BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Traditional Film Photography

Thad G. Stammen		Ballet class action shots I'm going to be shooting pictures of my daughter's ballet class. It's indoors, flourescent lighting, and I'll be shooting through an interior window. To make it even more entertaining, I won't be able to use a tripod or a flash. The equipment I'm using is a Canon EOS Rebel G with a 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 EF IS lens with a B+W UV Haze filter. My question is, what film speed should I use, and are there any filters you would recommend to offset any problems with the flourescent lights? (I am looking at print film only) Will 800 be fast enough, or should I go to 1600 or more? I'm not worried about enlarging the images beyond 4x6 prints. Thanks in advance for your help! To love this question, log in above February 12, 2004

Jon Close		Any chance of scouting the site before the recital? Then you can test the light level by setting the ISO on your camera to 800 and 1600 and see if you get high enough shutter speeds to stop action (IS should take care of slow shutterspeed camera shake). If you cannot manually set the ISO of the Rebel G, note the shutter speeds you get for the film that's loaded in it. If you get 1/15 with 400 speed film, then 800 will give you 1/30 and 1600 will get you 1/60. I'm assuming you're not going to use the flash so as not disturb the performance, or get reflections/glare from the interior window. Regarding filters, you don't need the UV Haze filter indoors. An FL-D (Fluorescent to Daylight, has a pink hue) filter will help correct the excessive green cast normally associated with fluorescent lighting. To love this comment, log in above February 12, 2004

- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery		With that lens, it might be better to not use a filter and have the lab color correct everything. To love this comment, log in above February 12, 2004

Thad G. Stammen		Thanks for the suggestions. This is one of the few chances I'll have to scope it out before the recital. My first go around I shot two rolls of 1600 speed film: The first roll was shot without any filters. For the second roll I added an 80A Color Conversion filter. I've sent the rolls in to be developed. One unexpected challenge was the reflection of a vending machine in the window I was shooting through. The machine was behind me, so in most cases my body blocked it out. I'm eager to see how the additional light from the machine played with the glass of the window. I have a few more limited opportunities to shoot the class. I will definitely try an FL-D filter next time. Any other ideas are more than welcome. I might move down to 800 speed film just for the sake of comparison. The room was very well lit, I don't know if a flash would have been necessary if I could have used it. To love this comment, log in above February 13, 2004

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