Tips for an UWA

Matty777

Matty777

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I have a new Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8, and have take some building shots and been quite pleased with the results. But here and "there" I read about, they are not the easiest of lenses to deal with when it comes to landscapes.

I'm of to the States next month and plan on doing a fair amount of landscapes, so what special technique (as I read on one site, but didn't go in to specifics) should I be looking to use, I hear that compositon is even more important with this type of glass.

Any tips, techniques, suggestions etc etc??

Hope this isn't a lame dumbass question :thinking:

Mtia :thumbs:
 
Many photographers end up with rather boring wide angle images because they just try to include everything that they see. That ends up, quite often with a lot of uninteresting sky and foreground devoid of interest.

IMO, one of the best ways to get a really interest wide angle shot is to include a significant, interesting foreground object as a center of interest (I don't mean in the center of the image).

Additionally, using a polarizing filter on an ultrawide lens often results in uneven polarization because the angle of the sun is different over the expanse of your image.

Good luck on your trip. Where are you going in the States? I may have some specific information about the areas you intend to visit.
 
rpcrowe said:
Many photographers end up with rather boring wide angle images because they just try to include everything that they see. That ends up, quite often with a lot of uninteresting sky and foreground devoid of interest.

IMO, one of the best ways to get a really interest wide angle shot is to include a significant, interesting foreground object as a center of interest (I don't mean in the center of the image).
Click to expand...
Agreed. But I think some emphasis is required. I see so many ultra-wide-angle landscapes where the photographer has clearly felt the need to get soemthing - anything - into the foreground to "improve" the composition. It just looks clichéd.
 
Thanks rp (and Stewart)

I've got a rather busy schedule to balance between, drinking beer, gambling and ooh taking photo's

I Get to Chicago about 2pm, staying at the Airport for the night, but may just take the subway thing in to the city, just hope it's safe!

Flying to Reno for lunch then driving (4x4) down to South Lake Tahoe.

Staying there 2 nights, then heading down 365 past Mono, Mammouth etc to Lone Pine. Overnighting, then day in Death Valley and on to Vegas (Been 6 or so times before, so know where I am there!) Back via Chicago again.

Been to any of these?? I've never done Reno/Tahoe, and the start of winter should see some snow around!! Could be quite "exciting" !
 
Sorry to drag up an old thread but I just uploaded a few shots from the areas you are going to be (Death Valley, Lone pine, Mammoth), and was searching for other images of the area. It seems you were asking the question as I was there. :D

Firstly UWA, I got a 12-24 f/4 just before heading off to Ca and it was a godsend, some of the structures are so big there was no chance of fitting it in without anything else. I found although at 12mm the width was good there is a lot of sky sometimes (as rpcrowe mentioned), but moving about a bit and/or a simple crop usually sorted that out. Also, make sure your foreground "interest" is large, its amazing how a bolder can just vanish when you zoom out.

Have you been to Lone pine/Death Valley before? If not we went up the Owens valley, spent a couple of nights in Lone pine (we arrived at night and the view in the morning was spectacular) and one of the days went up to Mammoth and the Geothermal springs (there was fresh snow around, and the resort had just opened) before heading off to DV. The Alabama hills next to Lone Pine were very photogenic and close. In Death Valley itself there are loads of places to shoot, the best places I went were Dante's view and Zabriskie Point, both worth a visit, and of course the salt pans.

Have fun (and don't gamble too much;)).
 
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