Going to egypt - few tips please?

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Pav

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Pavan
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Hi guys, im off to egypt on sunday, and i have only just (last two days) started to use a sony a200 slr.

Please could someone give me some very brief tips on getting good shots? iv been reading through the guides, which are excellent, but i guess what im looking for is some simple, easy to digest core rules to getting good shots? will be shooting:

1) landscapes (beaches, pyramids)
2) Night shots (lit hotel pools, sunsets)

So far, i know to use the rule of two thirds, and balance shutter speed, aperture and exposure.

Final question, which mode is best to shoot in? do i leave it in M, P, A, or S? sorry for the questions, i must say im finding the added control of an SLR very confusing!

Many thanks for your input. :)
 
Also watch out for the sand especially when changing lenses on windy days.

Buy "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson and read it on the plane, seriously.

Oh and Welcome and enjoy your camera.
 
1st tip is wear sunblock, get out very early if you can (to escape the heat). With regards to settings on your cam, you could leave it on Av and adjust the aperture to suit your shot or fail safe leave it on P, but have a play on manual too. Where in Egypt are you going?
 
Be careful what you eat, And enjoy yourself.
 
Don't take a hip flask.

If you see a sign that appears to prohibit photography, put the lenscap on.

Learn how to say Please and Thank You in the local lingo.

Take the camera manual with you.

Enjoy the trip - don't spend all the time looking at Egypt through a 3:2 frame!
 
Thanks for your advice guys, really appreciate the tips. very useful stuff there, both in regards to photography and not!

im going to sharm el sheikh with the girlfriend, and will hopefully be going over to cairo too.

What does P mode actually do, as opposed to M (manual)? This is the one mode i havent used yet?
 
M mode gives you full control over both shutter speed and aperture - both needing to be set by the user.

P mode takes a good guess at the best settings according to the meter but can be adjusted to give a larger/smaller aperture or faster/slower shutter speed by the user. Adjusting one parameter will cause the other to be changed to keep the same exposure value (stop down a stop and the shutter speed doubles - halve the shutter speed and the aperture opens up a stop). In brief, P is almost like Automatic but still allows the user to change the settings chosen by the camera.
 
Hi Pav we went to sharm and we flew to cairo, fly in an hour, had a look around and then went to see the pyramids from sharm on a coach it takes 3-4 hrs also we went to the coloured canyon and a few other trips, Heres what we did Our travelogue and some photos hope you find it interesting

oh yes if you want to go off the Sinai peninsular you need a visa you can get it at sharm airport fill the form in on the plane

Dave
 
Pav said:
Thanks for your advice guys, really appreciate the tips. very useful stuff there, both in regards to photography and not!

im going to sharm el sheikh with the girlfriend, and will hopefully be going over to cairo too.

What does P mode actually do, as opposed to M (manual)? This is the one mode i havent used yet?
Click to expand...

The words 'No thanks we already have one/some/lots' on a tape player is always useful. If you get small notes keep hold on to them - they will evaporate when tipping and it is far better to tip small than try and get change (because then you really feel cheap). When out of the hotel, drink the tea and not the ice. Never go into a spice shop - magically things happen to your wallet (in a bad way). Only haggle for things that you want - it's far to much trouble to haggle for the things that you don't - either way, always do it with a smile and good naturedly. Take a jumper for the evening. Don't breathe through your nose when using a snorkle. Steal a slice or two of bread from breakfast when going into the water to see the fish - the fish will be your best friends and it's far easier for them to come to you rather than you going to them. If you take a picture of a 'local' try and take a picture of something else IMMEDIATELY so that you can prove that you didn't take a picture of them (okay its a really cheap thing to do - ignore that one - it doesn't work anyway). When taking a picture of a local, ensure that it is done with the largest telephoto lens you have. Their hearing is finely tuned to the sound of a shutter going off and if it worth their time, they'll ask for some money. Make 'em walk for it (run is better but not always cheaper). Consider purchasing a bottle of waterless hand cleanser. Never never eat Egyptian money - it is filthy (and sometimes stinks). Ear defenders may be useful in Cairo. Watch where you walk and where the Egyptians are driving - boundaries and pathways are often blurred.

