How to capture an Awards Show – Hint it doesn’t involve your phone

Ramone Nelson from Heritage High School won the best actor for his portrayal of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables at the Shuler Hensley Awards 2017 at the Cobb Energy Center on April 20, 2017. [Fuji X-E2, 55-200mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/4.4, 1/160]

Last night we were part of the “LIVE TV AUDIENCE” at the 2017 Shuler Hensley Awards Show, which is for Georgia High School Musical Theatre.

We were blown away by the performance of Heritage High School’s Les Miserables.

Most other families were not getting these photos because their Smart Phones do not get well-exposed pictures from far away. The images start to follow apart when they crop in because the photo’s resolution drops. Next, it is difficult for them to set the white balance and control the exposure. Now the very best they can do if they know what they are doing is get well-exposed photos. However, they cannot see or recognize their kid because the phone’s lens can’t reach them.

Heritage High School won the Overall Production Award for “Les Miserables” at the Shuler Hensley Awards. [Fuji X-E2, 55-200mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/4.2, 1/400]

I use the Fuji X-E2 coupled with the Fuji 55-20mm. Here are the latest camera versions if you want to buy them.

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We started the evening with the Red Carpet, where our daughter Chelle and her friend Camile came in together.

Shuler Hensley Awards [Nikon D5, Sigma 24-105mm ƒ/4, ISO 1250, ƒ/5.6, 1/1250]

I was photographing this event like every other parent there with a camera.

The school chose our daughter and Joe Pitts from her high school to represent them in the ensemble, which performed the opening and closing numbers.

Joe Pitts from Roswell High School is on the far right with the puppet during the Shuler Hensley Awards. [Fuji X-E2, 55-200mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/4, 1/250]

I shot with my Fuji X-E2 because I wanted a quiet camera while in the audience. It did a great job.

My daughter, far right with Shuler Hensley center during the opening ensemble number of the Shuler Hensley Awards. [Fuji X-E2, 55-200mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/4.8, 1/300]

I chose to shoot the performance on a tungsten white balance setting. This way, as the light color changed, it would look like the audience saw it rather than the auto-white balance trying to correct it.

Shuler Hensley Awards [Fuji X-E2, 55-200mm, ISO 4000 ƒ/4.8, 1/400]

Don’t rely on your phone to take photos of everything you want to preserve for your family memories. Buy a camera designed for theater, sports, or something else you need to capture.