Wild Wild West - What can go wrong?
Feb 2, 2018 11:08:26 #
Treebeard
Loc: Lenoir City, Tennessee
I'm taking a trip to the western US through Dakotas, Wyoming, Seattle and returning through Moab, Utah. I've been studying so many images by so many great photographers that I almost feel like I have already been there. My problem is that I will likely get only a single opportunity to shoot in these places. I have a pretty good technical understanding of what I am going to shoot, but since I've never seen this area first hand, I seek photo composition advice from any who have done this work previously. What are the do's and don'ts at work here? What do photographers wish they had done or taken into account before leaving a photo opportunity possibly never to return? Thanks for any advice!
Feb 2, 2018 11:23:27 #
Treebeard wrote:
I'm taking a trip to the western US through Dakota... (show quote)
Be SURE to have and use a CPL, and always be prepared for ANY kind of weather.
Oh, and make sure your will is up to date!
Feb 2, 2018 11:31:47 #
If you're going to shoot wide, get close. No matter what or how you shoot, fill the frame. If you can't get physically close, have the zoom that does.
Essentially all best practices apply, such as be to a site before sunrise for the 30- to 60-minutes of blue to gold to daylight. Same for evening shots. Although a tripod isn't required, you can get more consistently sharp shots with a fixed & stable platform. In the desert / red rocks / bad lands, consider setting your WB to sunny and picture style to Landscape for more saturation of the blues and greens.
Shoot lots of different versions and worry about picking the best when you get home. If you typically take all your images standing straight up in landscape orientation, make it a point to mix it up as in seated, on a knee, laying flat, holding the camera above your head and shooting down, etc.
Essentially all best practices apply, such as be to a site before sunrise for the 30- to 60-minutes of blue to gold to daylight. Same for evening shots. Although a tripod isn't required, you can get more consistently sharp shots with a fixed & stable platform. In the desert / red rocks / bad lands, consider setting your WB to sunny and picture style to Landscape for more saturation of the blues and greens.
Shoot lots of different versions and worry about picking the best when you get home. If you typically take all your images standing straight up in landscape orientation, make it a point to mix it up as in seated, on a knee, laying flat, holding the camera above your head and shooting down, etc.
Feb 2, 2018 11:35:52 #
Treebeard wrote:
I'm taking a trip to the western US through Dakota... (show quote)
Doing the research is a very good thing. Are you trying to reproduce the work of others or to implement your own personal vision and interpretation?
Feb 2, 2018 11:36:04 #
Don't try to take a photo just because someone else did it and you want to compare. Take photos of what is appealing to you. Do what you think is right for the time of day, lighting, and subject.
Feb 2, 2018 17:07:24 #
Remember the West id DRY. Relative Humidity, except for Washington (coast) and Oregon) is rarely above 50%. Be prepared to mitigate DUST! Also, wind can cause problems and kick up aforementioned DUST. So add Plastic bags and plenty of microfiber cloths and lens cleaning solution. And a BIG Rocket Blower.
Have a great trip, shoot a lot. Keep the Polarizer off your Ultra Wides because with the wide horizons you will see variations of polarization effect as you vary from 90 degrees from the Sun. The Dry landscape floor and granite rock formations are quite a bit more reflective than they appear. Your Polarizer may help, but beware of carefully tuning your exposures and be sure the reflectance isn't causing auto exposure metering to under or over expose your scenes. Spot meter your selection of middle tone area in Manual and compare with the in camera genius and go from there.
Have a great trip, shoot a lot. Keep the Polarizer off your Ultra Wides because with the wide horizons you will see variations of polarization effect as you vary from 90 degrees from the Sun. The Dry landscape floor and granite rock formations are quite a bit more reflective than they appear. Your Polarizer may help, but beware of carefully tuning your exposures and be sure the reflectance isn't causing auto exposure metering to under or over expose your scenes. Spot meter your selection of middle tone area in Manual and compare with the in camera genius and go from there.
