Fiddler on the roof, amazing local theater - The DIS Discussion Forums

JR6ooo4 · 07-20-2009, 02:13 AM

I have been shooting the local theater for a few years. St James Theater, arlington heights IL. Old timers here may remember previous posts. It is an all volunteer show, the cast even pays $50 each to help with costume costs etc... Good years in ticket sales have returned upwards of $20K to the church! I'm proud to help out in my own little way.

This year's show is Fiddler on the roof. (Still running for two more weekends) I have not been shooting in quite a while so I was a bit rusty trying to keep up with the fast action on a low lit stage 100 feet wide, during show nights, shot from up against a side wall, with no flash of course.

rebel XT, canon 70-300IS, tripod with pistol grip head
ISO 1600 in raw, low AP (shortest DOF) for fastest shutter with the camera still doing auto exposure
converted to jpeg in adobe bridge and auto noise ninja
I left them uncropped to leave room for various print size crops.
Let me know what you think, this was opening night.

tevye

they double cast the show and run three weekends. jsut under 100 people this year and that is the cast only. probably 160 or more including unseen folks like scenery, stage crew, costumes, lighting, sound, producers, sales and advertising, bar, and most importantly the creative talent, all volunteer. Did I mention that my darling wife is the music director again this year and conducts the orchestra, after starring in several productions then directing a few more?

Mikeeee

JR6ooo4 · 07-21-2009, 10:34 AM

no comments?

Mikeeee

JR6ooo4 · 07-21-2009, 10:35 AM

no comments?

Mikeeee

Frantasmic · 07-21-2009, 12:29 PM

For the equipment you had, you did a really good job. You can tell a few instances where some faster, better glass would have helped. It looks like you did very well with the raw conversion and captured pretty good color and lighting (as well as highlighting).

I really like the 2nd picture, your dream sequence; you did a good job with the "vision" Tevye had.

Miller1412 · 07-21-2009, 02:12 PM

Nice photos! I love Fiddler, I just rented and watched it with my 9 year old DD last weekend.

You did a great job!

boBQuincy · 07-21-2009, 08:58 PM

Your photos are really good! I have tried photographing theater and it is not easy. You (and the players) should be very happy with the images you have!

JR6ooo4 · 07-21-2009, 09:41 PM

thanks,

as you can see I am about 4 feet below eye level. do you think it would be better to get up at eye level? or does looking up at the actors give them that larger than life feel as well as give the viewer an "audience" point of view?

I think they have a platform I could use.

MIkeeee

Valentine · 07-31-2009, 04:22 PM

WOW!!! What great pics!!! This is exactly what I want to be able to do.. I do alot of community theater here in Brooklyn.. and I want to be able to photograph my shows... I can only dream at this point of my photos being as good as yours!! Can you explain again in english what you did?? LOL!!! or in Camera newbie language... thank you!!

Kathy

alan · 07-31-2009, 05:38 PM

Love 'em!

I love shooting local theatre groups, and ended up setting up a website to let people buy the photos I took (http://www.stagepics.co.uk). It's a great way to get two wonderful hobbies to combine!

The pictures you have posted are very good; one thing you might want to try is some Unsharp Mask AFTER resizing the pictures - a bit of USM can "lift" the pictures and increase the contrast.

My preference is to be slightly above the performers. I prefer to look down at them, that way you're not shooting up someone's nose (or their skirt). When you go to a traditional theatre, the best seats in the house - the grand circle - position the eye level of the viewer just above the heads of the performers.

The three weekend schedule is pretty hard going - most UK societies do a single week, starting Monday or Tuesday and running through to Saturday.

Love to see more - what is next year's show?

regards,
/alan

PS My personal show history is at http://www.thepotters.org/shows

Quicklabs · 07-31-2009, 05:43 PM

Wow! Really, really nice shots! For such a small group, the production looks very professional. You really had to deal with tough lighting, especially in that second shot. I really like the DOF there, as well. It's just right. *Standing ovation*

Pea-n-Me · 07-31-2009, 06:34 PM

Beautiful work, Mikeee!

MarkBarbieri · 07-31-2009, 07:13 PM

Holy cow! I just looked at this. Those are awesome stage pictures. Shooting stage is tough because the lighting is so "spotty". You did a great job managing the highlights.

NostalgicDad · 07-31-2009, 07:39 PM

Tough conditions. Great shots!

