Re: [Leica] Film for school play

[Steve Beyer <steve@beyerphoto.com>]

Hi Simon,
    I take pictures of the kids on stage at the local high school.  I use to
use Fuji NPH with good results but I have recently moved to Kodak Supra
800... I love the punchy color and the price is very reasonable for a 800
speed film.  I think you will have some trouble with the lenses you will use
unless your goal is to get the whole stage.  I find that I use a 90 on a M6
and it tends to be a bit short and my 300 works great tight head shots when
I am in the first row of the auditorium.  I am looking forward to trying out
my new 70-180 and R8, I think this will be a winner.  On this stage, I have
found a high success level at 1/125 of a second at 2.8 for both of the
lenses above. The depth of field and action stopping seems to be just about
right and the latitude of the film seems to cover the exposure.  Good Luck
and let us know your results.

Steve

> I will be photographing the school play for our local school which will be
> held in an assembly hall.  I have been told that there will be no light
> apart from the stage spotlights, which I assume will be halogen.
> 
> Can anyone share their experience of working in such lighting with regard to
> the best type of film.  I will probably take an ISO800 film (colour neg)
> with my M6, the 35 f/2, 50mm f/2 and Noctilux.  I expect to be no less than
> thirty feet from the stage and possibly further back than that.  I have a
> some Portra 800 and Supra 800 in the fridge at home, but I am open to being
> guided by those who have worked in these conditions and have real world
> experience of different types of film.
> 
> Many thanks.
> 
> Simon
> 
>