Advice regarding taking photography/photographers

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vadzz

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Please ignore the horrific grammar in the title :D

Can anyone please recommend or give any advice on taking photos in an indoor arena?

I have recently got a new camera (Canon 600D) and been asked to take some photos for a friend in a show in an indoor arena. It will be in the evening so will be dark but obviously wont want to use the flash while she's doing her round!

I have done it in the past on a different camera and they photos all came out incredibly blurry, any tips on settings etc?

Thanks
 
it will be quite difficult to get good photos that aren't blurry when its dark, for sharp/non-blurry photo's you need to lower the shutter speed, but this also means you are lowering the amount of light coming through the lens. its a tricky one and im by no means a professional, so hopefully someone on here may have some better advice, but personally I also use the shutter speed setting as this also adjusts the aperture, so If i was in your position I would see what its like on the day and try and use the quickest shutter speed as poss that doesn't make the pictures too dark, I would then try edit them to make them lighter :)
 
Indoors are hard and wahtever you do the photos wont come out perfectly.
Open up the aperture as much as you can (usually 4 on most cameras unless your lucky enough to have a 2.8 lens!) Lower the shutter speed but not too much as you still need it to not be blurry, try 1/200 if jumping might get away with less for flatwork. 1/200 will prob still be a bit slow so blurry legs but you need the light. You might even have to go lower if tis very dark. Up the iso as high as your camera will let you, Iv never used yours but mine can get grainy at 800 not overlly noticable though so id at least set it to that, higher if your camera will let you
 
horselessb said:
it will be quite difficult to get good photos that aren't blurry when its dark, for sharp/non-blurry photo's you need to lower the shutter speed, but this also means you are lowering the amount of light coming through the lens. its a tricky one and im by no means a professional, so hopefully someone on here may have some better advice, but personally I also use the shutter speed setting as this also adjusts the aperture, so If i was in your position I would see what its like on the day and try and use the quickest shutter speed as poss that doesn't make the pictures too dark, I would then try edit them to make them lighter :)
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I agree with horselessb
is there any reason they have to be taken in the dark?
Could you not meet on a weekend during the day? it would make life a lot easier for you.

Good luck. :)
 
I think you will probably struggle, make sure you have a monopod or tripod but even then it is not easy.
We take vaulting pictures without a flash and usually have to stop before we loose too much light.
 
thanks all, no matter what light it is in there really all photos come out blurry unless its taken by the professionals.

Tried everything on my camera and having a play but its so confusing!
 
What shutter speed are you using?

And are you definately focusing correctly using your autofocus? Its very hard to get it right focusing manually
 
bump your iso higher, use smallest aperture you can (think on kit lenses it tends to be 4.5) and smaller shutter within reason of it not blurring your photos. downside to higher iso is being grainy though!
 
Awilliams, I agree with your suggestion, though with a minor correction - the lowest f number is the largest aperture, to let as much light through as possible. (I'm sure that's what you meant to say anyway!) :smile3:
 
fburton said:
Awilliams, I agree with your suggestion, though with a minor correction - the lowest f number is the largest aperture, to let as much light through as possible. (I'm sure that's what you meant to say anyway!) :smile3:
Click to expand...

Heh, yeah it is! that'll teach me for not checking what I wrote!:D
 
vadzz said:
thanks all, no matter what light it is in there really all photos come out blurry unless its taken by the professionals.

Tried everything on my camera and having a play but its so confusing!
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I used to have this problem until I just adjusted the shutter speed to as quick as possible without loosing too much light (my camera is always on shutter speed setting and I just adjust accordingly) but I only take pictures when there is good lighting other wise they do come out blurry!
 
I have a 600D and it's a great camera. I find indoor shots the hardest on any kit, but if I were you, I'd use TV mode and a shutter speed of at least 1/250 of you'll get blurry legs, set the ISO setting to auto and let the camera decide both the ISO and the aperture, but the 600D gets very grainy above 1600. Use spot or centre weighted metering, set the camera to the continuous shooting mode and use AI servo AF mode. Remember your lighting. If indoors at night you may have tungsten lighting overhead so do adjust your white balance to the right setting for the lights or you'll get a horrible yellow cast over everything.

I'd try to use a tripod or monopod and aim to photograph your friend at one point rather than trying to track her as she goes round a course (or rides a test, whatever). You may be restricted for access to the sides of the arena so chose your spot, pre- focus and get ready for her as she approaches. The 600D will only give you around 3shots per second on continuous mode which isnt a lot. I can usually get 4 or 5 frames of a horse jumping a fence with it.

If you get your settings right before you start, the camera will do its best to help you, but do a few test shots of other people before your friend goes in to make sure you've got it right. Can't tell you the number of times I've missed the moment though not being prepared.
 
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