Tips for hot country photography

Montymint

Montymint

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Hi guys,

i'm flying over to portugal for 14 days and am looking to take my D40 with 10-20mm and 17-70mm lenses. I have CPL filters and an ND8 filter for the 10-20 and ND2 for the 17-70.

Is there anything I should be aware of when shooting on beaches and in general countries where the sun will be quite bright?

I'm gonna try to get my tripod over too for evening / night shots, for evenings Is it better to simply wack a uv filter on or stick with the cpl / ND combo?

Peter
 
Ooh, good question. I was wondering the same thing as I might be moving somewhere hot in a year's time.

I'd say remember to take your lens hoods!
 
hoods for everything to avoid flare

a scrim of some sort could be a good shout

backpacks can get real hot real fast.....
 
If you find that taking the tripod is a problem a bean bag is quite a good alternative
 
a diffuser of some sort that you hold between sun and subject for portraits I was using a shoot through brolly as one the other day
 
- A polariser

- Plastic garbage bag, use it by keeping your camera in it when moving between indoors & outdoors ... keep the camera in it until it adjusts to the change in temperature .. helps reduce condensation.

- Sensor cleaning kit.
 
One thing to remember is that the evenings are lot so long there. You do not get our long period of photo friendly evening or morning light.

Most of your best portraits will come with the sun back lighting them.
on a beach the sand may be enough fill in. but better is to use a folding reflector or flash.
 
Drink plenty of water.

I think you are pretty well-equipped. Tripod would be nice for evening/sunset stuff. Leave it at the hotel when you go out during the day (if you can). You can easily carry filters in your pockets so you can experiment with them out there.
 
Montymint said:
Hi guys,

i'm flying over to portugal for 14 days and am looking to take my D40 with 10-20mm and 17-70mm lenses. I have CPL filters and an ND8 filter for the 10-20 and ND2 for the 17-70.

Is there anything I should be aware of when shooting on beaches and in general countries where the sun will be quite bright?

I'm gonna try to get my tripod over too for evening / night shots, for evenings Is it better to simply wack a uv filter on or stick with the cpl / ND combo?

Peter
Click to expand...

Your kit list is fine. I took a similar kit to Majorca last summer, including a mini tripod for sun rises, creative surf shots and night shots. The shot I wanted was sand castles being washed away in the surf late in the evening after everyone had left - did not work for me, maybe next year.

Tips: take a mini tripod not full size. Keep camera in you bag on the beach, dSLRs do not like sand. Watch out for cold air conditioned rooms and rushing out onto the terrace.

Take your cpl and ND filters.
 
Hi

I'm off on a med cruise in a few weeks time on my honeymoon and will face the same problem.

I will be taking my Poleriser and a ND Grad. I'm interested to know what you will use the basic ND's for... I've never used one before but only really seen them used for slowing down shutter speeds for water shots in daylight.... thinking of buying one myself and interested in its other uses which you must clearly have an idea.

One tip I have found is that sandy beaches in bright sun are a bit like snow and will really cause your light meter problems. I always compensate by + two stops... but see how your meter copes first.

I tend to find you just need to go for it... even though the light is harsh... I'm going to have the added issue that I'll only really be able to tog through the day as I'll be on the boat at night... but then it's my honeymoon so going to take a reduced kit anyway and give my fiancee the time I should... I'm terrible on holidays really as often find i get obsessed with taking pictures a bit... more so than just enjoying my holiday!

I would def take your tripod... but put it in the hold luggage.

Look for detail shots... and try to keep the sun behind you are prob good tips also! You can only try to do the best you can in the lighting situation you are in!

Mark
 
I have never been anywhere there is too much light. Your ND filters are quite light - I can't think what you would need them for, unless you are keen to always shoot at a very low f/number for shallow depth of field, in bright light.

Otherwise, just use the kit as you normally would at home. Maybe drop the ISO to 100 but that's it. Polariser is always good, and an ND grad.
 
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