Tips for newbie in Central America?

[romelm]

Hello,

Does anyone have any tips on shots to try, what we should look at researching/asking about in class, or lenses we should look at to get the best shots in Central America?

My wife and I are both newbies to photography and are trying to figure out how to become 'good' photographers. We are heading to Central America for one month and have been reading user guides and internet help pages, etc... but wanted to ask for any other words of wisdom. We know there is so much to learn and sometimes it is tough to know where to start.

Our setup:

Canon Rebel XT (8.0MP)
18-55mm kit lense
70-300mm (Sigma)

[Grandpaw]

Welcome to the forum! Looks like you are equipped fairly well already. I would suggest making sure you have plenty of memory and batteries with you for a long trip like that. Have fun and good shooting, Jeff

[mn shutterbug]

Practice, experiment with different settings and practice some more.

[reverberation]

Ask a local the direction the sun moves through the sky. Edit: Also watch your shadows every heavily wooded area I have shot tends to have a "personality" comprised disproportionately of shadows. I am assuming contact with a jungle.

[mikeb380]

Practise shooting in areas of bright highlights and heavy shadow. That is the most difficult type of lighting in which to shoot. You may have to go into the menu and set the contrast switch lower to help compensate. If you have a choice, try to shoot in the early morning, before 10:00am and in the late afternoon, a few hours before sunset. You can get a chart of sunrise & sunset times on the internet, just google for it. Mid day light is very harsh and causes a high contrast situation, try to not use it, if possible, unless you are looking for more drama in your photos. for instance in shooting buildings, pyramids, etc.

Get a 2X neutral density filter to help cut light in bright light and use low ISA speeds as much as possible, 100 or 200 would be good. If you decide to try a ND filter, you can ask on here for more info on using it. There are also other strengths of ND filters as well as graduated ones. I don't want to overwhelm you with too much info at this point so recommend using KISS method.

Just remember, you're trying to have fun, don't get uptight about it.
Lots of luck and Good Light
Michael

[Greg McCary]

I agree strongly with the graduate filter and also a polarizing filter too. If you have intenet there try and post some pictures here in critique forums. I would find the subjects to shot and then return when I thought the lighting was going to be the best.
Greg

[another view]

Depends on your level of experience, but the main thing is practice, practice, practice. Try going on a "vacation" near home and taking a bunch of pictures in a lot of different situations. Also, check out some of the lessons and how-tos under the Learn tab near the top right of this web page.

[WesternGuy]

Don't forget to take your User manual with you!! There is nothing more frustrating than being out in the middle of nowhere trying to remember how to get some special effect and not being able to figure it out. :mad2:

Have a look here as well: http://web.canon.jp/imaging/enjoydslr/index.html

As well, have a great time on your trip -- Central America - WOW!!

Cheers,

WesternGuy

P. S. Edit after noting - my 200th post, wow has it been that long. Five hundred here I come.