Photograph Indoor Performances Without Flash

The Location:   Indoor Czech Folk Dancing Event | Prague, the Czech Republic  

Learning how to photograph indoor performances without flash can be an important skill whether you’re at home or traveling in some part of the world. There are times when using flash photography is extremely disruptive to performers and the audience. Learning to use the spotlights on the performers is the solution.

One highlight of our tour through The Czech Republic was a chance to see a family of folk dancers perform in Prague. The performance was in a school gym, a setting similar to many school performances we have seen over the years. The performance area was in the center of the room and the audience was seated around the staging area a couple of rows deep.

The area lighting went down and the spotlight shined on the performers. I wanted photos of the performance. In order to avoid disrupting the dancers and the audience in such a confined space, I used the spotlight to photograph.

The Challenge:  Photograph Indoor Performances Without Flash

Using a flash when photographing performances is usually distracting to both the performers and the audience and is often the reason photography is prohibited. Most people are concerned that not using your flash will blurring in the action to the point of ruining the photo. People don’t realize that the spotlights on the performers provide plenty of light to photograph well without using the flash. Making a few adjustments in your camera settings is the key.

The Accidental Photographer Tip:  Photograph Indoor Performances Without Using Flash

As the lighting changed, I set my camera, starting with turning off the flash. I used my telephoto lens to focus on the performers so I could take maximum advantage of the light from the spotlight. I also set the light sensitivity, known as the ISO, to a high level. For most point and shoot cameras or smart phones, that means setting the camera to a low light setting. If you have icons allowing you to adjust for different situations, set the camera to the sports icon.

By using the telephoto to take the reading, the camera set the shutter speed to a fast level, which froze the action reasonably well. I held the camera steady by bracing my left hand on the bottom of the camera and my left elbow on my body. My right hand did the shutter and framing work.

Remember that you are photographing a moving target and the best results will come from taking lots of photos and then editing down to the best ones. I shot steadily through the performance to maximize my chances of getting a few good shots. At the end of the performance I showed one or two of the shots to a tour companion sitting next to me. She rewarded me by saying “My goodness. Those are great. I had no idea you were photographing.”

For simple tips to improve your photography on the go or on your travels with any camera or smart phone, check out my book, The Accidental Photographer for the Camera Bag.

For those of you interested in getting a more  technical foundation, I recommend taking the courses at New York Institute of Photography.  These are online correspondence courses with assignments reviewed by professional photographers.