Setting suggestions for desert

[Mike330R]

Could I get a few suggestions on settings for the following conditions:

Digital Rebel using the 100-400L.
Bright sun in the sand dunes of the desert. Will also try a few sun set shots of the dunes.
I'd like setting suggestions for both landscape and action shots.

I realize this lens is not the best for landscape but, it's the best lens I'll have and I'd rather not change while out in the sand.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[HKFEVER]

Sand, sand and more fine sand in every where.

[who me?]

I would think that there would be a little exposure compensation you could dial in, like +1/2 stop or something, because of the overall brightness of the sand but I have not experienced that yet. Hopefully someone will chime in that has actually done that.

[HKFEVER]

A lot of different size zip lock bag, and prepare to sell the gears after the trip.

I am also preparing for June 2006 to see the full eclipse in Sahara.:lol:

[Vita Rara]

Oh please. With reasonable diligence you can deal with anything. The desert is an amazing place to take pictures. My first trip with my 300D was to southern Utah. The camera survived perfectly fine and took hundreds of photos. I did this trip by motorcycle and the camera lived in my tank bag for about two weeks of riding cross country, and five days in the desert.

I purchased my 300D the morning I left, packed it on the bike, handed the box to my Dad and set out. I only brought the kit lens for that trip, and it took some amazing landscapes.

Since then I have been to New Mexico and did a hike in Tent Rock which is a slot canyon with lots of sand. I don't know how many times I changed lenses on that hike. In other words I changed a lot, between the kit, 28mm, 50mm, 85mm and 70-210mm, they all saw time on the body.

If the wind isn't kicked up just use reasonable precautions. Don't put your bag on the ground. Have someone remove things from it for you. Be observent. If you see sand, don't change until the outside is clean. Brush yourself off also. Make sure you don't have sand on you that will fall into the body. If there's no sand on the camera, lens, or you, there should be none to get inside.

Now if the wind is kicked up, keep one lens on. Decide what you want to shoot and return again another day if you want to shoot with a different lens.

In the end enjoy your time in the desert. It's an amazing place. I would suggest using the info review to be sure you don't blow the highlights. The desert can be a bright place to shoot. Get up early, take mid day off, and return for sunset. There's nothing like sunrise and sunset in the desert.

So, where are you planning on going?

Mark

An example of my shooting conditions:

[robertwgross]

I just got home from about one week of shooting in the desert.

A circular polarizer is a fine tool, although the 100-400 lens is not the common choice of lens. I used mine the other day, but that was because I had desert sand and salt in my foreground and a mountain peak in the background.

If the sand is blowing, I would not change a lens at all. If I must change lenses, then I would jump into my car to do it. If I am away from my car, I'll just wait for the sand to quit blowing.

I use the 100-400 lens just a little in the desert for shooting petroglyphs and pictograms or possibly for a far-off wildflower.

---Bob Gross---