100 Men In Black @100meninblack Group Photo Session: When You Are The Photographer & A Subject.
Was asked by our Director, Marlon West…
…to take a group photo.
I wear a few hats. In addition to being a baritone section member and soloist,…
…I created their website, run their Instagram account, and serve as their photographer for quite a few years now. My personal preference is candid photography.
Not the first time taking formal portraits of the group. Marlon asked me to come out 9 years ago.
At the time in 20017, I was on a break from the chorus to spend time with our kids in their grade school and middle school years. The rehearsals and performances left too much of a load to carry at home. Before we started, Marlon had me join in and lead a song, “You Are the Living Word”, for old times’ sake, and then I got to work.
The gear was humble by current standards.
Sony A7II.
A camera that I could make do with today. It held up as the second camera to my A7III at my first wedding session.
The lens was a humble spec’d overachiever.
A fine performer…
and a lens I preferred over the more expensive Sony ZEISS 24-70mm f/4 zoom. For lights, I used two Godox tt350 flashes shot through umbrellas, camera left and right. Proof that high-end kit is not required.
This time around?
A lot has changed in 9 years.
The gear. Still Sony mount.
Remote.
Unlike last time, I needed to be in the pic this time. I saw three options.
- Timer or interval shooting.
- I really did not want to do the running back and forth or rushing this would require.
- Phone app.
- Effective, but this always seems fiddly.
- Remote.
- Option 3, please. Bluetooth and a physical button, thank you.
Camera.
A beast. A strong contender for the one camera I would own if I could only have one camera. So good that I was not moved by the release of its successor, the Sony A7RVI.
I am glad Sony is still raising the bar, but the A7RV is already more than I need.
Light for th e first setup.
Marlon wanted a pic in the rehearsal room, far from the second location. We started late, so I did not have time to set up the larger light I intended to use, so I slapped a Neewer Z2 with a dome…
…on top of the camera.
Lens for the first setup.
Viltrox 20mm f/2.8 out front…
…to give a little more width in a slightly tighter space.
Success.
Second setup.
A hallway I scoped out before I was asked to do the group photo.
The setup.
Same camera.
Lighting.
Broke out big Bertha.
A Neewr Q4…
…paired with a Phottix Raja Hexa Softbox (59″).
Lens for the second setup.
A wonderful lens.
Success once again.
Then we changed into our white shirts. Before starting, I took what is my favorite pic of the night when I did a quick test to see if the remote was still paired before lining everyone up again.
And back at it.
Then for our last pic of the night. Candid pic with our Polo shirts.
Thoughts.
A great time overall.
Had intended to set up more lights. But with rehearsal running late and the hour growing late, I went with one big light. It did just fine.
Also would prefer to be the photographer rather than the photographer and subject. But the remote helped a great deal.
What also struck me is that I could have done just fine with the gear I used 9 years ago. Newer gear is nice. But not necessary.
Anyhoo.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 