Import Fest, loud place with very low lighting...

[xal]

So, what's a good lens with a decent zoom option that's not too expensive for my xsi, maybe i can get it for christmas...:P

[patience]

Hello Friends.
I think Freddy is right so Any chance you could pick up a lens before going? Like the 50mm f/1.8 on a budget could help. If you crank up the ISO all the way and shoot wide open you stand a chance of getting some decent shots.

As far as were to stand or what not, I haven't a clue. Never done photos at an event like that. For cars though a different height than regular head level is always nice- like low down or crazy high up. If you add a model in too though it's a whole 'nother story

[chimphappyhour]

If you have a car model in the shot with the car, I still suggest the low angle shot.

[xal]

I went to the show last year already will be going to a similar show in march as well as later in the year, from the lenses i have in my signature which one do you think will be the best. Last year for importfest i took my kit lens and it worked great, this year i have a speedlite420 to complement it, i was thinking of taking the tokina since i'd be able to get a full shot better...or maybe still my kit lens?

What do you guys think? Pics of the last year show are in my flickr, if you want to take a look to see how they turned out.

[xal]

I'm going to another car show this weekend, and i'm bringing my 50mm with me this since it's at f1.8 and i need more light, these damn places are always so dark. Even with my 420ex i don't think i may be able to generate enough light, so i'll still bring my 18-55mm but also the 50mm just in case.

[Freddy Flash]

Do you have any accessories for your speedlite?

Something I've been toying with lately is using flash just to kind flush out the exposure. Not a new concept but newer to me I guess. Anywho, you get it to pretty close to the exposure you want and then let the flash pick up the rest of it. Very fun stuff and if you have like a bounce card or something to let you soften up the light (versus harsh direct flash) it can get some pretty sweet results

[xal]

Originally Posted by Freddy Flash

Do you have any accessories for your speedlite?

Something I've been toying with lately is using flash just to kind flush out the exposure. Not a new concept but newer to me I guess. Anywho, you get it to pretty close to the exposure you want and then let the flash pick up the rest of it. Very fun stuff and if you have like a bounce card or something to let you soften up the light (versus harsh direct flash) it can get some pretty sweet results

The problem is there's not much time to set up a pose with the models, the cars i can take my time with but the human beings always move, so i pretty much have to take the photo fast and hope for the best. I don't have any accessories, i bought a ring flash thing but it's kinda cumbersome so i'm going to test it when i do my studio shots, where the model is not constantly moving.

I'm just going to try my 50mm at f1.8 and with the flash pointed sideways and hope for the best.

[Freddy Flash]

Oh no doubt. Flash can help to freeze the subject's movement though.


http://lightchasersphotography.com/b...r-looks-cheap/

Something like a DIY "better bounce card" could make a heck of a difference. If you have the spare time it may be worth trying to make one real quick. With a bounced flash as filler it can make a difference.

If I get time tonight or this weekend I'll get some examples I have from a birthday party we had (my brother in law, sister in law and I all have birthdays a week-ish apart so we just had one). I haven't pulled the pics off the camera but chimping them they looked like it did well

[chimphappyhour]

Try doing the better bounce card idea. Otherwise you'll either have really harsh light or none at all if you're trying to bounce in a large hall. Just keep your eyes open for specular highlights on glossy paint jobs and chrome.

[xal]

Too busy and too many people, so i just used the naked flash and hoped for the best...some of the photos turned out ok, i'll post some up on flickr now, although i didn't post any car photos, only models!!! LOL

I swear i took some car photos, just haven't post processed them yet. :P

Also all the photos were taken with my Tokina lens, don't ask me why...i kinda like it a lot! I saw lots of guys with super zoom lenses...not sure what they wanted to do, take a photo of the models' nose hair or butt crack...there's hardly any space to move there, so the smart people actually had wide angle lenses on, especially if you're close to the cars and want to get the whole car in the picture.

[xal]

Updated my flickr with some performance world photos (only girls, no cars, sorry) and a couple of other models' photos that i shot earlier this month.

[sabesh]

Good shots George! I like the "smiley face" one.

[xal]

Originally Posted by sabesh

Good shots George! I like the "smiley face" one.

Thanks, all the up close photos of my models were actually with my 55-250mm f4.0-5.6, i'm so surprised that they turned out so good...can't wait to do more shots with my 70-200mm f4 and see how those turn out, maybe there's a difference.