Any tips for taking pictures of a battlefield?

[jpmom97]

We are going to Gettysburg at the end of the month, any tips for taking pictures of the battlefield and surrounding things? I have a Rebel Xti w/ the 50mm 1.4 and the 28-135 lenses I also have a tripod. I am hoping we have nice weather even though it always rains when we go. Thanks!

 

[YEKCIM]

First off, I'm envious! Gettysburg is a wonderful and meaningful place to visit. It was truly a turning point in our nation's history and it is sobering to think of the sacrifices made on both sides on that hallowed ground.

Main recommendations I would make are...

• Take lots of photos
• Try different angles, even from ground level if you are comfortable with that (and don't mind the strange looks...)
• If time permits, try early morning and late afternoon, paying attention to the direction and quality of light. A little ground fog in the morning can really add "mood" to a landscape photo and that warm early or late lighting can be very nice, as well.
• Creative use of shallow depth of field can make a very nice photo
• Look for details in the monuments, markers, cannons, etc.
• Don't be afraid to shoot in less than optimum weather. An overcast day will soften the light and bring out details in the highlights and shadows that would be totally lost on a bright, sunny day.

Good luck and be sure and post back some of your shots. HERE are a few from Shiloh Battlefield from about three years ago, if you'd like to see them.

~Ed

 

[spinetnglr]

I was there in early February ... its only a 25 minute drive for me. The best light is going to be early in the day and late in the day as the PP said. I have some of the pictures posted that I took that day here if you want to take a look http://www.flickr.com/photos/14910485@N06/sets/72157613624952518/
Closeups of portions of the monuments and statues make some interesting photos. Also with a wide angle some of the farms located on the battle field make for some great photos. Devils Den and Little Round Top are great places for pics and you should try to visit those areas when you have some of the best light. If you go to flickr and/or smugmug and just do a search on Gettysburg Battlefield you can get some pretty good ideas for pics.

 

[Golf4food]

And don't be afraid to take photos of the non-historical things that intrude upon the historic, the juxtaposition of sacred and profane, etc.

Get off the beaten path if you can - there are trails and roads that are open to the public that most tourists just overlook and don't venture out upon at all.

I am certainly jealous - haven't been to Gettysburg in over 15 years and I was but a young teen without a real camera at the time, but thankful my parents were willing to take me around all of the VA, MD, PA battlefields on that week long trip - got to visit at least half-a-dozen fields. I've hit nearly every major site in the eastern theater and most of the western sites except Shiloh, Vicksburg, and anything further west of there. Been a Civil War buff since I was around 6 years old. I may have been one of the few teenagers dragging his parents to battlefields and museums instead of the other way around. I can't wait to get back to all of them again now that I have modern photo equipment and everything is digital.

 

[jpmom97]

Thanks!! I have been there a few times but never w/ my Rebel. Hopefully I will do ok. Are there any settings that work better than others?

 

[juligrl]

I love Gettysburg and all things Civil War and I love photography and have taken tons of battlefield pictures. I actually have a shutterfly album almost complete of a bunch of the Civ War sites DH and I have traveled to over the years (we're reenactors so I have some awesome shots from reenactments too!).
My favorite thing to do - I like photographing the monuments, but I love focusing on a detail. I'll see if I can post a link to my shutterfly album so you can see what I mean.
Also, snowcovered and rain-soaked battlefields do make for some neat landscape shots.

 

[juligrl]

Here's the link: http://community.shutterfly.com/gallery/post/start.sfly?postId=/gallery/1/post/GMGDFg4cOXLhg0bA5oZBCi
I hope it works!

 

[jpmom97]

Your pictures are beautiful!! Thank you for sharing!

 

[jfinke]

I don't know how big it is, but I would research into doing some panoramics.

 

[jpmom97]

I have to figure out how to do that on my camera. It is a 3 hour trip, it will give me something to do on the ride down LOL.

 

[Golf4food]

Thanks!! I have been there a few times but never w/ my Rebel. Hopefully I will do ok. Are there any settings that work better than others?

That depends on how advanced you are with the camera - do you use the preset settings or do you venture into Aperture priority, shutter priority, or full manual?

 

[jpmom97]

That depends on how advanced you are with the camera - do you use the preset settings or do you venture into Aperture priority, shutter priority, or full manual?

I'm adventurous most of the time and use all the settings. The cat does very well in AP LOL. I have taken a few in manual w/ the tri pod of my kids w/ bribery. But all these situations I have time to play around and take a hundred shots and pray one comes out decent. On the battlefield w/ hubby and kids I may not have the luxary of playing around.

 

[juligrl]

Monuments and landscapes have all the time in the world for you to play around - especially when husbands and children have a lot of outdoor spaces to explore before you catch up with them (there's just something fun about climbing through the rocks at Devil's Den...). Have fun! Be sure to post some pictures when you get back!