BLOG 2013
ST EDMUND'S CONCERT PHOTOGRAPHY CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL
13/12/2013
The service was directed by Director of Music William Bersey who was leaving the school for new challenges next year so it was an evening full of emotions. The photography as always as these concerts is to capture the evening with the spotlight on the schools pupils. I started the photography from the highest accessible point for photography from organist David Flood's viewpoint, the 24-70mm lens gave me flexibility to cover some good aerial views off the procession as the concert started.
A quick and discreet walk down the spiral staircase then led me to the front of the audience, the large corner column gave me a good viewing point with Will and the choir to my right, it also meant that by leaning up against it I was not blocking anyones view at all and I also had something to lean against. Knowing that the lighting is quiet subdued at night I used a monopod to give me extra stability, perfect for the tripod mounted collar around the 70-200mm lens. The biggest test comes when the lights go out and the only visible light is available from the candles that the choir and audience are holding. A big test for any camera, the 5D MK3 coped well with it last year but the 1DX was even more at home. At ISO 5000 1/100th of a second (@ 2.8) it produced flawless clean noise free images and focused accurately every time, no mean feat it such low lighting conditions, something that the 5D 3 struggled with. Some of the aerial photos which were only lit by candlelight were pushed to ISO 8000, still clean and minimal noise in the show areas!
A quick and discreet walk down the spiral staircase then led me to the front of the audience, the large corner column gave me a good viewing point with Will and the choir to my right, it also meant that by leaning up against it I was not blocking anyones view at all and I also had something to lean against. Knowing that the lighting is quiet subdued at night I used a monopod to give me extra stability, perfect for the tripod mounted collar around the 70-200mm lens. The biggest test comes when the lights go out and the only visible light is available from the candles that the choir and audience are holding. A big test for any camera, the 5D MK3 coped well with it last year but the 1DX was even more at home. At ISO 5000 1/100th of a second (@ 2.8) it produced flawless clean noise free images and focused accurately every time, no mean feat it such low lighting conditions, something that the 5D 3 struggled with. Some of the aerial photos which were only lit by candlelight were pushed to ISO 8000, still clean and minimal noise in the show areas!
