circus shooting tips?

[acarbo99]

Looks like we're going to take our little one to the circus in a few weeks. We'll be inside at Reliant Stadium.

Any tips? Right now I only have a p&s digital camera, but I'm hoping to borrow a friend's dSLR for the occasion.

TIA,
GiGi

[HFMarshburnJR]

Gigi -

I just posted my samples from last nights circus performance at Reliant in the Houston Showcase. After my experiences, here is the advice I would give you:

1. Take the DSLR and some lens that is less than 80mm focal length. Anything longer than that will likely get you sent back to your car at the entrance gates.
2. Before anyone gets crazy and starts suggesting that the new 10X zooms would be small enough to get in (which I agree with) - the next suggestion is that the lens be a fast lens (F2.8 or larger). My perfect recommendation for this show would be an 85mm F1.8 (or 1.4 if you have it).
3. With the exception of spotlights, it will be dark (relatively speaking). Raise your ISO to at least 640 (if shooting Nikon) or 800 (if shooting Canon) to maximize your shutter speed / noise balance.
4. Because of the roving spotlights, switch your metering to spot or center weighted - I had hundreds of shots (no exagerration here - I am a slow learner) ruined by spots that moved in after I locked down my exposure.
5. Everything is moving fast - set the camera to Aperture priority, select your desired ap and fire away.
6. Take at least two freshly charged batteries and at least 4GB in memory cards.
7. Have Fun!

HFM
6

[acarbo99]

AWESOME ADVICE!!! Thanks so much! I'm off to the Houston Showcase now to check out your shots!

Thanks again,
GiGi

[photojunkie]

Thanks Howard,

We are heading to the circus this afternoon and this is EXACTLY what I was hoping for ...

Thanks for sharing such detailed advice!


I recently purchased a speedlite 430ex . I am wondering because of the darkness if I should take this along. I will be shooting with a Tamron28-75mm 2.8 lens.

Regards,
Sharon

[Cope]

FWIW, my tamron 28-70 f2.8 was short enough to get in for the rodeo.