Lens Extender

Distracting Backgrounds when Shooting the Team Shot

The team photo above was taken immediately after this team won their championship game.  In these situations, you generally don't have a lot of time to arrange a suitable location for this type of photo. This photo is a good example of a distracting background getting in the way of what could have been a decent team shot.  This was shot with Nikon's 24-120 f/4.0 VR AF-S lens attached to my Nikon D700.  The lens was set at a 48mm focal length; at aperture f/9; and 1/320 second shutter speed. If I got an opportunity for a "do-over," I'd try taking this photo at a larger aperture setting (maybe f/5.6 using aperture priority) hoping that the larger aperture would blur some of the distant background (the pole, blue railing, bench seats, and wall).

How to Take the Team Photo

The following is an actual email I received recently with questions about taking a team photo:

 

"...I have been asked to take pictures of the football teams. There are 25 kids in the first and 32 in the second. I need help on the best way to pose them. I have never worked with large groups like this and I'm not sure how to do it.

I have also upgraded my camera to a Nikon D90. I do not have a super wide angle lens, but I'm wondering if it's possible to take these group pictures with my 18-200mm lens. Also, I'm not sure how to set my camera so all 32 kids will be sharply focused. I'm in over my head, but explained to them that I could only try. Thank you for your time and advice.

 

Thank You,

Joyce"

My response:

"The camera and lens you have should be ok for taking the team photos.  Try to take the photos outside on an overcast day.  Avoid indoors or at dusk when you'll have to use flash. Try to take the photos closer to the 18mm end than the 200mm end (35 - 50mm is ideal if you can get far enough back to get all of the kids in your view finder).  Set your camera to aperture priority.  Set the aperture to around f/8.  Make sure your shutter speed is at least 1/60 sec if the lens is no longer than 50mm.  Try setting the ISO as low as possible (may ISO 200 or ISO 400 or 800 if you cannot get a shutter speed at least 1/60s).

 

Take several photos at each setting (f/6,f/7, f/8, f/9 f/10).  The higher lower the f-stop number the more likely you'll have everybody in focus.  The downside is the shuttle speed setting will get slower and thus you'll have more opportunity for blurry photos if you cannot hold the camera steady enough.

 

Focus on one kid's eye in the middle of the arrangement.

 

Check [out this team photo example]

 

This [above] photo was taken with a 50mm lens set at aperture f/6.3, shutter speed 1/200s, ISO 200

 

Hope this helps

 

Randall"