Going to be in South Lake Tahoe and can use advice

First off, mods I posted this in another section and got no help so I am sorry if this is not OK I am just hoping some one can give me some advice.

Hello everyone, I will be staying in South Lake Tahoe the first week in March and would like to take some pics. I have always wanted to get some really nice Landscape pics from around the lake and have always been disappointed in the p&s cameras I have tried to use in the past. Every vacation to the lake has been preceded by the purchase of a newer and better p&s trying to get the shots I envisioned in my head, and they have never worked out. About 9 months ago I finally broke down and purchased my first DSLR a Canon XSi. I have been practicing with it and a familiarizing myself with the camera.

Now for my questions, since I live in Socal I cannot get much practice in the snow prior to my trip in March. So I would really like suggestions on what I should add to my kit in order to be prepared for the lake in the winter. I know I will need a Tripod ( I actually have one but it is a POS and already broken) and possibly some additional filters for the glare off the snow. I am open to any and all suggestions for these and anything else you may recommend. I have listed my existing kit in my sig. Thank you for any and all help.

Juan

I'd probably just get a polarizer to cut some glare down. Cold temps tend to drain the battery quicker so may be an extra one to keep in your inside coat pocket where it's warmer.

I'd say that's about it.

just keep in mind...if snow is prominent in the scene, the camera is going to underexpose the shot. i would recommend using manual exposure, setting the aperture you want for the desired depth of field, set iso and shutter speed based on the meter, keeping in mind you need to add about 1.5 stops or so of exposure compensation. or you could shoot n chimp until you see the highlights just kissing the right of the histogram, without blowing highlights and reduce exposure in post if necessary. enjoy.

wernersl wrote in post #9113806
just keep in mind...if snow is prominent in the scene, the camera is going to underexpose the shot. i would recommend using manual exposure, setting the aperture you want for the desired depth of field, set iso and shutter speed based on the meter, keeping in mind you need to add about 1.5 stops or so of exposure compensation. or you could shoot n chimp until you see the highlights just kissing the right of the histogram, without blowing highlights and reduce exposure in post if necessary. enjoy.

I might be mistaken but since when did Manual exposure let us use Exposure Compensation? You can use it in Tv, Av, P, but not M, AFAIK.

Canonboi wrote in post #9113828
I might be mistaken but since when did Manual exposure let us use Exposure Compensation? You can use it in Tv, Av, P, but not M, AFAIK.

easily...watch the meter. when the needle is in the middle, adjust shutter or iso or both to move the needle to the right. = exposure compensation on the photographers part.

Graduated Neutral Density filters ..... a must with that much contrast..

r

Thanks for all the replies so far. I really appreciate it. I will look into the filters you mentioned. Do you have a link to the filters? Today I bought a couple of polarized lenses suggested to me by the local camera store. I will post exactly what they are when I get home. I also ordered a Manfrotto by Bogen 055xprob with a 804rc2 head for a tripod. Was this a good idea?

Thanks again for all the help.

Please keep the suggestions coming.

Juan A wrote in post #9117573
Thanks for all the replies so far. I really appreciate it. I will look into the filters you mentioned. Do you have a link to the filters? Today I bought a couple of polarized lenses suggested to me by the local camera store. I will post exactly what they are when I get home. I also ordered a Manfrotto by Bogen 055xprob with a 804rc2 head for a tripod. Was this a good idea?

Thanks again for all the help.

Please keep the suggestions coming.

i guess it depends on the polarizers you got. looks like you got a good tripod. and thats always a good idea.