Slide Film for St. John USVI trip (May 2004)

[ben_shields]

I was wondering if any of you had any slide film recommendations for

my trip to St. John (U.S. Virgin Islands). Mostly hoping to shoot

landscape shots since I can't afford the underwater gear at the

moment. Any advice from your experience in the Virgin Islands or

elsewhere in the Caribbean would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

 

Ben

[m_.]

If you like punchy colors, Velvia is great.

 

If you shoot people, Astia 100.

 

If you want to carry only one film for everything, Fuji RMS 100/1000 is in order.

[jim r]

Ben,

 

On my last trip down I shot mostly Astia, I saved Velvia for flat lighting situations. IMHO I find Velvia is a bit too saturated for the already colorful island of St. John. In negative films I like using Portra NC and Reala.

 

If your interested in underwater photography there is a great photographer (see http://www.stevesimonsen.vi/) that rents Sea and Sea cameras and who will also spend the day with you on a snorkel/dive boat for a fee.

 

Happy Trails...

[todd_phillips1]

Wentong,

 

I've heard from a Fuji rep that RMS 100/1000 is discontinued. If you like it (and I've used it and it pushes well) then I'd hoard some if you can find it.

[m_.]

Todd: I got some from a local spro store that expires 12/05. I can spare some with you in a sealed box (20 rolls) at $2.50. Let me know.

[scott_ferris]

Hi Ben,

 

I live down here and IMHO you need Velvia 50 and 100, that is

the only way to get the punch from the sea and greenery ( blues

and greens, so i preffer Fuji to Kodak). You also need a polarizer

as the water reflections are very strong and the foliage gets

washed out. Flash is good for balancing out high contrast

scenes ( under the shades of palm trees) and I find Velvia 100

and Provia very good for the candid portrait stuff. Though again

you sometimes need fill flash or accept the contrast limitations

inherent in the slide film. (Locals can be VERY funny about

having there picture taken, don't even attempt street portraits in

the BVI ! )

 

In St Thomas be very cautious with high value kit, St John is

much more photogenic and safer. Take a tripod. Take all the film

you think you'll need, slide film is not easily available. I recently

borrowed an EWA plastic bag housing and was reasonably

impressed, it did vignette at less than 28 ish mm and

unfortunately the wide angle is where its at for beach shots at

the moment, particularly the split images, for which you need a

very wide angle and a good dome port.

 

Hope this helps, if you want more info you are welcome to get in

touch, Scott.