Once again we are back to Seeger Chapel for the 2011 Dance Recital. I was happy with Emily’s performance in the rehearsal, but she really pulled it out in the recital. She even looked forward to the audience! Of course, I guess all the dancers were looking at the overly excited 11 month old in the 3rd row, next to me…

Mrs. Gay, of Gay Whitt School of Dance, allows parents to photograph the rehearsal every year, in hopes to keep the flash distractions on Recital night to a minimum. The lighting in Seeger Chapel at Milligan College, is really something to be desired. And I being one who can’t handle on camera flash too well, have tried everything. I have done high ISO, fast apertures, slow speeds, and tripods, with nothing but inconsistant results (the front lights of the stage burn brighter than the lights on the back line). This year Mrs. Gay allowed me two hot shoe flashes on stands and two umbrella’s. With that, I think I have finally figured it out.

I placed each flash on the front corners of the stage with their umbrella’s, and metered the two lines Mrs. Gay and Mrs. Robyn had placed for the dancers marks. I was getting f3.2 on the front line and f2.8 on the back at ISO 800, and 1/200 sec., with about a 60/40 to a 50/50 flash to ambient reading, with the two SB28′s firing at half power. Since the ambient was incandescent, I gelled the two flashes with full cut CTO’s to achieve proper white balance in mixed light. I then shot a grey card for an in camera custom white balance. After six years, I think I have finally got the chapel figured out. All my thanks to Mrs. Gay for letting me place the light stands. The above image was shot at 1/200, f2.8, 165mm, at ISO 800, with my D700 and 80-200mm lens. Flash was triggered with 3 Pocket Wizards. I already look forward to next year, I may even attempt to capture a flying ballerina! Now that would be awesome!

Pictured is of course Emily in the navy blue, and our friends Bailey in pink, and Rachel in light blue. The ballerina feet in the header picture are the junior ballerinas, I really look forward to Emily reaching that level.