Tips for shooting at the beach

[vettechick99]

I have the XT and just purchased the Canon 28-135 IS lens. Our beach trip will be my first time using the lens.

I try not to use the auto setting, but that doesn't mean I'm great at the others. So I need some help - what settings can I use to get the most bold colors in bright light?

Also, what tips do you have for sunset pics - with and without people?

Would love any example pics with your basic EXIF. I think I learn best from that sometimes.

P/S I just bought PSP so I can do some fixing, but I'd like to limit that as I'm not skilled at it yet. TIA!!

 

[ukcatfan]

The big part is getting your exposure correct. The sand will often confuse the meter and cause you to under expose the shot. You will probably want to use center weighted metering and try metering off the sky instead of the sand. Spot metering is best for this situation, but I am pretty sure that the Rebels do do have it.

For the sunset with people shot, you will probably need to meter for the sunset without flash, but then use a flash. Without a flash, you will over expose the sky in order to get the people exposed correctly. Do you have an external flash, or just the regular one?

Two ther tips. Use RAW if possible and make sure that you do no t get any sand orwater on your camera. Don't forget that there is a salty sea spray that comes off the water and it is not good for electronics.


Kevin

 

[fitzperry]

Kevin's advice about exposure is sound. A circular polarizer will also help with the glare and to prevent overexposing the sky. This thread discusses the use of cp's: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1493091&referrerid=&highlight=polarizer

I used one for the first time on our recent beach trip, and I think it helped, although you can see how the polarizing effect fades due to the wide angle in these pics (esp the second one).

# Camera model: NIKON D70
# Date/Time: 2007:06:21 15:42:29
# Resolution: 532 x 800
# Flash used: No
# Focal length: 18.0mm (35mm equivalent: 27mm)
# Exposure time: 0.0012 s (1/800)
# Aperture: f/6.3
# ISO equiv.: 200
# Whitebalance: Auto
# Metering Mode: center weight (must have been an accident--I usually use spot or matrix)
# Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)

# Camera model: NIKON D70
# Date/Time: 2007:06:19 16:51:57
# Resolution: 799 x 533
# Flash used: No
# Focal length: 18.0mm (35mm equivalent: 27mm)
# Exposure time: 0.0031 s (1/320)
# Aperture: f/5.6
# ISO equiv.: 200
# Whitebalance: Auto
# Metering Mode: matrix
# Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)

Enjoy your trip!

 

[madge]

I have the XT and just purchased the Canon 28-135 IS lens. Our beach trip will be my first time using the lens.

I try not to use the auto setting, but that doesn't mean I'm great at the others. So I need some help - what settings can I use to get the most bold colors in bright light?

Also, what tips do you have for sunset pics - with and without people?

Would love any example pics with your basic EXIF. I think I learn best from that sometimes.

P/S I just bought PSP so I can do some fixing, but I'd like to limit that as I'm not skilled at it yet. TIA!!

I don't want to hijack this thread, but can someone make a beach thread for the S3? Or will some of these hints translate to that, too?

 

[wdwmom2]

Vettechick99

I am now reading Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. What a great resource and very easy to understand .

If I was you, I would pick up a copy of this book and take it along. Or, if you have time, read it before you go. It would be a great "beach read" . And what better place to put this info to work than at the beach with all it's natural scenery and goings on.

Hey, I came through for you with the coupons, and I don't think you would be disappointed with this book.

Sorry I can't help you more than that.

 

[ukcatfan]

I don't want to hijack this thread, but can someone make a beach thread for the S3? Or will some of these hints translate to that, too?

It is basically the same. You cannot shoot in RAW, but you can spot meter where the XT cannot. Without RAW, make sure you get the white balance correct. Techinically you can shoot RAW with the firmware hack, but I have yet to hear anyone that has been able to process them very well.

Kevin

 

[madge]

It is basically the same. You cannot shoot in RAW, but you can spot meter where the XT cannot. Without RAW, make sure you get the white balance correct. Techinically you can shoot RAW with the firmware hack, but I have yet to hear anyone that has been able to process them very well.

