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Came across a fashion show at a local shopping centre here. They were models from Hangzhou in China, modelling some silk designs from designers in Hangzhou.

First time shooting such an event, was quite challenging to get the timing right - also the mixed lighting didn't help with getting the white balance right. There were quite a number of photographers there, so had to shoot from in between or over the tops of the photographers heads.

Here are some of the first few photos I took.

Comments and tips appreciated.

#1


#2


#3


#4

I'm quite impressed Gooseberry, considering you didn't have a great vantage spot and you were dodging the other photogs. Have you done any PP on these pics? You seem to have gotten the WB under control, were u using the SB-800/600 or just the onboard flash? How far away were u from the actual models? Was it indoor/outdoor? I'm assuming indoor as it was in a shopping centre but they can be outdoor too. The only bit of 'criticism' I can make is in #3 - the model's face is quite washed out, but that could be due to a number of things, lighting and makeup primarily. youv'e focused well - what kind of focusing mode did u use? Keep up the good work!


Geoff.

Hi Geoff, thanks, these were shot in jpg (didn't have enough cf card space with me so couldn't shoot RAW).

This was indoor, with some pretty tough lighting actually, there were halogen down lights pointing down on the stage and background, slightly warmer yellow spot lights on the models and then of course the light from my flash.

Was using the D70, ISO 400, with 70-200 at f2.8 (trying to keep shutter speed up around 1/250 or so as the models were moving around fairly quickly), used the SB-800 as fill-flash and to create catch light in models eyes (dialled in -0.7ev FEC).

First time I tried shooting a fashion show, so didn't know what to expect . Used Auto WB +2, since I wasn't sure what white balance to pick, but I knew if I used Auto with a flash the D70 would pick flash white balance, and I figured the spotlights would make it a bit warm, so I dialled in +2 to try and make it a it cooler. Didn't have time to change the WB as everything was happening quite quickly - models kept on coming out !

Turned out the photos were still a bit too warm - so my PP consisted of adjusting the colour balance using curves by setting the white point (sometimes setting the grey point also made it better), experimented with increasing the saturation for shot #3 and #4 (a bit too much I think), and then just resized for the web.

I was about 2 or 3 metres away from the models at the end of the runway . Yeah for shot #3, I was trying to increase the exposure on her face in PP to create a glowing skin kind of look. Focusing mode was AF-S, using the focusing point on the side (which would be on the models face in portrait position). D70 focusing isn't quick enough (even with an AF-S lens) in AF-C mode to keep track of fast moving subjects moving toward you, so best bet is to keep pumping the shutter in AF-S mode - still get a few oof shots, but keeper rate is much higher.

Excellent, i like the way you have caught the pose when the models get to the end of the runway. It look like they have stopped just for you so you can photograph them. Great framing too. Well done..

I agree with Geof and Killa - under the circumstances, or should I say shooting conditions, you have produced some fine pics.

My only comment would be to remove your name from the pics, or at least from the middle - very disconcerting IMO

Good job, it sounds like it was tough lighting conditions but you managed to expose your photos properly... I'd be interested to know what aperture you've used.

Another thing I appreciate is the "vantage point" - you found a good position to shoot from (once I tried to photograph a model show and my pictures were weak because I was too close, not in front, etc)

Link.

Good job Gooseberry. I know from experience how lighting is an issue at these fashion shows - they tend to want all sorts of trendy/flashy coloured lights that does photogs at the event no favours. You did great to capture true to life skintones under the conditions.
And I bet holding the cam in portrait mode repeatedly after so many shots you'll begin to curse Nikon for not having a vertical grip option too!!

I think they are excellent and would still be under any circumstances. Well done indeed.

Hi All,

Thanks for kind words.

Chris,
yeah, I figured the name across the middle would be a little distracting.

Link,
was shooting at f/2.8 (wanted to keep ISO around 400, but also keep shutter speed around 1/250, but didn't want to use too much flash), so dof was quite thin - not much room for any focusing errors.

Yeah, positioning is important, when I arrived, there were already a lot of photogs there, standing to the side wouldn't give a good background and wouldn't get eye contact with the models. So I stood at the front, slightly off to the side a bit. There were a couple rows of photogs in front of me - a few of my shots, the guy in front of me stuck his hed in the way and because of the flash, I had a glowing white ball at the bottom of the frame

Onyx,
Yeah, it was tough holding the cam in portrait position with the 70-200 for the 35 min show. Never shot so many shots in such a quick time before - it was non-stop action. Had sore arms after it. Monopod would have been a bit cumbersome to use with all the quick action and reframing.

Actually, shooting this type of event is quite fun and challenging. Might have to try it out again and get more practice.

Great timing, I just got tapped to shoot a bodybuilding show this morning. Your experiences will help me. Wha was your reasoning behind the 400 iso setting?? thanks

andy

atencati wrote:Great timing, I just got tapped to shoot a bodybuilding show this morning. Your experiences will help me. Wha was your reasoning behind the 400 iso setting?? thanks

andy

andy,
I used ISO 400 to keep the shutter speed up to a decent level (1/250s or so) to avoid any motion blur from the models moving around. Aperture was f/2.8. I could have used ISO 200 and manually set the shutter speed to 1/250s, but then the flash would have had to work harder, and would have gotten a harsher look instead of just very light fill - also the background exposure wouldn't have been as balanced. Acually, I think I should have gone for higher ISO, around 640 or 800 and put the FEC down even further to -1.5ev to just produce a catch light in the eyes.

Don't be afraid to use higher ISO, if your exposure is correct there won't be many problems. In any case the noise characteristics of the D70 makes the pic look more natural.