JR6ooo4 · 08-01-2009, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkBarbieri

Holy cow! I just looked at this. Those are awesome stage pictures. Shooting stage is tough because the lighting is so "spotty". You did a great job managing the highlights.

sure I'll take credit for that. but the tech guys and gals (I'm old. I can say gals) did a great job as well. sound and lights are high school and college age volunteers!

Mikeeee

07-20-2009, 02:13 AM	#1
JR6ooo4 The Dr. Seuss of Poo Using kerosene lanterns for light? Kerosene, who are you kidding? When did they invent kerosene? Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Arlington Heights, Illinois (26 miles Northwest of Walt's Birthplace) Posts: 11,032	Fiddler on the roof, amazing local theater I have been shooting the local theater for a few years. St James Theater, arlington heights IL. Old timers here may remember previous posts. It is an all volunteer show, the cast even pays $50 each to help with costume costs etc... Good years in ticket sales have returned upwards of $20K to the church! I'm proud to help out in my own little way. This year's show is Fiddler on the roof. (Still running for two more weekends) I have not been shooting in quite a while so I was a bit rusty trying to keep up with the fast action on a low lit stage 100 feet wide, during show nights, shot from up against a side wall, with no flash of course. rebel XT, canon 70-300IS, tripod with pistol grip head ISO 1600 in raw, low AP (shortest DOF) for fastest shutter with the camera still doing auto exposure converted to jpeg in adobe bridge and auto noise ninja I left them uncropped to leave room for various print size crops. Let me know what you think, this was opening night. tevye they double cast the show and run three weekends. jsut under 100 people this year and that is the cast only. probably 160 or more including unseen folks like scenery, stage crew, costumes, lighting, sound, producers, sales and advertising, bar, and most importantly the creative talent, all volunteer. Did I mention that my darling wife is the music director again this year and conducts the orchestra, after starring in several productions then directing a few more? Mikeeee __________________ Please check out my WDW photo galleries if you have time. I love to share! July 01 - Honeymoon @ Carribean Beach ~ April 05 - Offsite Ramada ~ March 06 - AllStar Movies ~ August 06 - Allstar Sports / Corronado Springs ~ March 07 - Allstar again but free ~ December 07-Coronado Springs~ Q Fred x8 Last edited by JR6ooo4; 07-20-2009 at 02:31 AM.

07-21-2009, 12:29 PM	#4
Frantasmic crickets Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Foat Wuth Posts: 1,950	For the equipment you had, you did a really good job. You can tell a few instances where some faster, better glass would have helped. It looks like you did very well with the raw conversion and captured pretty good color and lighting (as well as highlighting). I really like the 2nd picture, your dream sequence; you did a good job with the "vision" Tevye had. __________________ --------------------- Canon S5 User Canon XSi User

07-21-2009, 02:12 PM	#5
Miller1412 DIS Cast Member "X"Official Tag Fairy Landing Target Real cooks laugh at me Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Hockessin, DE Posts: 1,797	Nice photos! I love Fiddler, I just rented and watched it with my 9 year old DD last weekend. You did a great job! __________________ 1995 Dixie Landings Honeymoon, 2005 10 Year Family Anniversary at AKL, 2006 10 days in paradise at the Poly! Upcoming Jan. Weekend getaway!

07-21-2009, 08:58 PM	#6
boBQuincy I am not carrying three pods There's something about the smell of the chemicals that just shouts "Photography!" Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: NC Posts: 3,459	Your photos are really good! I have tried photographing theater and it is not easy. You (and the players) should be very happy with the images you have! __________________ "Well, then, I confess. It's my intention to commandeer one of these ships, pick up a crew in Tortuga, raid, pillage, plunder, and otherwise pilfer my weasly black guts out." Walt Disney World photos? Yeah, we have "a few" at: suzieandbob.com Canon Rebel Xsi, Canon 24-105, 70-200, 10-22

07-21-2009, 09:41 PM	#7
JR6ooo4 The Dr. Seuss of Poo Using kerosene lanterns for light? Kerosene, who are you kidding? When did they invent kerosene? Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Arlington Heights, Illinois (26 miles Northwest of Walt's Birthplace) Posts: 11,032	thanks, as you can see I am about 4 feet below eye level. do you think it would be better to get up at eye level? or does looking up at the actors give them that larger than life feel as well as give the viewer an "audience" point of view? I think they have a platform I could use. MIkeeee __________________ Please check out my WDW photo galleries if you have time. I love to share! July 01 - Honeymoon @ Carribean Beach ~ April 05 - Offsite Ramada ~ March 06 - AllStar Movies ~ August 06 - Allstar Sports / Corronado Springs ~ March 07 - Allstar again but free ~ December 07-Coronado Springs~ Q Fred x8

