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Dancers! · 09:25 PM

Hey all, it's been a long time since I've been on this board last. I've got some dancing photos to share with everybody today.

Everything was taken w/ my K10D and F 35-70 under natural lighting.

Enjoy!:

Thanks,

KrisK10D · 06-09-2008, 09:59 PM

They're wonderful shots, Matt.

Considering the heads in the foreground it doesn't look like you used a flash? Could you let us know the settings you used?

paden501 · 06-10-2008, 04:18 AM

Thanks Kris!

I set the camera to ISO 800, Tv 1/125s. I also used center weight metering and linked AF ponts to AE. I then took the shots like I normally would. The 1/125s shutter was quick enough to freeze most faces, and the venue's lighting on the dancers was enough to expose detail in the faces and such. As you can see, the background and foreground (heads) were underexposed out of some of the photos though. I also used a 1B warming filter on the lens

Also, they didn't come off the camera that way. I had to do a lot of PS work to get the skin tones to pop out of the photos. Mainly an 80 cooling filter at 10% to bring the tones down, and some heavy smart sharpening. Then I bumped up the midtones in curves by about 3-5% to make skin glow.

If you look at the photos real big, you can tell that the detail is a little washed away by noise. For example, here's one of them at 830x1024.

Anyway I hope this was helpful.

Thanks,

roentarre · 06-10-2008, 04:21 AM

Wow, they are very well captured. Good that you could freeze the action under such lighting!

**Lowell Goudge** · 06-10-2008, 04:59 AM

very nice shots.

I do similar ones as my daughter is involved in dance also. I generally use 1600 ISO on the K10, and set WB to daylight. SOmetimes this needs PP but usually not, I prefer to let the images be a little warm, and usually the color of lighting is off white and impossible to balance anyway.

I especially like these venues, because the stage is generally blacked out and stage lighting makes everything else disappear.

Sergei · 06-10-2008, 05:07 AM

Great available light captures!
No#2 is my favourite.

cupic · 06-10-2008, 05:31 AM

Top effort under trying conditions

cheers

paden501 · 06-10-2008, 06:07 AM

Thanks again all,

@Lowell,
I tried a few shots at iso1600 but i'm not very happy w/ the noise at that sensitivity, especially if I end up having to push the exposure in PS.

I figured I'd rather shoot a little under-exposed w/ less noise and then bump up the exposure +1ev in DNG (which I also did on a few of these) than get noisy but well exposed photos right off the camera.

You're definately right about the WB situation at these theaters. It's a very 'warm' light, and using a 1B filter just makes it warmer. I like the that look though for this setting because it contrasts well with the dark background.

LaRee · 06-10-2008, 10:02 AM

How the HECK did you manage these images under available light? I've experieced shooting stage performances in the past year and I find it very challenging under the available light. And here you can dancers frozen in mid air! Your timing is impecable and your camera handling impressive!

rmtagg · 06-10-2008, 10:35 AM

Wow! I have never had to try and shoot under those conditions yet. But I think you did an excellent job!

**rparmar** · 06-10-2008, 10:51 AM

This is really amazing. I certainly don't get results this good under these conditions. Of course the last time I tried I mistakenly had SR switched off. Whoops!

**Lowell Goudge** · 06-10-2008, 11:03 AM

as I said earlier, I like these venues.

see below, using sigma 70-200 F2.8 at 70mm. K10D at 1600 ISO

Right out of the camera, no PP at all, saved as JPEG in the camera.

paden501 · 06-10-2008, 07:59 PM

Wow. Thanks for all of the great comments. It's too bad the girl that I took the photos for wasn't so impressed. I showed them to her tonight and she just kind-of ho-hummed at them. I have no idea what she was expecting. Oh well.

LaRee · 06-10-2008, 10:09 PM

Originally posted by paden501

Wow. Thanks for all of the great comments. It's too bad the girl that I took the photos for wasn't so impressed. I showed them to her tonight and she just kind-of ho-hummed at them. I have no idea what she was expecting. Oh well.

I don't know what she was expecting either. Again these are very well done!

**rparmar** · 06-11-2008, 04:30 AM

Originally posted by paden501

It's too bad the girl that I took the photos for wasn't so impressed. I showed them to her tonight and she just kind-of ho-hummed at them. I have no idea what she was expecting.

How old is she? For some, if it isn't moving it isn't cool, which is why the fixation on digital video and games. Then again some youngsters get into photos via their mobiles, especially if they can distort faces and put people into funny frames.

