Landscape Advice

[wenrob]

This is just something I don't have a lot of experience with as my main subjects are usually midgets er...kids. I want to expand my horizons and have asked DH to take me shooting for my birthday.(alone time/free ) We will probably go to Red Rock or the Valley of Fire. So think lots of giant reddish orange rocks, lol.

I would like to leave the kiddos behind so that I can take my time but this presents a problem as to time of day as I have to coordinate it with available baby sitters and eldest DD school etc. Unfortunately I most likely will be shooting late afternoon but hopefully will be able to get some twilight/sunset time. Would picking up a neutral density filter help? If so what do you suggest?

The advantages are that it's "winter" here so it shouldn't be too hot, I can take my sweet time and exclusively use a tripod if I want.

At the moment I only have me 18-105 VR (well I have the 18-200 but it's all but sold)the D90 and the remote. Any suggestions on shutter speeds or longer exposures towards the "golden hour?"

I know I sound totally clueless but I figure if I asked you guys could help me make this an outing that's worthwhile. I open to any and all suggestions.

 

[Golf4food]

A circular polarizer is likely to do you more good than a neutral density unless you plan on doing long exposures in daylight. A graduated ND filter may help if the sky is very blown out but a CP would have the same effect and would also help clouds "pop" moreso than an ND (though the ND or a graduated ND would be more useful if you are facing towards or away from the sun where a CP will have no effect). If you will be out into deep twilight a tripod and remote shutter release or setting your camera to a delayed timer might be a good idea.

 

[boBQuincy]

A wider lens would be my first choice for the "grand landscape" idea, something like a 10-22. I would also take multiple exposures to use for HDR later. Even if you have no plans to work with HDR now it is good to have those images for later. Its just memory card space.

For now you could also use the multiple exposures to compensate for a blown-out sky or underexposed foreground.

 

[YesDear]

Since you are going to use a tripod and you will be at the golden times of sunrise or sunset I agree with Bob, as usual, that you should bracket the exposures. that is easy to do with the D90. Even if you do not use for HDR later you will be glad you use the bracketing. I would manually focus and probably set the aperture you want and bracket the shutter speed.

Go to Moose Peterson's site and check out his stuff. He does wildlife and landscapes and offers great help.

 

[wenrob]

A circular polarizer is likely to do you more good than a neutral density unless you plan on doing long exposures in daylight. A graduated ND filter may help if the sky is very blown out but a CP would have the same effect and would also help clouds "pop" moreso than an ND (though the ND or a graduated ND would be more useful if you are facing towards or away from the sun where a CP will have no effect). If you will be out into deep twilight a tripod and remote shutter release or setting your camera to a delayed timer might be a good idea.

Okay, a CP, I will look into that. Thank you!

A wider lens would be my first choice for the "grand landscape" idea, something like a 10-22. I would also take multiple exposures to use for HDR later. Even if you have no plans to work with HDR now it is good to have those images for later. Its just memory card space.


For now you could also use the multiple exposures to compensate for a blown-out sky or underexposed foreground.

A wider lens isn't in the cards right now but maybe I can try some shots for stitching. I was thinking about bracketing and giving HDR a whirl. Thanks!

Since you are going to use a tripod and you will be at the golden times of sunrise or sunset I agree with Bob, as usual, that you should bracket the exposures. that is easy to do with the D90. Even if you do not use for HDR later you will be glad you use the bracketing. I would manually focus and probably set the aperture you want and bracket the shutter speed.

Go to Moose Peterson's site and check out his stuff. He does wildlife and landscapes and offers great help.

Curious, why manual focus? Aperture seems to be my preferred mode so I'll be comfortable with that. A stupid question: If I'm in A and set up to bracket that will automatically adjust my shutter speed won't it? If not how do I do this. Thanks for the help!

 

[boBQuincy]

A very good book, if you have time for some reading, is Alain Briot's "Mastering Landscape Photography".

 

[fitzperry]

A wider lens isn't in the cards right now but maybe I can try some shots for stitching. I was thinking about bracketing and giving HDR a whirl. Thanks!

You might consider renting. I've used http://www.lensrentals.com/for-nikon a couple of times with good results. The Tokina 12-24 is very nice, and I've heard good things about the newer Tokina 11-16. Also, the Nikon 14-24 gets fantastic reviews, but won't accept screw on filters. A short term rental wouldn't set you back much and it would be fun to play with a new lens.

 

[YesDear]

The reason I suggest the manual focus is that at lower light your camera may have a hard time determining what to focus on. You will probably be using higher F stops to get more DOF and you can tweek it better in manual.