train holiday in Canada

[langland]

Any tips for using my new G9 on the train across Canada in September,I am a very poor amateur and having looked at some of your work I am in very bad need of some help.

Langland

[maxwolfie]

Use fast (> 1/500) shutter speeds if you want to capture scenery outside the train. Low (wide) apertures will allow for more light to allow for more light at quicker shutter speeds. Make sure IS (image stabilisation) is on.

[Kevan]

Thinking about the situation as it might be for you, you might have to learn to pan the camera backwards slightly as you roll past a scene, especially anything happening close to your train's window.

In addition, try to capture the whole story in your shots. Don't just grab the scene outside your window; step back and include the passenger looking out the window at the scene. Exposure might be difficult capturing inside and outside the train, so I'd aim for a proper exposure for the outside and leave the passenger somewhat silhouetted. Watch out about using a flash since your camera will catch the glare bouncing off the window. Do the windows open? Also, with different lighting situations inside and out, I'd be inclined to turn the camera to 'manual' so you have more control of the exposure.. If nothing is happening outside, aim inside, at the little things that make up your train ride.

Practice. Maybe as a passenger in a car you can try some shooting, just to get some practice. Sit in the back seat and shoot from your window and the window on the other side of the vehicle. See what happens. You'll find that objects further away are easier to capture than those up close. The good thing is... you can review your work immediately and access your success; just remember what works and what doesn't so you don't waste your efforts or battery life. Also, when on the train and you have that beautiful scene and maybe a few moments to capture it, take as many shots as you can while it's available. Click...click...click! Just think about reframing (zooming included) the shot in between and slightly changing the exposure as you continue to shoot. After you have 5 shots of the wonderful farm scene, sit-down and view the shots and delete those that didn't work. Be merciless.

That's what I would do.

[Kevan]

Also participate in the challenges here so you can stretch your talents, between now and September.

[denncald]

I haven't been on a train since I was a young boy...that was a long time ago. I searched for some info on this type of photography, and found some interesting issues to deal with. The main issue that caught my eye is to watch out for taking shots through the window glass, your camera may try to focus on the glass, and not the subjects outside. You can read more ideas here;

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080604123621AAf3Y9T

Also, enjoy your trip, and have fun learning to take interesting photos.

Dennis