HELP with High School Graduation!

[mom2rtk]

OK, so our oldest graduates next Sunday. We have been in the venue they use for graduation, but not for an actual graduation.

There is no way to know where we will end up sitting in the auditorium. It is a fairly large venue that seats 6,000. We could end up close, far or upstairs. I've heard that it's sort of a free-for-all when they open the doors to families.

I had thought about renting a long lens, but could end up behind some tall people rendering it useless, so I might just go with what I have and do the best I can. Here are my choices:

Sigma 50-150 f/2.8
Tamron 18-270 f/3.5-6.3 VC
Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS
Tokina 11-17 f/2.8

Additionally, we just got the info on graduation and apparently we can't bring in purses of bags. So I wonder how bad it would look to attend graduation with various lenses strapped to a belt??? Oh yeah...... the kids would love that...........

With stage lighting, will I need the 2.8? Or is there any chance the longer Tamron might help? Or should I ditch that one out and just go with the Sigma and carry in the Canon for wider shots?

Fortunately we're a ways down in the alphabet, so I'll have a few hundred chances to practice before we get to him.

I'd appreciate any suggestions on settings too. Would I want center-weighted or spot metering? Should I go shutter priority with the lowest setting to prevent blur?

Thanks for any help!

 

[mom2rtk]

Oh...... and the instructions also say to please not leave your seats during the ceremony............

 

[photo_chick]

You might want to decide if you're willing to push the exposure and live with noise. That is to underexpose a stop shooting RAW and pull it up later in post so you can get a faster shutter speed with that 18-270. It's what you'll probably have to do if you need it at 270 even at crazy high ISO settings.

When I shoot my DD's dance recitals I tend to shoot shutter priority. It works well for me. And even on the front row my 50mm gets almost all of the stage... and it's a big stage they use. So your 50-150 should be wide enough for those types of shots. I usually use center weighted metering (I never change it actually) then check the histogram and adjust as necessary.

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks Danielle!

I bought that Tamron when I had the Xsi. I hadn't really give it a second look since I got the T2i. I honestly hadn't considered how much more usable it might be now at the higher ISO's available to me. I think I'd be fine with some noise, especially since I have LR3 now too. And now that I think about it, the Tamron has VC, and the Sigma does not.

I'm thinking every member of our party might just have to be responsible for carrying a lens in for me.

I don't really NEED a wide lens, but it is a very beautiful old auditorium with a massive pipe organ in the background. So I was thinking it might be fun to get a shot or 2 of the entire setting.

Those of you who have taken photos of your graduates, I'd LOVE to see them!

 

[photo_chick]

I'm thinking every member of our party might just have to be responsible for carrying a lens in for me.

That sounds like a plan!

 

[disneyboy2003]

I'm thinking every member of our party might just have to be responsible for carrying a lens in for me.

I think that's a GREAT idea!

Here's what your DH would look like bringing in the Canon 1200mm lens (plus, it's camouflaged):

And here's DD with her lens:

Good luck with graduation!

 

[mom2rtk]

LOL! That's AWESOME! But how about Grandma and Grandpa?????

I better put paper bags over our heads though so no one will know who we're there to see!

And I better bring that instruction sheet with me. It says no bags or purses, but doesn't say a THING about this!

I haven't laughed that hard in some time. Thanks!

 

[jenseib]

I don't know if you can find my info on this picture Janet, but this is one of Paige last year.

 

[mom2rtk]

That's awesome Jen! I love the smile on her face!

Unfortunately no Exif embedded. But it looks like you had a brighter venue than we did. We had a district Christmas concert there last year and I might have a couple shots inside I can post to illustrate.

 

[mom2rtk]

Well, I didn't have to dig very far. There was a photo posted on Flickr from graduation a couple years ago. It's fairly dark with a brightly lit stage area.

 

[jenseib]

Yes, that is a lot less light than we had.
But you still maybe able to get something good with a telephoto, after all I got great shots with mine at the Cruise shows.

 

[mouselovenfamily]

Well, I didn't have to dig very far. There was a photo posted on Flickr from graduation a couple years ago. It's fairly dark with a brightly lit stage area.

Hey there neighbor! We are right there with ya for next weekend! Where do you guys hold your graduation?? It looks like about the same building set up we will be in. I plan on heading for the balcony on the right side of the stage becuse they walk left to right. I'm glad I'll have my camera to help me stay focused and not be a mess!!! I'm sure yoour photos will be great!!

