When you say "ladder" I would hope that means loosely "a platform upon
which my tripod will be securely mounted . . . with my camera firmly
attached to same." Right?
From a camera perspective above the subject you might try: 1) having the
group look directly into the camera and 2) directly ahead (as if the camera
were at group level front and center. You might, for effect, also try to
take this group's picture from above and off somewhat to either
side--enough so that the group would need to swing its collective head
(this would constitute the "effect") in order to meet the lens.
As always, I warmly recommend Tri-X as my preferred B&W portrait emulsion.
It's plenty fast enough for this work and specializes in people shots. HP5
(unless it has changed a lot over the years, don't know about that) will
render less subtle tonality throughout and perhaps lose wanted shadow
(uniforms, if these are of darkish material--usually they are somewhat for
bands, at least compared to flesh tones) detail.
Again, find a decent platform and employ a tripod!
The stage (if there is one) should work. If it's an auditorium with seats
instead of a gym floor have the members of these bands perch themselves
casually on the seats/seat arms/backs for that "different" group-picture
look--they can still be holding instruments or even playing them for that
matter.
Tris
At 08:04 PM 1/30/2004 -0800, you wrote:
>Actually OT 'cause I will be using my OM4<g>. I have been ask to take B&W
>photos of some middle school bands and orchestras for the yearbook. They
>will be arranged in a performance grouping, maybe 40 players at most. I
>plan on elevating myself somewhat (on a ladder) and will be using auxiliary
>lighting. I'd like to do it with two 600WS open-faced strobes (I have more
>if need be but it should be as uncomplicated as possible). I'll need DOF to
>cover the group front to back, but there are house lights as well so I am
>hoping to shoot HP5 or lower ASA.
>
>Any experience or tips would be appreciated (it's for my daughter's
>orchestra and she'll be embarrassed to tears if I screw this up<bg>.
>
>Replies off-list are okay.
>
>Regards,
>
>Douglas Tourtelot, CAS
>Seattle, WA
>tourtelot@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>206 795-0882
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