Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/10/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi to all, I run a small theater group in New Hampshire and I handle the lighting and sound. I usually take photos during the show and I thought I would share my recent experience and images with the group. http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/tomlianza/Theater+Shots I typically use a Nikon D2x up in the balcony with a long lens. This has worked well in the past and it worked well in this show, but there were some moments that I thought that needed some more intimacy. I had the M8 with a 50mm Voigtlander F/1.5 . I moved down to stage level and started taking some images in color. Of course, I didn't bring any IR supression filters with me. As I looked at the colors I realized that this was going to be a very interesting editing session later that night. I found working with the M8 somewhat difficult. The first thing they need to do is to put a physical control for exposure adjustment on the next version. It really slowed me down to go into the menu. In the end, I just underexposed by 1.5 stops and figured I would work it out in light room. The reason for underexposure is that the stage is generally dark with the characters often lit in isolation. The frame lines on the M8 seem to be a mere suggestion of what you will see in the final image, so it's important to stand off a bit and crop, this exactly what you don't do with an SLR/zoom. The noise level of the M8 was not obtrusive which was a "must" in this situation. Focus was easy and this is where the RF really shines. Auto focus is not a good idea in stage situations. The tungsten lighting plus the artificial dyes used in the costumes lead to the expected disaster in color rendering. I decided that the images would be far better in Black and White. I printed these images on an HP 130 printer on Glossy photopaper at width of about 22 inches. People just loved them... and they did look great at that size. Working with the M8 in the theater is no picnic, but the results can be quite good. I'll use it again in this situation. I hope you enjoy the images...