Re: GROUP PHOTOGRAPHY

["George S. Pearl" <alps007@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Gang,
   Thank you for the nice words about the Panorama Formation Group
Photography that I have done. I made a complete detailed presentation on
exactly how to pull off such a demanding shoot at the Quebec IAPP World
Meeting in 1999, so if you missed it then you will have to wait for the
book. I will some day write the whole thing up and put it in the IAPP
Panorama Magazine. In the meantime, below is my answer for how to photograph
a group of 125 with the swing lens 35mm camera.

                                   ANSWER to HOW to Shoot the Group
Picture....
Hello Craig!
   Wow...you have asked a mouthful in one question! First of all, the 135mm
format is sort of small for doing group photography, but if that is all you
have to work with, we all start somewhere. I would suggest that you set your
camera up on one side of the room long ways in the middle, and you take a
string and attach it to your camera tripod just at the camera. Pull the
string out away from the camera about 16 to 18 feet or so. Set about 24
chairs in an arc at the string distance to make up your first row. Leave
behind the first arc row enough room / distance for about 3 rows of STANDING
people in rows. Next put another row of chairs in an arc all facing to the
rear. This row of chairs will be positioned using your string pulled out
further to where that row will be. The last row is for those brave people
who will take the risk to stand on a chair in the back.
   For the front row of people seated, you can try to get small folks to sit
on that row and any special people to sit in the middle of the front row.
You might also want people with dark skin up in the front too since they get
much darker as they go further away from the light. Light? What light? You
will need a light. The light either has to turn with your lens, or you will
need to light up the entire group with multiple lights on stands around the
arc. It is always best to have the light color corrected for the film or
have the proper film for the light that you will be using. You may need
smaller lens openings to get enough depth of field sharpness. Slow exposures
up to 1/2 of a second are not unusual for group photography with panorama
cameras. Tell them to hold still! They can do it. You will need to take
several takes because someone always does something stupid and screws up the
shot. You will NOT be able to change film and do more shots on another
roll....don't even think about it. If you get 4 shots, you are doing good.
Although with your camera the exposure times for rotation are much quicker
than rotating cameras, so you may be able to get a few more shots in before
everyone starts to get mad at you and leaves for the bar. You must be in
command of this entire shoot from the second they enter the room until the
shoot is over. If you don't immediately take control, the group will be
unruly and the shoot will go poorly down hill from there. Be an Army Drill
Sergeant and you won't have a bit of trouble. The group will like you for it
also because you will get the job done quickly and they can all go run to
the bar.
   For the middle rows, you will need the people standing with shorter
people in the front and taller people in the rear rows. The chairs could be
for really short people to medium size folks. You don't want basketball
players on the chair row if you can help it since they tend to make the
picture too tall. Also, you don't "want" really obese fat people sitting on
the front row if you can help it, but they always look for a place to sit
down if they can don't you know.
    Have your front row all place their feet flat on the ground and tell
them to place each hand on each knee. Right hand goes on right knee and left
hand goes on left. Most will be able to understand how to do that! Put legs
sort of together so you don't get too much crotch going on there. I can't
think of anything else for you right now, but I am certainly leaving out
something for you to discover! Have a good day mate! Best of luck.
George S. Pearl, BCQDE, BCEP, FEPIC, QPP
ALPS - Evidence & Photo
2139 Liddell Drive, NE
Atlanta, GA 30324-4132

Tel: 404/872-2577
Fax: 404/872-0548
Home: 404/634-1139
Cell: 404/771-9121
ALPS Website: "http://www.ALPSLABS.com"
Atlanta Panorama is a division of ALPS...
"http://www.AtlantaPanorama.com"



----- Original Message -----
From: Joe McCary - <mccary@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <panorama-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2000 9:57 AM
Subject: Re: GROUP PHOTOGRAPHY


> This has always been an area of interest to me as well.  I remember seeing
> the large groups from the WW1 military bases all posed in the shape of the
> liberty bell or some other equally patriotic symbol (I am NO way near
that
> old thank you).  I can only imagine the prep work that went into such a
> venture.  We see so very little of this today.  But in my net searching to
> learn more about the use of panorama cameras I have stumbled across a web
> page where the photographer shoots large groups and has the uncanny
ability
> to get these people standing in near straight lines.  Check out the
> following link.  My apologies if this shooter is a member here...
> http://www.AtlantaPanorama.com/a-ap-table-list-rate.htm
>
> Good luck and let us know how it goes Craig.
> Joe McCary
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: jonchan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx <jonchan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: panorama-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <panorama-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Tuesday, March 07, 2000 5:25 AM
> Subject: Re: GROUP PHOTOGRAPHY
>
>
> > East Coast Photography wrote:
> >
> > I've been asked to do a group of 125 students for the local school - I
> > have never done group photos before in such a formal state - could
> > someone describe appropriate requirements for using a swing lens (read
> > Noblex 135U) for such photography.
> >
> > regards
> > Craig
>
> ===========
>
> Hi Craig!
>
> I've always wished for a chance to do something like that with my 135U.
> But do it only once and no more  :-)
>
> I suppose I'd arrange everybody in a semi circle.  That way you put the
> swing-lens distortion to your favor.  The nice thing is the kids on the
> sides don't photograph fat!
>
> Calculate the number of people per linear foot x number of people deep.
> Estimate around 100 degree angle to derive distance from tripod mounted
> Noblex.  Mark the semi circle in chalk so students know where they have
> to step on to cover the chalk marks.
>
> Now conmes the hard part - doing it: You didn't mention how old the
> students are.
>
> Oh yeah.  As if you didn't already know - No flash photography.  :-)
>
> Good luck!
>
> Please post the groupic on the net so we can all admire it!
>
> Jon
>