It’s your turn to take center stage. Our semi-annual photo contest features two brand-new categories: colors and performances. Not only can you showcase your best photos, you can celebrate with prize money!
For color entries, we’re leaving it up to your imagination. Architecture, nature, objects, people — doesn’t matter. We just want to see gorgeous hues and creativity. For the latter category, we’d love to see your best images from plays, musicals, concerts and performances. While you’re allowed to enter anything, we really want to embrace student performances, images that celebrate your school and end up in the yearbook.
Here are three tips to turn those performance photos into their own masterpieces:
1. Use the right lens.
Concerts, plays and dance performances usually happen on stage in a darkened auditorium. A fast lens, i.e. one with a wide aperture, will enable the photographer to use a higher shutter speed to stop the action. Combined with a higher ISO, an f-stop of 2.8 is ideal for letting in as much light as possible.
Take some time to learn and test for the correct settings in your building. Depending on the stage lighting, it’s likely you’ll need an ISO of 1600 or higher. For camera settings, start with 2.8 for the aperture and 1/250 for the shutter and adjust as needed to properly expose the image. For those without a 2.8 lens, use your best camera that can increase the ISO to 2000 or 3200, and set the aperture on the largest opening (i.e. the lowest f/stop number). Each time you move to a lower f-stop up, you allow twice as much light to enter, enabling a faster shutter speed.
Similarly, the lens length will also dramatically affect the photographs. Photographers will need a telephoto or zoom lens to take pictures. A 70-200mm 2.8 lens is the ideal choice for concert and stage photography. (If you’re lucky enough to have a 300mm, take advantage of it for gorgeous close-ups.) If you only have short lenses, work with event organizers to have a close seat or photograph a dress rehearsal when you can be near the stage.
A fast lens will help photographers use a higher shutter speed to take pictures like this of Jane Wyatt from Harrisonburg High School. Photo by B. Adamek
2. Be mindful.
As a photographer, you have an incredible opportunity to record important moments in school history. But that opportunity also comes with incredible responsibility. Be aware of the camera noise, specifically the clicking sound. Look through your camera manual to find out if you can turn off the shutter sound. If not, plan to stand in the back or stick to the outside aisles away from parents and other attendees. Strive to take the majority of pictures when music or voices are loud. Avoid clicking the shutter during quiet scenes. You’ll only draw the ire of annoyed guests.
Consider coordinating photo coverage with the event organizers. Planners will appreciate advance notice of photographers’ attendance and may allow free entrance or available seats. Keep in mind not all programs will admit media for free. Always bring money for an entrance fee just in case. It might be frustrating to be charged a fee, but it’s much worse not to have photos at all.
Also, be aware that some music, dance and theater directors ask student photographers not to cover the live performance. Theater directors often are limited by copyright regulations and band and dance directors are attuned to parent complaints. A smart compromise is to photograph a dress rehearsal. Photographers will have more leeway on positioning, more access to the organizers, and less worry about camera noise. On the plus side, many performances have more than one rehearsal, allowing for multiple photo opportunities. A rehearsal shoot also allows staffs to have photos earlier for deadlines and preview stories.
Photographing a dress rehearsal gives photographers additional chances to shoot strong theater images and not distract the audience with the shutter sound. Spread from 2017 Harvard-Westlake yearbook
3. Get creative.
The actual performance isn’t the only chance to get photos. Communicating with organizers can lead to ample photo opportunities. Seize the chance to show your audience the behind-the-scenes aspects they’ll never witness. Photograph the costume and prop rooms. Catch actors having makeup applied. Hang out with the theater tech kids for great shots in the sound and lighting booth. If you’re really tight with directors (and brave), you might score a chance to go up in the catwalk. Consider shooting a whole show from the stage wings. Some of the coolest photos come from the moments before a performer walks on stage.
Foster High School’s Starr Gutierrez snapped this photo backstage at a Veteran’s Day concert. Shooting through the American flag, Gutierrez provided a unique perspective of the concert singers most students wouldn’t have seen. Photo by Starr Gutierrez
Ready to capture an awesome show? It’s your turn to be in the spotlight.
Enter the Great Shot Photo Contest, now through April 20, on the Balfour Facebook page or by clicking here. Photographers can enter up to three times a day and win up to $500. We’ll pick three top winners and a round of honorable mentions. Schools can vote for their favorite photos on Facebook with the highest entry receiving a People’s Choice award.
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