topic Re: Composition and camera setting recommendations - EOS 90D and a tripod in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Composition and camera setting recommendations - EOS 90D and a tripod

Ramsden — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:13:10 GMT

Hi folks

Apologies for posting a picture taken with my phone - but an hour ago, I was walking my dog and only had my phone when I came across this beautiful wall of Haworth in full bloom.

So I'm heading back tomorrow with EOS90D and tripod, and am seeking some advice to capture this hedgerow at its best.

I have a 50 and 100 prime and a small wide angle, plus a couple of zooms. But I guess at the root of post is to work out the best aperture (s) and ideas to capture the size of the hedgerow, while picking out some detail.

As ever, your advice will be well received.

Thanks

Ramsden

Re: Composition and camera settings

stevet1 — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 22:03:44 GMT

Ramsden,

One approach might be to get closer.. Choose a larger aperture like an f/5.6. Focus on a part of the hedgerow that's closer to you and let the back part fade away to blurriness.

Use some juxtaposition and place something else in the picture like a bicycle or a person to illustrate the size.

Steve Thomas

Re: Composition and camera settings

Ramsden — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 06:17:44 GMT

Thanks Steve

That's what I was looking for. Close up focus and blurring away. I'll try and get a 'prop' sorted.

Thanks

Ramsden

Re: Composition and camera setting recommendations - EOS 90D and a tripod

Tintype_18 — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:38:21 GMT

Looking forward to the photos. Post in the gallery.

Re: Composition and camera setting recommendations - EOS 90D and a tripod

ebiggs1 — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:51:02 GMT

There is no answer to your basic question since I don't know what you actually want. The example iPhone photo is a simple P mode snapshot so if that is all you want use P mode and be done with it. No tripod needed.

A more detailed description of what you might want would make it easier to suggest settings and/or gear.

Re: Composition and camera setting recommendations - EOS 90D and a tripod

ebiggs1 — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 14:51:58 GMT

"... and a small wide angle ..."

What does that mean? 🤔

Re: Composition and camera setting recommendations - EOS 90D and a tripod

Ramsden — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:20:43 GMT

Apologies for my slopiness. It's an EFS 10-18MM.

I regularly do, what I call, 'take my camera for a walk' around the countryside, here in the North of England. This time of year we are gifted with 00's of wild flowers in bloom. The Hawthorn hedge was quite a surprise to my eyes and was quite stunning. So I then tried to turn my limited photographic knowledge into turning this phenomenon into something special and different - so that was the premise of my question. On the same theme, we currently have acres of woodland covered in bluebells. This is also a stunning sight. But again, it can be pretty boring as a photo.

Maybe, I should just stick to enjoying my walks!

But any ideas on transforming a hedgerow or a woodland shrouded in bluebells into something 'different' through my photographic skills would be welcome.

Thanks as ever

Ramsden

Re: Composition and camera setting recommendations - EOS 90D and a tripod

BurnUnit — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:50:55 GMT

I think I'd be all over this with with the EFs 10-18. Fun lens that offers you a lot of options. Shoot some at 18mm and then go really wide at the 10mm end. Shoot up close and then some farther away trying different framing styles. Remember the rule of thirds. Try to find something to include in the foreground for a sense of scale as already suggested and fill the background with the rest of landscape to give it some depth.

Shoot in RAW and use DPP or the software of your choice to make sure the details and colors have a bit of "pop". And be sure to post some samples here when you get a chance.

Re: Composition and camera setting recommendations - EOS 90D and a tripod

Ramsden — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 18:51:36 GMT

Thanks for that advice.

I went back with Nifty Fifty this afternoon, but I wasn't happy with the outcomes. Working in the road isn't ideal, but I tried a few things out. I'm still learning and enjoying the process.

Still a good forecast tomorrow so I'll go back with the other lenses and better props. Its a single track road running between two small villages and if I put my tripod up, it blocks the road!

I think it really needs a good prop to break up the sea of white leaves, so I'll give that some thought tonight.

Thanks again

Ramsden

Re: Composition and camera setting recommendations - EOS 90D and a tripod

stevet1 — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 20:37:26 GMT

Ramsden,

This is not a critique, but hopefully a helpful tip.

One of the things that you said in your original post was that you wanted to "capture the size of the hedgerow.", and yet, in your phone sample, 2/3 of the frame is roadway, making the hedgerow small and almost like an afterthought.

Try getting closer to the hedgerow and looking up. Let the roadway only be a small part of your frame. Make the hedgerow be the dominant subject in your photo.