07-21-2009, 10:34 AM	#2
JR6ooo4 The Dr. Seuss of Poo Using kerosene lanterns for light? Kerosene, who are you kidding? When did they invent kerosene? Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Arlington Heights, Illinois (26 miles Northwest of Walt's Birthplace) Posts: 11,032	no comments? Mikeeee

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07-21-2009, 10:35 AM	#3
JR6ooo4 The Dr. Seuss of Poo Using kerosene lanterns for light? Kerosene, who are you kidding? When did they invent kerosene? Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Arlington Heights, Illinois (26 miles Northwest of Walt's Birthplace) Posts: 11,032	no comments? Mikeeee

07-31-2009, 04:22 PM	#8
Valentine BL II - Purple Team Solo Travel addict Photo Editor Wizard Memories of Jambalaya and Sunday School... I respect the heirachy of my cats Join Date: May 2001 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 1,423	WOW!!! What great pics!!! This is exactly what I want to be able to do.. I do alot of community theater here in Brooklyn.. and I want to be able to photograph my shows... I can only dream at this point of my photos being as good as yours!! Can you explain again in english what you did?? LOL!!! or in Camera newbie language... thank you!! Kathy __________________ Tough Guy

07-31-2009, 05:38 PM	#9
alan DIS Veteran Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Falkirk, Scotland Posts: 553	Love 'em! I love shooting local theatre groups, and ended up setting up a website to let people buy the photos I took (http://www.stagepics.co.uk). It's a great way to get two wonderful hobbies to combine! The pictures you have posted are very good; one thing you might want to try is some Unsharp Mask AFTER resizing the pictures - a bit of USM can "lift" the pictures and increase the contrast. My preference is to be slightly above the performers. I prefer to look down at them, that way you're not shooting up someone's nose (or their skirt). When you go to a traditional theatre, the best seats in the house - the grand circle - position the eye level of the viewer just above the heads of the performers. The three weekend schedule is pretty hard going - most UK societies do a single week, starting Monday or Tuesday and running through to Saturday. Love to see more - what is next year's show? regards, /alan PS My personal show history is at http://www.thepotters.org/shows __________________ No show planned sniff Links to my web sites at www.thepotters.org 2009 photo trip report here

07-31-2009, 05:43 PM	#10
Quicklabs DIS Veteran Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,249	Wow! Really, really nice shots! For such a small group, the production looks very professional. You really had to deal with tough lighting, especially in that second shot. I really like the DOF there, as well. It's just right. Standing ovation __________________

07-31-2009, 06:34 PM	#11
Pea-n-Me Survivor Call me crazy but I prefer the single bath Nothing beats the Magic of a Disney Resort! Will DIS from the Potty Alice, how's it hanging? Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Southeastern Coast of Massachusetts Posts: 13,006	Beautiful work, Mikeee! __________________ All Star Music 2001/Polynesian Lagoon View Concierge 2002/Contemporary 2003/Disney Wonder 2003/Yacht Club and Disney Wonder 2004/Pop Century 2005/Dolphin and Pop Century MNSSHP 2005/Disney Magic and Pop Century 2006/Coronado Springs MNSSHP 2006/Dolphin and Disney Wonder 2007/Port Orleans Riverside 2008/Caribbean Beach 2009/Disney Magic 2010

07-31-2009, 07:13 PM	#12
MarkBarbieri Mouseketographer 180? That's for wimps Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The Woodlands, TX Posts: 4,737	Holy cow! I just looked at this. Those are awesome stage pictures. Shooting stage is tough because the lighting is so "spotty". You did a great job managing the highlights. __________________ See my old Disney pictures and slideshows at http://photos.barbierifamily.org/Disney. Read my 2006 trip report at Mark's Photo Trip Report.

07-31-2009, 07:39 PM	#13
NostalgicDad "I Love The Nostalgic, Myself. I Hope We Never Lose Some Of The Things Of The Past."-WD Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: McKinney, TX Posts: 2,493	Tough conditions. Great shots! __________________ *DANNY* My Disney and other images can be seen HERE D300...MB-D10 grip...Nikon 70-200VR f/2.8...Nikon 70-300VR...Nikon 50 f/1.8...Sigma 18-50 f/2.8...Sigma 10-20 myself (Danny) DW DS16 DD11 DS8 sidra gracie sophie

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