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02/05/2010 07:31:39 AM · #1 |
I'm hoping someone might be able to give me some advice for my trip to Europe coming up in a couple of months. I'm going to be traveling to Paris as well as Rome, Pisa, Cinque Terre, and Florence. I hav fallen off in doing digital photography in the last 4 or so years, but I'm taking this as a perfect opportunity to get back into it.
I would really like to get some great pictures in the famous cathedrals that I will be visiting (that allow cameras). I think that I'm pretty much set for the outdoor photography, but any advice that you have would be greatly appreciated.
I'm using a Olympus E-Volt E-300 and have the kit lenses (14-42mm f3.5-5.6 and 40-150mm f4.0-5.6) as well as a wide angle lense. I've also got a polarizing filter and a UV filter and will be carrying a tripod (nothing special, just a standard tripod that is as light as I could find in my price range). I don't have an external flash.
Should I invest in something like the Zuiko ED 14mm-54mm f2.8-3.5 for the lower light pictures? I probably won't be bringing my tripod into the cathedrals (I don't want to make myself a target as carrying a ton of photography equipment around) so I'd like to get the best possible pictures with the use of a tripod or flash. What camera settings would be best with my 14-42 kit lens? What about with the 14-54 lens? Are there any small tripods or monopods that would conveniantly fit into my backpack that would help?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated! |
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02/05/2010 07:42:15 AM · #2 |
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02/05/2010 10:24:38 AM · #3 |
Assuming that tripods are allowed in the cathedrals, I'd take one. Without one, you will not get the best quality shots, no matter how fast a lens you have. You want to keep ISO down to base, and you want to be able to stop down a little for optimum image quality. You *will* want to use long exposure times.
One alternative to carrying in a full-size tripod is to take something like a gorillapod, and a remote release (cabled or wireless). Even a beanbag would suffice, if you can find a level spot to put it. |
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02/10/2010 04:20:50 AM · #4 |
For Rome, Florence and the Cinque Terre, take plenty of cash. Italy seems really expensive at the moment. Rome will probably be your best bet for antique city shots, and the Cinque Terre for the rural type.
In Rome, you can take cameras into St Peter's Basilica, but not tripods. There is no restriction on using flash (most tourists with compacts in there do, but they have no choice) but for my money I don't think you get a particularly nice shot in there that way. I was using a 50D and 17-55mm 2.8 IS handheld at speeds between 1/13 and 03 seconds and got several keepers, including this one:
Also, do not miss the Ponti Angeli (sp?) outside the vatican, and obviously the fora romani. The various art museums (particularly the Borghese) are not to be missed but obviously you can't shoot in there!
As for the Cinque Terre, the only real way to see them is by sea. Boat trips (from memory - may be wrong) are about E35 per head for a day long trip and you can book them locally at very short notice. You will need the longer lens to catch the villages from the boat though as you go past. They should put you down in one village, and then Porto Venere at the southern end when you will need the wider lenses, but there are so many other tourists that getting a 'clean' shot can be tricky.
Enjoy! |
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02/10/2010 04:27:04 AM · #5 |
Most of the cathedrals prohibit tripods - they are a danger to people walking around. But I did carry my Gorillapod and managed to pull off the random shot now and then before security yelled at me. Otherwise, stay out of the way and sit on the floor to stabilize yourself and shoot handheld. One trick is to shoot three shots in a row, rapid-fire; the other "trick" is of course to shoot at a high ISO. A lot of those cathedrals are REALLY dark inside.
Mostly, enjoy! Don't get so caught up in trying to get the perfect picture that you fail to see the sights! :-) |
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02/16/2010 05:36:47 AM · #6 |
| Thank you for all of the helpful advice! I really appreciate it! |
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02/16/2010 06:39:06 AM · #7 |
One other little trick that will help with camera stability when shooting hand held in low light is to set the camera self timer to 2 or 5 sec, and use that to trip the shutter. That way, pushing the shutter button don't shake the camera when the shutter is open. It helps a lot. You can see how this works if you put a long lens on, and push the shutter button as you normally would while looking through your viewfinder with your camera turned off.
A good sturdy monopod can be a great help. I don't know if the tripod police would give you any trouble about that. With a monopod, you can get high angle shots that would otherwise be impossible too, by using a remote or self timer and holding the camera where you can't go, like this.
When standing around, like in lines, or waiting for action, the monopod can take the load off your shoulders and arm from holding the camera as well.
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