Evening Art Gallery Photo Shoot- which lenses etc to take?

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My daughter is holding her first exhibition of photos (actually taken with a Canon I am afraid and using a technique of photo montage of various images). TV and media are going to be there however nevertheless I have been told I need to take photos with "My LEICA"! I have a bunch of business meetings that day so I am limited in what I wish to take from my armament of lenses etc. so any advice is welcome. I wish to put all in a small bag, and maybe a few items in a briefcase.

 

The private invited guest event is at a small gallery in London 2nd Dec and will as currently planned include prominent people including "hopefully" (ie not finally confirmed) a Senior Royal so I am somehwat approaching this as an amteur being intimidated. The event is at 18.00 to 21.00 so it will be dark and most likely will spill over into the street outside the gallery. I can imagine some "required shots" of guests arriving in flash cars, and images of the exhibition itself.

 

I usually take my TriElmar MATE (28/35/50) wherever I go but I am on this occassion thinking of taking the following: 21mm (f3.4). 35mm (f2), 50mm (f1), 75mm (f1.4) with an M8... plus a hot shoe mounted Metz flash.

 

I have available a 90mm (f2) ; 135mm (f4) ; 50mm (f2) plus the MATE that I plan to leave at home. I also have a Leica table top tripod with small ball which I might also take and I have a heavy duty Metz candle stick flash that I may bring.

 

My thought is to take as much as possible with available light (ie No flash) and use ISO 160 to maximum ISO 640. This for me drives the thought that I should reluctantly leave the TriElmar at home and save space. It also pushes me in the direction to use f2 / f1.4 lenses plus the 21mm (f3.4). I may buy a mono pod if this is deemed here as useful. I am unsure about the table top tripod as truly useful in a street situation but maybe in the gallery itself is OK?

 

I also am ready to bring along a M6 body and actually use some film.

 

Please any suggestions are welcome asap as I go to London Wednesday Dec 1st early am....Thanks for any advice.

[Nicoleica]

Hi Frank,

First of all, congratulations to your daughter. Without being more familiar with your preferred style, and the venue in question, I would not presume to advise you on specific lenses any further than to suggest that fast and medium-wide may be very useful for general and area shots, with a fast normal or short telephoto for individuals and close-ups.

 

If you are considering a monopod though, and one may be quite useful , I would recommend something like the Gitzo Monotrek range. I've had one of these for several years, and they are very practical to use, and also double as a walking pole for those trips into the countryside or mountains. They are very light, yet stable, and when contracted are easy to pack. The hand strap is very practical too. photo monopods - monotrek monopods | Gitzo photo accessories

[andybarton]

Presumably you are taking these shots for your own and family purposes.

 

Just go, relax and enjoy yourself.

[Shootist]

Since you are taking a flash, and hopefully using it, any of the lenses you have listed will do fine. With proper adjustments to the flash output, shutter speed and aperture, manual exposures. If you plan on doing ANY available light photos then use only your fastest glass and try to limit ISO to 640. But with LR3.3 I have gotten very good results with ISO 1250 exposed to the right.

[thompsonkirk]

Andy's advice is right-on. It sounds like you're over-concerned & over-geared, so just relax & simplify, taking a wide-angle lens on 1 body & a 'normal' one on the other. Or mate the slower MATE with a flash & don't take anything else – you'll be busy enough adjusting focal lengths & focusing. Anyhow you need wide in a small gallery.

 

If you can go to a crowded event or a busy public space before the opening, experiment not with gear but with the style of your shots (candid portrait, body language in crowd; pinning people down, letting people move; holding camera overhead & shooting down, etc.).

 

If you want to use flash, spend a few hours looking at Gary Winogrand's 'Public Eye.'

 

And then enjoy a special event with your daughter!

 

Kirk

[lars_bergquist]

Remember, every time you change lenses, you lose one picture. And every time you fit a flash, you lose at least three. With flash, you get a record of Who Was There. With ambient light, you can capture the ambience of the event.

 

Yesterday, I was at the Stockholm Photo Fair (see separate thread). That is an event that is probably no better lighted that the one you will be going to. I brought a M9, the new version 35mm Summilux and the ZM 25mm Biogon (1:2.8). I shot at ISO500, and found the Summilux very congenial, and the Biogon quite fast enough. In your position, I would bring just a M9 or other FF/M, and a 35mm lens (I shot the previous year's Fair with just a v.4 35mm Summicron, in the same venue). No flash! White balance was Auto; the lighting in the stands was mostly halogen, with a slight admixture of fluorescent strip lights under the high ceiling. I find the result satisfactory.

