10D landscape tips and tricks

[RbnDave]

Hello All,

In a couple days I'm leaving on my southwest USA vacation. I'm planning on visiting Sedona, Zion National park, and Bryce Canyon. This will be my first trip with my new 10D. Does anyone have any last minute advice on taking landscape shots with the 10d. I've only had a few days to practice with the camera and I don't want to screw up any opportunities that might arise on my trip.

My only lense for now is a Sigma 24-70 and I have both a UV and polarizing filter.

Thanks

Dave

www.pbase.com/rbndave

[Yavor75]

Greetings Dave-
Well, you have gotten it all right except the lens. I'd do the following:

Use a tripod and manually set exposure for around F11.
At 100 ASA , you might be able to get up over 1/125th, but still use a tripod. I would also shoot about -.7 stop. I'd also go and get a 512MB card NOW..and shoot in RAW mode. That will give you 60+ exposures. Set the jpg imbedded shot for large/fine (check manual). With the zoom, quality at the lens' extreme focal lengths will be poorer than in the center of it's range. Try to keep away from the bottom of the lens' range. Just a tad up will help.
You can adjust exposure back up +.7 when converting the RAW files back- insuring you don't blow any whites. Also, use the polarizing filter..and adjust the ring until you see the definition of the clouds increase.
Got spare money and a good camera shop nearby?
Go buy a 20mm Canon lens. Even the 20mm Sigma DX is excellent.
Also, shoot panoramas by placing the camera vertically and using about 50mm on the lens. Overlap shots by at least 40% (LOTS) and shoot at medium jpg for these. Use the Canon stitching program to assemble them. Remember to lock exposure during pano shots..or just do them manual exposure.
Remember to go out during early morning and at dusk to catch the oblique light- which will bring out the contrast and detail of the rock features.

Go have fun!
Bob

[Lesmac]

Just to add to Bob's excellent advice, use the self timer and mirror lock up on tripod shots, especially at long exposures.
Bracket your exposures if you have high contrast scenes.
Expose for highlights, you can always claw a little of the detail back in mid-tones after, it's almost impossible to recover blown highlights.
Take some lens cleaning cloths with you.
Most of all have fun

Les

[Mark Kemp]

That part of the USA is really nice and should be great for photos if you get the weather.

I am jealous, I want to come too, can you fit me in your camera bag?

Seriously though :---

Don't forget that the Canon software allows you to stitch panoramas together and the results can be very impressive.

Especially for some of the sweeping views in Bryce and Zion.

Get the camera level on a tripod and pan it left and right or use a spirit level to ensure that the horizon is level.

Try a focal length of about 50 to 80mm (at least as a start)

Turn off autofocus and focus manually.

Set the camera to manual mode - select say f8 or f11 or maybe stop right down to f22 if you prefer the maximum depth of field.

Set the shutter speed for the correct exposure.

Set the white balance to cloudy or sunny day as appropriate (not auto)

Pan fully to one side and take a shot. pan about 2/3 of that shot towards the centre and take another. So that baout 1/3 of this pic overlaps with the first.

Repeat the pan and shoot process, overlapping shots, until you have the whole picture that you want.

Take them home and use Canon photostitch (or similar) to assemble a seriously impressive, many megapixel, image.

[RbnDave]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the great advice. I've been playing around with different settings and such out on my back patio. This lense does seem a little soft at the bottom of it's range, but when I zoom it up slightly it becomes adequately sharp. My neighbor's must be wondering why I keep popping outside to take pictures of the back of their home. Also, the polarizer is great. It is overcast this afternoon and the polarizer makes the clouds look fantastic while the forground is still exposed correctly. With my S30 I could only get nice looking clouds or nice looking ground but not both.

Yavor, you recomended using F11. If I have enough light to use F22, should I go that high? My last camera only went up to F8 so I'm not sure what to do with these high F stops. Also, which is a better compromise in low light; turn the ISO up a notch or open the aperture a stop? I am not sure what kind of noise to expect at higher ISO's.

Where do you focus when shooting a landscape? My focus technique in the past was purely guessing. Sometimes I'd focus on the distant background and sometimes on the forground. Niether method produced consistant results. Should I just go manual and go for what looks best through the eyepiece?

One last question. Everyone seems to prefer the Canon Photostich software. I've used adobe's photomerge in Elements 2.0. That's given me mixed results. Which one is better?

Thanks again for all your time. Sorry I can't take anyone along. I'm planning on camping most the trip. I could use a camping guru. The last time I was camping was summer of 1992 and that was on a family vacation. My tent is untested. I hope it's a dry dessert.

