Need Some Idea's

[lourensb]

Hi Guys,

As some of you know by now, I'm new to photography, I use a Cannon S2 IS, with no add on lens. Just the basic compact Digital.

In a Few Days Time, I will be going on Holiday down to the Coast, (Hartenbos South Africa).

What I need from the Experts around here, Please give me some Idea's of shots that can be taken, Like sunrise and Sunset, (They are always stunning, but there needs some extra feeling, to make for a Awesome Photo)


Please can you give me some Idea's to try out..

Thank You
Lou

[DTD]

Re: Need Some Idea's

Here's one idea…

To make a nice sunset or sunrise picture, try to find something in the fore ground that will look good as a silhoette. If you know where the sun is going to rise or set, look for things before hand.

[lourensb]

Re: Need Some Idea's

Do you perhaps have a Example of one ?

What I don't know is this, How much Sky, how much See, how much Land,

Should this also be measured in the approx 3rd's 1/3 Sky, 1/3 See 1/3 land...

Thanks Lou

[Ian]

Re: Need Some Idea's

Hi Guys,

As some of you know by now, I'm new to photography, I use a Cannon S2 IS, with no add on lens. Just the basic compact Digital.

In a Few Days Time, I will be going on Holiday down to the Coast, (Hartenbos South Africa).

What I need from the Experts around here, Please give me some Idea's of shots that can be taken, Like sunrise and Sunset, (They are always stunning, but there needs some extra feeling, to make for a Awesome Photo)


Please can you give me some Idea's to try out..

Thank You
Lou

The best advice is to experiment. The great thing about digital cameras is that you can take lots of experimental pictures to find the one that works the best.

For sunrise and sunsets, try to deliberately under-expose (either use manual settingsor a minus value in the exposure compensation (EV +/-) option. This will hopefully prevent the camera from over-exposing what it thinks is a dark scene, so preserving the richness of the colours.

Ian

[Archangel]

Re: Need Some Idea's

Hi Guys,

As some of you know by now, I'm new to photography, I use a Cannon S2 IS, with no add on lens. Just the basic compact Digital.

In a Few Days Time, I will be going on Holiday down to the Coast, (Hartenbos South Africa).

What I need from the Experts around here, Please give me some Idea's of shots that can be taken, Like sunrise and Sunset, (They are always stunning, but there needs some extra feeling, to make for a Awesome Photo)


Please can you give me some Idea's to try out..

Thank You
Lou

Hi Lou,

Here is my advice for your photos"

In terms of theme composition:

This is something you will understand yourself of how much percentage of sky, land you should include in your photos. A general advice though is to allocate more space to the main subject and its surroundings. In case you want to have a general view of the entire scene and not focus mostly on a particular object it is good to have a proportional ratio in your composition of the entire theme. So if you want to take a shot of a sunset, allocate more space to the sun and to the sea or mountain that surround the sun and less of the land and if you want to give a scenic view of the enviroment allocate a proportional ratio to the whole scenery (something like 60/40 or 40/60). 50/50 usually is a boring ratio in most cases (but not all).



In terms of camera settings:

When you take nightshots, use the camera in manual settings. Use a small aperture (2.8/3.2) and adjust the shutter speed in order your photo to be underexposed by -1EV in order to avoid light blow outs. It is better to have a slightly underexposed photo that you can brighten up (if needed) later in an image editor than have a photo with light blown up ( which is harder to correct later).

For sunrises where the sun light is intense again decrease the Exposure Evaluation by values like -0.7/-1.0/-1.3 in order to preserve correct colors and exposure of the scenery.

Best of all advice, is to experiment a few times by yourself with the suggestions posted. Your camera with the options it offers, gives such ability to experiment.

Good luck and when you come back post some photos to see how things worked out


Regards


George

[joefoto]

Re: Need Some Idea's

Lou,

I read recently that taking an exposure reading from the sky at a right angle to the sun's position gives a good starting point for sunrise/set. Also seem to remember something about setting white balance (not auto) to help preserve the color. Maybe it was setting daylight, but using tungsten to warm up pictures may apply here. Apologize for my faulty memory. Surely someone remembers. Also, sometimes the manufacturers will include specific setting recommendations for specific situations in the manual.

I had the great good fortune to be in Botswana and Zimbabwe November, 2005. The spectacular and varied sunsets are my most treasured memories, more than any of the animals or even the Victoria Falls Bungee Jump. Have a great trip.

Joe

[Ian]

Re: Need Some Idea's

Lou,

I read recently that taking an exposure reading from the sky at a right angle to the sun's position gives a good starting point for sunrise/set. Also seem to remember something about setting white balance (not auto) to help preserve the color. Maybe it was setting daylight, but using tungsten to warm up pictures may apply here. Apologize for my faulty memory. Surely someone remembers. Also, sometimes the manufacturers will include specific setting recommendations for specific situations in the manual.

I had the great good fortune to be in Botswana and Zimbabwe November, 2005. The spectacular and varied sunsets are my most treasured memories, more than any of the animals or even the Victoria Falls Bungee Jump. Have a great trip.

Joe

Using the tungsten setting (the light bulb symbol) will add blue to the picture to neutralise excess red. I'd leave it on daylight white balance setting. Actually, I've forgotten to change the WB setting from auto many a time when taking sunsets and it hasn't usually affected the warmth - probably depends on the camera.

Ian

[joefoto]

Re: Need Some Idea's

Ian, It must depend on the camera -- if it depended on the photographer I wouldn't have anything! Joe