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So I have been really interested in photography for awhile but have never taken any classes. I own a Rebel 60D and mainly use it to take pics of my family (quick moving 2 year old) and always in the auto mode (but that is boring and I really want to USE the camera). In about 2 weeks my husband and I (along with 3 other couples) are leaving for an amazing trip to Greece, Rome, Amalfi coast, and Sicily. I have been beyond excited about these stops because their landscapes are suppose to be awesome. I'm really hoping to get some amazing pics. I guess what I am hoping to find out from all of you is some cool tricks on my camera to take some incredible pics of both the landscapes (ones that I could potentially blow up to put on my walls) as well as portraits of those traveling with us (I'm the one in charge of the camera). I watched the Tek Syndicate video on the ISO, Aperature, and Shutter Speed. Now I just need to understand how to put it into action. If this is not the place to ask for guidance for a newbie, I totally understand but if it is, I would love some tricks and ideas. Thank you in advance.
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Yesh
1
Sep 16, 2016
Learning your camera will help a great deal, just playing with settings a such. But to really get those amazing photos, its all about composition and lighting. There's so much to go over, but maybe a couple tricks is 1) shoot during golden hour (sunrise/sunsets) and 2) keep it simple, don't have too many distractions on the photos. There's just too much to put in here, but I hope this was something.
jlorenzo
1
Sep 3, 2016
If possible get a few extra memory cards, you never can have too many. Make sure you format them in the camera, not the computer. This is very important as the cards can corrupt if you format them on a computer then try to use them in the camera. Use a tripod if you're thinking of making large prints as nothing will be more disappointing then having a wonderful shot ruined by camera shake. Use a tripod or shoot at higher speeds, remember this as a guide whatever the lens size is the minimum speed is 1/len size ex: 200mm len = 1/250 = F/250. watch your histogram to see if you are shooting too blown out or too dark (except for night photography). take lots of images. I usually will set my auto exposure bracketing to +/- 1 stop. That way when I'm shooting I know to shoot at least 3 shots as this will take +1 stopover, -1 stop under and 1 in the middle 93 shots) just hold the shutter until all 3 are done. If you use a tripod try shooting long exposures and use smaller apertures (f/16 or greater) for sharper images especially of landscapes, use a cable release to trip the shutter. Hope this helps, enjoy your trip most of all and be safe.
Trench
38
Aug 29, 2016
Shoot a lot before you leave. Learn to use your meter. Shoot a lot in low light to get a feel for how to make up for not having the sun or a big-@ss flash (getting a usable shot with lots of light is relatively easy; getting one when there's not enough light is harder). Use that time to figure out your own limitations, too. For example, I know that if my shutter speed is longer than 1/60th, there's a decent chance I'm going to shake and introduce some blur or fuzziness into the shot, so I avoid that if I can. If I can't, I use a tripod. If I don't have a tripod, I brace myself against something and hold my breath. If I can't do that, I shoot a butt-load and hope something turns out. :-D
Also, if you don't have a backup battery and CF card, it might be a good idea to get one. Don't cheap out on the battery either; my experience with non-OEM batteries hasn't been good.
Enjoy your trip! Sounds like it'll be fun.
RyanFromGDSE
94
Aug 26, 2016
Read up or get yourself a pocket guide (or even App) for Sunny 16 rule and exposure. Use an ISO of 200 or 400 and forget the ISO setting. If you go out at night or inside a cathedral or something just go Automatic for those shots for now. Then the main thing is getting a good travel tripod like Manfrotto BeFree or Benro Travel Flat. If those are still too large for you to want to carry, at least get something like a GorillaPod or Mini Tripod but make sure its a size large enough to support your camera. A Tripod left in your hotel room is useless.
Then the biggest two tips I can give you without needing any equipment:
1. Kneel, crouch, lay down, climb up (NOT ON MONUMENTS!), straddle to different heights, walk up to people and things. If all your shots are you standing 4-8ft away at your head level its going to be boring. Move around!
2. Shoot, a lot.
Have fun!
kiki2016
2
Aug 26, 2016
RyanFromGDSEthank you so much! I do have a tripod. I will have to see how big it is and whether I can carry it with us. I'm going to look up a potential app or something.
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