The painful reality of vacation photography

[NancyP]

60D. EF-S 15-85. Small tripod. Now, a Yongnuo transmitter/transceiver pair that can be used for shutter triggering as well as for flash control. Set up camera on tripod for group shots including me.

 

[bholliman]

I responded earlier about my current vacation photography system that is pretty family friendly. Today, I was looking through 2011 vacation pictures from the Grand Canyon.

I had just gotten my first DSLR, a Rebel T2i, and was in the mode of shooting everything in any light. I was surprised how many bad shots I took of my son and wife standing in harsh mid-day light at numerous canyon overlooks. By the 6th or 7th overlook they are looking pretty hostile in the pictures toward the photographer (me)... Can't say I blame them. The pictures are universally bad

So, in the past four years my photography skills have improved and I seem to learned to keep from letting my hobby interfere with my family's enjoyment of the vacation. I ask my wife about it and she agred it was better but I still had a little room for improvement. She trolled her eyes when I showed her some of the Grand Canyon pics and said "yeah, that was horrible". Live and learn!

 

[Marsu42]

She trolled her eyes when I showed her some of the Grand Canyon pics and said "yeah, that was horrible".

That's nothing: Before the days of digital photography, victims hat to sit through hours of slideshows (*real* slides) with no way of escape. At least today, you've got pics stashed safely away on your raid array where no one needs to bother, and you can give them away for viewing (or not) on a mobile phone or tablet.

 

[martti]

I still take the mandatory shot out of the plane window to show the wing and the engine every time I fly.
Also, the minimalist shot where a significant other stands three millimeter tall in the airport hall.
Rites of passage.

 

[jeffa4444]

iPhone is the best camera when you dont have a camera! On vacation I take an Olympus OM-D E-M10 small, light and much better IQ than my iPhone.

 

[Rudeofus]

I think it's fantastic that your family both appreciates and supports your photography. But I get the impression that, unfortunately for some reason, many photographers must endure a sort of love/hate attitude from their families or spouses with regard to their photography. It doesn't seem to matter whether it is merely a hobby or if they are a professional. I don't like it but that doesn't make it any less true. :

My family hardly cares about my passion for photography, and much less for my images, but that's only one side of the issue. The other side is that while I am husband of a loving wife and father of three wonderful little children, I am not on 24/7 service. This means that even on three day trips there will be times when I can whip out my RZ67 and fire away, and trust me: this takes longer than your average DSLR setup.

I won't (and shouldn't try to) be able to document our whole holiday trip this way, but I think it is necessary to strike a balance between one's family obligations and oneself.

 

[JohnDizzo15]

I won't (and shouldn't try to) be able to document our whole holiday trip this way, but I think it is necessary to strike a balance between one's family obligations and oneself.

Do me a favor and come tell that to my wife.

 

[AcutancePhotography]

I am husband of a loving wife and father of three wonderful little children, I am not on 24/7 service.

What planet did you come from and can I get a ride back there. It sounds like a nice place. ;D

 

[Random Orbits]

I won't (and shouldn't try to) be able to document our whole holiday trip this way, but I think it is necessary to strike a balance between one's family obligations and oneself.

Do me a favor and come tell that to my wife.

You have a balance... it's just not in your favor! ;D

 

[East Wind Photography]

I went to Arizona and Hawaii with the family and took a 6D 24-70, 70-200, a flash (Nissin), small travel tripod and a pentax ps waterproof camera. For both trips I didn't use the 70-200 much but used everything else a lot.

sitting at the beach and swimming we took turns using the waterproof camera. When hiking or seeing the sights I had the 6D with the 24-70 and at night brought out the flash. I did sneak off at sunset on a few days to take photos.

I have some amazing photos of the red glow of the volcano behind my kids for example that would not have been possible without real equipment. no way I could have taken it with a cell phone or even a point a shoot. (I know some professionals could have but I needed everything in manual and some trial and error to get the lighting right.)

I am going to Alaska on a cruise this summer with the family and the difference is it isn't just a landscape trip…there is the possibility of wildlife as well. I'm thinking 6D 24-70 for kids on the boat, environmental portraits. 70D and 100-400 for wildlife and maybe the 35 is 2 for low light…and I'll bring the PS too and the 18-135 STM for video. In addition the kids like to take photos and the older ones can handle the PS or the 70D with 18-135. I'll bring either a monopod or a light tripod but on a cruise ship I'm not sure what the point of trying that is.

The waterproof point and shoot is a fabulous invention. Heck I have a little life jacket for it. Worth every penny.

If it was just me I'd bring the 300 2.8 with 2x extender, the rokinnon 14 2.8 and the 85 1.2 but not with the family.

If anyone has any other suggestions please let me know.

You're going to miss the 300 2.8 and extender in Alaska. But I understand the need to switch to the 100-400. I dont go anywhere without the 300 and both extenders. The family knows it too.

 

[Loswr]

I dont go anywhere without the 300 and both extenders.

That must get awkward in bathroom stalls and other confined spaces...

 

[JohnDizzo15]

I dont go anywhere without the 300 and both extenders.

That must get awkward in bathroom stalls and other confined spaces...

