What do I need for good dance recital pictures?

[jpmom97]

yesterday was DD's dance recital and I couldn't get a good picture of her on stage. I was dance mom, I responsible for getting them on and off stage. I ran to the front, snapped some photo's w/ the 50 1.4 and they were light enough but of course not close enough. Switched to the 28-135, pictures too dark. I didn't have time to use the tripod. Next year I am not volunteering to do dance mom and all tripods have to be in the back so my big lens won't be able to get close enough all the way in the back. I know I need a zoom lens w/ a low aperature correct? Would a flash even be handy so far away? Is a lens like this even made? Also, is it worth purchasing for the Xti? I don't want to buy a great lens if it's too much for the camera KWIM? Anyway, any tips or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Frantasmic]

Do some research on the 85mm f/1.8 lens. I just purchased this for indoor shots and I have been very pleased. It will get you more reach for your camera than the 50, but not a whole lot. Still, if you can get within the first 3-4 rows, you will enjoy it.

I got the lens for about $350.

If you have decent stage lighting, your 28-135 should have worked if you shot in RAW and then fixed the white balance afterwards. You should be able to shoot at it's lowest aperture with a shutter of about 1/200 and been able to lighten it up enough from RAW to have a good shot.

 

[blackears]

I have D60 and used my 55-200IR and SB600 flash for my last two recitals..I'll try to post pics later. The first one I was about 7 rows back and the pics came out prety bright and decent. Second one I was 12 rows back and they were darker but good, but still used the same set up. I would like something w/ a litle better reach, but concidering I was hand holding both recitals, I think they came out pretty good. Both rectials were shot JPEG also...so there wasn't but so much I could do....I have them on my photoshop.com page, so I will have to try to figure out how to post the link.

 

[jpmom97]

Do some research on the 85mm f/1.8 lens. I just purchased this for indoor shots and I have been very pleased. It will get you more reach for your camera than the 50, but not a whole lot. Still, if you can get within the first 3-4 rows, you will enjoy it.

I got the lens for about $350.

If you have decent stage lighting, your 28-135 should have worked if you shot in RAW and then fixed the white balance afterwards. You should be able to shoot at it's lowest aperture with a shutter of about 1/200 and been able to lighten it up enough from RAW to have a good shot.

I don't shoot in RAW b/c I don't have a good editing program and my computer doesn't have the room for the big files. I also didn't have time to think of shutter speed, I was in such a hurry I was thinking stick it on AV then get it to the lowest aperature for light, which worked on the 50mm but it was just too far away. I got a cute shot of everyone, I really wanted just my DD.

I can't even get into the seating, I sent my son in early so I could go backstage w/ the girls. I told him center, close to the stage he goes all the way to right in the middle. (DD was in the center for the dance.) When I left him w/ my friend's mom, they were 3rd in line to go in. When I found him he said by the time he got there it was full, which was a lie b/c my friend's mom got first row. He drives me crazy sometimes LOL. Actually I should blame DH b/c he didn't get there until 10 min before the show started or I could blame SIL b/c she was late getting to our house. Family drives me crazy sometimes LOL.

 

[MICKEY88]

I don't shoot in RAW b/c I don't have a good editing program and my computer doesn't have the room for the big files. .

you could get an external drive for you photo storage, 1 terabyte drives can be found for 100-130 bucks.

didn't your camera come with a basic program for basic editing of raw, such as WB and exposure..

you could use that for the basics convert to jpeg then use another program

 

[Frantasmic]

You should have received Digital Photo Professional with your XTi. It converts RAW files and allows some decent manipulation.

That would be your least expensive option: get an external hard disk and use the software to convert your RAW files. You'd be surprised what your current lenses can do in RAW.

Below is link to user's manual for the Digital Photo Professional software.

http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/0/0300002160/01/dpp3.6-w-en.pdf

 

[VVFF]

you could get an external drive for you photo storage, 1 gig drives can be found for 100-130 bucks.

didn't your camera come with a basic program for basic editing of raw, such as WB and exposure..

you could use that for the basics convert to jpeg then use another program

1 gig drive for $100-$130!? I must be in a time warp!

