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Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => SR Forum Archives => Lighting FUD Forum Archive => Topic started by: Bruce Gering on January 13, 2011, 01:51:42 PM

Title: Photographer blames the fog machine for crappy photos.
Post by: Bruce Gering on January 13, 2011, 01:51:42 PM

I had a gig last weekend where we used an ample amount of smoke, but it did not seem overdone to me. The photographer for the band claimed that the smoke ruined her pictures. I don't think she's a pro at all, so I am guessing that she may not have her camera set up correctly. Maybe light intake was too high? Exposure time too long/short? I don't know. All I know is that in the photos, all you could see was smoke, but being there in person, I know it was not at all what the photo showed.

Are there any tips form anyone out here as to how to set up a camera and not get this effect? I believe the camera was amplifying the smoke.

Title: Re: Photographer blames the fog machine for crappy photos.
Post by: Mike Dixon on January 13, 2011, 03:11:41 PM

Turn off the flash. Even on a simple point and shoot you can generally get a decent picture on accident if you turn the flash off and hold the camera steady.

Title: Re: Photographer blames the fog machine for crappy photos.
Post by: James Feenstra on January 13, 2011, 04:12:09 PM

never use a flash when shooting a rock show...

that's what the lighting rig's for

Title: Re: Photographer blames the fog machine for crappy photos.
Post by: Thomas Bishop on January 13, 2011, 05:44:21 PM

Don't worry.  The pictures would have been terrible even without the fog if she was using a flash.

Title: Re: Photographer blames the fog machine for crappy photos.
Post by: Matt Vivlamore on January 13, 2011, 08:53:42 PM

oooh I hate when people use a flash... it takes away from the pretty lights.

Title: Re: Photographer blames the fog machine for crappy photos.
Post by: Rob Timmerman on January 13, 2011, 09:33:10 PM

James Feenstra wrote on Thu, 13 January 2011 16:12

never use a flash

Fixed that for you.

Title: Re: Photographer blames the fog machine for crappy photos.
Post by: Matt Harris on January 18, 2011, 02:31:43 AM

I dabble in photography but am by no means a pro. We have worked with some pros before. The no flash rule should be restated as no direct flash. It would be ok if she was bouncing some flash off of the ceiling or back wall to fill the subject.

Every night we set up a good DSLR camera and hand it to our roadie to use in heavy fog with no flash and a good low light lens. If she knew what she was doing the pics would come out like this:

Title: Re: Photographer blames the fog machine for crappy photos.
Post by: Terry Martin on January 18, 2011, 08:34:37 AM

Matt...
Your pictures are some of the best I've seen at the club level.  We've also had some semi-pro photogs out to shoot some shows, and the shots always end up less than desireable.  If I've heard "you need more light on stage" once, I've heard it a dozen times.  

Good work!

Terry

Matt Harris wrote on Tue, 18 January 2011 02:31

I dabble in photography but am by no means a pro. We have worked with some pros before. The no flash rule should be restated as no direct flash. It would be ok if she was bouncing some flash off of the ceiling or back wall to fill the subject. Every night we set up a good DSLR camera and hand it to our roadie to use in heavy fog with no flash and a good low light lens. If she knew what she was doing the pics would come out like this:

Title: Re: Photographer blames the fog machine for crappy photos.
Post by: Matt Harris on January 18, 2011, 06:06:19 PM

Its not more light on stage but more light through the lens that is needed. a fast prime lens is key.