In a similar idea as the previous tip, vary up the focal length (“zoom”) of your photos. Get high, get low, even get underwater to get a different perspective on the action. Don’t overdo it but a couple shots going back into the crowd can be good too to show the size of the venue and give some context. It is even better if you can get up to the balcony, the orchestra pit, the wings, catwalks, or anywhere else where you can get a unique perspective and a good shot. If at all possible, move around during the show and get photos from a variety of angles and a variety of places. ©Tom Fairchild PhotographyĪ whole set of photos from the same position is boring. If the camera tried to choose the correct exposure, this photo would just be a noisy shadowy mess with a really bright spot on top. As an added bonus this allows you to shoot with a faster shutter speed and/or a lower ISO which means sharper, less noisy photos! Theatre is different than most other photography situations and it is completely ok to lose your deep shadows. Most importantly, don’t be afraid of the dark! Let your blacks fall off to be completely black. If you are not, or if the lighting conditions are changing too rapidly to keep up with manually (as they often are in circus, concerts, or other fast action shows), use spot metering to expose your brightly lit subjects correctly. To counteract that, set your exposure manually if you are comfortable enough doing it. Typically, this means photos will come out as a blotchy shadowy mess with completely unrecognizable white spots where your action is supposed to be. A lot of the time on stage though there will be large swaths of dark with a couple of extremely bright highlights under the spots. When set to full auto, cameras will try to take the best average exposure of lights and darks. One of the most common mistakes I see in theatre photos is one that your camera makes. The contrasting colors combined with the backlit water drops makes it extremely impactful. The lighting in this photo is what makes it. Lampies will direct you to many great photogenic moments – plus they want to show off their creation of impressive lighting states just as much as any performer! These are just the guys to explain to you how. Low fog, hazers, and smoke will all have huge effects on lighting and therefore your photos. This is doubly true if you are shooting a show that you have never seen before. These guys have a lot of experience and are paid a lot of money to make the show look good it is wise to make the most of all their knowledge. Of all the departments to talk to, the lighting department is the most important. Don’t forget the technicians are watching the show every single day, usually from unique perspectives. Incorporate their ideas into your shot list and refine your plan of where and when you want to be in various places around the theatre.Īsk artists, directors and also technicians about where great photos are hiding. Find out what that is! Ask performers, ask the crew, and ask the front of house staff what they consider to be key moments of the show and what they have always felt were particularly dramatic or impactful moments. ©Tom Fairchild PhotographyĮvery department knows of an amazing photo moment in a show if only someone were there to take it. This punch was on my shot list so I knew to be ready for it when it came. – dialed in and ready before the moment happens. Have everything – exposure, camera settings, framing, etc. Make up a shot list ahead of time to help prepare and organize your limited time shooting. Have your framing, composition, exposure and settings all ready to go so once that “decisive moment” strikes, you are ready for it. Think about when and where those points are in the show and be ready for them. You know the show – take advantage of it! The often-quoted street photography pioneer, Henri Cartier-Bresson, coined the term “The Decisive Moment” to describe that one precise sliver of an instance in time that captures a larger feeling. Anticipate – Know Where the Action Will Be In theatrical photography, subject items are dark, things move quickly and lighting is a challenge but here are ten tips to help you take great theatrical photos.ġ. Live theatre and events are some of the most difficult and challenging environments to be a photographer. Tom Fairchild is a travel and portrait photographer who also specializes in capturing events and stage performances.
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