OK, the family has gathered in a restaurant at a long table, the lighting is dark, half the people are backlit from the window, there are strangers in bright clothes at the next table....and someone insists that you "take a picture" of the gathering. I cannot figure out how to get a decent shot! Built in flash lights only the front people (and they are washed out), no flash and it's too dark and everyone is blurry because the exposure time is too long. Does anyone have suggestions on how to get a picture (or maybe pictures?) that isn't just plain horrible? Thanks.
bump up the ISO until you can get to a decent shutter speed with the necessary dof? and then clean up the noise in post processing?
i wish i had a decent answer to this... i rarely take these shots because i never feel comfortable doing it at the start of the evening... and at the end the table is a disaster and i just think that no one wants to look at that ;p AND the fact that the chances of getting a decent shot given the challenges you've pointed out always seem to me to be slim to none...
but i'll be watching this thread to see what suggestions others come up with!
Oh yes, I want the answer to this too...I get the "use your camera, Monika, cos it takes good photos" they never turn out well and usually it is a waiter taking it...
as @northy says, up the ISO and not use the the flash, any other tips?
...and then theres the appearance of bingo arms on the person closest to the photographer...
I look forward to some answers too...
Make half the family move, so that they are standing behind the sitters on one side of the table.
Use the widest exposure you have so you can be a bit closer to get everyone in.
Those are the easiest two options to solve some of the people.
The workshop I attended last month told me to turn down the iso and use the your flash for fill light.... granted he was teaching more for external flashes but the same can apply for on camera flash... My camera also has gives me the ability to manually control the power of my in camera flash...
I tend to pass the camera or phone to the waiter and cross my fingers. (Yes, definitely at the start of the evening!). These shots are never great photography but are wonderful for remembering a celebration or a special gathering. I never use the flash and the shots are always noisy.
If they are back lit from the window, that means there is light out there!!.. Go outside and shoot through the window and make them all cram up against it. :-P Obviously, I don't have the answer! (But the thought is a funny visual!)
the best two options both require equipment, 1. you need a fast prime 35mm or 50mm 1.4 or 1.8, or 2. an external flash mounted on the camera but bounced of the ceiling or wall
Try to get the camera as vertical as possible and use flash/time exposure combination. Not only will you 'see' the people at the other end, you will reduce the front people looking like Casper (the ghost) and may even reduce the backlight problem too.
@monika64 Next time someone tells you your camera makes good photos ask them: "And your pans and pots do make good food for you without you interfering, do they?"
Many cameras have a built in "night" feature for just this type of shot. It uses a flash, but then a longer exposure to pick up background and ambient light. You can set this manually by using a flash with a slightly longer exposure.
The trick is to be sure the camera is steady. If you can't hold still for a longer exposure, then consider packing a monopod for these events, or using a top of a chair, top of a bottle etc to steady the camera.
Also, if they want the photo, then it is worth it to set up the group shot. I usually have one of the most outgoing people get everyone in place for the group shot.
The better they are grouped the more even the lighting will be on everyone.
If, it is just a "snapshot" they want, then just turn on the flash and snap away.
This is an example of a family photo using flash and long exposure. The light streaking was a happy accident from a piece of hair that caught on the lens prior to this shot.
Shot with just flash, the background would have been gone except for a spot of light or two.
It doesn't answer the question, it's more of a work around, but I have solved this in the past by taking several shots of people around the table in twos or threes and then editing into a collage. Also means you stand marginally more chance of getting everyone with their eyes open! Takes a bit longer though!!
@houser934 Carol and Sheila covered a lot of my ideas. The 'night portrait' setting on some cameras allow auto flash and time exposure combination perfectly displayed in Sheila's photo. Need to steady camera for motion blur and not have 'front' people too close.
A quality external flash bounced off the roof/wall as Jake stated is a good solution too. Many weddings shot this way.
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i wish i had a decent answer to this... i rarely take these shots because i never feel comfortable doing it at the start of the evening... and at the end the table is a disaster and i just think that no one wants to look at that ;p AND the fact that the chances of getting a decent shot given the challenges you've pointed out always seem to me to be slim to none...
but i'll be watching this thread to see what suggestions others come up with!
as @northy says, up the ISO and not use the the flash, any other tips?
...and then theres the appearance of bingo arms on the person closest to the photographer...
I look forward to some answers too...
Use the widest exposure you have so you can be a bit closer to get everyone in.
Those are the easiest two options to solve some of the people.
Grab a piece of paper and a pen. Draw a bunch of stick figures and write a label under it "bunch of annoying people at a gathering" and date it :)
The trick is to be sure the camera is steady. If you can't hold still for a longer exposure, then consider packing a monopod for these events, or using a top of a chair, top of a bottle etc to steady the camera.
Also, if they want the photo, then it is worth it to set up the group shot. I usually have one of the most outgoing people get everyone in place for the group shot.
The better they are grouped the more even the lighting will be on everyone.
If, it is just a "snapshot" they want, then just turn on the flash and snap away.
This is an example of a family photo using flash and long exposure. The light streaking was a happy accident from a piece of hair that caught on the lens prior to this shot.
Shot with just flash, the background would have been gone except for a spot of light or two.
A quality external flash bounced off the roof/wall as Jake stated is a good solution too. Many weddings shot this way.