A trip to Oughterard.. (56k berware)

Fenster

Well if nothing else, yesterday has reinforced my decision to buy an 18mm fixed lens - I'll be getting it later today. Most of my photos were dissapointingly "soft," which annoyed me no end as the scenery was all spectacular.

I went with my sister yesterday up into the hills between Moycullen and Oughterard and then up past Oughterard along the road by Lough Corrib (to Creeaun) and took some wonderful photos:

Ross Lake, the lake as a whole looked feh due to incoming overcast above it, but there was a lovely patch of clear sky above a corner of it:



The sky above the Moycullen/Barna road on the way back in, just after a shower:



Part of the forest at Ross Lake. I'm mostly happy with this photo:



Three guesses who this is:



Looking up the hill. This photo was too easy. This was taken sitting in the car:



Looking out the car window. Suprisingly hard, as you usually either get an absolutely still shot or just a blur in a car:



The high road. This is on one of a few roads that leads right up and over the hills to the forests to the west. It turns impassable just above this forest, but I definately plan to come back here and hike the full way as the views were magnificent:



And lastly, a wonderfully placed post box:

elven

The forest shot just has to go to the top of my favourites list. That's some really gorgeous scenery you've got there, I'm jealous

The one looking up the hill is great, the expanse of grass and daisies and the expanse of blue sky really contrast and the line of trees makes it almost cartoon like. It's got quite a quirky feel to it I think.

I actually viewed the first one at full size, and slid the botom off the screen so that i could just see the greenery and the sky and it looked great. I think the water in the foreground just takes away from the overall effect of the magnificent sky.

One last comment - I always wanted to take a picture out the back of the car when we went travelling when I was wee, and this is exactly the picture I had in my mind at the time!!!! Very cool. Takes me right back to being 9 years old in the back of a big boxy Volvo hehe...

Thanks for sharing. Hopefully will get a chance to explore the area too when we get a new set of wheels later on this year.

Clseeper

The second one of the sky is brill. It that the raw pic or have you tweaked in an editor? The colours are amazing.

Fenster

I just went screwing with curves on it.

Valentia

Some lovely stuff there Fen. Just two things.

I'm not mad about the composition in 1 & 5. They are aplit right across the middle and that grates a bit with me. As elven said the 1st would benefit from the bottom being cut out.

The other thing is the 18mm lens. Again that is not really that wide or dramatic on a digital, non full frame SLR. A little wider would produce more dramatic landscapes. Fajitas had a 10-22 Sigma on the Trim trip. It looks the biz. I have a Sigma 12-24 and am only now getting the hang of it. Used properly it can create great shots.

rabbitinlights

Id have to agree, the Sigma 10-22 would be ideal for what your looking for, Super sharp and very wide.

ChityWest

Those are stunning - I would probably go along with the idea of cropping a tad from the bottom of the first shot.
The 2nd one is excellent it looks like a special effect from a hollywood movie. The third one cant have been easy to get the forest floor detail and keep the sun coming through the treetops. The colours in the 'looking up the hill' one are great though I would probably crop some of the bottom of that one too (which might not go too well with the title). The last one is very good too - but again I would probably have cropped some of the foreground away. All just my opinion - and nothing said here takes away from the fact that there great photos!

Fenster

This lens? Looks great, but the price tag is steeeeeeep.

rabbitinlights

Its about €380, what is the 18mm prime lense you were looking at?

Ebay Link

Fenster

Its still above my budget right now. There's a 70-300mm Canon lens I can get for 250 - 150 after gift vouchers.

Fenster

Its still above my budget right now. There's a 70-300mm Canon lens I can get for 250 - 150 after gift vouchers.

Valentia

OK it's out of your range but you wont regret waiting that little bit longer if you get it. I took a few shots with Fajitas 10-20 on Saturday and it is very impressive. I have a terrible tendencty to spend more than I can afford and somebody else has to live with the consequences

Fenster

I tend to buy now, much to my eternal dismay

elven

Would that little book of vouchers I got with my 350D be of any use to anyone by the way? I've no intention of buying anything anytime soon

rabbitinlights

Im trying to choose between a wide angle lense and zoom lense, Im going travelling for a long period of time and Im wondering what would be the most useful, as space in my bag is very limited. I have a Canon 17-85mm IS lense as my everyday lense, but Im not too sure what way to go after that. what do people think would be the most useful for travelling.

Sean

ChityWest

If your going to be travelling photographing people and places a zoom would be pretty limited (but definitely useful to have).

I would go for a prime or wide angle if I had to choose between them). Plus a zoom is more heavier and bulker to carry around when your out and about. Whatever one you bring your pretty sure to come across a place when the one you didnt bring would be more useful

elven

Depends on your usual subjects I'd say... do you usually pick out the details, or do you prefer an open vista?

As you say ChityWest, it's always the kit you left at home that you end up needing...

andy1249

For travelling , I like the 17-85 , and use the photostitch if you want a real wide shot , I have the 28-135 IS from Canon and this is the most used lens I have , its sharp and if used on a pistol grip manfrotto head , is quick enough to grab four shots of an interesting landscape to stitch together before the cloud pattern changes too much.

Ive been having fun with it anyway , will post some pictures of Sedona landscapes soon to give you an idea

Fenster

Hmm, I try everything in truth.

Valentia

For travelling I would buy the new Canon S3 IS. Small, compact and a damn fine piece of kit. This is it.

Fenster

I don't travel all that much, in truth. Nice camera though!

Valentia

Oops. That's what happens when one thread becomes two! I was referring to rabbitinlights.

rabbitinlights

A new camera is one thing I dont need......!!

I think ill go for the 10-22mm Sigma, and ill start stitching those shots together!!

Fenster

For those who wanted a crop:

Valentia

Ahhhh! There ya go

elven

yup. That does it for me.

CoolBoardr

rabbitinlights wrote:

Its about €380, what is the 18mm prime lense you were looking at?

Ebay Link

Thanks for that link.. I think this will be my next purchase!

Oh and nice photos Fenster, I like the second one the best but think it could be better without the lines/pylons maybe.

rabbitinlights

Kea-photo are the best on ebay by a long shot, you dont get 100% with over 8000 sales without being great, the prices are second to none either.

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