This is following four baptisms today, one of which had the most appalling continuous paparazzi style flash photography throughout, including through the Lord's Prayer, as a result of which I have to write into baptism confirmation letters some guidelines on photography which will probably also be put into the wedding guidelines too.
Our normal guidelines are no flash in church services because it's too distracting - we will provide opportunities to take photographs with people in the right places after the actual ceremony - so signing registers, around the font, etc. My other feeling is that in-camera flash actually doesn't work in these circumstances - for action shots in a huge building which is reasonably well lit. In my experience, it flattens the DOF and often overexposes, and that people would get better photographs using ISO settings. It's not a badly lit church and we do set the lighting to spotlight the right areas. I have, however, been assured by someone clutching a DSLR that their camera only worked properly in low light conditions using flash and I bit my tongue on the response that perhaps they ought to learn their camera's settings better because I wasn't sure I was right.
Those of you who use DSLR cameras am I right about ISO settings? and is a ban on flash reasonable from your point of view?
No you are right, using flash in a church is bad etiquette. And no you can set your camera to manual and still use it. There are some cameras that are bad and you cant get good shots with them no matter what, but a good deal of the time it is lack of knowledge or respect on the part of the person taking the picture.
Also, and I know this doesn't really answer any of your questions and it depends on the church, but isn't flash photography sometimes not permitted because it can damage the frescos? I have been told that one is always to ask the rules of flash photography the church has before shooting. So, yes, I would consider it bad etiquette if the person shooting didn't ask the rules beforehand, and used a flash, anyway.
@frontporchview you've given me another answer to someone saying they need to use flash - "oh, if it won't work properly without flash, perhaps you ought to take it back to the shop and ask them to check it"
It doesn't matter if the flash works or not. It is a place of worship and a joyous ceremony. Let those involved experience it without distraction of any type, whether it is flash, noise, or movement. During any ceremony for me or mine, you disrupt it, you will be banned from any other events, Only one guideline necessary: leave your camera outside.
Well, it works a bit differently here - cameras actually aren't permitted inside churches unless there is a wedding or baptism, in which case, nobody generally cares as the photographers tend to bring along their own lighting set-up on top of using flash.
However, depending on their camera / lens(es) / available light / style, they could probably do just fine with going OTT.
I've actually been at services where the minister announced prior to the ceremony that no flash be used. If someone does anyway, a glare and a pause from him was all that was needed.
@timandelke it doesn't always work, most people are brilliant, but if they aren't going to be, nothing you can say has any effect, I've been on the door meeting and greeting and said no flash and got fairly narked responses
You're right.
A few months ago I was at First Communion (for my little sister) and Confirmation (for myself) and both times it was asked that people refrain from using their cameras... so of course everyone and their mother had their camera out. At one point this woman in front of me had a dinky p&s out with the flash on and since we were several rows back from the alter, the flash kept bouncing off of the people in front of her. I felt like saying, "Lady, how many times are you going to try to take that picture with the same settings? It's not gonna work no matter how many times you press the shutter button!"
It was highly distracting. Why can't people just enjoy the moment instead of worrying about missing it?
@shanne I would agree with you whole-heartedly concerning a flash ban during church services. Most of the time the professionals don't use them (at least that's been my experience) because they know it's distracting and rude to interupt a service of any kind. A prior announcement is really the best you can do other than making people check their cameras at the door or using a bouncer to take unwanted "flashers" away (can you imagine!). Unfortunately, we are made to feel in this culture that we can do what we want, when we want, and it really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks or feels, so you will always have someone who insists on taking that flash shot no matter what. I've seen it work both ways. Sometimes a polite request to not use the flash is heeded. But other times I've seen guests perfectly ignore the request and act offended that they were even asked. Unfortunately self-centeredness is a prominent feature of humanity. I do think you should post your guidelines- it will at least decrease the amount of people shooting with flash. But you will also always have that percentile that think they are exempt.
if the rule is set out about the use of flash photography in the church then you got to follow the rules, or ask for permission, but I don't agree ! If its my kin , getting married, baptized, I want to be the first one to take the picture, what a nice keepsake, not to remember it with a photo. Anywhere I have been its up to the individuals involved.
@shanne
Most new DSLR cameras perform very well at high ISO. Some at ridiculous ISOs.
That said, more light is almost always better than turning up the ISO. However, and on-camera flash or a built-in flash may not be the answer. Built-in units will be underpowered, as will many on-camera units. The result is often a bright foreground with a dimly lit background.
@missvicki we don't ban all photography - just flash - which actually doesn't work in a large space as it's not going to light up the area you want lit, just the area near you and leave what you want to take unlit or dim. If you're close enough to use the flash to work, you will be in the way of everyone else and disrupting the service. If you're far enough back that you're not in the way, then using flash is just a distraction for everyone else.
I took those pictures from a long way away using an old point and shoot with no flash and a mixture of P and ISO settings (I was on the sound desk) - the lighting wasn't bad. The barrage of flash was like seeing a celebrity arriving somewhere. And it continued through the Lord's Prayer - even when they were asked to stop and have a few minutes quiet - we still had 5 or 6 flash shots going off.
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However, depending on their camera / lens(es) / available light / style, they could probably do just fine with going OTT.
A few months ago I was at First Communion (for my little sister) and Confirmation (for myself) and both times it was asked that people refrain from using their cameras... so of course everyone and their mother had their camera out. At one point this woman in front of me had a dinky p&s out with the flash on and since we were several rows back from the alter, the flash kept bouncing off of the people in front of her. I felt like saying, "Lady, how many times are you going to try to take that picture with the same settings? It's not gonna work no matter how many times you press the shutter button!"
It was highly distracting. Why can't people just enjoy the moment instead of worrying about missing it?
Most new DSLR cameras perform very well at high ISO. Some at ridiculous ISOs.
That said, more light is almost always better than turning up the ISO. However, and on-camera flash or a built-in flash may not be the answer. Built-in units will be underpowered, as will many on-camera units. The result is often a bright foreground with a dimly lit background.
I took those pictures from a long way away using an old point and shoot with no flash and a mixture of P and ISO settings (I was on the sound desk) - the lighting wasn't bad. The barrage of flash was like seeing a celebrity arriving somewhere. And it continued through the Lord's Prayer - even when they were asked to stop and have a few minutes quiet - we still had 5 or 6 flash shots going off.