Lowlight: Not being able to take photos out on the Terrace of The House of Commons with its spectacular views
Fill in: Have done this very enjoyable event for the past four years for PPL who run the evening. Am on good terms with the Head Waiter and Stage Manager so food, drink and good lighting are never a problem!
The brief is to shoot all the presentations with the minimum of fuss, get the Jazz World mingling with the World of Politics and capture some atmospherics of the band. This a really enjoyable event and there is always lots of interesting people to talk to so that presents another challenge. As a photographer at an award ceremony you are kind of with the crew, kind of with the staff and kind of with the guests so you are constantly switching your social mode as well as trying to get the job done.
Lord David Steele presents award and Cleo Laine receives award from Michael Connarty MP, Lord Tony Colwyn with compere Paul Gambacinni.
The Ronnie Scotts Allstars entertain, with the talented Pedro Segundo on Drums.
For more info: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pedro-Segundo/195911920423802
Dominic McGonigal of PPL Jamie Cullum with Michael Connarty MP. VIPS group shot.
For Editorial Enquiries please contact PPL
For articles on evening go to PPLnews
News and Reviews: The Guardian, BBC
Further reading:
Just Jazz - The Traditional Jazz Magazine (July Issue)
Tech Spec: Technically there is a lot going on too. Although the pictures are pretty straight forward you are constantly switching modes on your camera.
For the presentation shots the flash has to recycle quickly as the shots have to be taken fast. I don't like carrying a quantum as I always end up strangling myself with the wires. Plus by the time I have loaded up with two bodies, two fast lenses and a speedlight I'm already bogged down with equipment and adding a quantum and wires will make me look more like an extra from Dr Who than the unassuming, personable photographer I want to convey. I turn the ISO up to about 800, and stick the aperture to F4 so the flash does not have to work so hard. I also use a diffuser to soften the shadows and avoid red eye.
For the speeches and musicians I avoid flash altogether as the room is dark and flash can be very distracting. I turn the ISO up to 3200 and Aperture on F2.8. The light is very saturated but I adjust this in photoshop if necessary. Switching WB during a shoot can be disastrous.
For the reception shots again it is good to be swift and it can be hard to focus as it is pretty dark. It can be embarrassing if your camera is hunting for even a few seconds when a whole crowd of VIPS are waiting for you. So as soon as I have a focus lock I shoot and alter the composition afterwards if it needs it. I also try to get some distance (not always easy in a crowded room) as group shots can be very unflattering to the people on the edges of the shot if you are too close. I turn the ISO down to 400 and shoot at F5.6 and let the flash do most of the work. Normally just getting the right people together for a shot is a feat in itself so I don't have too much control over the backgrounds.
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