Searching for Photography advice...

[writelots]

I've got the camera (Cannon XT-i), I've got the subject (the Wave and Buckskin Gulch). Unfortunately, I might not have the weather or the puffy fraley clouds... Although, snow on the red rocks is always one of my favorites. I just want to do better this time than I did 8 years ago when I LAST hiked through Buckskin with my AE2 that I barely knew how to use...

Anyone have any tips/tricks/ideas/advice that I should keep in mind while I'm out there?

[Jeffshadows]

Nick has the same camera (I think) make sure you bribe him for info...

[JoelHazelton]

Shoot in early morning or late afternoon when the sun is low and the light is warm. When you compose photos, be careful not to include things that don't add to the photo. When in doubt, move closer.

[fricknaley]

please, never shoot into the sun. if you've got a polarizer shoot 90 degrees from the sun for max effect. think about what you're gonna shoot then look at it through the camera. so many times i think "yes" then look through my camera and cringe...turning it off in shame.

it's all about light (and subject if course). you can take nice pictures in any light, some is just better and easier than others.

[Al_HikesAZ]

You take some great photos so you should do fine.

Here is some of my hard-earned basic wisdom:
Make sure you know how to use your camera.
Make sure your battery is fully charged and take an extra battery
Make sure the memory card in your camera is big enough and take an extra memory card.
Even if it's just a disposable camera from Wal-Mart - take an extra camera in case this one has problems. Getting 24 decent shots with a disposable beats getting frustrated with an expensive camera that picks the worst time to malfunction - especially after all the effort you are putting into this.


Here are some composition and technical tips from GrandCanyonhiker.com with some added commentary from me ;)
These tips are about photographing the Grand Canyon, but most can be modified for your destinations.

"Think Small! The natural tenancy is to want to get the whole into a single picture. You can't. At best, you'll get a picture that looks like a mistake. Instead, focus on interesting details or patterns within the canyon itself. Your photos will be stronger and more pleasing as a result. Seek out small details"

"Shoot early or late in the day. The low angled magic light of morning and evening really brings the canyon to life. Colors are richest during those hours. Avoid shooting scenics during midday" (As Joel has already mentioned)(It helps to have an idea of where you want to be at what times.)

"Be Steady! Hold that camera rock steady with two hands. A firm grip will reduce blurred photos due to camera movement. My hiking staff doubles as a monopod. This arrangement saves weight and helps deliver extra sharp on-trail photos at a moment's notice. Even better, use a tripod. I often carry one. Yes, I'm also of questionable mental stability."

"Protect that Camera. Fine camera ruining dust abounds at the Grand Canyon. Dust storms are common. Keep a pair of zip lock bags handy at all times. If a dust storm picks up, double-bag your camera fast!"

"Use a Polarizing Filter. A polarizing filter is your secret weapon for reducing glare and getting ink blue skies. The canyon colors much richer, too. If your camera accepts accessory filters, invest in a good quality polarizing filter. Your photos will really look great!" (My Comment on this one - know how & when to use your CP filter. Too much and it will look weird or you will get too much vignetting in the corners, also consider a Graduated Neutral Density Filter).

And a final tip from Edward Abbey:
"Enter at your own risk. Carry water. Avoid the noonday sun. Try to ignore the vultures. Pray frequently."

[Al_HikesAZ]

please, never shoot into the sun. if you've got a polarizer shoot 90 degrees from the sun for max effect.

Think about the "hand gun" effect Use your thumb and index finger to make a "hand gun" - point your thumb at the sun and your finger in the direction of your shot. This will be the optimal CP filter effect.

think about what you're gonna shoot then look at it through the camera. so many times i think "yes" then look through my camera and cringe...turning it off in shame.

It's not what you see, it's what the camera will see.

it's all about light (and subject if course). you can take nice pictures in any light, some is just better and easier than others.

We seem to keep coming back to this golden nugget. Know where you have to be at what time for the best shot.

[RedRoxx44]

Don't go too late to the Wave or it'll be in shadow. Buckskin is tough, you need a pretty high sun angle or it'll be pretty dark in there.

[ssk44]

please, never shoot into the sun.

