The Travelling Photographer

with UNCLE DICK STEIN

The All in One trade has settled into the pattern of a few giant factories turning out big ranges of The idea of having it all is ingrained in a lot of us. Sometimes we add the idea of having it all in one - one place, one time, one person … or one camera. The makers of digital photo equipment are ahead of us all the way and make special equipment to appeal to this instinct. camera gear. As a shooter, you can pick a name you like or remember from the past, and there will be an all-in-one there for you. Look for a camera that doesn’t let you switch lenses. Not that this is a bad thing artistically, but every time you do it you risk having dirt fly into the camera - and then you’ll be paying to have it delicately The idea isn’t new - when you were a pup cleaned out again. If your camera of choice and Kodak was real, the family camera has a zoom lens, all the better. You’ll be was likely to be an all-in-one Brownie. trading off a very little degree of resolution For most people there were no for a great deal more flexibility in use. interchangeable lenses or multiple camera bodies. Frequently there was no flash and lots of times no tripod. What you had was what you used and what it did was what you got. Pick a camera that doesn’t weigh a metric tonne. That’d be a slight exaggeration, but you’ll wonder if you compare the weight of some cameras to others after a long day of hiking. If you’ve opted for a very large Most of the pictures that people took zoom lens your shoulders and back will talk satisfied them no end - even if they were to you about 4:00 in the afternoon and they much the same from one picture to the won’t speak softly. next. The wives who took a Kodak snap of Dad going off to war, sent home shots of the kids while he was away, then took another snap as he came off the troopship were right to be delighted with the postcard prints. Pick a camera that doesn’t need exotic memory cards. No names, no pack drill, but have a look when you buy the camera whether there are any compatible spare cards on the shelves. If they don’t have them in the city, they The professionals could won’t have them in the switch lenses, add lights, haul bush. tripods, and do any manner of complex things, but they couldn’t do better than that Kodak, as far as the family was concerned. Pick a camera that has a decent battery for the size of the body. Too small, to be trendy, means too few shots between charges and Well, you can do the same too fast a leakage through now. Not with a Kodak, I active circuits. am sad to say, but with any number of fine cameras from the major makers. And I say major, because the Try to pick a camera that has some form of viewfinder. These can be

optical, mechanical, or electronic - but whichever they are, you’ll need one to help you see through the glare of the sun on the LCD screen. Finally, pick a picture box that doesn’t cost the earth. Again, no names … but some of the offerings from major makers are wrapped up in legend, style, and trend and are priced accordingly. When your prospective new camera costs three times the price of your first car, it’s time to pause and think. Note: Once you’ve got the new camera in hand, go out and go mad. Make all the mistakes you can quickly so that you have time to read up how to correct or avoid them next time. Don’t be ashamed to experiment and learn. You got bogged with your first 4WD and got out of it - you can succeed with your new camera.

PHOTOGRAPHY Tips & Tricks

Not sure how to set your new digital camera? Daunted by the menu options? Puzzled at the instruction book? Welcome to the family … Here’s a quick recipe for new digital camera owners that they can apply if they’ve gotten a new camera just before a trip and haven’t had time to settle into it. The results will be pretty good and later experience will make them even better. 1. Reset and format the camera and card. Set the date and time on the first screen that asks for this. 2. Set the colour space to sRGB - it’ll be in the menu somewhere. 3. Set the White Balance to Auto. 4. Set the Mode to P or Auto. 5. Set the Image Size to Medium 3:2. 6. Set the Image Quality to Normal + RAW. It’ll use up more memory on the card but you’ll bless yourself for having the RAW file later. Believe me. 7. Set the ISO rating to Auto/3200 or at least to ISO 800. Now go out and go mad. Shoot every blessed thing you see. Nearly every scene that attracts your attention will be of value to you later when you analyse your trip. The camera will record them pretty well - that is the wonderful thing about modern digital - and the RAW file will hold the key to perfecting them later when you are home and have some spare time. It doesn’t even matter which brand of camera you use - they all do the job you bought them for. Have faith and snap away.