zvia_shever

Thanks everyone for the advice. I ended up using the 17-40 and i think it was the right decision. The company I went with

uses a small helicopter that can get really close to the cliffs etc... I think the 24-05 would have been too long for the

coastline.<div></div>

Forgot to ask...I'm using a full frame...still go with the 17-40?

Thank you!

Taking a doors off helicopter flight tomorrow and the company said to bring my widest lens. That's a 17-40 but without IS. Do I bring this

or my 24-105 with IS instead? No changing lenses in flight, please help!

Thanks, Zvia

<p>Going to the Big Island next week and looking for a few easy sunset spots on the east or north-east coast of the island. I'm already planning to shoot at Kapaa and Hapuna beaches. Don't think I'll make it to Pololu Valley for sunrise. Any other suggestions? <br>

Thanks in advance, Zvia</p>

<p>Sorry about the posting mess-ups. Don't know if it's my computer or the site. Will try the original Patriarchs one more time.</p><div></div>

<p>The Watchman from Canyon Bridge, # 3</p><div></div>

<p>The Watchman from Canyon Bridge, # 3</p>

<p>The Watchman from Canyon Bridge, # 3</p>

<p>Don't know why it's not working properly...will try # 2</p><div></div>

<p>Trying photos again</p><div></div>

<p>Hi Larry,<br>

I went on a photo workshop to Zion in the fall of 2011....beautiful place! If you only have one night there, I'd suggest shooting the Court of the Patriarchs for post sunrise (1st photo). The peaks light up and it sometimes looks like they're on fire. I believe the park bus stops there; you'll need to go online to view their schedule. You can drive there in the fall/winter months. The typical scene there is with the water in the foreground. Once you've got that shot, walk around to the left, through some trees and you'll come to a bridge and rocks which also offer nice compositions (2nd photo). <br>

For late afternoon/sunset, head to the Canyon Bridge and shoot The Watchman over the Virgin River. It's near the entrance to the park and I don't believe to need to take the bus to this spot. You will see lots of vertical shots online, but I liked horizontal here better. Often the peaks light up before sunset. I arrived early for the workshop and shot it with clouds rolling in....no light on the peaks, but I liked the weather (3rd photo). There are often photographers lined up elbow to elbow on the bridge, so don't show up too late to stake your spot.<br>

By the way, I also took a workshop in Death Valley....really a weird, wonderful landscape.<br>

I'll now try to post the photos, and hope it works :) </p>

<p> </p><div></div>

<p>Wouldn't want to cause you anymore headaches Zave, so I flipped a coin.....Nova Scotia it is. Following tentative itinerary:<br>

Day 1: Arrive in Halifax, explore the city, overnight Halifax<br>

Day 2: International Royal Tattoo show, overnight Halifax<br>

Day 3: Drive to Ingonish (6hrs) with stops along the way to explore, overnight Ingonish<br>

Day 4: Husband to golf at Highlands, I will explore, afternoon fishing, overnight Ingonish<br>

Day 5: Hike Skyline Trail, explore and whale watch out of Pleasant Bay, overnight Cheticamp<br>

Day 6: Drive to Parrsboro (4-5 hrs) with stops along the way to explore, overnight Parrsboro<br>

Day 7: Kayak in Bay of Fundy, overnight Parrsboro<br>

Day 8: Hike Chignecto trails in morning, then drive to Annapolis Royal (3-4 hrs), Graveyard tour, overnight Annapolis Royal<br>

Day 9: Husband to golf in Digby, I will visit Historic Gardens and Port Royal Natl' Historic Site, overnight Annapolis Royal<br>

Day 10: Morning Drive to Lunenburg (2 hrs), explore Lunenburg, Chester, Mahone Bay, overnight Lunenburg<br>

Day 11: Kayak Blue Rocks area, evening sail, overnight Lunenburg.<br>

Too much driving and moving around? What would you add? eliminate?</p>

<p>Thanks,<br>

Zvia</p>

 

<p>Well gee thanks Daniel, for throwing in a monkey wrench ;) The Yukon is on my very long list of places to visit during my lifetime, but I think this year it will be Vancouver Island or Nova Scotia. </p>

<p>I took your advice Charles, and of course they're both a little rainy that time of year. If we go to Vancouver Island, it will need to be toward the end of June, and not in July as I'd prefer to avoid the huge crowds if possible. June sees more rain than July there. Nova Scotia seems to get more rain and fog overall, but we may be able to do July there, as I can't imagine it would be as busy as Vancouver Island...but I could be wrong here. </p>

<p>Thank you David and James. I have just ordered a couple of books on each area. I think it will be a toss up also. No mind, I'll do the other one next year. I live in Florida, where we have no mountains, no quaint fishing villages and no whale watching! I love Canada. This past fall, we toured Yoho, Jasper and Banff and I almost cried when we had to leave :( </p><div></div>

<p>Thanks David. I always thought Vancouver Island was tamer than Nova Scotia, but that's probably due to Victoria, where we'd really only spend a couple of days. Thanks for your input.</p>

<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>I am beginning to plan a vacation for my husband and I for either the last 10 days of June or first 10 days of July 2013. We both enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, whale watching, plus wineries and touring. He wants to golf and I want to do some photography. After looking at all our options we've narrowed it down to Vancouver Island or Nova Scotia. Photography wise (and for the above activities too), which would be better?</p>

