Saturday morning I will be taking off for Maui - my husband works for Terminix and he won the trip again this year. Living in Cincinnati I never see a beach unless they take us on a trip! The Ohio River just doesn't count. This is my first trip with more than a point and shoot. Last year I was just afraid to take all the equipment. This year, if I'm going so is the camera and all of the lenses and a tripod.
Any great tips to catch that sunrise over the volcano? I hope to get whale shots and sunsets. These are all sort of out of my comfort zone so I would appreciate any ideas that you all think I need to keep in mind.
The only 'tip' I would give re sunsets and sunrises is to be ready for the moment. They change so rapidly from one second to the next that if you're not set up when they happen you could miss the best part. Other than that, hope you have a great time. How long will you be away?
@cdonohoue Be careful of sun spots when you shoot a bright sunset. Don't forget the amazing colors on the horizon after the sun sets. Add a sailboat, mast, or other structure if you can. Rise early because sunrise is my favorite. The farm pic is not at the beach, but to remind you to turn around and watch the sunrise and sunset behind you. And don't forget the flora, fauna, and seagulls. And you don't need the sun to have a spectacular picture.......have fun. Never been to Hawaii, but a bucket list stop still unchecked.
How exciting! Figure out ahead of time where sun will rise and set , find a good vantage point and get there early! Test your settings ahead if time - what is your camera and lens optimal focal length and f stop - bring a tripod - long exposures over water are awesome! Have a great time and can't wait to see what you bring back!
Sounds fantastic. Scout around for great locations first (day before). Check weather forecasts. For a sunrise be there before first light. Dont be afraid to move around. Take plenty of shots. Have a load of fun. Enjoy your time away - Cheers :)
Tip one - be out there and ready :) I would observe a bit first to see what frames I could get, are there any objects or silhouettes that would look great. Tip two - use manual white balance to get the tones right, when camera AWB fails. Tip three - play with exposure (long exposure is my favourite) Tip four - I like it best when the sun has dropped behind the horizon :) Have a great time!
Don't pack any photography anxiety/stress in your bag----just ENJOY ur vacation and have FUN !!!----:)p.s--don't forget the sunscreen and hand sanitiser :)
Maui, the volcanoes are inactive. Road to Hana has amazing waterfalls. Figure out where your light will be rising and setting for your shots. Ask the locals for advice on best locations to spot whales, spinner dolphins, etc. The resort side of the island has the most amazing sunsets over the ocean water.
Cathy - you and I have got some wonderful tips here - people are so generous with their experience! Have a wonderful time - you will see beauty wherever you are!
Hi Cathy, I just went back and looked at the EXIF on my best sunrise shots from Tulum. I used a wide angle lens, f/16 aperture, ISO 800 and set the picture control to vivid. Hope this helps.
Use a tripod and play around with your settings. A slower shutter speed will be brighter while a faster one will capture more colors in the sky, etc. Also, remember that the sun changes so fast and settings you use for a shot one minute will need to be adjusted the next to account for the additional brightness. I live at the beach and when I do sunrise pictures, I always make sure to get there well ahead of the sun so I have time to capture it from beginning to end. Have fun! One of the most beautiful things to capture ever :)
Try and make sure you include foreground interest in your photographs. It's very easy to take sunrise and sunset shots where everything is happening in a thin strip across the middle of the photo, and the top and bottom are pretty boring. Look for features along beaches that you can use to provide interest in the rest of the photo.
1st Tip: I would carry my camera equipment as my carry on. There are alot of thieves out there. 2nd Tip: You may try automatic exposure bracketing (AEB) which will give you 3 shots at different exposure and you can then delete what you don't like. You can find this in the menu 2nd icon top of the list. I use this alot. Have fun we look forward to your shots.
