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

[Ramsden]

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 

 

[stevet1]

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

[Ramsden]

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 

[Tintype_18]

Looking forward to the photos. Post in the gallery.

[ebiggs1]

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.

[ebiggs1]

"... and a small wide angle ..." 

What does that mean? 🤔

[Ramsden]

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 

[BurnUnit]

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.

[Ramsden]

Hi

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 

[stevet1]

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