i was thinking about maybe using a speedlight or something, if not like you said i could maybe get away with the stage lighting!

[puddinz]

Hi
I do quite alot of theatre work and if its live rather than a rehearsal then you will not be able to get on stage with the performers but it is usually quite well lit. I would ask if you can come along to a couple of rehearsals so that you will get an idea of where the dancers will be at 'pretty' points. If you use flash then often you will not be close enough to the stage for it to be of much use.
If its for a live performance you have to consider that parents will probably have paid to watch it and dont want to see a photographer in front of their little darlings trying to get photos, another reason for going to the rehearsals if you can cos then you will be able to scout out your best shooting place as chances are you wont be able to move from there.
I always use the technical and dress rehearsals to do the photos for the company that I work with but they are used to me and having worked with the same directors and choreographers over the years I can tell where the action is going to be and where the photos ops will come in a song.

If I have got completley the wrong end of the stick and its just photos in the theatre then the sppedligh might be enough.
Hope this helps hope you enjoy it and would love to see the photos that you produce
Stevie
x

[lostmysnorkel]

TBH, I wouldn't go any where near photographing a live performance. There is just too much that will be out of control - including the irate parents in the audience.

Get in on the dress rehearsal or run-throughs. You should be able to set up and use your own lighting and be much more in control.....even stopping the action at certain points for 'the picture'.

If you have the resource, you could laso get some printed up for the bpoards in the theatre foyer come performance day.

[kris.r-photography]

i will see what i can do puddinz and snorkel, seems tho that the performance is around easter time lol, but i will be a good change for me maybe to earn a bit of money

thanks

kris

[Keltic Ice Man]

Often stage lighting is very poor :( so whilst a flash wouldn't be any good in a live situation you might need to look at the lens that you are thinking of using. I often use f2.8 to get enough light in, and even then you might be struggling if the lovely red and blue lights come on.

Good Luck, but as I say I wouldn't bother with flash, more the lens.

As has been said go to the rehearsals, take a number of shots here, as they can be put in amongst the show ones.

Allan