UNT Graduation/ Auditorium Help

[earlyriser]

Im going to a graduation this Saturday in Denton to see my sister-in-law graduate and want to shoot it. I am a complete newbie/beginner and would appreciate any tips/settings you may have for shooting indoors in a auditorium. The equipment that i have is a Nikon D200 with AF 80-200mm Lens. Specifically what im looking for is specific settings that i should make to the D200. If you have a .ncc file that i could load to camera via nikon capture that would be awesome. Also if anyone else wants to shoot with me and give some tips that would awesome to. Thanks everyone.

[AjP]

would be nice to use flash if you can and shoot RAW, this way you can fix little things later. 70-200 2.8 is great for this kinda events.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

http://www.unt.edu/commencement/schedule.htm
If she is going to be in the coliseum do not expect a whole lot of light, they don't crank the lights all up, not sure about the Murchison Performing Arts Center.

Be sure to take some outdoor shots on campus with her in her gown.
(UNT Alumni here).

[earlyriser]

The flash that i have built in? Or should i rent/purchase a flash for my camera?

[AjP]

well build in flash only good for short distance, don't remember exactly but I think about 9-18 ft...so it you planning to far than dat.. borrow external flash.

[crazeazn]

monopod or tripod is a MUST.

on my graduation (UTD/fall 2005) my friend was shooting a 70-200 2.8 but all the images came out blurry from camera shake.

[cmalana]

to avoid camera shake, you need to follow the minimum shutter speed for given focal length. For a 200mm on a 1.6 crop, you should be at LEAST 1/320 if not faster (I'd use 1/500). If there's not enough light, then time to use a flash.

Sometimes, I would evaluate the environment and if you know you can't take good pictures, then it may be time to just relax and enjoy it (and plan on taking pictures after or before the ceremony when you have better control of lighting).

[earlyriser]

Thanks for all the responses....Keep'em coming. :)

[dminton]

The Super Pit, as the Coliseum is called, is the pits, as far as light goes. Excpect 1600 and wide open. The stage is set up facing south, so it's at the far end of the flood lights used for basketball. Good new however. I was up in the catwalk in the Super Pit Wednesday taking down lights we use for basketball, and they had put new transformers on most of the floods up there, so it may brighter than it has been. And I think they might have some spots on the stage as well. BUT, be on the safe side and come prepared for the worst. It's a cavern.

You'll see me, I'm the guy with a pony tail and a Canon 600mm.

(Current UNT photoj student, who has spent too many weeknights in the Super Pit.)

[NoLight]

I just went to my brother in law graduation. I udes a 70-200 2.8 at f2.8 iso800 and iso400 the 800's came out really well, the 400's a little gitter in the shots. I was at the very back and had to crop the heck out of the shots. All hand held no flash. Oh yeah and partial metering..