Digital or Film

[pieter pannevis]

Photography on the Camino

By Pieter Pannevis pilgrim and professional photographer- the Netherlands

Take your own camera with you. The one you KNOW!
Do not buy it 1 day before you go and are unfamiliar with it
If you thinking on buying one consider the following points and get
acquainted with the
camera and at least run one film to see if you get the options of the camera
right.

        IF weight is important, buy a light camera
        Buy a camera with also a light surface (the new ones with golden and silver
looks
reflect the sun and leaving it on a table in the sun will destroy the images
if the temp. goes up
to high).

        In buying a camera, go for the wide-angle option. Churches, groups,
interiors of
churches can nicely done with 30 to 35 mm, even landscapes with enormous
skies are
impressive.
        If you can spare the money try a compact and lightest camera available and
look for
the zoom f.i. (it says 33~70 mm) The more you can spend on it, the better
the zoom qualities
become....say 35 or 45 ~240mm (the longer the telephoto, the longer your
wide angle
is...(it's technical very difficult to incorporate) a nice wide extreme wide
angle with a good
telephoto (to get detail out of ...a church (a statue of St James).
Mind that if your getting to telephoto there is a loss in light coming to
your film; so steady the
camera then

The mentioned cameras are all 35 mm no APS as 35 mm is more readily
available in Spain.
However a compact camera always is surpassed by the normal SLR camera's in
quality of
sharpness. If you think you can carry it, think about it.
Again a wide angle is always useful. Or take a wide angle and a zoom (80~200
or 250mm)

Compact camera's come with more or less intelligent flash. They do not only
calculate the
amount of flash to the distance (be careful by placing the automatic
sharpness control area on
your camera on the right subject, then pressing the pushbutton slightly down
to fix the
distance and than compose and release shutter.), some have also the option
of flash outside to
revive colours. Use it! On dull days in makes a difference or when you
shooting towards the
sun.

To keep the "mood" of the scene never set it on flash, but disable it.
Never flash in churches or large interiors: it makes no sense. It never
shows!

Adjust your photography to your subject. So a tall vertical object will be a
standing photo etc.
Always remember the golden rule 1/3 to 2/3. This will say never have the
horizon or line in
the middle of your photo. Think of what part is more important. Is it the
cobles on the Roman
way...then only a bit of clouds If you're on the meseta and seeing all
around..go for the skies
with the clouds  ( if any) and have only a minor section of "ground".

Doing a city street; watch for activity: a dog in the street will already
liven up your picture.

On films.
        Buy colour negative even if you not used to these kind of thing. 36
Exposures
        Colour- negative is sharper due to the thinner film and you can make
perfect transp.
and black and white out of it. The speed you choose will be between 200 and
800 (for all
seasons)

There are very small foldable ultra mini tripods on the market (9 grams).
(Usually sold as
display units in camera stores) - check for socket to hold camera.
        These tripods come in very handy: if you're going alone and you like to be
incorporated in the picture (or all of you). Use the self-timer and...before
leaving home try
out the camera and its option first without and later with film and check
the results!

 You always find a table, a stone, the roof of a car to place your camera
on, set the timer and
run and smile. Do not forget in leaving the camera alone to secure it with
the strap.... gravity
likes cameras!!

        Without a tripod try to find a stable underground...with a little bit of
luck you're
getting handy in these things...(By the way sharpness in you're picture is
mostly set by
camera motion not by the quality of the lens uses - source:Ansel Adams).

        What to photograph?
        I found out that the most cherished photos are those of friends and not of
beautiful
landscapes...even do not forget that. To see if a landscape "works", close
one eye and SEE if
it is still as impressive. Some tips: Try to incorporate foreground (which
will give distance) A
small flower in the foreground give a relation to the scene behind.
                                        Try to incorporate colour
                                        Try to incorporate lines (roads ...which lead to your
subject). Play with shadow, dark and light.

Do not assume that the moment you come to think to photograph something,
you're also on
the right spot to do so.!! Investigate your subject.

 In buildings etc. go forward backwards up and down, move around to see if
it's getting
better. Mind that a low perspective ( on your belly) or standing somewhere
on it, can make the
photo more attractive.
A good set consist of a grand overview ( 50 meters), nearer to get an
interesting sight (10 m)
and a close up (3 m) and a very close up (1 m or nearer)
If it's people: press the button and see later. If you're in doubt and your
close ask the person
involved if he/she is all right to have the picture taken

Should you buy postcards...? .Yes if you're not sure These card making
people had their
camera, the right moment and the right time to do so, but even it's your
Camino so make a
photo yourself as well. It's your personal statement of that what you found
interesting. Do not
try to copy a postcard- if you like that: copy these photo standards outside
with all the cards in
it.!

Photos a generally speaking taken too far away. A nice close up makes the
difference in your
series. Try to get hold of the essentials of your pilgrim way. (I liked more
my photos of the
interiors of an alberque than the inside of Eunate )

Go for people you meet, the daily routine, which becomes THE Story, when you
come home.
The blisters, the mud, the inside of a bar, your food, signs and shields on
the Camino. Do not
have all sunshine photos. I there is fog or rain...just continue.
. If you cannot find the right films for a moment go for the substitute; you
will find that
something happens on the way - when you have no film.!
Always check if the film is rightly set in the camera ...and there is a film
in it! Check progress
in the camera and do not rely only on the counter
Have the camera always ready in your front pouch! Never hide it in your
backpack.

What to do with the films?
Keep processed and unprocessed films in the most inner side of your backpack
in the plastic
container it comes in. Keep it cool! (If you can). See to it that the used
film has no film slip
outside (roll it entirely into the cassette). So you are not troubled by the
fact op using one film
twice.....

If you think you can, take the films with you and have them processed at
home. Or you can
send a packet containing these films home.
One day processing is not bad in Spain, so you can try that as well. The
Fuji shop more or less
next to the Officina de Peregrinos works very well and fast. Nice people
too!

I made a photo of my arrival with Trigo in Santiago and had it copied
several times there and
send it to all my friends back home as a postcard (prepared the stickers at
home). Much nicer
than a bought card. If you promise people a photo, do not "forget" to send
it.

On digitals: This is the latest of course and the only problem is...battery
power and storage.
Buy an at least 3.3 million pixel one. For batteries: the rechargeable of
1800 mAh type and do
take the charger with you. Try to get as much memory cards with you as
possible 128 MB or
256 MB.
To preserve battery power do NOT use the screen: it consumes. A set of empty
batteries will
be recharged in one night! So if you can ALWAYS recharge: it's like taking
water on your
trip.

Be aware that there IS a delay in pressing the "shutter" and the actual
taking of it as the CCD
reads it in....Do not set the camera on the lowest resolution in order to
get more photos on
your memory card or stick. It will not print very well!

Happy hunting and a good Camino!






---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.458 / Virus Database: 257 - Release Date: 24-2-03