Cathy, you are going to get so many spectacular shots. These were al ltaken onKa'anapoli Beach, Maui last April. I think trying to get another object/subject in your sunrise or sunsets give them more dynamic and interest.. Have fun, can't wait to see what you come home with ;)
Ah I'm soo happy for you! I wish I had done this thread before Fiji! Getting up early for sunrise is the trick for me. Done it once this time on South Island here and it was not only fantastic for photos but also for me (being a night owl I never see 7 in the morning:)) Have a fab time and whatever you do, take photos of you guys enjoying yourselves since you have the tripod. I found that after a while even the most beautiful scenery without the loved ones gets boring :)
PS do not let your equipment out of reach, take it as hand luggage, they will not reimburse you if anything gets damaged on hold (looked into the legislation for it before my UK trip - no chance of compensation).
Many waterfalls to capture on the Road to Hana. Stop at the Garden of Eden while on the Road to Hana. The view you'll see is the opposite view of the opening shot from Jurassic Park. Make sure that you stop and get photos of the painted eucalyptus tress while on the Road to Hana. Make sure you bring several ND filters, the sun is amazingly bright reflecting off the water. Enjoy!
Get there well before sunrise or sunset. When the sun sets, stay at least 15 minutes. Be sure to look east, too. Sometimes the clouds are most amazing there. Keep taking the photos so you get the one you love! The sun changes so very fast!
My only tip, have a great time!!!! I loved when I went there. I didn't have my camera that I have now and actually broke my point and shoot, luckily we had another camera with us, but just have lots of time and have fun :)
If you are travelling with your tripod in a separate case and it doesn't come out on the luggage carosel look for it in the over sized/unusual sized section. Happens to mine all the time and we stand there waiing, waiting only to find it has been sitting elsewhere for ages!!!!
@dmcrisp Hey Maria, I have been trying to get one of those recently here in NZ but was told they don't do them anymore. Any tips as to where I can get one online?
@orca5150 That is still a little up in the air. Do you have a suggestion? I am a bit afraid to take my camera stuff out on a boat. Am packing the point and shoot. I don't have good sea legs.
@cdonohoue I use my canon 7D with my 70-300 L lens it is weather sealed but after time in the water you will want to clean off your equipment because of the sea water mist and the salt.... I have not had any issue with my equipment thus far.... (knock on wood) once on the boat you can brace yourself against the rails. Dolphins at first are hard to shoot, but after watching them for a bit you can notice a pattern and if the water is very clear you will be able to follow them. For them its all about speed try to get your F/stop up to at least 2000+ and aperture to 8. ISO you will have to play with. Whales are a bit slower a little easier to photograph (but you do have humpbacks out in that area right now) and you could see them breach, its the most amazing thing to see something that large get its body out of the water. Some times there is a pattern with that, If you see them on there first breach be prepared and keep focus in the same location. They sometimes do multiple ones right after another.
@cdonohoue you have to do it!!! Seeing them in person leaves you speechless. I went whale watching in Monterey Ca and saw Orca's and ever since I've been hooked... I go out on a boat at least twice a month.. Truly addicted, can't wait to see your pics... Any questions you have about whales let me know :)
Cathy, with sunset you can get nice silhouettes, either people or buildings. If you are shooting portrait of the person against sunset, try to use fill in flash so that you don't get only silhouette but the person face.
I can't give you advice any better than that of Myrna @sailingmusic - just enjoy your holiday and the pictures will come to you! ... but do carry a little point-n-shoot with you at all times, for those unplanned shots that you didn't anticipate ... it's been said before - shoot from a shaded vantage point or use the Golden Hour for the best light and look all around you - take a chair or large plastic bag to sit on and give yourself 1-2 hours for each picturesque sun-set/rise and be ready to keep adjusting your settings as the light and scene changes ... BON VOYAGE and ENJOY IT!!!
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Have a safe and wonderful holiday!
Thank you all! I have a little notebook in my bag that I carry with me and I am going to write down all of your hints and how to's, Don't worry about the equipment. It stays with me all the time. The only thing going in the packed luggage is the tripod in my biggest case as I just can't manage that in airports too. I love you guys. I knew if I asked I would find out so much. Hope to have some pictures worthy to share when I get home!
They said this was prime whale time in Hawaii.
The shots will come to you, wait for them. Enjoy.