How to take sunrise pics

petehowell · #1 10-23-2007, 08:05 PM

I am getting up early to grab some flight time and pics of the sunrise here in Minne. Any tips from Doug or the other expert photogs out there? I am pretty new to the game.

I have a Canon Rebel XTi and a nice 70-200mm lens. I will be shooting out of the closed

slider of my RV-9A.

Setting suggestions, ways to minimize reflections, any advice appreciated.

Thanks!

DeltaRomeo · #2 10-23-2007, 08:11 PM

Pete, welcome to some of the most wonderful photography there is! Really clean glass on the canopy, wear a black T-shirt to minimize glare and set the camera on auto-everything. Image stabilization on the lens ON if you have it.

The secret is to shoot about 50 pictures - 1 of them will be awesome!!!

A little added RED and some creative cropping using something like the Picasa will really bring the picture out of its shell.

You're going to do great!

b,
d

Quote:

Originally Posted by petehowell

I am getting up early to grab some flight time and pics of the sunrise here in Minne. Any tips from Doug or the other expert photogs out there? I am pretty new to the game.

I have a Canon Rebel XTi and a nice 70-200mm lens. I will be shooting out of the closed

slider of my RV-9A.

Setting suggestions, ways to minimize reflections, any advice appreciated.

Thanks!

petehowell · #3 10-23-2007, 08:13 PM

I'll post some results tomorrow!

Ironflight · #4 10-23-2007, 09:34 PM

Have ya' got fall colors up there yet Pete? Fall is my absolutely favorite time of year back home, but it looks like I'm not going to get up there this year - just launched this morning, and tied up for the next 13 days or so, then turning around for the next one....gess I'll just have to look at my pictures from last year...or enjoy the ones you'll take!

Paul

groucho · #5 10-23-2007, 09:35 PM

Take lots of pictures & see what turns out...learn from it. One of the great things about digital is the camera saves all the photo info in the actual file. That way, you can go back & think about what you did...and maybe how to improve next time.

I recommend never taking a single photo on any of the "user friendly" modes. P, Tv, Av or M are the only modes I shoot in.

I took this with my Rebel XT & 70-200 F/4L a couple hours ago: http://www.thedukes.org/temp/smoke_20071023_221.jpg (resized in Photoshop) mini sized:

Lots of smoke here in SoCal.

keen9a · #6 10-24-2007, 09:00 AM

Getting the exposure right on pictures with the sun can be pretty tricky. I've found that a good place to start is to use the exposure lock button, and set the exposure while pointed just to one side of the sun or the other. Then frame the pic you really want, and snap away.

petehowell · #7 10-24-2007, 09:27 AM

I snapped about 100 - I doubt I'll get one as good as that. I'll post tonight!

RV8iator · #8 10-24-2007, 10:23 AM

Like Keen9 said in his post. Point the camera at the sky about 30 degrees either side of the sun and lock the exposure, then recompose and click. This will give you natural looking sky and sunset without blowing out the highlights. If you just point at the ground most likely you will have good surface but blown out highlights in the sky and sun area.
You'll have to do that and recompose everyshot, or you can just shoot in manual and set the proper exposure and then shoot away until the light changes.

Mike S · #9 10-24-2007, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by groucho

Take lots of pictures & see what turns out...learn from it. One of the great things about digital is the camera saves all the photo info in the actual file. That way, you can go back & think about what you did...and maybe how to improve next time.

I recommend never taking a single photo on any of the "user friendly" modes. P, Tv, Av or M are the only modes I shoot in.

I took this with my Rebel XT & 70-200 F/4L a couple hours ago: http://www.thedukes.org/temp/smoke_20071023_221.jpg (resized in Photoshop) mini sized:

Lots of smoke here in SoCal.

Great shot!!!!!!

But, what model RV is that?????????

groucho · #10 10-24-2007, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike S

But, what model RV is that?????????

Good point...I wasted a shot on a non-RV. Stupid me!!!

I don't use the exposure hold button. On the Canon models, at least on P, Tv & Av, if you press the shutter button half way to get the exposure, then move the camera, the exposure doesn't reset...saves mashing that little button in the corner each frame. On something that's slowly fairly changing, like a sunrise or sunset, I usually set everything manually & shoot a few shots to see how the exposure looks. The LCD actually works pretty well for checking exposure. If you look at the photo on the LCD & also cross check the histogram, you can nail it.

Can't wait to see 'em Pete!