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Cityscapes

  • 02-01-2007 10:49AM
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,939 ✭✭✭


    I'm off to Rome on 14th Jan for a few days and will obviously take my camera along.

    Are there any hints or tips you can pass on for getting good shots in an urban environment?


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 349 ✭✭digitalage


    Stay off the booze and get up early before the streets are flooded with people.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,225 ✭✭✭JackKelly


    A tripod is esential for anything taken at night.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,735 ✭✭✭mikeanywhere


    Take your passport and plenty of cash!! (said with tongue in cheek)

    Have fun and take loads of pics & the tripod is defo essential.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,273 ✭✭✭Morlar


    I would say check out google images and search for the city you are going to. This way you can get a good visual idea of the landmarks and work out which ones you want to photograph and which ones dont interest you. You can also see how other people approach each one, and its spooky how many people take the exact same photograph. A guided tour might be a good idea on getting quickly oriented once you get there - even if you cant get the shot you want on the tour you will know which ones you want to re-visit later during your stay.

    Walk everywhere and dont stay to the beaten track - you often come across things when your out and about that just arent in any guide books and 99% of people overlook. I'd also recommend bringing some bland looking bag to keep all your camera gear in for when your on your way home through the city at night.

    I would say a tripod isnt absolutely necessary (but of course it helps) the downside of bringing one is that it will limit your movement if you have to cart one everywhere. Often night time shots can come out ok so long as you have a wide enough lens and something to balance the camera on and set the timer release. If you are taking any nighttime cityscape shots from say a hotel window, watch out for if its double glazed it can create a slight double-vision type effect where the second pane of glass shows a reflection of the first. Kit wise I would say bring as wide an angle lens as you have.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,939 ✭✭✭mikedragon32


    Thanks all.

    Cash and passport not an issue! :D

    Had planned to take an open top bus tour (if available) to get a quick overview before deciding what I want to revisit.

    Getting up early is a great tip, would never have thought of that, although I have been known to get some good shots very late at night. I have some great photos of steps in Montmartre in Paris with a film camera taken about 3am when there was nobody about to walk across the shot.

    I'll bring the tripod, it's big when open, but easily fits in my small backpack.

    I don't have any lenses apart from the kit lenses at the moment (18-55 & 50-200). I don't have a remote for the shutter, but could get one. I have found though, that if I just set the self-timer and wait, it does as good a job! What's a few seconds if you're taking a shot with a slow shutter speed anyway?


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,763 ✭✭✭Fenster


    A bus tour is good to get ideas of where to shoot, but I'd persersonally like to get about on foot as it gives me more time to photograph something interesting. Don't forget the laptop and/or spare memory cards. :]


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