Caribbean

A couple questions... One equipment oriented, the other location oriented.

 

I have the privalege of going on a 10-day sailing trip on a cat in the USVI &

BVI. I'm planning on taking my 30d, 24-70 2.8L, 17-85 and 580ex. I know I

need some sort of protective case like a pelican hard case, but am not sure

what size... anyone have this sort of arrangement in a hard case and if so,

which model? Was looking at the 1450, but it's hard to know which size is

right. Also, is B&H the best place to buy them?

 

Location question:

 

I would classify myself as am amateur. I spend most of my time photographing

my family & friends and a some scenic things here & there. I love the hobby

and would love to get better at it. Going on a trip like this, I didn't know

if anyone had been down there and could give any advice on specific good

scenic locations and any thoughts on settings, lens combo's or even better

experiences. I know this is sort of a long, open-ended question, but this is

really the only place I know where to get good photographic advice.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Chris

Chris - I do not own any Pelican cases and cannot comment on the size that you would

need. B&H, however, is a great place to buy it from. Instead of ordering it online, why don't

you place an order over the phone and get advice from a sales person there. In my

experience, they are very helpful and knowledgable.

 

In terms of your location, you shouldn't have any problems getting nices scenery to take

pictures of. That said, the bright blue water, combined with a bright (and hopefully blue)

sky can sometimes confues your TTL metering system. Keep that in mind and adjust

exposures accordingly. I wish I could provide you with some sort of formular to guarantee

good pictures but it all really depends more on experience and knowing your eqiupment

well.

 

When it come down to it, it is difficult to go completely wrong with beautiful locations. At

least some of the pictures you will take WILL be fantastic (usually within the parameters of

your exeperience and expectations.) For now, don't worry too much about lens combos or

any specific settings. If you feel you need DOF, adjust accordingly. If you find something

that should be the focus of your photo while setting it off against a beautiful background

(say a beautiful shell on the beach with blue waters or palm trees in the background), then

adjust your setting so that the shell is in focus while the background is blurred. Think

about composition, the factors that lend depth to a photo, and about what you want the

photo to convey. There is always a tendency to jam as much into a picture as possible. It is

usually much more rewarding to focus on just one or two objects...

I would suggest a circular polarizer to cut out some of the water's glare, make the sky bluer, etc.

Manuel,

 

Thank you very much for the feedback. I appreciate it. With regards to the metering... will this cause the pictures to usually be overexposed? Will a circular polarizer, such as Robert suggested, help to compensate for this or do I just need to adjust the exposure down slightly during the harshest light? I know they are generic questions, but I appreciate the feedback. Thanks.

Chris, I don't understand why you feel you need a hard case. I guess it's personal choice but I have traveled to the Caribbean before and never felt the need for it.

 

As for what to photograph..... well, the Caribbean's pretty big. You don't say what islands you will be visiting but from my experience, a CPL is usually helpful because of the sky and water reflection. I would think the 17-85 would be your workhorse lens but the 24-70 will be nice for those low light moments or shallow DOF that you can't get from the 17-85.

 

Sounds like a great trip. Have a ball.

First off I wouldn't be looking for a hard case if you're going on a cat. I think I would be more concerned with a waterproof housing. I just saw some ads in Boston magazine for sailing outings and wondered about the chances of sea water splashing into my cameras.

 

I use a regular polarizer on a Sony 828. I've heard the circulars are better for some types of sensors.

The Baths on Virgin Gorda and on St john any place in the Park