Where is the sun? This is the hands down winner for most important thing to consider before taking a picture of anything. If it looks questionable to you, it won't look any better to your camera. The sun must always be behind you to some degree for the picture to come out really good. You can be carrying the most expensive high-end camera made and still take completely lame pictures if five things are not properly understood. Everything beyond these five initial steps comes with experience and typically learned through trial and error.

1) Having a good eye for what to actually aim the camera at.
2) Proper framing of the subject.
3) Properly chosen menu and function settings.
4) Evaluating overall conditions like haze and bad air quality.
5) Making sure that the sun is always behind you to some degree.

[dysfunction]

Sun doesn't need to be behind you. Back lighting may be perfectly appropriate, it always depends on the picture. Just like framing, there's a rule that says to never center your subject, but really that's all about causing eyes to move across the image, if the other things going on in the image make that happen.. centering it may be worthwhile. It's good to understand rules, bad to be limited by them. This is true too of technical aspects.

[fricknaley]

Sun doesn't need to be behind you. Back lighting may be perfectly appropriate

sure. but i'm talking about this: http://www.hikearizona.com/phoZOOM.php?ZIP=85342

that's a piece of my doo-doo. don't do that unless you have to,

[dysfunction]

yea, it's not an easy lighting situation to deal with.. I tend to look to shoot close up when possible then because it's easier to play with the shadows than against them. Now, a backlit individual subject.. with a strobe at your disposal.. can create some AWESOME shots.

BTW, so can simple backlit shots... Alfred Stieglitz's cloud work is a primary example, and part of the reason I moved to the southwest.

[ssk44]

It seem important to add for the more critical readers of this post that there are obviously exceptions to the "sun behind you rule", and this is evident from photo sets posted by more advanced photographers. There are ways around it. "More advanced photographers" is the key element. For the typical weekend warrior photographer, poorly evaluated sun location is the biggest photo killer on most landscape shots taken during hikes.

To many people believe that if they dont buy a high-end SLR that there photos will not be any good. I see so many people packing around huge manual cameras that really have no business using them. Advanced SLR cameras are for "advanced" photographers that know how to use them. There are so many techniques that must be learned and understood to take the killer photos posted by a few select individuals on this web site using this type of camera. You guys know who you are. I am not one of these people and frankly that's a level that I dont want to cross over to. I spend enough time taking pictures during hikes as it is. If your not an advanced photographer, you will likely take better pictures with a $150.00 Canon A-Frame then you will with a high-end SLR. You still have to know how to take a picture. A more expensive camera will not do this for you...

[writelots]

Thanks for all the advice. I think, ssk44, that i'm probably one of those people who really has no business with the big SLR - however, I got one as a gift from someone who wanted to spoil me, and so I might as well do what I can. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to take it down Buckskin with me - it weighs a ton, and if anything happened to it, I'd cry like a baby. I will have it for the Wave for sure, though. I've got a good polarizer for my zoom lens, though I'll probably wish I had one for the smaller, wide-angle, but thems the breaks.

I'll let you all know what falls out of it!

[ssk44]

I got one as a gift from someone who wanted to spoil me, and so I might as well do what I can.

I wish you the best on your photo shoot. Take your time and dont let anyone rush you. There is so much to learn. It's can be overwhelming. I look forward to seeing your pictures.

[dysfunction]

There are a ton of good learning materials available too, from the old school stuff like Ansel Adams trilogy (The Camera, The Negative and The Print, which are still applicable in a digital world) to websites filled with learning material. You might also want to google 'Natural light photography techniques' there are some good resources that address these challenges. Really the only way to learn it is to do it, fortunately this is cheaper than it was when film was the only option. From there composition is the big thing. The general rule is the rule of thirds (google it), this will help get you going in the right direction there as well. As I mentioned before, don't feel 'constrained' by these rules, play with them, play with breaking them.. and have fun!

[writelots]

Got some great stuff - and some crap....But overall I was happy. The advice here did help! Thanks guys!

[nobert15]

In addition to all the good advice here... take lots of pictures! It's digital... go nuts! You can throw out what you don't use later... I've come back from some day hikes with over 150 pictures.