| Anyone with children has been in a situation | | | | shoot with a 100 mm telephoto setting at f11 will |
| where you'd love to get some good photos of | | | | only cover 10 or 12 feet to the subject. The |
| your little darlings in the school play. Unfortunately, | | | | most effective combination (and most expensive) |
| the last time you tried resulted in tiny faces | | | | is an APO 300mm f2.8 telephoto lens on an SLR |
| barely recognizable. This was due to the distance | | | | with 400 ISO film. No flash would be necessary |
| and the fact that the flash didn't carry too well | | | | and higher shutterspeeds would be available (1/30 |
| causing a weak, grainy enlargement. | | | | to 1/60 sec). An alternative would be a prosumer |
| Since you have to arrive early anyway, reserve a | | | | digital camera with lens or chip stabilization. Wide |
| front row seat with a prepared sign and take a | | | | and medium angle shots should be metered on a |
| few snaps of your made-up, costumed kids | | | | face that fills the view finder and used for all |
| behind the scenes using the props as a | | | | exposures. If possible, set your camera for |
| background. Snap a few full length photos and | | | | manual control of the f stop and shutter speed. |
| some closer up. If you have more than one or | | | | Exposure readings of the stage at a distance will |
| another player is available, have the children act | | | | invariably over expose the faces by several f |
| out one of the skits (a highlight if possible). | | | | stops, making them appear faded out. |
| Medium shots of the actors interacting make | | | | After the performance, be sure to capture those |
| great pictures. This should take only a fewminutes | | | | excited faces lit up by the tremendous applause |
| if you work fast. | | | | with a few fast shots. Don't neglect yourself by |
| Nowadays, zoom telephoto lenses are commonly | | | | handing off the camera to a friend for a picture |
| used on DSLR's and point and shoot cameras. | | | | with the kids. Finish up with some group photos of |
| Read the manual to find the longest distance | | | | the actors and their friends. When the pictures |
| effective with a fast (400 ISO) setting. An DSLR | | | | come back, make two small albums with your |
| or EVF camera with a 200 mm lens at f 5.6 will | | | | favorite picture pasted on the front, one for you |
| probably be effective to thirty feet. A point and | | | | and one for your little stars! |