Steve Thomas

Re: Composition and camera setting recommendations - EOS 90D and a tripod

Ramsden — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 20:42:40 GMT

Thanks Steve

That is just the sort of help/feedback that I appreciate. That will be part of tomorrow's plan.

Cheers

Ramsden

Re: Composition and camera setting recommendations - EOS 90D and a tripod

LeeP — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:23:37 GMT

Here is an answer to your basic question (to add to the others who have joined in with excellent advice).

I would suggest NOT standing or using a tripod level perspective for all of your shots. If it is safe to sit on the road--maybe take someone along to be your spotter--do so and use the widest wide angle lens you have to get the Haworth to feel like it's towering over you.

If you have time, take a lot of pictures with different perspectives. Please feel free to share with us as most of us do not bite. I look forward to your success.

Re: Composition and camera setting recommendations - EOS 90D and a tripod

LeeP — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 23:02:01 GMT

Often the 50mm isn't so nifty. The image you want to capture would work with wide-angle lenses to get that immediacy of the size of the bushes or telephoto to compress the space visually.

Re: Composition and camera setting recommendations - EOS 90D and a tripod

LeeP — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 23:03:52 GMT

This is something quite unique for many of us. Growing up I had a great uncle who lived in Watsonville California on Old Adobe Road and the road in the photo reminds me a lot of my distant memories of Old Adobe Road.

Re: Composition and camera setting recommendations - EOS 90D and a tripod

Ramsden — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 04:36:38 GMT

Thanks Lee

Point taken on the safety.

And as you say, a tripod isn't the best option for the type of shots I need to take.

I'm really looking forwards to going back today.

Apologies for an early spell check mistake- its a Hawthorn bush - not Haworth. Haworth is where the Bronte sisters lived!

Thanks again for your help

Ramsden

Re: Composition and camera setting recommendations - EOS 90D and a tripod

SignifDigits — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 11:18:58 GMT

I might be too late to this party 🙂

All excellent advice so far. The key to wide angle is getting close enough - you probably cannot get too close. When Lee mentioned different perspectives I suspect he meant also shooting from low to high - especially if there is blue or clouds or even the sunshine coming from a corner. If you have a white sheet take it with you to lay down and reflect the light to fill in the shadows, and if you use a flash, if you can, use it off the camera.

I'm assuming you cannot take a ladder - high to low is also good, and creates a different sense - more of a "overseeing" perspective. Low to high adds strength/power to the subject.

Re: Composition and camera setting recommendations - EOS 90D and a tripod

LeeP — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:16:17 GMT

Hilarious. I was thinking Hawthorn, but assumed that I didn't know everything, so I went with it. I want to go to the UK for this type of road scene in the countryside which is exactly something I would love to photograph.

Re: Composition and camera setting recommendations - EOS 90D and a tripod

ebiggs1 — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:37:00 GMT

" I then tried to turn my limited photographic knowledge into turning this phenomenon into something special and different "

Ah, yes, this is what separates the good ones, the great ones, from the rest of us. Think outside the box. Soem have the eye and some of us have to work at it. Try all sorts of different stuff. Most of it won't work but suddenly that one will. All the suggestions are OK but you are the one that is there. Think what is your minds eye seeing? The great thing about digital is you can shoot a lot.

The very best advice you have received so far is shoot raw and use DPP4 or some other fine editor. Great photos are made in post not in the camera.

Re: Composition and camera setting recommendations - EOS 90D and a tripod

BurnUnit — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 16:24:22 GMT

This sort of shooting wouldn't really require a tripod. You don't need to concentrate on one single focus point and in daylight you should have no problem keeping the shutter speed up. Even if you bump up the ISO a bit the 90D should deal well with any noise issues.

Plus shooting hand-held encourages you to move around more freely to try different ways to compose and frame your shots. And the tilt-flip LCD makes it easier to try some low or high angle shots using Live View. After using my 60D for all these years I can't imagine buying any other DSLR without a tilt-swivel LCD.

Re: Composition and camera setting recommendations - EOS 90D and a tripod

Ramsden — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:22:15 GMT

Thanks for all your great responses to my questions. I'm quite overwhelmed and have learnt so much.

Guess what, when I went back today, half the blossom was on the deck - but I soldiered on!

Now I have a problem loading some of photos onto gallery. I keep going round in circles. Can someone please run me through the process. I've got a basic Samsung phone and an old ipad which both have Canon apps installed

Thanks

Ramsden