Holiday Help!

CarolF

CarolF

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They call me Carol
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I'm off on my hols in 2 1/2 weeks and need some advice (funny that!)

I'm going to be walking the entire length of Hadrian's Wall from Newcastle to Bowness in 8 days. It's the farthest North I've ever been (Manchester is currently my limit) and I'm really looking forward to it.

My current kit:
450D, Canon 18-55mm, Tamron 70-300mm, 2 batteries, 2 x 8GB cards, cheap light weight monopod, p&s backup camera (and beanbag will be on order). I've got a tripod, but I'm sorely tempted to leave it at home because it's quite heavy. I could leave it in the suitcase, but then I'd only be able to use it in the evenings.

What I'm after:
Is this kit enough (bearing in mind I've got to carry it along with my day rucksack and I'm a weed) - i.e. do I need more batteries/memory? I can't see me getting any additional lenses because mine currently do what I want.

I'm not after wow photographs (because I know I'm not quite capable of that yet), but enough good ones to make me happy and the odd stunner (more probably down to Lady luck). I know I'm going to be going through some stunning scenery and really want to do it justice. Unfortunately, I can't stay in one place for too long because we've got b&b's to get to which means I can't wait for the right light :'( I know I may get a few snaps, because hubby gets bored if I take too long, but I can handle that (and him! :lol:)

What I'm after is a few hints and tips that will help me produce some good shots and some ideas (stereotypical or not) of things that are worth shooting. I'm mostly a landscape person with the odd venture towards buildings and flowers (I'm rubbish at shooting people), but I'd like a range of things possibly with the view of producing a photobook when we get back, so we'll actually LOOK at our photos.

I don't want to end up with blown skies, boring fuzzy, bland shots, so I got 100 better Landscapes, Understanding Exposure and a basic book on composition for my Birthday this week to read and digest before I go and probably take with me.

We're staying in Twice Brewed one night, so I really want to get out to Sycamore Gap. I know it's been done to death, but I haven't shot it yet! :lol: I'm also looking forward to Walltown Crags, Houseteads, Corbridge, Bromlee Lough, Birdoswald and the end of it all in Bowness on Solway!

Oh and I'll bore you with some images when I get back, so if you want some nice shots, I'll need some ideas :D
 
You seem to be quite well prepared. How about a microfibre cloth or a lenspen perhaps?

I know you've said that the lenses you have do what you want, but given where you're going and the fact that you've said you're 'mostly a landscape person' would a wide-angle lens be useful perhaps?
 
Don't know what walking you are used to. However, looks like you will be averaging about 10 miles per day which is quite modest. Nevertheless, weight is the walkers enemy and you'll have waterproof clothing, food, water etc. Carry too much and you'll replace pleasure with misery.

The wide angle lens is a good suggestion, but I'd forget the 70 - 300 and the monopod (and tripod).
I'd even forget the bean bag because you can roll up a piece of clothing or use your rucksac for the same purpose.
 
Thanks for the suggestions Chumpalot and arclight, it's greatly appreciated.

As for the walking, hubby will be carrying water, I get the food and all our clothes etc are being shipped from B&B to B&B. This means all we need is waterproofs, sun tan lotion, food, water, maps and cameras. We've been carrying all that when we go out in preparation and normally cover 12 miles at a reasonable pace (3 1/2 mile/h) twice a weekend, as well as taking advantage of the recent bank holidays for extra walking. We've never done big walks (over 9/10 miles) more than 3 days in 4, so I know I may well struggle on the last 2 days, but the last day is fairly flat and I know I can walk when I'm physically and mentally shattered (I'm just rubbish company apprently). Our biggest walk has been 17 miles and we've done that 3 times now.

I want to keep the weight down as much as possible, so I've even swapped camera bags to one that just fits both my lenses in, plus spare battery and cards. I had toyed with the idea of hiring a 10-22 from StewartR a while ago, but then I'd have the extra weight of it too, and as I said in my OP - I'm a weed!
 
what about some ND grads not too heavy, but I am uncertain as to whether you would need a tripod for them or if its ok without
 
Hi Carol

On things to take I would say:

An extra camera card - If funds allow.
Thick plastic bin bag – For sitting/kneeling on.
Small roll of black gaffer tape – For holding, repairing and multitude of other stuff.
Shower cap (often to be found free in hotel bathrooms) – For ultra quick camera weather protection.
Small torch - Aldi do a great cheap little wind-up number.

