M8 and stage lighting/runway

[Guest guy_mancuso]

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Well here in NY working at a convention shooting young aspiring Models and Actors trying to break in the business, I'm faced with shooting the M8 in maybe not the most comfortable of places as some would say, well if anyone knows me i will shoot the M8 in the hairest of places . All shots at ISO 640 or 1250 processed in C1 and shot with 75 lux , 90 crons, 28 crons, 35 crons and even yes folks the 135 APO. Okay the 135mm is a tough one to shoot but it's working. mostly shot at F2, 2.8 and 4

 

http://guymancuso.zenfolio.com/p88824061

[norm_snyder]

Hello Guy--

 

This stuff is great. Lighting conditions like this tax dynamic range to the point of expecting blown out highlights everywhere, and the M8 has not disappointed, in this case, not to mention your ability to get the most out of it. I was wondering, with this many models, whether the ability to shoot with less compressed jpegs would make a lot of pros lives easier, with less post processing.

 

 

 

cheers,

Norm

[ptomsu]

Guy,

 

these are extraordinary shots, especially considering the still difficult way to exactly focus moving objects. And all of this under difficult lightning conditions.

 

These samples show not only that the M8 is a great tool if one knows to use it optimally, bt also your outstanding photographic capabilities!

[nfield]

Guy,

 

Well done! What's your technique for focusing under these conditions?

 

-Norman

[barjohn]

Which lens did you use and what f stop? Just curious about the use of ISO 640 and it looking that noise free. I just saw the answer in your post but I can't tell how far away were you from the models and how did you change lenses fast enough while also focusing to get the shots? How did you select which lens to use and when?

[girphoto]

Well here in NY working at a convention shooting young aspiring Models and Actors trying to break in the business, I'm faced with shooting the M8 in maybe not the most comfortable of places as some would say, well if anyone knows me i will shoot the M8 in the hairest of places . All shots at ISO 640 or 1250 processed in C1 and shot with 75 lux , 90 crons, 28 crons, 35 crons and even yes folks the 135 APO. Okay the 135mm is a tough one to shoot but it's working. mostly shot at F2, 2.8 and 4

 

Zenfolio | Guy Mancuso Photography | IMTA convention

 

Hi Guy

Thanks for posting, I do a lot of the same work in Florida when I am not shooting space ships , but have not yet used the M8 as a solo.

 

Great Stuff !

Thanks

Gary

Gary I. Rothstein, Photography

[norm_snyder]

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Guy--

How are you finding using the 75 Summilux, as far as accurate focusing goes? Do you use the magnifier? I'm finding it tougher than I used to, but the results with the lens seem worth it, given the qualities of the images it produces.

 

Regards,

Norm

[Guest guy_mancuso]

Thanks guys these are tough to shoot and i have to get back in there today and shoot more of this. Some of the main issues as photographers that happen with this stuff. One is lighting , it is not even the light at the T of the runway is less than the middle. The lighting guy flips the percentage on higer or lower depending on what is going on , so it is never constant on the light output . WB is pretty easy here though the back wall is white so a good source to WB off of. Also I used C1 for these and reason is I still feel C1 skin tones are better and has less noise than Lightroom , in this case it makes more sense becuase of both these factors . Plus i can raw process quicker in C1. Also you really need a camera that has the range of the M8 becuase you are mostly working manual shutter speeds all the time and sometimes you are under and sometimes your blowing it so recovery is important. The ability to push the exposure and pull it down is imperative here. Now i do have free rein to go wherever i want to shoot . There are judges center stage so i have to work around them and not block there view. So the distance varies and the runway itself is 60 ft so the use of the longer glass as they walk is important, not a very friendly M8 distance either but the 90 cron and 75 Lux do get a serious workout and when i get close to the stage i switch to the 28 cron. what helps here is two bodies to keep the switching of glass down a little.

 

Focusing is tough because they are walking toward you. okay AF is a nice feature no question i have done these with Canon and the DMR before and SLR's are really the tool but I am doing just fine like this . Yes i miss some and if i had to nail every person i would switch to a DSLR but i can shoot whatever i want for display and put on 1000 image show on Wednesday night. so the kids can see what they have been doing. they scream for almost a hour watching themseleves so it works for this. But what i am trying to get across is the M8 has capibilities that many folks are ignoring or saying you can't do that. There are a couple shooters here that think i am nuts when they try it when I hand the camera over. Maybe i am but the point is try and use it in places you may think it won't work. The M8 does have the range and ability to work .

 

BTW on follow focusing , notice they all wear a badge . Which is on there hip which is also the same plane as there face so following the badge in focus helps

[Guest guy_mancuso]

I do use the 1.25 magnifer on both cameras. i highly recommend it and yes it does help. i also use a Steer from Leicagoodies on the 75 lux which also helps move the focusing a little better.