Tips, Ideas, Suggestions Welome!

[casil403]

You aren't taking photos for photographers so I'm totally confident what you produce will wow them.
You are putting pressure on yourself because of yourself here. And that's fine because you will push yourself to wider limits with luck.

Yep ... breathe ... shoot ... chimp ... re-shoot better

Yeah...to be honest. I also bought a Sigma 10-20mm wide angle for the weekend too today. It's freaking sweet!
I really can't afford it (It's the last lens I really need so that's it for me...completes the set) but I know it will take my photography to an entirely new direction and I think I can get alot of use out of it this weekend.

[EJC]

Congrats on the new lens Casil! There have been some very dramatic clouds over the mountains during the Chinook a supper wide lens would have been fun out there.

[Mad Aussie]

Oh cool. I love my 10 - 22mm. Just don't do what I do too often and only shoot at 10mm! The distortion is horrid. Sometimes it works ... and sometimes it doesn't. But if I didn't take any other shots (even if it meant moving) at longer lengths then I'm stuck with what I have. Watch for anything that has vertical lines near the edge of the shot.

[EJC]

Do you have a preference for distortion correcting software MA?

[casil403]

Watch for anything that has vertical lines near the edge of the shot.

Is that because of curvature/distortion?

I would like to get a fish eye lens too someday but that can wait...I like the look they produce.

[Mad Aussie]

EJC ... I just use PS.

Casil ... I haven't looked into the exact type of distortion it is but yes I think it's to do with the lens curvature to attain the wide angle.

I looked at Fish Eye as well but at AU$1200 for a lens that will be a novelty more often than not and something I wouldn't use often enough I decided against it for now.

I'll be buying a decent set of ND Grads next I think.

[casil403]

Yeah...I was trying lenses and I tried out this one and it was damn...this is exactly what I was looking for!
I always go try to go to the sales guy who also was my instructor at my first and only camera course "intro to digital photography" at SAIT.

[zenon5940]

From all the photos I've seen you post here, Casil, I would not worry at all. I'm sure everything will come out just GREAT.
Congrats on your new lens. It is always exiting when you get a new "toy". You probably will want to use it a lot during the week end.
I would take lots of pictures from all angles and with different lenses. Your actual lenses have proven to be very good for the shooting you do so I would make sure to use them for this venue in addition to your new 10-20mm.

[casil403]

Z you are too kind...thanks too for your thoughts/suggestions.

[Mad Aussie]

I was thinking about this again Lisa and some of A.L's points triggered me ... I was thinking perhaps when you get to the farm start with a walkaround (pencil and pad in hand) and write down all the things that catch your eye and that your friend points out are important. Then maybe write a few techniques down for each shot.

For instance ... the '48 Ford. You might write down things like 'HDR wide angle' , 'HDR 50mm' , 'HDR wide angle interior' , 'low angle off front corner' , 'Close up of steering wheel' ... that sort of thing.

You might be able to ring your friend tonight and make a starter list of his/her suggestions to speed this up a bit. You'd be able to find out if the car is still running so it can be moved to a nice location or whether it has to be shot where it sits, and if so, where it sits. If it's in an old shed you might need to take or arrange some lighting even if it's just flouros or lamps on leads/extension cords.

In this way you will be less likely to kick yourself for missing anything.

It's a bit like going into a wedding and knowing you must get the family shots, the kiss, the cake etc.