Luray Caverns, Please comment

[chakras]

A big hello to all members from a newcomer. Well, I discarded my old Canon SLR for the new XT. Have been using it for over a month now, but still did not get time to go through the manual. Skimmed through it once though :lol:. A long way to go to get the real feel.

1. Photo 1 is at Luray Caverns. White Balance set to Daylight. Over 1 sec exposure. I took this at ISO 100 because it never occured to me (till later) that we can change the ISO on-the-go on a digital:(. No tripod though, because u don't get time to assemble a tripod if u are following the guide. The reflection was fantastic. There is some shake, but it is noticable only at higher magnifications.


2. Second photo was taken at a rest area on the way to Virginia. Dull sky.

[jimsolt]

A big hello to all members from a newcomer. Well, I discarded my old Canon SLR for the new XT. Have been using it for over a month now, but still did not get time to go through the manual. Skimmed through it once though :lol:. A long way to go to get the real feel.

1. Photo 1 is at Luray Caverns. White Balance set to Daylight. Over 1 sec exposure. I took this at ISO 100 because it never occured to me (till later) that we can change the ISO on-the-go on a digital:(. No tripod though, because u don't get time to assemble a tripod if u are following the guide. The reflection was fantastic. There is some shake, but it is noticable only at higher magnifications.


2. Second photo was taken at a rest area on the way to Virginia. Dull sky.

Quite obviously the caverns are not illuminated by "daylight". Using your white balance setting of daylight suggests the photo #1 illumination is tungsten. How does your photo compare with what you saw? Of course had you shot RAW, you could have ajusted the white balance in conversion. On the other hand, the picture you post looks OK as it is.

No tripod for an over 1 second exposure? You must have nerves of steel.

Jim

[chakras]

Thanks for your comment. I am still trying to get out of the urge to shoot everything in Auto mode. I read somewhere that caves look much warm if set to Daylight. I tried to follow that advice. Not using a tripod was not a choice but a necessity. The guides turn off the lights when they pass a specific area. Then u have to wait for the next guide. Standing in a dark cave is not what I call adventure. Believe me, I had to stand about 10 minutes without lights :-(

[Mernya]

I'm going to Luray and Skyline drive this weekend. Any recommendations?
I have a Canon S60. I do have a tripod, but no other accessories.

[Mernya]

I went, most of the pictures have too much shake. That place with the mirror reflection was one of my favorite spots. And yeah, that is what it looks like inside.