Alaska Weather

[Curos]

I will be traveling to Alaska in about a week, first time with my rebel :D I can't wait. In the past I've only had a coolpix w/ me, and produced some nice pics, but not what i was hoping for. The weather is nearly always rainy, overcast, and gloomy. What camera settings would i use for conditions like this? (besides exposure/aperature, i think i can get those :D) I'm asking for ISO, white balance, etc. I'm still pretty photo-noob. Does anyone have experience with conditions like these?

[robertwgross]

First of all, you can easily select the white balance to be cloudy or AWB.

For moderately gloomy days, you may set ISO for 400 or 800. For really gloomy days, set it for 800 or higher. If you end up with too much color noise, you can always process that out.

After that, it just depends on what subjects you shoot. For landscapes, you can try anything. For wildlife at a distance with a long lens, you obviously have to push up to quick shutter speeds.

I always suggest this: Flip the mode to Green Box (full automatic). Read the shutter and aperture that it wants. Now use those settings to start from, and flip to some other shooting mode, then alter them to get the necessary effect.

---Bob Gross---

[Curos]

Thanks for the advice, can't wait to get my rebel up there :D

[Mitchkitter]

LIES! "The weather is nearly always rainy, overcast, and gloomy"
there have been quite a few days where it was hotter here than in texas in june ;)

currently its sunny, although there is a storm system that just passed....

the only thing you'll have to worry about is haze if you travel north <massive wild fires>

enjoy your trip to nowhere :D

[Mitchkitter]

oah, in all the drama about alaska i forgot to really respond to it...

a 200 or 400 iso is fine... i usually shoot in p-auto but if you must... 200 or 400 will love you.

[Curos]

Hehe, dont lie to the people! I've been there for about 4 years now, this will be my 5th. I don't think I've been up there when its not raining/cold/gloomy. I am going to the Prince of Whales islands, btw, if that makes any difference :D

[Sector001]

when i was there on a cruise, it was beautiful...not once did it rain. it was hot, i was there during the summer.

[sGu]

for white balance, i'd suggest you to use a grey card to get correct exposure, of course, if you can afford, get a light meter, or shoot raw.

i'd go with iso 100 just to get details assuming you take landscape photos, tripod would be a good idea too, just my two cents

[Curos]

Well i'll be fishing alot of it...so most will be wildlife, creeks, streams...etc. Hopefully can find some good landscapes though, maybe a panorama? still need to get a grey card, dont know if i'll have it in time...any other ways to get correct exposure?

[Mitchkitter]

oooaah! you didnt mention that it was south east alaska...


that's just the crappy part of canadia that they didnt want so they gave it to us :P