indoor no windows and lousy light

[jann1033]

i would like to take some photos at a kids costume party/talent show/party next weekend( just to give to parents if they turn out, not for money so not pressured to do it)

the problem is 1) have yet to get an external flash 2)from what i remember i think the place has lousy lighting ie an old gym type of hall. don't recall it having any windows...i don't want to take a bunch of stuff( ie tripod) since it's a party and i'm not giving it and i want to do candid shots so i was planning on hopefully my 100mmf3.5(guessing not enough light) or 50mm f1.8, the best apertures i have, so any suggestions? or without the flash am i sunk before i start. i know a lot have had problems on here with indoor kids sports...in those cases is it the action or just the light in general that is the problem?
thanks

 

[tinksdad]

Sounds like a tough room! Even if you had a speedlight of some sort, the high ceilings you have with those kind of places wouldn't help for a bounced flash. Guess you have no other choice but to go with the on-board flash and use the 50mm lens so it doesn't interfere with the shot (cast shadows). Use the iTTL and check the white balance so your flash doesn't compete with the house lighting.

 

[mabas9395]

Sounds like an excuse to get a new lens. I like the 85mm f/1.8 for indoor candid shots.

 

[AbbysFamily]

I'd go with the 1.8...
Wider opening = more light in... Solve your number one problem, then go from there.

 

[jann1033]

Sounds like an excuse to get a new lens. I like the 85mm f/1.8 for indoor candid shots.

i of course like this idea as well but that is not possible right now the others are kind of what i thought as well but thanks

 

[Steve's Girl]

I recently took some pictures at my daughter's school. The room had fluorescent lighting with flags hanging down everywhere. I started with my 50mm 1.8 lens. This worked OK without flash and the exposure was actually pretty good. But due to the narrow depth of field, I was pretty limited in the types of photos I could take. I tried a few times to get larger group pictures and that just did not work well. I ended up using my zoom with a flash bounced and found that to be much more practical for the setting.

 

[jann1033]

I recently took some pictures at my daughter's school. The room had fluorescent lighting with flags hanging down everywhere. I started with my 50mm 1.8 lens. This worked OK without flash and the exposure was actually pretty good. But due to the narrow depth of field, I was pretty limited in the types of photos I could take. I tried a few times to get larger group pictures and that just did not work well. I ended up using my zoom with a flash bounced and found that to be much more practical for the setting.

i kind of am kicking myself for not getting a flash but it's to late now( since i want a used one for $.25 ) but i am not really concerned with large shots or even the talent part, i was thinking of some candid single child or maybe brother and sis type shots ..if they don't take, well i'll chalk it up to a learning experience

 

[Steve's Girl]

i kind of am kicking myself for not getting a flash but it's to late now( since i want a used one for $.25 ) but i am not really concerned with large shots or even the talent part, i was thinking of some candid single child or maybe brother and sis type shots ..if they don't take, well i'll chalk it up to a learning experience

Your 50mm 1.8 should work OK for this. On a side note, I was looking at flash diffusers on either B&H or Adorama and I saw a small diffuser for an onboard flash. Has anyone tried one of these? This might be an option too. Heck, make one out of a Kleenex or something - give it a try. It fits in your budget!

 

[fitzperry]

You've probably already thought of this, but shooting them in RAW will give you a little more latitude wrt exposure.

 

[jann1033]

i have found that raw covers a multitude of my sins and not sure about the kleenex since they think i'm a little left of center already but i might try something.. i'll put husband to work thinking of something comparable but less "eccentric" looking i wonder if it would shut if i taped some parchment paper to the front of it....
thanks

 

[fairestoneofall]

Your 50mm 1.8 should work OK for this. On a side note, I was looking at flash diffusers on either B&H or Adorama and I saw a small diffuser for an onboard flash. Has anyone tried one of these? This might be an option too. Heck, make one out of a Kleenex or something - give it a try. It fits in your budget!

I have one of those and it doesn't do much of anything.

First try bumping your ISO up as high as possible and keeping your ap as wide as possible. If those don't work, you're just going to have to use your on-board flash.

I wish you were close by, I'd send you my extra flash.