Tips on photographing glaciers
Jul 9, 2018 16:06:45 #
A family cruise to Alaska is approaching and I am looking for some practical tips for shooting glaciers, or what’s left of them, with my D800. I’m taking my fast Nikon 50mm and the Nikon 17-300mm. Thanks
Jul 9, 2018 16:14:55 #
I wish I had created some panorama of Alaskan glaciers and other scenery. Today, I'd try to combine 3-5 shots in portrait to combine into panoramas with great detail. Also, check with the ship staff about how they handle locations like Glacier Bay. When we went, they sailed in, paused, turned 180 degrees and sailed out, so all of the rooms with views got GOOD views. The tail of the boat is also an excellent place to see and photograph things.
Jul 9, 2018 16:44:38 #
If you're looking for a tip -- My suggestion is to always:
Shoot in RAW --- More room/stops to play with when postprocessing
Shoot in RAW --- More room/stops to play with when postprocessing
Jul 9, 2018 17:58:54 #
Tagrove wrote:
A family cruise to Alaska is approaching and I am looking for some practical tips for shooting glaciers, or what’s left of them, with my D800. I’m taking my fast Nikon 50mm and the Nikon 17-300mm. Thanks
There are still quite a lot of them. You will need, obviously, a wide angle zoom like the 17-300. The 50 mm is not going to do you much good, given the scale of the glaciers you will be photographing, it will make more sense in the land excursions in places like Juneau, Steward, etc. Have a Polarizer for cutting down glare, and use your lens hood. I also wish, after spending 4 hrs on the upper deck of the ship as it sailed into Glacier Bay, I had brought a monopod.
You already know that the weather in Alaska is unpredictable, so I assume you're bringing rain gear, hats., etc. What I forgot, and I wish I had were photographer's gloves like Vallerret https://photographygloves.com/ or Aquatech https://www.outdoorphotogear.com/aquatech-sensory-gloves/ SOmething that will keep your hands warm but allow you to slip your thumb and index finger out to manipulate camera controls.
One of the things I vividly remember on a cruise to Alaska, is watching all these brand new cameras and lenses held by clueless picture snappers.
Jul 9, 2018 18:12:15 #
Jul 9, 2018 18:16:48 #
Thanks. I did not think about bringing the monopod. There may not be as many new cameras now-we’re living in the age of camera phones
Jul 9, 2018 18:17:28 #
Jul 9, 2018 18:39:19 #
Leitz
Loc: Solms
Tagrove wrote:
A family cruise to Alaska is approaching and I am looking for some practical tips for shooting glaciers, or what’s left of them, with my D800. I’m taking my fast Nikon 50mm and the Nikon 17-300mm. Thanks
It's no different than photographing any other open scenery. Though you could practice with ice cubes, I suppose.
Jul 9, 2018 21:21:34 #
Consider aerial and boating options depending on your location. There are great smaller boat, boating tours that leave out of Anchorage. You will need a half day and will get into areas that the large cruise ships can’t get to. Glacier Bay is great too which is accessible via a large ship.
An aerial option is a helicopter tour out of Skagway. We landed on a glacier and spent a couple hours checking it out and photographing. We got lucky with the weather and had beautiful day.
Good luck and have fun.
Chris
An aerial option is a helicopter tour out of Skagway. We landed on a glacier and spent a couple hours checking it out and photographing. We got lucky with the weather and had beautiful day.
Good luck and have fun.
Chris
Jul 10, 2018 07:15:11 #
Use the same technique you'd use to photograph on snow or a white sandy beach and all the other advice above and you should be fine.
Have fun and bring back some photos to show us too.
Have fun and bring back some photos to show us too.
Jul 10, 2018 08:11:17 #
We just got back the 15th of June from the Voyage of the Glaciers cruise by Princess Cruises. It was our fourth trip since 2008. Don't worry about the glaciers; there are still plenty of them at least in Glacier Bay and College Fjord. Photographing from the back of the boat is great advice as is up on the top deck. Shooting from up on top gives you a little higher vantage point and you can still easily move from side to side of the ship depending on what catches you eye at the time. A monopod would be useful, but I moved around so much that I just shot handheld. It was raining the day we were there, so the rain jacket I had for my camera came in quite handy and the rain made for some nice foggy-type shots.
Yes on the fingerless gloves. I used a pair that were originally made for fly-fishing, but work great for this type of photography. I used an 18 to 55 and a 55 to 200 on a Canon mirrorless on this trip and it worked out just fine. I try to stick with zooms instead of fixed lens as I think they give me more flexibility with setting up the shot and I don't have to change lens .
Yes, the ship stills gets close to the glaciers, stops and turns in a circle so everyone get to see the same thing even from their cabin. One thing I try to shoot when at the glaciers is calving - when big chunks of ice break off. It happens frequently, but you have to be ready as it doesn't last long. You will hear the loud crack first and then see the ice falling off of the glacier.
Yes on the fingerless gloves. I used a pair that were originally made for fly-fishing, but work great for this type of photography. I used an 18 to 55 and a 55 to 200 on a Canon mirrorless on this trip and it worked out just fine. I try to stick with zooms instead of fixed lens as I think they give me more flexibility with setting up the shot and I don't have to change lens .
Yes, the ship stills gets close to the glaciers, stops and turns in a circle so everyone get to see the same thing even from their cabin. One thing I try to shoot when at the glaciers is calving - when big chunks of ice break off. It happens frequently, but you have to be ready as it doesn't last long. You will hear the loud crack first and then see the ice falling off of the glacier.
Jul 10, 2018 08:17:02 #
Just returned from a cruise as well. Attached are some shots from a paddle to, and trek over the Mendenhall Glacier. A normal zoom (ie 24 - 105) is perfect for the glacier to capture its wide expanse. A longer zoom (ie 100 - 400) is perfect for picking out shore details (and what’s setting on the small ice flows) in Glacier Bay and College Fiord. Enjoy the cruise!
Jul 10, 2018 08:23:42 #
Since you are cruising, check to see what excursions are offered in the glacier area. We recently did the inside passage with Tracy Arm Fjord/Endicott Arm scenic cruising, our excursion departed the ship where it reached its closest point to the glacier. We got significantly (much much) closer to the face of the glacier. We then met back up with then ship in Juneau after a 3-4 hour cruise. A big bonus on our trip was the sighting of humpback whales, including several full breaching (think of the Pacific Life commercials). Have plenty of space on the memory card and be prepared to shoot a continuous burst for a great sequence.
Jul 10, 2018 08:36:02 #
And as mentioned by others ... be sure to shoot in raw, so you can recapture the vibrant blue colors of the glaciers in post processing.
Jul 10, 2018 11:39:41 #
If your camera has a snow or beach setting use it. Otherwise, learn how to use the exposure compensation mode (+/-). It is easier to use than going into manual mode. Exposure compensation will keep you from burning out highlights. I agree about the rain. Take a Point and shoot that you can hide under your raincoat for those rainy days. Enjoy the trip.
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