basic landscape setup for winter ..

graycbr

graycbr

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hi guys
As I've just treated the missus to a canon 60D & canon EF 24-105mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens :rolleyes:
She's just said it would be nice in the winter mth's to do some landscape winter shoots ...
Around the local coast ...
As normally do motorsports & portraits etc this is way out of my comfort range ...
So any ideas on kit or a checklist of what we should take ?
 
Gloves. Scarf. Woolly hat. Thermos of soup.
 
Hardware e.g. Cameras & lens should be ok ?
Filters which ones & size ?
 
Alastair said:
Gloves. Scarf. Woolly hat. Thermos of soup.
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Couldn't agree more :) Though coffee is an acceptable alternative for me ...

graycbr said:
Hardware e.g. Cameras & lens should be ok ?
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Yup
Filters which ones & size ?
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Need to make a call on a systemised filter set (e.g. lee - expensive, but flexible) or buying just for the lens. For most seascape type work a hard edged grad is extremely useful, not sure you can get these as screw in filters though (I've never looked I use Lee filters). Sometimes a circular polariser is also useful (this is the only filter that cannot be done in post). For longer exposures ND filters are needed, these come on a;l flavours, many having severe colour casts so be aware. ND filters are available as screw in filters and come in varying "stops" from 1 stop, through to the new super stopper which is 15 stops.

At the seaside I use grads more than any other filter, followed by NDs.
 
To add to the flask bit ... also carry some food or energy bar type things. It's surprising how ones enthusiasm can wane when cold and hungry.
 
The 24-105mm should be reasonable if your wife wanted to try wavescapes (like David Baker), but she might like a slightly wider lens than 24mm on a crop sensor camera. Ultra wide lenses can come into their own at the coast as they can help to add depth and get a more dynamic view, especially if you're at the water's edge with the camera close to the waves. I had a Tokina 11-16mm when I had a crop camera which was very good and they can be bought relatively cheaply now (as far as lenses go anyway). Will your wife be editing her pictures? If not a grad filter kit would be handy to balance exposure between sky and land. A neutral density filter can also be effective when shooting waves to slow the shutter speed and capture a bit of movement
 
ST4 said:
Lots of lens cleaning cloths. Filters and lenses mist up in the cold weather. It is a real problem.
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Get some of those reusable gell hand warmers and put thim in your bag next to your lenses and filters, keping them warm stops them misting. Also good for hands.
 
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A bag to carry the gear (and warm clothing, food and drink). I prefer a rucksack but each to their own. I don't think it would need to be a "photographic bag", any comfortable bag/sack would do (and attract less attention).

Something to sit on is also useful. A folding chair is probably a bit too heavy but one of these -

http://www.military1st.co.uk/produc...lax-mat.html?gclid=CKCf597Okc8CFUMo0wodbtsLpQ

is comfortable, but just a bum mat would be better than nothing.

If night time shots are on the cards a headtorch with a red light option is useful.

Dave
 
many helpful replies keep them coming :-)
 
I prefer something a bit wider than a 24mm on a crop body.

Tamron 17 - 50mm f/ 2.8 is my first choice for landscape.
 
zendog said:
I prefer something a bit wider than a 24mm on a crop body.

Tamron 17 - 50mm f/ 2.8 is my first choice for landscape.
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Like this one TAMRON SP 17-50MM F2.8 XR Di II VC ?
 
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Some waterproofs! I get the ones that fold up really small, about £10-12 for either a jacket or trousers - keeps the wind out, and if you're on the coast with lots of spray you'll keep dry, and if you're inland and want to lie on the ground you'll be protected from ticks and mud ;) And if you wreck them, it's only a tenner you've lost
 
Take a decent packed lunch with you with plenty of water, as previously mentioned.....nothing sucks motivation to get shots more than being tired and starving! I cant wait for it to get in to winter, theres nothing better than going up to Glencoe when its been snowing!!

scott
 
I know sometimes you happen to be somewhere and have to use what the weather gives you, but for a planned shot checking the forecast is useful. Sorry if this sounds obvious but in the past I have been daft enough not to have done so and wasted my time.

The Photographer's Ephemeris is really useful - http://photoephemeris.com/ as is the OS map of your area of interest. I'm a bit of map geek so I would tend to the paper ones but OS maps are available online. I find the OS overlay on Bing Maps very good.

If you've planned well there is usually something to be had from the location but the patience of Job and an ability to say, "Ah well there's always next time is handy".

Dave
 
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graycbr said:
Like this one TAMRON SP 17-50MM F2.8 XR Di II VC ?
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just had a look at this lens ,but I'm thinking it wont work on FF camera's ?
Any other lens should I be looking at for crop & FF canons ...
 
For silly wide on FF, the Sigma 12-24 is hard to beat on VFM and distortion correction terms. Perspective is pretty extreme though - laws of physics apply! For crop, their 10-20 is the budget alternative to Canon's own offering (? 10-22 ?) As well as the hand warmer trick, using a little battery fan to keep the air moving can help reduce the front element's propensity for attracting dew.
 
Get yourself a half decent torch, a head torch with a red filter is handy, you can still see the camera/tripod whatever but it doesn't ruin your night vision if your out after dark. Handy for setting up and finding your way back once it gets dark
I also carry a rain cape for the camera, it helps keeping it dry and helps a bit with dew.
 
graycbr said:
just had a look at this lens ,but I'm thinking it wont work on FF camera's ?
Any other lens should I be looking at for crop & FF canons ...
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I think the standard advice that would work on both is Canon's 16-35 f/4 but obviously pricier.

If you do go near dark a proper LED torch, and a decent cheap GPS unit won't go amiss either. (Though having a paper map as well is also advisable). Don't get stuck in the wild!

And for the sunny days I'd definitely second the advice about a circular polariser. Really draws out sky/cloud contrasts.
 
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