Only if you carry it at crotch height with a trench coat on.

 

[slclick]

I have a pretty good history of taking the 5D3 and the 40 pancake on family trips. Plus, with lens and body caps it even fits in those flat hotel safes designed for laptops. Whats not to like? 2.8, semi wide, compact, great color rendition and contrast. YMMV

 

[Deleted member 7828]

On all the previous family trips I've been on, I did not yet have a DSLR - but in my experience, in a general walkaround tour, there just isn't enough time (in a lot of cases) to sit, frame and compose a photo - it's literally point, shoot and move along.

While I often dream of taking a whole kit with me on my next trip, past experience would indicate that if I do take a DSLR, I really shouldn't be taking more than 2 lenses. Any lens other than the one initially on the camera would likely never get used. In fact, if I can get away with just one lens (say, a 24-105), that would be good enough for 90% of situations.

 

[duffer5]

I think it's fantastic that your family both appreciates and supports your photography. But I get the impression that, unfortunately for some reason, many photographers must endure a sort of love/hate attitude from their families or spouses with regard to their photography. It doesn't seem to matter whether it is merely a hobby or if they are a professional. I don't like it but that doesn't make it any less true. :

My family hardly cares about my passion for photography, and much less for my images, but that's only one side of the issue. The other side is that while I am husband of a loving wife and father of three wonderful little children, I am not on 24/7 service. This means that even on three day trips there will be times when I can whip out my RZ67 and fire away, and trust me: this takes longer than your average DSLR setup.

I won't (and shouldn't try to) be able to document our whole holiday trip this way, but I think it is necessary to strike a balance between one's family obligations and oneself.

My case is a little different. My family (wife and 2 grown daughters) actually have gotten into photography because of my insane attraction to the medium. Granted, they most likely would rather have Dad around than Joe Photog, but they see my hobby as something that the family shares. They have their own cameras, and I show them different things to try. We have fun and compare what each has shot at the end of the day. The balance is struck by our lives more as a moving picture than as individual snapshots. I could go on, but at some time you would probably start to gag.

 

[sdsr]

Re the silent shutter, I'm definitely familiar with and love it as my xt1 also has one. It actually takes it one step further and allows you to shoot up to 1/32000th of a second. Yes, sounds absurd and unnecessary but I have actually taken a ton of shots above 1/8000th over the past few months which I love with it.

Doesn't sound absurd to me at all - I have several f1.2 lenses and a f0.95, like using them wide open as much as possible, and would rather not mess around with filters. I'm a little envious of that feature!

 

[Northstar]

Vacation photography with the family....5d3 and 24-70 and 70-200 and iPhone 6. Done!

 

[pj1974]

Having (re)-married at middle age stage, and now having 2 step children (6 y/o and 8 y/o) - going on holidays with a 'family' is different to holidays / outings with other (photography) adult friends, which I did for many years.

My solutions for my 'new' family holidays / outings (with wife and children) have been to choose the best option for the type of holiday:
- sometimes just taking my smart phone (currently LG G2 which takes decent photos - again if not under demanding conditions).
- other times taking my old Canon 350D with 18-55mm, eg if at risk of some dust/sand, limited space - ie just putting in bottom of bag, etc (This camera body & lens combination which was my 'bread and butter camera back in the day!)
- at other times taking my Canon 7D with better lenses (usually when I/we didn't need to take along too many other things at the same time). Eg when going somewhere where there are birds, I definitely want my 7D and 70-300mm L, which works great as a portable BIF option, as well as useful for outdoor candid shots of my family too.

I am thankful and glad to have these options to choose from, realising many people around the world could not afford even 1 of these options. I certainly miss the experience of shooting DSLR when I am limited to 'just my smart phone'. So that's why I do use option 2 and 3 on some family holidays still....

When my step-children are away on every 2nd weekend (with their biological dad) - my wife (who loves photography too) and I usually take our 'full camera' gear - she has a Samsung smart phone, and a Sony RX-100 which she takes lovely photos with. So I still get my 'photo fix' in that way too.

Paul

 

[LovePhotography]

Well, I've got another vacay coming up. So, based on the thoughts in this thread, I'm gonna do it differently...
Gonna take my T5i (our local busiest pro photog uses it as his portrait camera body!), the most recent Sigma 18-250, and the Sigma 50 Art (just in case there is something I just gotta have my best available). And of course my iPhone6+ (but only for emergency).

I think that's a pretty good compromise. And if it falls in the ocean, it's $700 and not $4000...

 

[kirispupis]

Sorry, but I don't find the issue is in equipment. I find it's all in attitude. Recently I took my wife and two kids to an all inclusive in Jamaica. Everyone had a lot of fun. Most of the time we spent in the pool and relaxing, but come sunset I got the camera out. A few mornings I also went out and I convinced my wife and kids to take two small side trips. Sure, I didn't get as many photos as I do during our more photo oriented trips (where my wife and kids also come), but I was happy with what I did get. If you have the right attitude during trips you'll find you won't get stressed out as much and the quality of your photos will improve.

Negril Sunset by Joseph Calev, on Flickr

Red-billed Streamertail by Joseph Calev, on Flickr