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| The NVC Performing Arts Center. 32mm, 1/80 sec, f/2.8, Mode: Av, Metering: Multi-segment, Exp comp: -2 1/3, ISO: 800. | | |
I shot three musical performances at the Napa Valley College new performing arts center this last weekend. Since no formal rehearsals for the performances were held I had to shoot with an audience. It’s a large theater, so I could hide in the upper regions of the stadium seating most of the time. For one of the shows, I was asked to stay out of sight to discourage other cell phone camera buffs from snapping pictures of their performing children. The technical director, Michael, was kind enough to open the soundproof windows of one section of the control booth for me to shoot from. It’s quite a ways from the stage, but a great vantage point where I wouldn’t be disturbing the audience with my camera noise and lens changes.
Here are some of my favorite shots from the three performances, choral recitals, a jazz concert, a children’s violin recital, (the Napa Suzuki Strings) and a wind ensemble concert.
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| From the jazz concert: 195mm, 1/320 sec, f/4, Mode: Av, Metering: Multi-segment, Exp comp: -1/3, ISO: 1000. |
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| 200mm, 1/1250 sec, f/4.5, Mode: Av, Metering: Multi-segment, Exp comp: -1 2/3, ISO: 1000. |
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| 200mm, 1/250 sec, f/4.5, Mode: Av, Metering: Multi-segment, Exp comp: -2/3, ISO: 1000. |
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| The Suzuki Violins: 200mm, 1/500 sec, f/3.2, Mode: Av, Metering: Multi-segment, Exp comp: -1 2/3, ISO: 800. |
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| 200mm, 1/250 sec, f/3.2, Mode: Av, Metering: Multi-segment, Exp comp: -1, ISO: 800. |
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| A time out during the orchestra concert: 200mm, 1/250 sec, f/4, Mode: Av, Metering: Multi-segment, Exp comp: -1 2/3, ISO: 4000. |
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| 200mm, 1/250 sec, f/4, Mode: Av, Metering: Spot, Exp comp: -1, ISO: 1000. |
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| The Wind Ensemble: 30mm, 1/100 sec, f/4, Mode: Av, Metering: Evaluative, Exp comp: -3, ISO: 800. |
Spot metering was useful for properly exposing a single face in a crowd. Since I was shooting far from the stage, the 300 mm lens’ frame included many performers at different distances with black clothing and music stands.
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| Spot focus to capture a face in the bright crowd. 200mm, 1/25 sec, f/4, Mode: Av, Metering: Spot, Exp comp: -1, ISO: 1000. |
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But putting a central exposure/focus point on the person I wanted to shoot provided the right exposure every time, even though the surrounding areas might be poorly exposed.