Feb 3, 2018 07:45:11 #
I went last fall, shot what I could and when I could. I was, frankly, more concerned about seeing the sights than my photography because it was a one-time trip--I knew I probably wouldn’t be back. Because of this attitude I had a much better vacation than I would have had I spent all my time fretting about my shots. One other thing--I got a lot of great photos. Don’t let your camera overwhelm your vacation.
Feb 3, 2018 07:46:03 #
The biggest thing in my mind that photographers do when out "there" for the first time is to see a scene and think that the in camera result will be what your eye sees. It won't. Before you go, study composition. The rule of thirds is the best place to start. You can set the camera on auto and get acceptable images, but the camera won't compose for you. That is where the "art" in photography is...
Feb 3, 2018 08:28:39 #
Don't try to shoot too many things at each place!! From all the research you have already done, you probably have some idea what settings in each place appeal to you the most. Plan to do "serious" shooting in the early morning or late in the afternoon- and carry a cell phone for the rest of the time.
Moab is one of my favorite places. And Delicate Arch is beautiful and a fun hike if you are in shape. I also took a tour into "Fiery Furnace" which offered many photographic opportunities but both require some level of fitness to complete.
Enjoy!
Moab is one of my favorite places. And Delicate Arch is beautiful and a fun hike if you are in shape. I also took a tour into "Fiery Furnace" which offered many photographic opportunities but both require some level of fitness to complete.
Enjoy!
Feb 3, 2018 08:58:02 #
olddutch
Loc: Beloit, Wisconsin
Go Early in the Summer as Fires will produce a lot of Haze later in the summer.. I think May would be the best.. Enjoy..
Feb 3, 2018 09:13:31 #
Plan ahead. Be aware of what you want to photograph and when. Your planned trip covers a wide range of latitudes so you will want to know when sunrise and sunset occurs and from what direction. Living in Northern Vermont and having traveled in some of those areas I have learned that a planned shot of a mountains cape can go horribly wrong if the sun isn't rising or setting in the right place to light it properly. Be aware that the sun rises and sets more northerly (read approaching due north) and earlier in the northern latitudes while your trip to Moab will be closer to the east and west for sunrise and sunset as well as a shorter day.
Feb 3, 2018 09:18:32 #
wds0410
Loc: Nunya
Having travelled throughout the west via car a few times, here are my tips. Distances are really vast, its a lot of driving but the scenery is well worth the time. Start early, start early, start early at any national park. You don't mention what time of year you are going but summers are very crowded at most parks (Arches for example near Moab). The Black Hills in South Dakota surprised me as quite nice. Take the scenic drives when possible (https://www.myscenicdrives.com/). The one in Utah is outstanding.
Scout the must see sites before hand so you have a plan. I'll double down on CHG_CANON's advice, its spot on. And don't forget to shoot Raw.
Scout the must see sites before hand so you have a plan. I'll double down on CHG_CANON's advice, its spot on. And don't forget to shoot Raw.
Feb 3, 2018 09:20:17 #
You've received great suggestions so I won't echo them. We have many visitors (some from the eastern US where it is humid. We buy Lip Gloss (or similar) by the case because one of the first things visitors experience is cracked, dry lips. Lip Gloss and bug repellent are important. Take care & ...
Feb 3, 2018 10:21:05 #
MT Shooter wrote:
Be SURE to have and use a CPL, and always be prepared for ANY kind of weather.
Oh, and make sure your will is up to date!
Oh, and make sure your will is up to date!
👍👍👍
Feb 3, 2018 10:35:27 #
This is great advise if you can follow it. Late summers in the western US have become increasingly smokey from forest fires making any sort of landscape photography challenging at best.
olddutch wrote:
Go Early in the Summer as Fires will produce a lot of Haze later in the summer.. I think May would be the best.. Enjoy..
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