Don Parsons
Well-known
My son and I are planning a trip (leaving next weekend) out to Colorado and on to Arches National Park in SE Utah. We're are doing the classic American Road Trip...we're driving. I usually shoot people and airplanes so this trip will be a back to nature trip.
I have several different systems I could take. I'm considering just taking the Panny Lx-5 but the other camera's are calling to me to be included on the trip.
If you've been to Arches, what lens(es) did you find most useful?
I want to try a star trails and am considering getting the lx7 for it's 1.4 lens.
Just looking for ideas before it's too late to order from B&H
I have several different systems I could take. I'm considering just taking the Panny Lx-5 but the other camera's are calling to me to be included on the trip.
If you've been to Arches, what lens(es) did you find most useful?
I want to try a star trails and am considering getting the lx7 for it's 1.4 lens.
Just looking for ideas before it's too late to order from B&H
marcr1230
Well-known
I found the wider lenses most used when I was tgere 2 years ago
There's a lot of great night sky photography articles on the web , I will
One photo magazine had a stunning night shot of "Delicate Arch" about a year ago
The trails in arches are mostly marked by cairns so I wouldn't hike at night unless you know
What you are doing - although there are plenty of arches accessible close to the road
You might also rent a jeep in Moab and drive the Schaffer trail or similar
Schaffer is where tgey filmed the famous scene from "Thelma and Louise"
There's a lot of great night sky photography articles on the web , I will
One photo magazine had a stunning night shot of "Delicate Arch" about a year ago
The trails in arches are mostly marked by cairns so I wouldn't hike at night unless you know
What you are doing - although there are plenty of arches accessible close to the road
You might also rent a jeep in Moab and drive the Schaffer trail or similar
Schaffer is where tgey filmed the famous scene from "Thelma and Louise"
HuubL
hunter-gatherer
Yes, definitely wide angles. At the time I was there, I wasn't yet much of an RF convert and I brought a Canon 20D. The 10-22 (effectively 16-35) mm zoom was used most.
Don Parsons
Well-known
Is 24mm equivalent wide enough or do I need wider?
Thanks for your help, I appreciate it.
Thanks for your help, I appreciate it.
Solinar
Analog Preferred
I was able to make do with a 28mm on an old Leica screw mount. So, you should be able to do well with a 24mm equivalent.
By the way, take plenty of water with you. Better yet, take some frozen water bottles with you - very refreshing in the low humidity heat of the afternoon.
Best Regards,
By the way, take plenty of water with you. Better yet, take some frozen water bottles with you - very refreshing in the low humidity heat of the afternoon.
Best Regards,
Don Parsons
Well-known
I'm thinking of getting the Panny LX-7 for it's f1.4 lens for night shots. At 24mm, it would also serve my purpose. I can get the 10-18 or Tokina 11-16 but don't want too unless I need too.
Thanks for the advice on frozen water...it's looking to be hot but we'll cope with early mornings and late evenings.
Don
Thanks for the advice on frozen water...it's looking to be hot but we'll cope with early mornings and late evenings.
Don
Tin
Well-known
You don't need a super fast lens for star trail photography. Instead, you should close down the aperture so as not to over-expose and get a washed out background sky, as you'll be doing long exposures.
Here is a link to some quickie hints. You can search for and get many other articles on this topic:
http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-photograph-star-trails/
Here is a link to some quickie hints. You can search for and get many other articles on this topic:
http://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-photograph-star-trails/
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
You could do a lot at Arches with the 24mm focal length on the LX-7. I've used wider there, but you can get some worthwhile drama with 24mm. If you have anything wider on another camera, say a 15mm or 18mm, bring it. I used an XPAN for a couple of neat shots at Delicate Arch, and it was worth it. But for the most part, such a wide aspect ratio is not needed there, because height is an important part of the composition at Arches.
I also used lenses as long as 180mm there. But that's another story!
Edit: I felt like adding that although lenses of 20mm and wider work well for some shots, they do have a tendency to include unnecessary foreground rubble, as well as risking including signposts, trash cans, and other stuff we may not want in the shot. I save the widest lenses for the really pristine areas that have interesting foregrounds. But there is one vista in Arches called, I believe, "Madison Avenue." I used a 16mm fisheye for it, and that shot in my slide show gets oohs and ahhs.
I also used lenses as long as 180mm there. But that's another story!
Edit: I felt like adding that although lenses of 20mm and wider work well for some shots, they do have a tendency to include unnecessary foreground rubble, as well as risking including signposts, trash cans, and other stuff we may not want in the shot. I save the widest lenses for the really pristine areas that have interesting foregrounds. But there is one vista in Arches called, I believe, "Madison Avenue." I used a 16mm fisheye for it, and that shot in my slide show gets oohs and ahhs.
raid
Dad Photographer
Think outside the box too. There are photo opportunities beyond what tourists admire there. I found the 24mm to be wide enough.
semordnilap
Well-known
I enjoyed the long loop hike when I was there... Devil's Garden I believe.