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06-10-2008, 05:07 AM	#6
Sergei Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sydney AUSTRALIA Photos: Gallery Posts: 116	Good timing Great available light captures! No#2 is my favourite.

06-10-2008, 11:03 AM	#12
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,892	as I said earlier, I like these venues. see below, using sigma 70-200 F2.8 at 70mm. K10D at 1600 ISO Right out of the camera, no PP at all, saved as JPEG in the camera. Attached Images

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06-09-2008, 09:59 PM	#2
KrisK10D Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,274	They're wonderful shots, Matt. Considering the heads in the foreground it doesn't look like you used a flash? Could you let us know the settings you used?

06-10-2008, 04:18 AM	#3
paden501 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 234 Original Poster	Thanks Kris! I set the camera to ISO 800, Tv 1/125s. I also used center weight metering and linked AF ponts to AE. I then took the shots like I normally would. The 1/125s shutter was quick enough to freeze most faces, and the venue's lighting on the dancers was enough to expose detail in the faces and such. As you can see, the background and foreground (heads) were underexposed out of some of the photos though. I also used a 1B warming filter on the lens Also, they didn't come off the camera that way. I had to do a lot of PS work to get the skin tones to pop out of the photos. Mainly an 80 cooling filter at 10% to bring the tones down, and some heavy smart sharpening. Then I bumped up the midtones in curves by about 3-5% to make skin glow. If you look at the photos real big, you can tell that the detail is a little washed away by noise. For example, here's one of them at 830x1024. Anyway I hope this was helpful. Thanks,

06-10-2008, 04:21 AM	#4
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	Wow, they are very well captured. Good that you could freeze the action under such lighting!

06-10-2008, 04:59 AM	#5
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,892	very nice shots. I do similar ones as my daughter is involved in dance also. I generally use 1600 ISO on the K10, and set WB to daylight. SOmetimes this needs PP but usually not, I prefer to let the images be a little warm, and usually the color of lighting is off white and impossible to balance anyway. I especially like these venues, because the stage is generally blacked out and stage lighting makes everything else disappear.

06-10-2008, 05:31 AM	#7
cupic Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Australia-NSW Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,824	Top effort under trying conditions cheers

06-10-2008, 06:07 AM	#8
paden501 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 234 Original Poster	Thanks again all, @Lowell, I tried a few shots at iso1600 but i'm not very happy w/ the noise at that sensitivity, especially if I end up having to push the exposure in PS. I figured I'd rather shoot a little under-exposed w/ less noise and then bump up the exposure +1ev in DNG (which I also did on a few of these) than get noisy but well exposed photos right off the camera. You're definately right about the WB situation at these theaters. It's a very 'warm' light, and using a 1B filter just makes it warmer. I like the that look though for this setting because it contrasts well with the dark background.

06-10-2008, 10:02 AM	#9
LaRee Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Diego Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,225	How the HECK did you manage these images under available light? I've experieced shooting stage performances in the past year and I find it very challenging under the available light. And here you can dancers frozen in mid air! Your timing is impecable and your camera handling impressive!

06-10-2008, 10:35 AM	#10
rmtagg Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Warrington, PA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,271	Wow! I have never had to try and shoot under those conditions yet. But I think you did an excellent job!

06-10-2008, 10:51 AM	#11
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,823	This is really amazing. I certainly don't get results this good under these conditions. Of course the last time I tried I mistakenly had SR switched off. Whoops!

06-10-2008, 07:59 PM	#13
paden501 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 234 Original Poster	Wow. Thanks for all of the great comments. It's too bad the girl that I took the photos for wasn't so impressed. I showed them to her tonight and she just kind-of ho-hummed at them. I have no idea what she was expecting. Oh well.

06-10-2008, 10:09 PM	#14
LaRee Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: San Diego Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,225	Originally posted by paden501 Wow. Thanks for all of the great comments. It's too bad the girl that I took the photos for wasn't so impressed. I showed them to her tonight and she just kind-of ho-hummed at them. I have no idea what she was expecting. Oh well. I don't know what she was expecting either. Again these are very well done!

06-11-2008, 04:30 AM	#15
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,823	Originally posted by paden501 It's too bad the girl that I took the photos for wasn't so impressed. I showed them to her tonight and she just kind-of ho-hummed at them. I have no idea what she was expecting. How old is she? For some, if it isn't moving it isn't cool, which is why the fixation on digital video and games. Then again some youngsters get into photos via their mobiles, especially if they can distort faces and put people into funny frames.

Dancers!

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