Jewish Wedding Approaching-Darkness Looms!!

[Guest]

I shoot with the 100s and love the low-light capabilities. However, I am shooting a Jewish ceremony on Saturday in a hotel. Past experience dictates the ceremony room will exist with a candle-lined aisle and seating area, with a well-lit Chupah. The Rabbi has told the B & G that I cannot use extra lighting, not even for the processional or recessional up and down the dark aisle. Further, even a dim light will blind the guests in their seats for pre-ceremony guest shots.
I know shooting at 12db will improve the brightness, but increase noise considerably. Anyone with experience know what advanced tweakings in the settings I can do to optimize my picture without too much noise?
Thank you.

[scharky]

Well, the best thing you could do is shoot 60i, which will give you a considerable jump in low light. However, what I would do is simply explain to the family that their video is going to look bad. A lot of people don't understand that you can't be a photographer/videographer without light. If you explain this to people, sometimes they will make an exception. I am a videographer as well as a photographer, and recently I was hired as a wedding photographer in Seattle. At this wedding, 20 min before it was to start, the priest told me that not only could I not use a flash in the lightless cathedral that this wedding was to take place, but I couldn't even stand on the same floor as the wedding was going to take place. I had to stand up in the balcony. So I ended up shooting some 1600 speed film, with a 400MM telephoto lens @ F4.5 and 1/8 to 1/16 shutter speeds. There were a few good pictures, luckily I had my tipod, but for the most part, the ceremony just looked bad. It was embarrising for me to have to show the couple their ceremony photos, after I had asked them about the lighting situation way in advance before the wedding. I knew it was going to be dark, but to be shooting full telephoto in a huge dark room a good 75ft from the actual ceremony is just nuts. My suggestion, after talking to the bride and groom, and before accepting the job, talk to the priest/rabbi or whoever about what is allowed as far as photography. IF he gives you a situation like you described above, or like I described, politely tell the bride and groom that you will pass on their wedding, for the reason that "photography", in Greek, means painting with light, and if there will be no light, there will be no photography. It will end up badly no matter what you do.

[powerdog]

Scharky,
I imagine a lot of us have been/will be in no-win situations like that. Just curious: If they want you to do the photography anyway, do you give them a contract that spells out the situation and the trade-offs they have to agree to? Do you take their spoken assurance that they understand? Or do you always refuse the job?

[XCheck]

Don't know about others, but my experience tells me: find the closest exit and walk. Each of us has a reputation to protect, and you never know where your pictures/videos will end up, with YOUR name attached to it. I think most people will be unimpressed by the 'there was no light' excuse.

I'd just refuse the job.

Jerry

[taubkin]

That is true, but if there is a pool of light where the Bride/Groom are, why not just get by without showing the audience... Crush those blacks, and go for the surrealistic feel. Art owns always a lot to ingenuity...

[ericcosh]

Mark:

I've had to shoot some Jewish weddings in the dark. I mean the dark. As long as the client is aware of what it's going to look like without light, then just do the best you can.

I would suggest that you use 12db of gain. It actually looks better than most people can believe, especially if you color correct in post.

I had to do one Jewish wedding some years ago (X2B days) where the only light were a few candles down the aisle. Guess what? The client loved it. The ceremony never bothers me with regard to light. It's the receptions that I absolutely refuse to shoot unless they allow me to use my camera lights.

Hope this helps.

eric

[Scottdvx100]

Actually you can set the DVX to 18 gain if you wish. Look under options for the USER 1 button. Never tried it myself but it might be necessary.

[ericcosh]

Hi Scott:

You are right. 18db will work under adverse conditions, but alas, the grain is pretty obvious, whereas at 12 db, you can get by with it by doing some fixing in post.

For you film guys and gals, you know that dark isn't always a bad thing. I only wish more video people wouldn't be so afraid of it.