Photography

Girard442

(6,072 posts) Fri Aug 24, 2018, 12:01 PM Aug 2018

About still photos of people singing.

I belong to a large group that sings folk songs and sometimes I like to take pictures of the group in performance. I have found that my still pictures of singing people are almost always awful, even when I let fly with bursts. Videos are generally much nicer. Anyone else experience this? Any suggestions?

I have noticed that some of our members who perform professionally do photograph better. Whether this is a skill they have learned or is an innate talent, I do not know.

6 replies

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Highlight:

About still photos of people singing. (Original Post) Girard442 Aug 2018 OP

I took this photo back in March 2016 at a local poetry open mic. CaliforniaPeggy Aug 2018 #1

I take group photos and then crop to individuals or three or four of the best out of each. 3Hotdogs Aug 2018 #2

There are multiple reasons that can contribute to bad photos. ManiacJoe Aug 2018 #3

Nice crisp, properly exposed pictures -- of people looking goofy. Girard442 Aug 2018 #4

That is very common for photographing singers. ManiacJoe Aug 2018 #6

Maybe try using screen shots from video More_Cowbell Aug 2018 #5

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,620 posts)

1. I took this photo back in March 2016 at a local poetry open mic.

Reply to Girard442 (Original post)

Fri Aug 24, 2018, 02:23 PM

Aug 2018

She had an amazing voice! I don't know why this photo turned out, but it did. Just lucky, I guess! Enjoy.

3Hotdogs

(12,378 posts)

2. I take group photos and then crop to individuals or three or four of the best out of each.

Reply to Girard442 (Original post)

Fri Aug 24, 2018, 03:22 PM

Aug 2018

Maybe take the photos during the warm up if they are all singing the same note. Or have the conductor arrange a group "ahhhh."

ManiacJoe

(10,136 posts)

3. There are multiple reasons that can contribute to bad photos.

Reply to Girard442 (Original post)

Fri Aug 24, 2018, 07:50 PM

Aug 2018

Bad lighting.
Poor lighting, resulting in motion blur.
Poor lighting, resulting in missed focus.
Poor lighting, resulting in high ISO digital noise.
Bad timing on the shutter release, resulting in bad expressions.

Which one(s) are you dealing with?

Girard442

(6,072 posts)

4. Nice crisp, properly exposed pictures -- of people looking goofy.

Reply to ManiacJoe (Reply #3)

Fri Aug 24, 2018, 11:39 PM

Aug 2018

ManiacJoe

(10,136 posts)

6. That is very common for photographing singers.

Reply to Girard442 (Reply #4)

Sun Aug 26, 2018, 03:19 AM

Aug 2018

Anticipation, timing, practice.

More_Cowbell

(2,191 posts)

5. Maybe try using screen shots from video

Reply to Girard442 (Original post)

Sun Aug 26, 2018, 02:27 AM

Aug 2018

I have a friend who photographs animals and she found that she gets better pictures from taking a video with her phone and then using screenshots where everyone looks good.

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