Hi!
I have been, after a long time, to a concert while NOT shooting it, but I
couldn't help wondering how would I shoot it ;( The light was truly abysmal
there, and no amount of film pushing would help. The player was backlighted
by 3 or so candles, which illuminated the walls around but not him. While I
could easily shoot a silouette with pushed film without any problems, I
still would like to get detail into face (which was visible by dark-adapted
eyes, but had sooo low EV).
I have come up with few ideas for shooting in such light and NOT spoiling
the atmosphere by flash. I welcome and need comments and suggestions!
Partly, this is purely theoretical (I could always have arranged for more
candles to illuminate player's face as well), but still I would like to
know if my ideas work! And (as was noted before), we photographers like to
talk about extreme situations. Here are folks who (like me;) try to push
the MOST speed off a film, to put MOST TCs on a lens (was it someone's
64/4800mm rig? the UFO=flare shot last year ;), etc...
1) silouette. Easy but often the silouetted shapes of the player were not
interesting enough.
2) flash but unobtrusive - IR
I know there is IR head available for the next higher model of Flash that
I have (I have Sunpak AT555 as my biggest ttl flash), but even my model can
produce A LOT of heat. How do I use and set a Infrared flash? I know of a
good source for inexpensive IR filters to use on the flash (it's just full
density - unexposed - E6 film, preferably 4x5" to cover the full head), but
what about the other things?
Film to use, and its development? (B&W IR)
Filter over the lens? Won't it lose too much light?
Will the TTL metering work well? With SFXn? Or should I use Auto flash
metering (flash's sensos) - this would allow me to use some less noisier
body (either a rangefinder or K2DMD - all are quiter than the horrid SFXn ;).
Perhaps I should use Manual flash setting - but is there any easy way to
figure the IR Guidenumber without having to run a full roll of film at same
aperture and changing flash->subject distance and picking the best shots?
Anything else? Some web primers, pictures, experience? Thanks!
3) Flash has its problems - my Sunpak big flash does a HORRID buzzing sound
when charging from my homemade 3.5Ah battery pack (the sound is made by the
DC->AC converter, AFAIK). Solution: use a DC power source (which is
possible with my flash), no sound at all. Or try some noise-insulation?
Thanks for any suggestions on my ideas.
Frantisek (hmm, what situation shall I think out next ;)
P.S.: I am really tired of "seeing photographically" when I just try to
RELAX at a concert or any public performance / thing. How can I help it ;)
(get a p&S camera ?)
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