There are some other really cool things out there to see. If you can take the scenic route through central-southern Colorado, stop off at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado.
There are some other really cool things out there to see. If you can take the scenic route through central-southern Colorado, stop off at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado.
madNbad
Well-known
Keep it simple. The LX-5 is a great choice but maybe add either the Canonet or the Yashica and a couple of rolls of Ektar. If you're going on U.S. 50 stop by the Florissant Fossil Fields. The boat trip through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison is highly recommended.
marcr1230
Well-known
Differentiate between night sky and star trails - sometimes you want the trails, and sometimes just the rich saturated milky way and point lights of stars
There's a lot of interesting posts on the web about each
Ben Canales does time lapse and night sky: http://www.thestartrail.com/
he has some tutorials on Vimeo I think
another good source is: http://www.lonelyspeck.com/lenses-for-milky-way-photography/
this compares lenses / apertures and sensor size
if you are using film - read up on reciprocity failure
another neat technique people use: set camera on a tripod, and take a frame before sunset, then one or more start shots - blend the lit foreground with the star background
yet another - leave the shutter open, set up a flash, step into the frame and fire the flash - adjust the power of the flash for a pleasant result - now you have yourself in the nigh sky photo, exposed properly of course...
enjoy the trip and post the results!
There's a lot of interesting posts on the web about each
Ben Canales does time lapse and night sky: http://www.thestartrail.com/
he has some tutorials on Vimeo I think
another good source is: http://www.lonelyspeck.com/lenses-for-milky-way-photography/
this compares lenses / apertures and sensor size
if you are using film - read up on reciprocity failure
another neat technique people use: set camera on a tripod, and take a frame before sunset, then one or more start shots - blend the lit foreground with the star background
yet another - leave the shutter open, set up a flash, step into the frame and fire the flash - adjust the power of the flash for a pleasant result - now you have yourself in the nigh sky photo, exposed properly of course...
enjoy the trip and post the results!
Vics
Veteran
Zion, Bryce, North rim of Grand Canyon. Good Tripod.
Don Parsons
Well-known
Thanks for all the help, it's most appreciated.
I think I'm going to pop for the Lx-7 with it's 24 1.4 lens even more know than before after reading up on night sky photos.
I think I'm going to pop for the Lx-7 with it's 24 1.4 lens even more know than before after reading up on night sky photos.
tstermitz
Well-known
I'd say you should be sure to take a wide lens.
Dust in the sensor is a hazard, so maybe take two cameras to lesson lens changes.
The other tip is to get up very early in order to be ahead of the crowds. You can hike to delicate arch safely starting out in the dark, as the trail doesn't get "airy" until you get closer to the top.
Camping can be really difficult. Check to see if Moab is doing a festival or bike race or something, which would make things really crowded. North side of Canyonlands (Island in the Sky), might give you better luck for campsites.
I really like Mesa Verde. Again go in very early, and get on the first guided tours for fewer people.
Dust in the sensor is a hazard, so maybe take two cameras to lesson lens changes.
The other tip is to get up very early in order to be ahead of the crowds. You can hike to delicate arch safely starting out in the dark, as the trail doesn't get "airy" until you get closer to the top.
Camping can be really difficult. Check to see if Moab is doing a festival or bike race or something, which would make things really crowded. North side of Canyonlands (Island in the Sky), might give you better luck for campsites.
I really like Mesa Verde. Again go in very early, and get on the first guided tours for fewer people.
Don Parsons
Well-known
goamules
Well-known
You are going to be there during the hottest 2 or 3 week period of the year. Better prepare for that too. Any hiking will require a lot of water, and I'd curtail it after about 10AM until after 5PM. I saw a guy at Delicate Arch have a heat stroke or something once, and he died.
tstermitz
Well-known
Or, maybe not. The Southwestern US is in a more-intense-than-usual "monsoon" flow of moisture coming up across Mexico. That could make for cooler weather, and AWESOME cloudy or stormy weather.
Don Parsons
Well-known
Arches
Arches
Hi guys,
This place is awesome! It actually rained (!) last night and the temps aren't so bad. We get up early and come back to the hotel around 10 am, then go back around around 6.
This isn't a full-fledged "PHoto-trip", but I still got some keepers.
Don
Arches
Hi guys,
This place is awesome! It actually rained (!) last night and the temps aren't so bad. We get up early and come back to the hotel around 10 am, then go back around around 6.
This isn't a full-fledged "PHoto-trip", but I still got some keepers.
Don
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