<p>Any advice or opinion would be most welcome.</p>

<p>Thanks,<br>

Zvia</p>

 

<p>One more time?</p><div></div>

<p>Too large...will try a smaller version.</p><div></div>

<p>Thanks everyone for your help. We ended up going Sept. 12th-22nd, and had amazing weather. The timing was perfect. I was able to capture many great shots and will try to figure out how to post one here.</p><div></div>

<p>Thank you for all the responses! I am shooting for Sept. 13-Sept. 23.</p>

<p>Planning a trip to Yoho, Jasper and Banff in Sept. Have Darwin Wiggett's PDFs and I'm mapping out a plan. Only question is when in Sept. to go. Darwin suggests the last 2 weeks of Sept., but everything else I've read says mid Sept.</p>

<p>Husband and I plan on a lot of hiking; I would like to do a lot of sunrise/sunset photography and he would like to golf. I don't want to go too late for golfing. Our choices are 10 day starting about Sept. 7th or so OR 10 days starting around the 13th or 14th. I know it's almost impossible to predict the weather and/or fall color, but is one week really going to make a difference? </p>

<p>Also, anyone know of a good photography workshop or guide I could hire for a few sunrises?</p>

<p>Thanks, Zvia</p>

<p>In my long post I said....The trails by the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Mammoth area, and Lamar Valley were non-existant....mean't to say the CROWDS (not trails)....were not-existant.</p><div></div>

<p>The Tetons had a really snowy, long winter and late Spring last year so the wildflowers weren't great. Some of the backcountry trails, and even the trail to Inspiration Point, were closed due to late snowfall. On the bright side, however, there was so much runoff that the waterfalls were stunning and there was much more than normal snow cover on the mountains. Who knows for this year. From what I read, June -July is usually prime time for wildflowers...but....just like fall color, no one knows for sure the timing or the intensity. Everything was very green, and alive looking and we saw lots of wildlife; black bears, a grizzly, elk, moose, bison by the hundreds and even a wolf (but too far for a photo).</p>

<p>I personally can't stand crowds. We love visiting the national parks, but will do anything to avoid them when busy. It honestly wasn't too bad in Yellowstone. The trails by the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Mammoth area, and Lamar Valley were non-existant. We encountered a few traffic jams in Hayden Valley when bears were spotted....we pulled over too and were treated to a wandering grizzly for about 20 minutes. We did encounter crowds at the Upper Geyser Basin, but most of them simply sit in the bleachers waiting for Old Faithful to erupt. DON'T DO THIS...it's a complete waste of time, and Old Faithful isn't exciting photographically. We went inside the hotel and obtained the schedule of the other eruptions. We only spent 2 hours walking the platforms around UGB, but witnessed 2 eruptions (Riverside and Grand) and got splendid photos of some of the colored pools. As far as getting sunrise or sunset eruptions shots, it's just luck....they may or may not be scheduled to shoot off at the right times. Not sure where you're planning on staying, but if it's in the park, try the Dunraven Lodge in the Canyon area. There are 2 lodges in Canyon Village, the Dunraven is newer, clean and has elevators; the Cascade Lodge is older and not as nice. When you book, you will not be guaranteed which one, so tell them you've got bad knees or something and they'll put a note in to give you the Dunraven (worked for us). The Canyon Village is central and convenient to travel to all areas of the park from there. Do not stay at Old Faithful...that's where the crowds park themselves! </p>

<p>Something else to remember about both parks is that most visitors are retirees or families who go for the main attractions and only "hike" the first 1/2 mile or so of any given trail. After that, you're pretty much alone with nature. And none of them bother to get out of bed early enough or stay out late enough for the best light. Even without shooting sunrises in Yellowstone, we were out the door and finished with breakfast before 7am, before the Japanese tour buses and minivans full of families pull in to the parking lots (no offense to either of these groups, it just that they're not conducive to good photography or calm nerves.</p>

<p>We only stayed in Yellowstone 3 nights. My husband (who is not into photography) was burned out after a few days. He said if he doesn't see another thermal feature for another 20 years, it will be too soon ;) Now you will hear different opinions on whether to spend more time in Yellowstone vs. the Tetons, so all I can offer is what we preferred....The Tetons, hands down. They were simply stunning, there was so much to photograph, hike and explore, and the areas, aside from fellow photographers at shooting sunrise, and Hidden falls at mid-day, were pretty much empty. </p>

<p>I bought a coupe of books that really helped with my photography, at least with getting me to the right place at the right time:<br>

A photographer's guide to Yellowstone and the Tetons by Joseph Lange (great info, but his examples where way over saturated in my opinion).....and<br>

Photographing Yellowstone National Park by Gustav. Verderber<br>

Be sure to call Yellowstone and have them send you guides to each location. I think they were 50 cents a piece and contained great little maps. </p>

<p>Husband and I and our boys were supposed to go to Costa Rica the first week in January. We had our flights booked and everything. We loved the Tetons so much, we coughed up $600 just for the airline change fees, and cancelled Costa Rica. HAVE FUN!</p><div></div>

<p>Thanks Ben! It definitely wasn't anything original...done before a million times. But I was lucky with the wonderful clouds at sunrise and a late winter that left the Tetons with more than a dusting of snow. Our trip was mid through end of June. It's a stunning place, no matter when you decide to go.</p>