Taking pictures from a moving car.

.Nyx. · Dec 30, 2011

My husband and I are planning a trip to the other side of the island tomorrow. I was wondering what kind of settings should I use to get pictures for the mountains. We plan to try and pull off to the side of the road if we can, but if not I want to at least try to get some pictures. The Island is so beautiful and we wont be here forever so I would like to have pictures to remember it with (plus we hardly ever go to that side).

I have a Canon Rebel Xs and the lenses that came with it (EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II Lens and EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III "USM" Telephoto Zoom Lens). So what setting would be best? and auto focus or not?

Stryker · Dec 30, 2011

Just my take on this. The 18-55 would be better to get a wider frame but as regard to the settings, that is quite difficult to say since we cannot predict the lighting conditions. Would it be overcast? Sunny? You cant do much creative photography in a moving car so I guess the best setting would be in "Auto" mode with your auto focus on.

And by the way, have a UV filter on your lens. Sand and pebbles might hit your lens and could damage it.

.Nyx. · Dec 30, 2011

Thank you so much for the help. I will just give it a try and see what happens.

Josh66 · Dec 30, 2011

Aperture priority, with the aperture wide open. That will give you the highest shutter speed, which you'll probably need. If that's still not fast enough, start increasing the ISO.

Josh66 · Dec 30, 2011

If you can't pull over, try to at least slow down.

.Nyx. · Dec 30, 2011

Thank you, I will try that. Yeah we are hoping there wont be to much traffic. If it does't work out its ok. Just another chance to give something new a try.

Infinite_Day · Dec 31, 2011

You're probably already on your way but if you're trying landscapes from a moving car you need a high shutter speed as mentioned but with our travels the wife and I have found that the less foreground you get in the shot the better you will be. Parts of the shot closest to the car will blur almost all the time if you're moving fast at all while things in the distance will not. You can actually get some good mountain shots from a moving vehicle if you're lucky.