 

The old man from the Age of Flash Powder

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Many thanks to all of you who have responded so far...really helpful advice. The eventual images are for family use obviously however my daughter will be making a catalogue of her work, and adding material to her web site where it is planned to include my images of the event.

 

I am hoping to use the Nocti and 75mm Lux without flash and it was for that reason I have in mind to leave the MATE at home, although that is actually my most used lens. I also believe that the Summicrons are not that slow as lenses especially when I make the comparison to DSLR zoom lenses. I am hoping that I should be able to achieve good images at ISO 640 without flash at f2...but would prefer to risk it and go for ISO 160 and live in hope that people stand somewhat still! I like the idea of a monopod as mentioned by Nicole and I shall see if I can pick one up while in London.

 

Thanks to all for the advice

[lars_bergquist]

I would normally never bring anything longer than 35mm to an event like that -- that is, unless you need to shoot Ceremonial Entrances where gorillas keep the populace away from the celebrities. But as the bride's father, so to speak, I presume you would be allowed to mingle, and 35, 28 and 24/25mm are the natural mingling lenses.

 

Nothing is as frustrating as a too long lens at a party. And the less intrusive your equipment is, the better you mingle. Keep gear to a minimum.

 

The old man again

[thompsonkirk]

You're running out of time, so it looks like some advice should be put a bit more forcefully.

 

May I suggest you go back & read carefully what folks have said? Your final choices suggest you've missed some important points. Especially re-read – & I hope follow – the last 2 posts from Lars.

 

The Nocti, on your M8, is a 67mm lens; the 75 is a 100. Are you going to make portraits, or shoot wildlife, or actually cover a crowded event in a small space? In such circumstances most photographers would regard the Nocti as supplementary to a wide-angle lens, & the 75 as almost useless. Their angles of view are narrow, & you'll have trouble focusing them accurately at f1.4 or holding them steady in a crowd at short distances without lots of practice/experience.

 

Lars recommended relying on a 35mm lens on an M9, not an M8, at a crowded event. Your M8's equivalent would be 28mm. He suggests that be your longest lens. That's serious advice.

 

Your 21 is equivalent to a 28, which Lars says is a good 'mingling' lens. But your 21 is too slow to use without either flash or high ISO.

 

A monopod would be clumsy – & IMO socially inept. A Leica shouldn't be intrusive. You'd be unable to make candid photographs & would just get pictures of people's 'camera faces' as they stare while you interrupt them. The folks you say will be attending surely don't enjoy photographic intrusiveness at private events. So instead, hold your elbows tight at your sides & practice holding the camera rock-steady.

 

Your hopes of shooting at 160 aren't realistic – nor are they necessary. Raise the ISO & later use ACR/LR noise reduction, or something like Noise Ninja. Though I usually wouldn't recommend it, your difficulty in locating an appropriate ISO suggests you might do best with Auto-ISO.

 

Remember that the lights in galleries are pointed at the walls, & auto-exposure will tend to render the walls as middle-gray with people as underexposed blobs in front of them. So remember to use some exposure compensation.

 

Good luck – we'll be looking forward to seeing your pictures.

 

Kirk again

[redbaron]

If there is royalty in the room you won't get within a mile with a monopod.

[wattsy]

If the event is important and certain shots are "required" I suggest you hire someone who can do a job (I doubt that you are short of a bob or two). As for yourself, just take your M8.2 and 35/F2 and enjoy the event.

[stunsworth]

35mm Summicon + M8. Personally I'd prefer a 28mm, but you don't seem to have one of those, so 35mm it is.

[Guest BigSplash]

35mm Summicon + M8. Personally I'd prefer a 28mm, but you don't seem to have one of those, so 35mm it is.

 

Again thanks to all of you....it has helped me a lot and I take note. Kirk I take note of what you say about using high ISO and super wide angle while taking account of the crop factor on M8....makes a lot of sense. I also think you have given some great arguments for me to "invest" in a fast super wide ,,,,I'll see how positive my wife is on that one!

[ohnri]

If possible, go to the gallery at night and see what you can get away with.

 

I just shot some personal photos at a night gallery opening in NYC with a few celebrities present.

 

I took only my M9, my 35 lux ASPH version 1 and a flash. Since everyone and their entourage were all shooting with flash I found that it in no way intruded on the atmosphere of the event.