Kevin

Thanks, Kevin!

Are you originally from Kentucky, or just a wildcat fan?!

 

[bostran1]

I have an XT too. Here some I took at the beach over the 4th.


Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1250)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 18 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Program: Aperture priority
I probably should have metered off of the sky but it was a hazy day and I was surprised to get any blue at all. Both of these shots were done with evaluative metering but partial metering may have worked better


Exposure: 1/2500 sec
Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 21 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Program: Aperture priority

 

[Anewman]

You will probably want to use center weighted metering and try metering off the sky instead of the sand. Spot metering is best for this situation, but I am pretty sure that the Rebels do do have it.

Rebels do not have Spot meter, but they have "partial" metering which would be closest to spot(just a bit bigger).

I would not recommend center weighted metering for a beach scene.

 

[Groucho]

The other thing to remember about a circular polarizer is that it can fairly dramatically change the look of the water, in that it can cut down on the reflections, making the water much more transparent.

Exposure is tough... you should probably make an effort to keep the sun behind your back, so faces aren't in shadow, otherwise you'll either get a dark face or blown-out sand. I was able to HDR a single RAW beach photo recently to cure this, so it's not the end of the world, but it's a lot more bother.

And, you can always really fiddle with the colors if there aren't people in the frame... here's a shot from a recent trip...

Here's the same beach, with some color tweaking in Lightroom:

Sorry about the uneven horizon.

 

[fitzperry]

The other thing to remember about a circular polarizer is that it can fairly dramatically change the look of the water, in that it can cut down on the reflections, making the water much more transparent.

That's a good point. Some of these pics look more like the Caribbean than Lake Michigan. Ok, not quite, but not like the usual dirty ol' lake.

# Camera model: NIKON D70
# Date/Time: 2007:06:19 11:05:08
# Resolution: 532 x 800
# Flash used: No
# Focal length: 24.0mm (35mm equivalent: 36mm)
# Exposure time: 0.0025 s (1/400)
# Aperture: f/5.6
# ISO equiv.: 200
# Whitebalance: Auto
# Metering Mode: spot
# Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)

# Camera model: NIKON D70
# Date/Time: 2007:06:21 12:04:35
# Resolution: 526 x 800
# Flash used: No
# Focal length: 70.0mm (35mm equivalent: 105mm)
# Exposure time: 0.0031 s (1/320)
# Aperture: f/6.3
# ISO equiv.: 200
# Whitebalance: Auto
# Metering Mode: spot
# Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)

 

[ukcatfan]

Thanks, Kevin!

Are you originally from Kentucky, or just a wildcat fan?!

Born in Ashland. Lived there until '94 when I went off to finish college at UK (GO CATS!!!) After I graduated in '98, I moved from Lexington to Louisville. I worked at LG&E (now eON.US) until '03 when a headhunter got me down to SW FL to work for another utility company. I will always have a special place in my heart for KY, but I am a Floridian now. I does not hurt that I have been a FSU football fan since I was in high school and that I had vacationed in Ft Myers for many years when I was younger. If I had not already known my way around town, my DW probably would not have been comfortable enough to leave KY.

Kevin

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Be very afraid of sand. It will scratch your lenses and filters. It will jam up your tripod legs. It's mean and nasty stuff. Be as careful as you can be with your camera and clean your tripod thoroughly when you get home.

 

[vettechick99]

Thanks everyone! I only have minimal education in metering. I learned a little in a class I took, so I'll do some research before I leave this week.

Hey, I came through for you with the coupons, and I don't think you would be disappointed with this book.

haha! You know I actually thought about ordering the book and having it sent to the beach house. But I could never find a place that would send it on time - and by Fed Ex (the only way I could get it down there). Maybe I'll stop at a large bookstore on the way down. It's highly recommended on these boards and I sure could use the knowledge!

Everyone, thanks for the pictures. They look great. Keep up the advice, I appreciate it (and direly need it!).