Lens Suggestion For Taking Graduation Pics

Grissom

I will be attending a college graduation next week and I am looking for a suggestion for a lens to use on my 30D. The ceremony will be held indoors and I am not quite sure of the distance to the stage. Any advice would be great.

Thanks

Art Scott

nothing shorter than a 70-200 f2.8 .........I am not one to just sit in my seat at a graduation and
I usually can find my way to an area close to where the paid PROs (refering to the ones paid by the school) are and shoot from there for
what I need......it is usually a case of looking PRO and acting PRO.

ziggy53

My strategy is the same as any event: arrive early, talk to the organizers to find out the "flow" of the event, choose a likely shooting position and then protect the area in front of that position.

Then I choose a lens based on the shooting position. Based on "general admission" type seating, if the seats are not assigned, I try for a vantage that works well with my 70-200mm, f2.8. I also use a monopod (monopods are usually allowed where tripods are not allowed) to keep the camera and lens at shooting position as well as stabilize the system. I also use flash to fill the worst shadows. Even at a distance it can help. The flash will probably produce some redeye at the longer distances, so be prepared to deal with it in post.

From 2 different indoor graduations, different years:





Outdoor events I try to become one of the official shooters, either shooting for the local paper or along with the contract photographer. The 70-200mm range is also my normal choice for this type of shooting.

r3t1awr3yd

El cheapo 55-200 will get you from

Here:






To Here:



If you can't get closer.

borrowlenses.com

At least 200mm. See if there's a way where you can get above the crowd for the shot on the stage or in the audience. These events tend to be low light at times too so consider that as well. But nothing less than a 70-200 I would think.

CynthiaM

Be ready for that shot at the end when they all throw their caps up in the air. Have your camera set for the continuous drive mode and just keep your finger on the shutter as soon as those caps start flying.

bgarland

CynthiaM wrote: »

Be ready for that shot at the end when they all throw their caps up in the air. Have your camera set for the continuous drive mode and just keep your finger on the shutter as soon as those caps start flying.

Like this?

CynthiaM

bgarland wrote: »

Like this?

Yup. You got it!