Heading to the Carribean

[KJ_North]

Sooooo as I am still brand new really to the DSLR world and I am travelling on vacation with the wife to Punta Cana on Jan 16th. Need some help.

We will of course be shooting beach pics, pics of the hotel grounds etc....

Being brand new to this camera (Canon 60D) I have not had a lot of chance to really play with it as it is dark this time of year by the time I get home each night and holidays have kept me to busy to get out and use it much.

What can you people with lots of experience with this camera suggest for me when I am on vacation, as far as settings etc. Yes I know thats a very vague question.

Lets assmue lots of sunshine walking down the beach etc and want to get some great shots? Just wondering what you guys would suggest. Any tips would be helpful as I do want to try Manual mode, Apeture mode etc and try to learn as I am there.

Hate being a newbie

 

[RebeccaAPhotography]

A polarized filter for your lens for shooting landscapes at the beach..... I think.

 

[cgipson1]

A graduated ND filter.. so you can get shots of beach and sky (exposed properly for the beach) and not blow the sky out! Great for sunset / sunrises also! Just remember that most beach scenes will fool your meter (very bright scenes.. it will try to make it 18% gray).. and it will try to underexpose a couple of stops. You may need to compensate with +1, +2 EV

 

[KJ_North]

I am really unfamiliar with Filters. Any suggestion for one? Only lens I currently have is the Canon EF-S 18-200mm IS.

 

[mishele]

How exciting!!! I hope you guys have a wonderful time!!
A word of advice, remember that you are on vacation....=) Don't stress out over the pictures! Make sure you pack the P&S and have fun!!
10 Beach Photography Tips

 

[thierry]

Circular Polarizer: Amazon.com: Tiffen 72mm Circular Polarizer: Camera & Photo

Graduated Neutral Density Filter: Amazon.com: Hoya 72mm HMC ND8 Multi-Coated Neutral Density Filter: Camera & Photo

 

[Trever1t]

The sun in the Caribbean is very bright, the sand a pure white. Remember to shoot early AM or late PM or in the shade

 

[Ron Evers]

A polarized filter for your lens for shooting landscapes at the beach..... I think.

Agreed!


Without Circular polarizer (CPL).

With CPL

 

[KJ_North]

The sun in the Caribbean is very bright, the sand a pure white. Remember to shoot early AM or late PM or in the shade

Yep for sure. Will take one day and do an early morning walkaround, take one early evening and do the same hopefully grab a sunset photo or two. Then maybe take one midday walk around and grab photos.

Rest of time it can sit in the room safe while we are sipping pina coladas at the swim up bar. ;-)

 

[KJ_North]

Can some explain the difference between a polarizing filter and a ND filter? Do I need both?

 

[GeorgieGirl]

Remember to keep your camera from condensation. Air cooled room to hot humid outdoors can be a big problem.

 

[Trever1t]

GG...my guess is Bahamas.

 

[KJ_North]

How exciting!!! I hope you guys have a wonderful time!!
A word of advice, remember that you are on vacation....=) Don't stress out over the pictures! Make sure you pack the P&S and have fun!!
10 Beach Photography Tips

Some good beach tips there thanks!

 

[photo guy]

Take lots of photos and try the different settings.

 

[naptime]

imo, if you are going to punta cana, the best thing you can do with that camera is take pictures OFF THE RESORT!!!

get out there and SEE the beautiful country you are going to!

PC is way to resortish and americanized for me, i hate it. but if you get out off the resort, then you will get some GREAT photo opportunities.

all you will get on resort, is going to be beach and pool pics. you can only have so many of those..


that said.... the DR is a third world country. it has it's downfalls. but don't let the resort scare you into thinking you shouldn't leave or you will be killed. they say crap like that to keep you on resort.


if you venture out, KEEP YOUR STRAP ON YOUR NECK.
do not drive down the street with your camera out the window
negotiate your taxi prices BEFORE leaving for your destination.
if you get to your destination and the driver demands more, simply walk away and say "ta loco" and keep walking.
if you get tired of telling street vendors and beach vendors, no thank you, simply wave your INDEX finger back and forth, like you would at a dog. no voice is necessary. just wag your finger and keep walking.
do not tell a vendor "maybe later" they WILL remember, and EVERYTIME you pass them, they will remind you that you said maybe later. only say maybe later if you really mean it.
domincans LOVE to get their picture taken. but they will want to see every picture afterwards to see how wonderful they look. this is true for both women AND men. if you want pictures of locals, simply say so, and they will drop what they are doing to pose for you. from 1 year to 90 years. but they will want to run and look at every shot, so they can pose better for the next shot.
don't be afraid to go out and explore, but keep your wits about you and always remember safety.
never tell a local when you are leaving.
it's a beautiful country, enjoy your trip !!! (i go 4 times a year for the last 6 years, currently engaged to my dominican girlfriend)

oh yeah, and bring me back a bottle of Ron Barcelo Gran Anejo