 

If you use the flash you won't need a fast lens so you will be well covered with what you already own.

 

Personally, I would strongly concur with those advising you take one lens only. And I agree that something about 35mm (28 on your M8) would be nice with anything longer being less desirable.

 

Have fun.

 

Best,

 

Bill

[Guest BigSplash]

London has during the last days has been hit by snow and many people did not attend the gallery event, and I had my flight cancelled to and from London (I had to stay an extra 24 hours!) . That said the event was for me very special and was well attended and my daughter sold several images and has now reservations on many more......I am surprised that anyone is buying art but clearly they are!

 

The advice you all gave me was spot on and i thank you ....Wide angle is the way to go for this type of event using a wide aperture lens all of the time.

 

Brett (from Leica) I am delighted to say came along and I watched him like a hawk as he has superb ability, excellent Leica kit ...and knows how to use it! He laughed at the idea of using flash (so I kept the thing in my coat pocket and have to agree with him!) as we were in a gallery with loads of halogens and some tungsten.

 

The mixed lighting meant white balance was for me an issue and I did this manually on the M8 with a white paper card. I really had ZERO post processing colour balance issues with this and I found that very surprising indeed....I guess Leica M digital in camera white balance processing is excellent. I did adjust brightmess slightly on some images however.

 

I used ISO 160 for all images as I really did not see the need for higher ISO and yes I checked Brett's M9 and he was doing the same!

 

I also noted that Brett used the 0.95 Nocti ....and other expensive state of art lenses that I am now interested in.

 

I used my first Generation f1.0 Nocti for many shots, I also used my 30 year old 35mm (f2) and supplemented this for a few shots with the 21mm (f3.4) also 30 years old but a great lens. I did against the advice here took the 75mm (f1.4) and did not use it once !

 

Below just one image of many that was taken with an old 35mm (f2) lens. I have many more but here is one that in my view shows what even older galss can achieve:

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

[andybarton]

I'm pleased you had a good time Frank. The WB on this shot is very warm, but I'm sure that could be easily corrected.

 

Which gallery is the exhibition at? I'm in London later in the week, and would be pleased to pay a visit if I have time.

[bybrett]

Just for the record (and thanks for the mention)... Brett is not from Leica but a consultant photographer for Leica... and attended the event in a personal capacity.

 

Nevertheless, I shot only M9 and Noctilux at 160 ISO as an off duty project.

The images are still in camera.

 

Andy, it's the Coningsby Gallery, Tottenham Street.

 

Lot's of lovely people there, thanks for the invitation.

[andybarton]

Thanks Brett. I walked past there last Monday - I didn't realise I was so close to this.

 

That's where I saw a fantastic Ravillious exhibition a couple of years ago.

 

Will definitely take a look if I get a chance this week.

[Guest BigSplash]

I'm pleased you had a good time Frank. The WB on this shot is very warm, but I'm sure that could be easily corrected.

 

Which gallery is the exhibition at? I'm in London later in the week, and would be pleased to pay a visit if I have time.

 

The exhibition was at 23 Tottenham Street (just off Tottenham Court Road) at the Coningsby Gallery. It actually finished last Saturday but the gallery will have the book etc I believe and in any case it is a nice place to visit as they push through each week new artists that they have selected to show.

 

The place was filled with stuffed crows and black feathers that my daughter had organised via a Cambridge company to add ambiance for her exhibit.

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[Guest BigSplash]

Just for the record (and thanks for the mention)... Brett is not from Leica but a consultant photographer for Leica... and attended the event in a personal capacity.

 

Nevertheless, I shot only M9 and Noctilux at 160 ISO as an off duty project.

The images are still in camera.

 

Andy, it's the Coningsby Gallery, Tottenham Street.

 

Lot's of lovely people there, thanks for the invitation.

 

Brett thanks for coming and yes it was a personal invite.

 

Let me also say that if anyone has not been to Brett's courses at Leica Mayfair they are missing something. He showed me a fabulous presentation of a wedding where the images of the bride, groom, guests dissolve in a most natural yet elegant way from one to the next....well worth looking at and then buying the software which regretably for me is on a MAC.

Separately Brett yet again gave me some techniques and advice on how to focus even quicker and more accurately than I have been doing. In this forum many people have suggested that the Nocti is an impossible lens to focus and I asked Brett about this. He showed me how to do it bang bang bang and it really seems to work!

 

Thanks again Brett for coming and the advice.