Dave

www.pbase.com/rbndave

[Andy_T]

RBNDave,

looking forward to the additions to your already great portfolio! :)

I love your Lake Winnebago sunset pictures!

Regards,
Andy

[scottbergerphoto]

rbndave wrote:
Hey Guys,

Thanks for the great advice. I've been playing around with different settings and such out on my back patio. This lense does seem a little soft at the bottom of it's range, but when I zoom it up slightly it becomes adequately sharp. My neighbor's must be wondering why I keep popping outside to take pictures of the back of their home. Also, the polarizer is great. It is overcast this afternoon and the polarizer makes the clouds look fantastic while the forground is still exposed correctly. With my S30 I could only get nice looking clouds or nice looking ground but not both.

Yavor, you recomended using F11. If I have enough light to use F22, should I go that high? My last camera only went up to F8 so I'm not sure what to do with these high F stops. Also, which is a better compromise in low light; turn the ISO up a notch or open the aperture a stop? I am not sure what kind of noise to expect at higher ISO's.

Where do you focus when shooting a landscape? My focus technique in the past was purely guessing. Sometimes I'd focus on the distant background and sometimes on the forground. Niether method produced consistant results. Should I just go manual and go for what looks best through the eyepiece?

One last question. Everyone seems to prefer the Canon Photostich software. I've used adobe's photomerge in Elements 2.0. That's given me mixed results. Which one is better?

Thanks again for all your time. Sorry I can't take anyone along. I'm planning on camping most the trip. I could use a camping guru. The last time I was camping was summer of 1992 and that was on a family vacation. My tent is untested. I hope it's a dry dessert.

Dave

www.pbase.com/rbndave

With regards to your question on where to focus: Depth of field is not distributed evenly. It is divided one third in front of where you focus and two thirds behind. So frame the picture in your mind and focus 1/3 from the front or 2/3 from the back.
I don't see why you would want to shoot the embedded JPG as large fine with the Raw file as it takes up more space. I shoot Raw and the smallest jpeg for thumbnail.
Enjoy your trip.
Scott

[WSpruance]

I have been to Sedona, Zion National park, and Bryce Canyon in the last 2 years. If you would like to see what to expect please view my photo gallery at:
http://www.spruance.com/gallery.htm
The locations index is down the left margin.
These were all taken with a Pentax Pz-1P 35mm before I got smart and moved into the Canon Digital market.
All three locations have a lot to offer. Have fun!

I plan to be in this area again November 12-16,2003. Anyone else going to be there then?

[mapdealer]

I say blow off Zion and Bryce and come on over to SE Utah where I live (Moab) and do some real photography: Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, San Rafael Swell, Dead Horse Point and sooo much more. Only REAL photographers come here :)
You can also visit the Tom Till gallery, to see some real awesome pics. If you do get over this way LMK, we could let our 10D's meet each other.

[deztoys]

Dave -

I have some really good advice for you. TAKE ME ALONG..... :) You probably won't get any better pictures, but I promise to keep the beer cold and a bottle opener handy.

Honestly, we have a similar trip planned in a couple weeks (2nd week of October). We are headed to Bryce to spend a week in amoung the Hoodoos with the cameras. My wife and I try to get to Bryce every couple years.

We're looking forward to seeing your pics....


SnJ

[danphoto1]

Just shoot your rear end off and and bring a notebook or a mindspring to store the files. This part of the country is just incredible for shooting landscapes they are everywhere at every turn Here are few shots from my very first trip to Sadona about 3 years ago with a d30 and Sigma 28-300 lens I hadn't had the camera very long but theyll give you an idea of what you will see. Get a wide angle 17-35 or prime 20mm. The second link is the Grand Canyon.

http://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=danphoto1&AID=105139

http://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=danphoto1&AID=102652

[D60DIETER]

Get up very early in the morning 3 a.m.. Sunrise light gives you the most clarity. Pictures short bevor sunrise are having a very descent touch.

Have fun.

[RbnDave]

Thanks again for the good advice.

I'll post some photos when I get back.

[WSpruance]

mapdealer wrote:
I say blow off Zion and Bryce and come on over to SE Utah where I live (Moab) and do some real photography: Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, San Rafael Swell, Dead Horse Point and sooo much more. Only REAL photographers come here :)
You can also visit the Tom Till gallery, to see some real awesome pics. If you do get over this way LMK, we could let our 10D's meet each other.

I have been to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks but missed the San Rafael Swell and Dead Horse Point.
There is a possibility I will be back out there Nov 12-16. Will you be in Moab then?
My images from Arches and Canyonlands are available at: http://www.spruance.com/gallery.htm