Theatre Shots

fullofpaint

Hey guys, really looking for some feedback on these shots. Taken during a dress rehearsal for "The Secret Garden". Trying to nail down my exposures and stuff before photocall this Sunday.

http://fullofpaint.smugmug.com/School/The-Secret-Garden/10276910_otrh6

Gear:
40d
70-200 f/2.8
17-85 f/4.0-5.6

All these photos are untouched, haven't had time to really do anything to them yet.



(They're behind a scrim here, hence the diffusing)

dlscott56

I can't really help with your exposure settings since I don't have experience shooting theatre. But, if you haven't seen this it may be interesting to you when you're in post processing. http://digitalgrin.com/showthread.php?t=23208

fullofpaint

Thanks! I saw that thread when I was searching for tips the other day, now I just need to find some time to get all the way through it!

divamum

These aren't bad at all, although I'd like to see some shot a little looser - you want a mix of close-ups like these and some which give a bit more airspace and context, and which will also capture more of the performers' body language. Don't get me wrong - closeups are good too... it's just nice to have both.

White balance is almost impossible to nail in-camera in this situation - I'd shoot AWB and then adjust it in post. I also find that spot metering helps a LOT with the high contrast stuff - if your camera has a spot meter setting, give it a try.

Also, I see a lot of pretty slow shutter speeds and stopped down (ie 1/50 @f4). In this kind of light, you sometimes have to open right up to try and keep those SS a bit higher - even if you're using a tri- or monopod, you still need to freeze their motion as much as you can. You've got that nice 2.8 telezoom - let it do it's thing! In a perfect world, 1/100 or higher is nice... although not always practical. But since you've got the glass, go for it. Bump up the ISO a little further if you need to (I think the shot I referenced was at 1250 - I've seen theatrical shots with the 40d at 3200 and with some noise work they looked GREAT)

Lastly, make sure you're familiar enough with the piece/staging to catch the "money moments" of expression and dramatic climax. Having shot the show once, you will for sure know it better already - follow through on that and nail the moments that really count.

Nice job so far!

fullofpaint

Thanks! Pretty much working on everything you hit. I'd been shooting practices but this was the first time I'd been at it with the lights. Working on the looser stuff, borrowing a better wide angle lens which should help out a lot!

The only problem I'd had with shooting all the way at 2.8 was my DOF killed me, I'd have one actor in focus and the other would be way blurry.

divamum

fullofpaint wrote:

Thanks! Pretty much working on everything you hit. I'd been shooting practices but this was the first time I'd been at it with the lights. Working on the looser stuff, borrowing a better wide angle lens which should help out a lot!

The only problem I'd had with shooting all the way at 2.8 was my DOF killed me, I'd have one actor in focus and the other would be way blurry.

How close were you, and how big is the theater? Get a little further back if you can - you've got the tele to zoom in if you really need to go tight (and remember, you can always crop a looser shot, and the shorter focal lengths will give you better DOF by definition). Use the wider end of the 70-200. Yeah, you will lose some DOF, but if you plan your shots right that can be very effective - this is where knowing the staging/play REALLY helps a lot. And then just make sure you crank up the ISO and stop down for some where you need both in sharp focus.

You are shooting in raw, right? If not.... DO!!! You need that latitude with high contrast lighting like you get onstage...

I like to play with angles when I can too - some from front of house, but I also like to get WAY off to the side and fairly close sometimes - can make for a nice effect. As long as the theater's empty, use that space as much as you can.

ETA: Here's a gallery of theater shots i did earlier this year. No claim for perfect (I'm more used to being ONstage than shooting it!) but fwiw.....

fullofpaint

For reference:


Usually in the 2nd/3rd row, once I get closer, I get noticeably lower than the actors, which I don't really care for. I don't want to get right up on anyone yet too, only because they're still in final rehearsals and some of the kids are still somewhat nervous.

I'll probably start playing around with angles on Sunday, that's when I get full control over the cast and can get on stage as well then.

divamum

I'd be shooting from further back than row 3, probably 3 or 4 from the BACK - the steep rake makes it tricky and might pull me down a row or two so it didn't look too "birds-eyes" all the time but even so... give 'em some airspace so you get the whole scene

With a thrust stage like that you've got some GREAT angles because you're not restricted by a proscenium. Have fun!

Mitchell

divamum wrote:

With a thrust stage like that you've got some GREAT angles because you're not restricted by a proscenium. Have fun!

What she said.

divamum

Mitchell wrote:

What she said.

Proscenium stage=traditional "imaginary fourth wall" theatre, with the audience entirely in front, often with a decorated "proscenium arch" at the front.

Thrust stage=where the stage projects INTO the audience, thus allowing full visibility on three sides.

fullofpaint

I need to shoot the pit of this stage actually. That enter stage is actually a set, the original stage is about ten feet back and that proscenium is a fake, really interesting what they did to the theater here.