Night Shoot - am I forgetting anything?

bmattock

bmattock

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I'm asking for advice kind of at the last minute. Not that the event was planned at the last minute, but I kind of forgot about it until now.

Tonight, my photography club has been invited to attend an event sponsored by the Arts Council of Goldsboro, NC. This is a photo shoot at a restaurant/tavern in the 'old town' downtown area of Goldsboro:

http://www.nccommerce.com/imagedatabase/images/GB_DOTO.jpg

The Arts Council has hired a bunch of models to show up in formal wear (men and women) and they'll be arranged on tables outside on the sidewalk, 'bistro style' and served food. I am told that 'lighting' and 'props' will also be provided, but have no more details than that. The event will go from 6-8 p.m., so it will be dark outside.

Those who show up and take photos will be given the opportunity to enter framed matted prints in a contest to take place in January, with prizes given and the art marked for sale, so someone could buy it.

I am planning to take the following:

Pentax *ist DSLR w/Sigma 28-105 f2.8~4 ASP, Sigma EF 500 DG ST TTL flash.
Cosina/Voigtlander Bessa R w/Canon 50mm f1.4
Canon T60 SLR w/Canon FL 50mm f1.2
Yashica 635 TLR (80mm Yashikor f3.5)

For film, I am planning to bring strictly B&W, 4 rolls of Tri-X and 2 rolls of Delta 3200 (as both can be pushed). I'll have to look around and see what I have for 120 B&W, hopefully something that I can push as well.

I was also planning to take a sturdy tripod, monopod, and a 6-foot ladder. Also my Sekonic L-368 with 1 deg spotmeter attachment and incident dome.

I can take all this becase I can toss it in the back of my vehicle, and schlep back and forth as needed, so no worries about the weight, etc. I figure I'll probably only end up shooting one DSLR, one RF, and perhaps the TLR for fun. I also realize that with the formal wear, I'll have a lot of latitude to cover, unless I want my blacks to jumble together or my whites to get all blown out.

I'd appreciate any advice you could give me. I don't have the opportunity to ask the people running the event any questions - so what I've spelled out is all I will know before I get there tonight.

Am I missing anything?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
Do you know what the "lighting" part means ? If its studio lighting equipment dont forget all your flash synchronisation cords etc...
 
Stephan said:
Do you know what the "lighting" part means ? If its studio lighting equipment dont forget all your flash synchronisation cords etc...
Click to expand...

No, I unfortunately don't know what they mean by 'lighting' but I am going to presume continuous light and not flash. The Arts Council is not 'photo savvy' but they want to be, hence this shoot for us. In any case, I'll bring my long extension synch cords and my 'safe synch' hotshoe (I'm glad now I bought it). Thanks!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
The ladder is a good idea, hope the other photogs don't crowd your shots.
I think a lot depends on how the "lighting" turns out. Since you don't know exactly what you're dealing with, I'd bring more film and a variety of speeds, maybe even some color.
 
A pro wedding photographer gave me some advice recently that might help. In a crowded environment, he uses a wide angle lens (a 55mm on his hassy). That way he is so close to his subject he doesn't get the other shooters/lookers in the shot.
 
This is just the opposite of most of the advice you've been getting, but I wonder if you aren't taking 'WAY too much stuff.

This is very much a matter of personal preference, but when I don't know what I'm going to be getting into, I usually prefer to start by visualizing what kind of result I hope to get, and then bringing as LITTLE equipment as possible to get it.

If I go into the shoot with the idea that I'll just base my actions on what I find there, and lug along a whole camera store worth of stuff to be prepared for every possible situation, all my energy winds up going into juggling equipment and I never really develop a coherent plan.

I do better if I begin by framing the general type of thing I want to do: for example, in this case I might decide I want to concentrate on black-and-white reportage-style images portraying people interacting socially in the shooting environment.

Then I'd bring along only the equipment that lends itself to that goal: the fast b&w films, the Bessa and its 50mm lens (and maybe the SLR and its 50/1.2, if you feel you might need to shoot close-ups) and probably the tripod and cable release, just because they're helpful in framing shots. (If I had an incident light meter, I'd bring that, too; much less likely to be fooled by tricky lighting.)

Having outlined my goal and picked equipment that supports it, then when I got into the situation I'd be able to concentrate on picture-taking opportunities that support the goal and fit the equipment I have with me.

As I said, it's a highly personal matter, but for me this approach works better than just trying to "graze" and hope I'll encounter something that trips my trigger. Doing it that way often produces acceptable pictures, but it very seldom gets me what I consider good pictures.
 
I agree with JLW here; too much equipment occupies room in your head as well.

