event photography...

[kate90]

i'm going to be photographing a charity event that my sister is organising and would love some advice on how to get some good photo's without having to fiddle around too much, i don't think she wants the photo's too posed, just of people milling around and very natural...
thanks

[megan]

Hi - I photograph a lot of events. I use a flash with a diffuser on it, so people aren't blown out, and they look more natural, and the exposure is the same without too much fiddling. I hope that helps! I'm attaching a link to a sample of a diffuser. You can get them to fit most external flashes. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...fuser_for.html

[byjamesderuvoDHQ]

I'd also shoot on aperture priority and remember the rule of thirds!

[Franglais]

Indoors or outdoors? Not that it makes very much difference..

I usually go for a slightly wide-angle view (35mm on 24x36 = 24mm on my Nikon D300). I look for groups with something happening and move to about 6-7 feet of the group so that the group opens to let me in, I do a few shots of people interacting then say goodbye and move on.

I don't zoom out and in. I find the slightly wide-angle view gives me the right balance between a group of 4-5 people and the background.

I usually use a powerful cobra flash (SB800) and about 400-800 ISO. The Nikon TTL BBL setting ensures that the subjects are illuminated without being overpowering (in fact the photo often appears to have been done without flash)

[Frog]

Interesting, Charles. Doesn't moving in that close with a camera and flash, so that the group actually opens to let you in, change the dynamics of what was/is happening?
Perhaps its a cultural thing and in events in France the people just incorporate photographers into the group?
I suppose it would depend on the event what the reaction would be.

[dhyravy]

I like to shoot these type events with a combination of the 18-50mm on one body for the wide shots and the 80-200mm to catch the spontaneous moments without being obtrusive.

[Franglais]

Interesting, Charles. Doesn't moving in that close with a camera and flash, so that the group actually opens to let you in, change the dynamics of what was/is happening?
Perhaps its a cultural thing and in events in France the people just incorporate photographers into the group?
I suppose it would depend on the event what the reaction would be.

Damn. I missed the "unposed" bit in the original post. The photos I do at this sort of event are casual but everybody can see me.

Thinking about it, if I wanted to do this sort of thing without people being aware of me I would work at the same distance, leave out the flash and use a small quiet DSLR (the D60) with an inconspicous prime (28mm or 35mm).