 

[wenrob]

^^^
LOL, I'm not sure what he meant but DH and I each just got 500GB passports for around $99.

 

[scoot241]

He probably meant 1TB. Internal drives can easily be found for $100.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I know DD's studio does not allow flash- major distraction if you're trying to do your moves and keep getting flashed in the face.

Can you take pictures at the dress rehearsal? I find that is the best way to get up close, plus they often do the same thing twice, giving you more chances to get the shot.

I use a Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 on my XT. I usually have to set the ISO to 1600, depends on the lighting for the particular number. A little noisy, but can run them through Neat Image or something.

(Not the best pics, but didn't want to post other kids' faces.)

 

[MICKEY88]

1 gig drive for $100-$130!? I must be in a time warp!

oops.. 1 terabyte drives... for 100-130

actually tigerdirect has 1.5 terrabye internal drives for 130

I use internal drives and a dock, more cost effective

 

[jpmom97]

I will have to look into the external hard drive. I wonder if DH can even get one from work....

My camera did come w/ something but I didn't load it into the computer. I have PSP8 on the computer and since I don't do professional quality pictures, I figured that would be fine to just crop and do basic stuff. I don't know how to use it any further than that. I also have Adobe Lightroom on disc but my computer doesn't have room for it.

My daugher's school does not do dress rehearsal, if they did I would be on stage w/ them getting the pictures LOL.

ETA I tried to install the Canon Zoom Browser but it won't work on the computer, it freezes. I need a new computer just for my pictures!

 

[mabas9395]

Its not a cheap option, but the canon 70-200 f/2.8 will give you more reach and decent low light ability.

 

[jpmom97]

Its not a cheap option, but the canon 70-200 f/2.8 will give you more reach and decent low light ability.

It would be either this lens or my Disney vacation in Dec LOL. When I hit lotto I will get it and one for everyone on the board!!

Maybe I can just rent one for the recital?

 

[Quicklabs]

It would be either this lens or my Disney vacation in Dec LOL. When I hit lotto I will get it and one for everyone on the board!!

Maybe I can just rent one for the recital?

 

[alan]

Let's go back to the basics, just to check. You were on ISO 1600, right? And AV mode, as wide open as you could go?

If you look at www.stagepics.co.uk, then all of the photographs there (except the Kiss of The Spider Woman set) were taken at f/4.0. However, they were taken RAW and processed afterwards.

A lot of this is more "practice and willingness to use the camera to its full potential" than "buying new equipment".

regards,
/aaln

 

[Pea-n-Me]

One thing I haven't seen suggested is using a monopod.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

A lot of this is more "practice and willingness to use the camera to its full potential" than "buying new equipment".

We should really have a Sticky here about this. It's such a common theme.

 

[Steve's Girl]

I have photographed my daughters' dance recitals several times. A fast lens is really a must. For my younger daughter's ballet, I can get away with a shutter of 1/125. But, for my older daughter's tap, I need a shutter of 1/250. Getting a decent exposure at this shutter speed with a standard f3.5-5.6 kit lens is going to be very difficult. You will also add a lot of noise to the photo if you have to increase exposure too much in post-processing. I use my 70-200 at 2.8. I also try not to go above ISO 1600 to preserve as much detail in the photos as I can. I generally take photos at rehearsal and get my settings and then shoot the actual recital in manual mode. You could always consider renting a lens for the recitals, or possibly using your 50mm lens and sitting as close as possible.

Here is a photo from my daughter's recital last year. This one is cropped quite a bit so as to not show the other girls' faces.

 

[alan]

Here is a photo from my daughter's recital last year. This one is cropped quite a bit so as to not show the other girls' faces.

The clarity and colours, as well as sharpness, of that photo are gorgeous - well done!

regards,
/alan