A moderately wide or normal lens (whichever you're more comfortable with), a body, and a spare body (maybe loaded with different film).
 
Good points all, thank you! On the 'less is more' comments - hmmm. I was thinking I'd be ok since I was planning to leave anything I don't need when I get there in the car. I can't run home if I end up missing something - home is one hour away. No camera stores or anything remotely resembling that if I get there and find I've left something vital at home, either. But I do understand the idea that bringing less makes me concentrate on what I have instead of wondering what I should be doing - and I see your point.

Interesting!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
I agree with the "less is more aproach". pesonally, when i have more than 2 cameras on me, all I think about is which one I should be using. I found that it helps me alot to concentrate on taking pictures by having one camera and one lens.

so how about you throw everything you got into your truck, so you feel safe, but then only take one camera with you inside?
 
Bill, I haven't read everyone else but here goes

1. one camera BW for no flash
2. one camera BW w flash
3. TLR w tripod / cable release

Take the two 35 mm cameras with you for round one. Shoot as the situation dictates; after one pass thru the situation. Come back with a ladder and use it for your second round of 35 mm shots , all so far are hand held

When done the 35 go back drag out the TLR / tripod/ cable and shoot the balance of the shots. I might suggest that the tripod be lower ie waist level looking slightly up at the subjects for a different perspective.

4. Go to the venue a day early and scout out the angles and surrounds so you know what you want "out or in" the frame of your camera. Pick some spots where you know the background works well and be ready to shoot in these predetermined spots.

5. finish early before the others and have a glass of wine. Wait and then at the very last half hour to 15 minutes grab some impromptu shots when everyone is in a different mood than at the beginning.

Go home and turn on the stereo and start figuring what to do with all the film LOL!
good luck,
 
Remeber at least two fully charged batteries for your DSLR and 8 AA sise batteries for your flash.

Also 2 memory cards, swap them often during the shoot so if one packs up you still have a record of the evening on the other.
 
I agree with both the "less is more" philosophy (especially the headspace aspect) and having a wide angle available. That said, I'd pack one 90-100mm lens along so that if there were isolation shots available, I could get them.

Did I just contradict the "less is more" philosophy? Sigh.

I'd leave the flashes home, but that's just me. Unless I had a flash gun and bulbs. With people dressed in formal wear, that classic 50s flash look could be very cool. Wait... Bill, do you have a Speed Graphic?

Trius
 
Too much stuff. If you are going to find yourself switching between the digital camera and the film cameras, you will probably find that the work with all will suffer. You will fill your time just switching, setting up, etc., rather than concentrating on taking good images.

Of course it is a good idea to take more than one body, incase one body fails, but I prefer to take a back-up body that is the same or very similar to the one I am using, so all lenses and accessories work with both.

The best photos are taken when you can concentrate on the image, and not have to think about the equipment. One camera, used well, is the best choice.
 
Trius said:
I agree with both the "less is more" philosophy (especially the headspace aspect) and having a wide angle available. That said, I'd pack one 90-100mm lens along so that if there were isolation shots available, I could get them.

Did I just contradict the "less is more" philosophy? Sigh.

I'd leave the flashes home, but that's just me. Unless I had a flash gun and bulbs. With people dressed in formal wear, that classic 50s flash look could be very cool. Wait... Bill, do you have a Speed Graphic?

Trius
Click to expand...

Yes, I have a Speed Graphic. Uh, it is all in little pieces. In fact, I took the focal plane shutter apart and I uh don't know how to put it back together again. I saved all the parts, though!

Prolly won't get it rebuilt in several hours, but that would have been most cool, I agree.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
Trius said:
ROTFLMAO!!! Saving all the parts is half the battle, though!

Trius
(w/ an Olympus Auto in pieces...)
Click to expand...

Tupperware is my friend. My wife hates me for taking all her Tupperware, though. I have lots of cameras that are 'some assembly required'. I'm a clutz.
 
I agree the incident portion of your meter will probably be your best friend.

I think one of your problems will be the lighting. Nobody knows yet, but I am going to bet there is a bevy of large floods if you are lucky, or halogens if you are not. Nobody who sets those up is going to know anything about photographic lighting, and even if they do, how will they know where any particular cameras or models will be.

I would bring some color but wouldn't plan on using it until I was sure of the lighing. I would bring some slower b/w since the lighting may (probably will) be very bright and harsh on most subjects. Also, it will probably lend itself better to flash for fill use. If you have any diffusors for you flash bring them, or some thin white hankerchiefs if not (or both). Do plan on looking for unusual/unplanned interaction between the models, especially after they think it is all over.

Put your first priority on having fun, and make sure your wife is having fun too.

Good luck and let us see some of your results. Sounds like a fun shoot.
 
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