Lets do the time warp

[Roadkill]

I have such difficulty taking these stage shots at a local theater. The lighting is always fairly dim and all over the color temp spectrum. I don’t really like using my strobe because I just end up with monster shadows, and when I use ambient light I have to kick the ISO up to at least 800. Also often times they use smoke, so when I use a strobe it just looks like crap with the smoke.


Any tips tricks or advice.


Here is my most recent attempt. I am happy with a couple of them, but really want to improve.



Dr Disecto





Lets do the time warp again....





Tadda...

[craig_d]

How fast a lens were you using? f/2 or better really makes a difference. Also, if ISO 800 is a problem, the best solution (though not inexpensive) is to get a better camera. With my old Rebel XSi, I wasn't comfortable going beyond ISO 400, but with a 5D Mark II, I can go to 1600 without worry, and push it to 3200 if absolutely necessary.

As I was just noting in another thread, last Friday I used an EF 35mm f/2 on my 5D2 at a dimly-lit Halloween party, mostly at ISO 3200. Looking at the shots, you'd think the room was lit by floodlights.

[rwells]

No C&C here, but I think they are good. I especially like the last one.

[Roadkill]

I'm using a Nikon D200 with a 3.5 18-200 VR

As much as I would like a markII type camera, It is out of the question for me right now.



Rwells... Thank you

[Azzaro]

Hi Roadkill.......I like the set .... I'm like Randy, I like #4 the best.... I find the first one to be a little soft, and may have a little color cast to it..... I think with a little PP the first one could be as sharp, and have the pop the last one has....... Why don't you rent a lens with fast glass for a night, and see if that helps you get the shots easier ....... azzaro

[craig_d]

Originally Posted by Roadkill

I'm using a Nikon D200 with a 3.5 18-200 VR

I don't know that much about Nikon lenses (being a Canon shooter myself), but from a quick search online, the only Nikkor 18-200 VR that I saw was f/3.5-5.6, which I would not consider an acceptable low-light lens -- even f/3.5 at the short end is a bit too slow, to say nothing of the f/5.6 at the long end.

If you're going to stick with the D200 for the time being, and not use a flash, then you need faster lenses. Basically, you can either get faster zooms (probably at least two of them, since nobody that I know of makes a fast 18-200mm zoom), or buy even faster primes in the most useful focal lengths for what you're shooting. For the zooms, stick to f/2.8. For primes, get f/2 or better. An f/2.8 zoom isn't cheap, so if that's beyond your budget at the moment, a couple of inexpensive primes may be the best solution. I see that Nikon has 35mm and 85mm f/1.8 lenses that are each less than $400. They seem to get good reviews.

You also mentioned difficulties with color temperature. I think the best solution to that is to shoot RAW and do your own white-balancing on the computer.

[Dogdots]

I liked them all -- really curious about the play

[tpodonne]

I think you'd do yourself a huge favor ramping up your ISO to 800 and hitting up borrowlenses.com for a faster prime lens, or two. I also shoot with a d200 and had issues last Christmas shooting some family pics in our living room which had awful lighting and was using the 18-200 f3.5/5.6 lens.

[time2smile]

Its a nice set....

Try a 50 1.8 cheap and good

[Roadkill]

Thank you for all the tips and advice, guess it's going to come down to equipment.

Originally Posted by Azzaro

I think with a little PP the first one could be as sharp

What kind of PP could be done to help this image?



borrowlenses.com what an interesting site.

[Azzaro]

This is what I think........ If you like it, then I will go through the steps.....

[Roadkill]

Originally Posted by Azzaro

This is what I think........ If you like it, then I will go through the steps.....

Deffinetly made it look sharper, what did you do to it.. Thank you..

[Azzaro]

Originally Posted by Roadkill

Deffinetly made it look sharper, what did you do to it.. Thank you..

I use Nikon Capture NX2........I used black point and white point and a High Pass.....and some minor adjustments..... What program do you use for pp? If you want a little more explanation....Drop me and e-mail......azzaro