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Help with Cave Picture setup
Jun 16, 2013 20:23:40 #
Hi all,
The family and I are heading into a commercial cave this coming weekend and was looking for some helpful tips on getting the best pictures. I have a Nikon D5200 with tripod, 18-55mm lens. Still rather new to the manual setup with it, so looking for some tips that others have used when taking pictures in caves in order to get the best results.
Thanks
Alore
The family and I are heading into a commercial cave this coming weekend and was looking for some helpful tips on getting the best pictures. I have a Nikon D5200 with tripod, 18-55mm lens. Still rather new to the manual setup with it, so looking for some tips that others have used when taking pictures in caves in order to get the best results.
Thanks
Alore
Jun 16, 2013 20:27:44 #
Caves at times are lit up for special effects for visitors.
Higher ISO use to catch photos at about 1/60th or 125/sec
Check with Cave Info on taking a tripod because they might think the tripod is professional work rather than eager photographer.
Sarge69
Higher ISO use to catch photos at about 1/60th or 125/sec
Check with Cave Info on taking a tripod because they might think the tripod is professional work rather than eager photographer.
Sarge69
Jun 17, 2013 06:37:34 #
Stand the camera on a suitable surface, set the delayed action to 2 or 5 secs so that when the shutter fires the camera isn't shaken and leave the exposure to the camera, assuming you have set the exposure to automatic. If you close the lens to f11 the exposure will be longer than at say f4 or f5.6 but more will be in focus. Using the flash on the camera will illuminate the area near the camera but more distant areas will only be lit by cave lighting. Don't use flash for every picture- you might like the results better using cave lighting as installed.
Philip
Philip
Jun 17, 2013 07:26:10 #
Sarge is right about taking a tripod- they are probably prohibited and if you are part of a group you won't be able to use one and keep up. Check this out and repost your question and you will get more usable help here. :)
Jun 17, 2013 10:26:59 #
I carried a pro set-up with tripod into Carlsbad just a couple of months ago and no one said a thing. In fact, they were quite helpful! Visitors were pretty nice about my setting up on the path and doing time exposures.
I shot in AV mode and most exposures were 10-20 seconds except in the darkest parts. Their lights really do the work for you.
I shot in AV mode and most exposures were 10-20 seconds except in the darkest parts. Their lights really do the work for you.
Jun 17, 2013 16:41:08 #
Yeah, called they didn't seem to have an issue with the tripod. Just made me aware that the tour moves at kind of a fast pace. Thanks everyone for the info.
Jun 17, 2013 16:43:08 #
Do you have to do a tour? Can't you simply go in and go at your own pace? Having lots of people around all the time will certainly hamper your getting the photos you want.
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Jun 17, 2013 21:35:24 #
Unfortunately, thats the only draw back when going to a commercial cave, instead of one that isn't. Still loking forward to it and hope to get some great pictures to share.
Jun 18, 2013 00:24:03 #
Watch your white balance. These caves usually have different lighting systems which can heavily change the colours of different formations .
Jun 19, 2013 00:20:49 #
Azshire wrote:
Yeah, called they didn't seem to have an issue with the tripod. Just made me aware that the tour moves at kind of a fast pace. Thanks everyone for the info.
A monopod is a lot handier in a tour group situation. A flash can be helpful if the subject is not well lit. Check if flash is allowed
Jun 19, 2013 11:30:48 #
I'm not sure about the flash use. I did do some flash pics at Carlsbad, and they were all duds. Most of the formations that made good compositions were pretty far away, and flash would have dropped off before it reached them. The flash pictures I took lack the interest found in the non-flash ones. The way they do the lighting emphasizes forms and shapes and makes things more interesting. Therefore, a long shutter speed rendered better pictures than flash did. One thing I did do, however, was to do some "light painting" with a flashlight. My flashlight wasn't strong enough, but the ranger's light did the trick. Turned out pretty neat.
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