You will have a great holiday, it is 'different', but not in a bad way. Outside the hotel, if it looks and smells okay to eat, it possibly is, but consider buying some immodium whilst picking up the hand cleanser. £4 now is a good insurance policy.

The photo opportunities are huge - enjoy.

Chris
 
Nod said:
.....


Learn how to say Please and Thank You in the local lingo.

.....
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Please .. Min Fad Luck

Thank you .. Shuk Run


Have a nice time, and enjoy. People there are ultra friendly :)
 
If you go on a carriage ride, have a good look at the horse, if it looks manky tell the owner you're not getting in his carriage because his horse isn't well treated, move on to one that is, it's the only way to get them to treat the horses well, negotiate the fare in advance and make sure you specify egyptian pounds as they'll try and bump the price up if you don't.

They expect Baksheesh (tips) for everything, don't give them too much though and the comment about the pens is right, take a box of bics with you and you'll get plenty of smiling kids

I did the day trip to cairo from Luxor, one tip I would give you is have a look at the deals in some of the other hotels,for the same price I paid for a day trip one of the other guys I met in the cairo museum had booked a 2 day trip with a hotel included.

The balloon flights are pretty spectacular but you have to get up at stupid Oclock
 
Again, thank you all for the excellent advice, i only posted this afternoon and have received so much advice, a testament to how friendly and informative this forum is. its much appreciated.

Those pics look great 'just dave', thanks for that, will have a proper read when i get in from work.

Quote:

''M mode gives you full control over both shutter speed and aperture - both needing to be set by the user.

P mode takes a good guess at the best settings according to the meter but can be adjusted to give a larger/smaller aperture or faster/slower shutter speed by the user. Adjusting one parameter will cause the other to be changed to keep the same exposure value (stop down a stop and the shutter speed doubles - halve the shutter speed and the aperture opens up a stop). In brief, P is almost like Automatic but still allows the user to change the settings chosen by the camera. ''

But is this not what the A and S modes do? or do the A and S modes keep either the aperture or S-speed constant, while adjusting the other?

whereas the P mode adjusts one, and adjusts the other to compensate?
 
wack61 said:
If you go on a carriage ride, have a good look at the horse, if it looks manky tell the owner you're not getting in his carriage because his horse isn't well treated, move on to one that is, it's the only way to get them to treat the horses well, negotiate the fare in advance and make sure you specify egyptian pounds as they'll try and bump the price up if you don't.

They expect Baksheesh (tips) for everything, don't give them too much though and the comment about the pens is right, take a box of bics with you and you'll get plenty of smiling kids

I did the day trip to cairo from Luxor, one tip I would give you is have a look at the deals in some of the other hotels,for the same price I paid for a day trip one of the other guys I met in the cairo museum had booked a 2 day trip with a hotel included.

The balloon flights are pretty spectacular but you have to get up at stupid Oclock
Click to expand...

This is true - I went for a week cruising down the Nile from Luxor to Aswan, then back up to Luxor (got a bit templed out) plus a balloon ride to the valley of the kings, then three days in Cairo (egyptian museum, pyramids), and then three days in Sharm for scuba diving and general frolics. Egypt's an amazing place, and where I discovered I really wanted to get into this photography lark - at the time I'd just got a Powershot G5, and when I got back I bought a 350D as soon as I could.

119933908_7886d15890.jpg


I'm scared of heights, but shooting from a balloon is the only way to shoot from on high :)

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More here...

"La shukran" is the most useful phrase in Egypt, being "no thank you". I also had to shout "imshee!" at one very annoying little boy, much to his horror and the vast amusement of two toothless old men who were nearby.
 
If they ask you to change a £1 Coin DON`T. They will rob you blind, It cost me £14.
 
Wear your holiday clothes for a week solidly before you go out there. By this means they'll be horrendously grubby when you arrive. All of the other "new" arrivals will be squeaky clean and white, they' should then attract a lot more attention then you.

I thought up this ploy after noticing how much less attention we got from the local scroungers/kids/tradesmen in the 2nd week of our hols when we were well gritty.
 
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