Best equipment choice for indoor event in hotel ballroom?

Question

I am shooting my first event - and I bought an external flash and flash bracket. When I took practice shots today, many came out blurry, and some were still dark. I have it on Av 5.6, tungsten WB, but this is a ballroom with 25' ceilings. Should I use the flash bracket or not? I really don't want to use a tripod if I can avoid it. This is a business luncheon, not a wedding. Thanks!

Answer 1

Try reading the Owner's Manual that came with the flash. Try reading the Owner's Manual that came with your camera. You have to know how to make them work together.

Did you buy a flash that is fully compatible with your camera? Or did you just go out and buy the first cheap flash you could find?

Blurry photos are either poor focusing or camera shake.

I've used a Vivitar 283 flash (bought new in Feb. 1976) with a Minolta SRT-202, X-700 and Autocord with excellent results. I also have the Minolta 360PX flash which is the most compatible flash made for the X-700. With the 360PX on an off-camera bracket I've used bounce flash off a 12' high ceiling with perfect results.

Yes, use the flash bracket.

Answer 2

First off...set the white balance to auto or flash. If you are using flash, that is your primary light source and flash is set to a daylight color temp. Using tungsten WB will give your pictures a weird color cast.

Also remember, that the camera meters the scene without the light from the flash being factored in. I'd guess that at f/5.6 your shutter speed is pretty low. It might be too low for you to be hand holding(see a few paragraphs down - handholding rule).

Normally when shooting indoors you need fast glass(f/2.8 minimum). For those occassions a 50mm f/1.8 or I have a 17-50mm f/2.8, is in order.

You can use the flash bracket, but I've found a diffuser flash accessory to be more beneficial when the ceilings are that high. Bounce flash would be preferable, but I would look at getting a Demb Diffuser Pro or a Fong Lightsphere. This will give you better lighting than direct flash. Both can be found for $50 or under. You can even use the bracket with the bounce accessories.

Make sure that you hold the camera steady(remember the handholding rule - shutter speed should be reciprocal of the focal length for clear handheld shots - if the focal length is 100mm, then you should have your shutter speed be 1/100 or faster - if shooting digital, don't forget to factor in the crop factor(100mm is 1/150 for Nikon or 1/160 for Canon))

After all that don't forget good composition!

Answer 3

First you should have mentioned the type of camera you are using and the flash you bought. Since I can only give you information that may help. You need a dedicated flash for your system to really work with your camera (same name brand is usually the choice). If the flash fires in manual mode on the camera and on the flash you should be fine. Learn how to work in that mode and you should get good results. I also would not worry about the ceilings and just shoot normal flash and not try to bounce the flash, you will need to much power to do this.

Try these settings to start under the same type of lighting conditions (if you can go to the place to run a test it would help). Manual Mode Camera, 1/50 - 1/60, f~5.6 - f8, ISO 100~160, WB "A" or Flash, Flash Manual Mode 1/2 power. This information is just a guide and you will have to adjust to the amount of people in the photos (group or individuals), subject distance and the background (if it is dark or light).

Hope this helps,
Kevin

Answer 4

I have on no account been married, however I could suppose that when you desire each the marriage ceremony and the rite within the identical room, it could be vastly less expensive than renting the rite web page and the reception web page. Some lodges do permit external catering, when you pass by way of one in every of there authorized external caterers, however I suppose that there's a rate to doing so. My cousin had each her rite and reception within the identical room. She had chairs set in rows throughout the rite and as quickly because it was once over, the inn employees eliminated the chairs and publish tables for persons to take a seat at and consume. It was once beautiful.