Help with Night settings

[Melody]

Hi folks,

I've never shot an event at night before, this will be riders on horseback going fast, it's apparently a great opportunity to really get the fire from the guns. Flash really isn't much of an option they are not close :(

I'll most likely be using the 70-200 2.8vr, the 400 2.8 is just too long for the event, the 200 2.0 is a possiblity with the tc even it is a bit much at times because of the courses they run I need the flexibility of the zoom.

Any clue on what camera settings I should use/try??

Thanks for any help!

Melody

[Auminer]

Hmmm, a dilemma for sure. There must be lighting of some kind and what ever lens you decide on I would think now would be a good time to break out your ED... if you can find it ;) :D

Want to borrow my new 300 2.8 VR? NOT... :rofl: it is super glued on... :)

Dave

[Melody]

haha!! I know where that is it's in the Domke bag :p The big lenses are in the pelican case, and uh most others are in the the Moose Bag, OH yeah and found my chargers they are on the kitchen counter right now in use :D

Yeah there is a little light from the arena so they can see where to head for the targets etc. but NOT much from what I'm told, they love to see the fire from the guns, apparently you can watch flames about 4feet long, oh this should be quite the experience. State Championships and me never doing this before OH DEAR!! :eek:

Well if I have to use a really high iso which I'm guessing I should probably use the Canon it is better with noise, although mine is having a few fits with that on pictures too, so there again another choice, sheesh I don't like choices I just want it all and it to work, is that really to much?? :lol:

Melody

[Melody]

Want to borrow my new 300 2.8 VR? NOT... :rofl: it is super glued on... :)

Dave

HEY you edited that on no fair cheating!!!

YEP I want to use it! come on down I'm driving 7 hours north from what they tell me, you can play with the 200 2.0vr and WE can figure out how to shoot them shooting guns in the dark! Heck I'll even let you play with the 400 2.8 if you want, gosh see I'm easy!

Melody

[Auminer]

YEP I want to use it! come on down I'm driving 7 hours north...How fast ya driving :) Lets see, that puts you in my back yard, hmmm thats what all the ruckus is about. :cool: Wheres it being held?

Dave

[Melody]

Well uh the way I drive it maybe closer to 5-6hrs ;) but your driving SOUTH so you'll be faster LOL!! well it sounds good anyway! It's just North of Stockton how far is that from you?

Apparently the parties are great after the shoots, it is a wonderful group of people involved those I've met so far anyway, we'd love to have you join us if you can make it!

Melody

[Melody]

Someone should have a clue what settings for me to try or have NONE of you shot stuff in the dark before?


Melody

[Auminer]

It's just North of Stockton how far is that from you?According to AAA the "distance is 336.3 miles, 5 hours, 1 min". Hmmm sounds good...lets see, when is it? Not sure I can tear away.

Dave

[crabby]

Well I don't envy you in this situation. I don't know how much light dark is or how far far is but if you want to stop the action somewhat low ambient light alone probably won't cut it. Plus your auto focus will be hit or miss. I would plan on using a canon or nikon flash and get as close as you can and use the shortest lens that's appropriate for better dof. Or better yet maybe rent or borrow a Metz 60ct but even that may not be enough, 50'-70' would be stretching it. The closer the better. I've never used one, but one of those flash extenders would probably help a lot. And at that kind of distance these flashes mentioned won't totally light your subject and freeze the action, at best it would just add a little omph to the ambient light. So I would set the flash on manual/maximum power and set the camera on program or shutter priority trying different shutter speeds for affect and also set the camera to rear curtain so any blur would be behind the subject. If it works it looks really cool.
I would also shoot some just with the ambient light and a high ASA.
The trick in these situations is you have to try everything you can think of and work it like crazy.
Ideally what would work the best would be a slow enough shutter speed to catch the flame, a powerful enough flash to light the subject to stop the action, and an ambient light that is a little darker then the flash so the flame looks good. It takes impeccable timing to catch the flame from a gun even with a slow shutter speed.
Actually I do envoy you. I know you'll have fun. You're images might not be perfect but they will be better then anyone elses there. The ambient light will probably be enough to get a sharp shot of the rider and the surroundings with a decent shutter speed and you're the type who would be lucky enough to catch the flame! A nice strong assistant/second shooter would be handy too.

[Melody]

Thank you so much Mike for taking the time to help me I do appreciate it.

I don't know if the butterflies in my stomach are exactly what I'd call fun...but it's definitely different! :lol:

I just ordered a flash extender, it will be sent priority so I'll have it for tomorrow night.

Typically I'am lucky well if I'm in front of a video poker machine or something, if trying counts then I'll be lucky! :D Thanks Again!


Hey Dave,

The main event is Saturday Night, if you'd like to come, let me know and I'll PM you my cell phone info or do you still have the number?

Regardless a BIG congratulations on your new lens!! Thats fabulous! :D

Melody

[crabby]

I hope I'm wrong, but I guess since you aren't posting any images of this shoot you're not too thrilled with the outcome. I hope your just too busy.
Just curious.

[Melody]

I hope I'm wrong, but I guess since you aren't posting any images of this shoot you're not too thrilled with the outcome. I hope your just too busy.
Just curious.

I'm fine with the images until it got dark! :( I really appreciate you giving me some ideas and letting me know it wasn't gonna be easy anyway or I'd just have a blonde complex or something :o

Actually I'm fine I was lucky or I'd really be wondering what else I could have or should have tried. The luck was I met a great guy goes by the name "Diamond Dave" now who could resist that anyway?? Well he's one of the competitors however his full time job is as a photographer and he was absolutely wonderful to help me.

Dave shoots with Nikon and has done several sporting events so he was famaliar with the settings and ability to change and try just about everything we could. He told me when I met him upon arrival I wouldn't be able to do it the light is just too low, the riders too fast and erratic on top of it for them to be acceptable.

I'll give him this though, he realized real quick I am stubborn and was gonna give it a shot anyway so.......... We tried tons of settings, the flash, the extender etc., he didn't want to go inside the arena to try with the flash closer due to liability if it spooked a horse, granted we wouldn't shoot directly at them however since you don't know which way that rider is gonna turn and they turn quickly, it wasn't worth it.

Here's what you've got, 300 ft arena, 2 to 6 barrels depending on the course, 12 targets, riders go from one end and back in let's say 11-22 seconds depending on the individual, they don't "shoot/aim" towards the exterior of the arena, always towards the center so you have to shoot from the opposite side to see the fire. It's not stadium type lighting more like some 'street" lights and only 4 of them total. I got the fire on a few however nothing I would consider using, I've captured the fire on pics during the daylight I'll stick with those others seem to have issues getting it, so I guess I am "lucky"

Melody