nikon d80
50mm (capable of 1.8)
f3.5
iso 200
1/60
built-in flash
no tripod (crappy packed dark night club)

im going to be shooting a lot of photos in this lighting situation in the future. this was my first time shooting at this event this week, but my gf is involved (not in any photos) in the shows and by me shooting for fun - it gets me in and free drinks all night

i want your opinion on how i can get better shots (i.e settings, lens, flash adjustments, etc) in these dark lit areas. this week i didnt have my sb-600 on me so i had to use the crappy built-in flash so i defiently am aware of that. I like the 50mm a lot but dont know if its the best choice for this situation. i would much rather shoot without extra lighting in the future, but i dont think the lenses i have will help me in this area.

are these the way these shots should be coming out in the darkened type areas?












i know this photos sucks balls - but what settings could i adjust my camera to, to get this shot well in the future - besides the fact of having a tripod.

 

try to bounce flash of different surfaces, the roof usually works well but the place where you shoot the might be too high, also google rear curtain sync and try experimenting with that for some cool motion effects

 

Do you think there's enough light to shoot ambient light only?

If so, I would try a larger aperture and higher ISO. The pictures with flash are good in that they freeze movement and are clear, but they seem to kind of overpower the ambient lighting you'd associate with a club (although i'm not sure what the lighting is like minus the flash).

The last shot was without flash right? You'd probably want a faster shutter speed than the 1/60 (maybe 1/125 or 1/250).

 

going to google that tonight.

and yea i def will bounce off the cieling, i just did not have my external flash handy at the time. also just purchased the gary fong diffuser - i cant wait to try it out.

 

thanks for the input.


the lighting in the last shot is generally the lighting there, they have stage lights but its not like high-end stuff. like cheap studio blue, red, violet lights. the atmosphere is really dark and yes your probably right about not having enough light to shoot in there.


my increasing in the iso would turn out noisy - am i not correct?

 

[QUOTE=MurderS2K,May 5 2010, 03:12 PM]thanks for the input.


the lighting in the last shot is generally the lighting there, they have stage lights but its not like high-end stuff.

 

If I were shooting in this situation my 85l 1.2 would be my lens of choice. You really need a fast lens for this type of shooting.

 

believe me.........i wish i had the money for fast lens. just not on my list right now....unless u wanna donate a lens

got homecoming coming up and im trying get the s2k ready!!

 

^ I hear you, well there are some things you can do.

Do use your fastest lens
Do up your Iso
Do bounce your flash off a wall or ceiling if possible
Do use a tripod if possible
Do lengthen your shutter speed so the shutter is open as long as possible without the subject getting blurry 1/60th should be possible.
Do time your shots to the movement of your subject anticipate movement and learn your light pattern from your shooting location.

One of my favorite approches is to use multiple flashes to light the sibject with each coming from a different direction. Do you have multiple flashes and a way to trigger them?

It is possible to get great shots in these environments but you must become one with the room, learn it.

good luck


And no Im not lending out any lenses, although I have done so in the past to a local member of this forum.

 

You need something you don't have; ISO. The D80's ISO performance is terrible, and upping it will give you grain beyond all reason. It's one of the reasons I upgraded to the D700, so I could use the ISO to bring light into the back (I HATE the light/dark feel of flash/low ISO photography).