Also consider:

Replace the tripod for a homemade string and bolt camera steady – Google should find an example if you need it.
Shoot in RAW – To sort those dodgy exposures and blown out skies.

Looking forward to seeing the shots.
Have a good holiday.

Sam-D
 
CarolF said:
Thanks for the suggestions Chumpalot and arclight, it's greatly appreciated.

As for the walking, hubby will be carrying water, I get the food and all our clothes etc are being shipped from B&B to B&B. This means all we need is waterproofs, sun tan lotion, food, water, maps and cameras. We've been carrying all that when we go out in preparation and normally cover 12 miles at a reasonable pace (3 1/2 mile/h) twice a weekend, as well as taking advantage of the recent bank holidays for extra walking. We've never done big walks (over 9/10 miles) more than 3 days in 4, so I know I may well struggle on the last 2 days, but the last day is fairly flat and I know I can walk when I'm physically and mentally shattered (I'm just rubbish company apprently). Our biggest walk has been 17 miles and we've done that 3 times now.

I want to keep the weight down as much as possible, so I've even swapped camera bags to one that just fits both my lenses in, plus spare battery and cards. I had toyed with the idea of hiring a 10-22 from StewartR a while ago, but then I'd have the extra weight of it too, and as I said in my OP - I'm a weed!
Click to expand...

Glad hubby is doing the sherpa bit.

When you say you are a weed does that mean you are built like a stick insect?

One other thing to pack - Avon Skin So foft Body Spray - superb insect/midge repellant and is not messy like conventional repellants are.
Good thing to remember on walks is to regulary stop for a 10 min break and have a little food and water even if you feel you don't need it.

Have a good trip.
 
:D
arclight said:
When you say you are a weed does that mean you are built like a stick insect?
Click to expand...

Not quite, but I've lost nearly a stone this year with all the extra excercise (I'm nearly a perfect 12 now, and above average height for a woman). I'm probably tougher than I realise, but I was raised surrounded by teenage boys and young men as my dad was a youth worker, so I was always the underling who couldn't carry as much, go as far/fast. I probably underestimate what I can actually do because of it.

Thanks for the extra tips though, we probably drink frequently enough, but only stop to eat every 1 1/2 - 2 hours, but then we are just walking with the occasional photo stop.

Our aim on holiday is to try to slow the pace down and take it easy (we are on holiday after all!), and I know I'll be shooting a lot more which will help with the breaks. We'll also need to navigate which will slow us. What we've tried to do is push ourselves now with the aim of making it an enjoyable holiday.

I do hope the weather is a little cooler though! :D
 
david1701 said:
what about some ND grads not too heavy, but I am uncertain as to whether you would need a tripod for them or if its ok without
Click to expand...
Good plan. The alternative is a tripod and bracketing the shots for blending in photoshop afterwards.
The filters will be a lot lighter than the tripod ;)
 
I'm going to be walking the entire length of Hadrian's Wall from Newcastle to Bowness in 8 days. It's the farthest North I've ever been (Manchester is currently my limit) and I'm really looking forward to it.

I didnt know there was anything farther north than Manchester :) Have a great holiday
Bob
 
Sorry to bring this back up again, but as I'm off on Wednesday morning, I thought I'd check if anyone else had something to offer.

I started shooting RAW a couple of weeks ago (started off with RAW + jpg as a back-up plan, then decided I didn't need jpg). However, my editing skills still leave much to be desired, but they are slowly getting better. I was really impressed with what extra you can achieve with RAW, so now I'm sticking to it. Thanks to Sam-D for giving me that extra shove up the derrier I needed!

Batteries will be charged tonight and cards wiped for both cameras, so they'll be ready. But what else have I forgotten?
 
CarolF said:
Sorry to bring this back up again, but as I'm off on Wednesday morning, I thought I'd check if anyone else had something to offer................... etc.

?
Click to expand...

You are on your own now.
Go for it!
 
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