 

[Frantasmic]

Your mileage may vary. Here are a few pictures of my niece's HS graduation a few years back in a similar venue. I'd think your Tamron might be too dark for long shots. These were taken with the 55-250 and I think I was pushing the limit. This is with a Canon XSi.

 

[mom2rtk]

Hey there neighbor! We are right there with ya for next weekend! Where do you guys hold your graduation?? It looks like about the same building set up we will be in. I plan on heading for the balcony on the right side of the stage becuse they walk left to right. I'm glad I'll have my camera to help me stay focused and not be a mess!!! I'm sure yoour photos will be great!!

Hey there neighbor! It's the Community of Christ (formerly RLDS) Auditorium. Is that where you'll be? Then if it's next weekend, I'm guessing you'll be there Saturday since I think all the Independence schools are there Sunday. Most of the schools in town use it now. We've lived here (about 3 blocks away) for over 20 years. And we just know what times and days to completely go the opposite direction when leaving the house!

I really have been wondering about the balcony plan.

How do you know they go left to right? Have you been before? That's great intel!

What lens are you using? Too bad you have that nasty old Nikon or we could share a lens rental!

 

[mom2rtk]

Your mileage may vary. Here are a few pictures of my niece's HS graduation a few years back in a similar venue. I'd think your Tamron might be too dark for long shots. These were taken with the 55-250 and I think I was pushing the limit. This is with a Canon XSi.

Thanks Frantasmic!

It really helps to see photos. It's been...... shall we say....... WAY too long since I was even AT a High School graduation.........

I'm back and forth on whether I think I can do it with the Tamron. That's why I think I just have to bring them all and test on the kids ahead of mine.

I do at least have the higher ISO's of the T2i available to me. But I won't
know until I just give it a try...........

Unless mouselovenfamily wants to invite me on Saturday for a trial run!

Meanwhile I'll just practice this..........

 

[mom2rtk]

You know, I'm sort of getting tired of going back and forth on all of this in my head. I'm now back to considering a lens rental. Many thanks to Thurlfan who told me a while back about rentglass.com, which is here in town. They have a 70-200 f/2.8 IS coming back in tomorrow. I can pick it up Friday and rent it for $54 for the week.

Will a couple hundred kids graduating ahead of mine be enough time to get the hang of it?

Or am I better off just sticking with what I have?

Mouselovenfamily........... I'm sure they have Nikon glass too........... wanna take a drive across town this week?

 

[mouselovenfamily]

Well, I didn't have to dig very far. There was a photo posted on Flickr from graduation a couple years ago. It's fairly dark with a brightly lit stage area.

You know, I'm sort of getting tired of going back and forth on all of this in my head. I'm now back to considering a lens rental. Many thanks to Thurlfan who told me a while back about rentglass.com, which is here in town. They have a 70-200 f/2.8 IS coming back in tomorrow. I can pick it up Friday and rent it for $54 for the week.

Will a couple hundred kids graduating ahead of mine be enough time to get the hang of it?

Or am I better off just sticking with what I have?

Mouselovenfamily........... I'm sure they have Nikon glass too........... wanna take a drive across town this week?

Road trip...sounds fun!! PM me and we can make it work!!

 

[Caretames1]

Whoo Hoo! I got some practice in last night! We have senior awards night and they held it in the gym where Grad will be. I took a few across the room, and they didn't turn out so bad! I didn't have my telephoto, but if it doesn't work like I want, I am allowed to get outta my seat.
I've already scoped out where I want to sit. We'll see

 

[mom2rtk]

Road trip...sounds fun!! PM me and we can make it work!!

I just PM'd you!

Whoo Hoo! I got some practice in last night! We have senior awards night and they held it in the gym where Grad will be. I took a few across the room, and they didn't turn out so bad! I didn't have my telephoto, but if it doesn't work like I want, I am allowed to get outta my seat.
I've already scoped out where I want to sit. We'll see

I'm jealous! I wish they'd let me out of my seat. Like I said, we're a ways down on the list. If I see others doing it, you can bet I will too........

I'm going to see if I can get my hands on a better lens before baccalaureate on Wednesday. It's at a different venue, but might be a chance to try out the lens out ahead of time.

 

[Caretames1]

If I see others doing it, you can bet I will too........

I say sneak on down, act like you had been in the bathroom. Than snap away until you see someone coming. Then run like crazy!