Color Fiesta take 2

[ewaizel]

Hi again everybody

It seems like I'm getting very close to my wife's performances. She's part of a group performing traditional Mexican dances here in Canada.
I appreciate your honest comments to this set. I'm trying to show the richness of colors and movement of these performances.
This could become a personal project.

Michoacan

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8201/8208076248_848a7c8c4a_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8069/8206986469_47c698a272_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8487/8206986327_91bb3eb4c6_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8343/8206986267_622eac799d_b.jpg

Jalisco

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8209/8208076376_6ed7d58840_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8205/8208076528_7f69367613_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8484/8208076450_1c5aeb9ab7_b.jpg

[Realist]

You definitely captured the color and the feel of motion very well. I am kind of torn though, because some of them I want their faces to be sharp, but you can't have that and the motion blur. Not sure if you have a speedlight with multiflash mode, but that would let you have sharp pictures and show motion. I think composition is very strong on all of them. Overall I think this is a good set.

[ewaizel]

Thank you for the quick reply Realist. My quick feeling is that a sharp face could distract the attention from the main subject which is the color, form and movement.
Humans are so egocentric; once we see a face, that's the only think our brain is processing ;)
Obviously some of the ladies were not very happy about these shots; they were not able to see themselves. I took other ones at higher speeds to make them happy.

[theantiquetiger]

These images will work if bunched with some hi/def images. The costumes are not only very colorful, they are usually very ornate (which is lost here).

I like these images, but I feel there should be clear ones as well.

[Runmonty]

I like the sense of the movement and the colour. It does work really well as a set.

[Mad Aussie]

You definitely captured the color and the feel of motion very well. I am kind of torn though, because some of them I want their faces to be sharp,
This was exactly my thought as well.
However, with a good flash on 2nd sync, slow shutter speed you could indeed get both. It would take some practice and many shots to nail a good one but it's totally doable.

[Realist]

This was exactly my thought as well.
However, with a good flash on 2nd sync, slow shutter speed you could indeed get both. It would take some practice and many shots to nail a good one but it's totally doable.

Thats a good idea, wouldn't have thought to use second shutter sync for this purpose.

[Marko]

This is a fun set - I quite like shot 6

[asnow]

Oh I like these. Very colourful and just enough detail to see what they are about.

[ewaizel]

Thanks everybody for your comments. In this particular set my idea was not to show too many details. Don't ask why, just my artistic feeling.
About using flash to keep the details while allowing some blur, yes that is an option. I want to admit I'm mainly an outdoor guy and my experience with flash is limited :o .
In the special case where the scenario is 15 meters away, I may need a powerful flash right? Any suggestions about models to use?

Enrique

[Realist]

Thanks everybody for your comments. In this particular set my idea was not to show too many details. Don't ask why, just my artistic feeling.
About using flash to keep the details while allowing some blur, yes that is an option. I want to admit I'm mainly an outdoor guy and my experience with flash is limited :o .
In the special case where the scenario is 15 meters away, I may need a powerful flash right? Any suggestions about models to use?

Enrique

Well from what I just looked up it says: Guide number = distance X f/number. This is at ISO 100
For example 15m X f/5.6 = 84m(guide number) at ISO 100.
Say you use ISO 200, you would cut that down to 42m for the guide number.

So in my opinion you would want to go no smaller than the 430EX from Canon since I saw your profile said you have a Canon. That flash has a guide number of 43m. The other canon speedlight is the 600EX with a guide number of 60m, but it's not cheap. Also both flashes have zoom, so it will zoom the flash coverage in when you zoom your lens, so it will give you a little bit more distance.

I personally have the 580EX II, but I haven't done any shooting like this, so I can't really tell you how good it would work for this.

[Marko]

How much do you want to spend? What camera do you have?
You'll likely need to use a large aperture to get the range you need.

[ewaizel]

Thanks Realist that really helps.
Marko, I have a Canon 550D. I could spend from $100 to $200.

[Bambi]

I like the colour but some in focus would be nice too.
I have no idea how to do the second sync flash????

[Realist]

I like the colour but some in focus would be nice too.
I have no idea how to do the second sync flash????

Its either set on the flash or camera. My 60D can set the second shutter sync in camera or on the flash. I believe that some cameras aren't able to do second curtain sync, but a Lot of them will.