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Anonymous
I'm going to Japan next week on holiday.

What extra steps should I take to get some decent 'holiday' photos that aren't your standard run of the mill stuff?

I have the following lenses
Canon 18 - 55
Canon 70 - 200 F4 USM and polarizer
>> ac
1. Point camera at scenes that are not run-of-the-mill holiday photo type stuff.
2. Press shutter button.
>> Anonymous
Bring back papercrafts for /po/


\o/ *jumps*
>> Anonymous
go to places that don't suck
for example, go to Shikoku. Anywhere is pretty much okay. :)
>> Anonymous
"Japan" is a pretty big place. If you'd at least mentioned some city, it'd been easier. But taking photos of what all the common people do is good.
>> Anonymous
well, I'm going to Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo.

But i meant more about the technical side. ie. how people fuck up holiday shots, and how not to do it.
>> Anonymous
>>41125
you're going to the standard run-of-the-mill touristy spots. so expect touristy photos. if you want to take artsy photos, you need to go look for artsy subjects and take your time. not necessarily worth it if you're on a tight schedule and want to see everything.

anyway, please just don't go running around Akihabara giggling like so many retarded self-proclaimed otaku faggots
>> Anonymous
>>41131
Already been to akihabara, so I've done that giggling shit, and was over it in the first 5 minutes.

What's a common problem that people have when they take touristy photos?
>> Anonymous
lots of problems. First of all, every picture seems to depict a smiling tourist friend or relative trying to look cool in front of famous statues. Secondly, tourists tend to successfully avoid taking pictures of anything but the main tourist attractions. Third, tourists often have too little time to actually take out that tripod and taking a decent picture instead of running around like mad and taking blurry, bad pictures.
>> Anonymous
With that 70-200, you can get a lot of close-up/candid shots of passer-bys going through the daily grind. Try it, and you'll be sure to get a lot of interesting shots.

You might want to get a 50mm pr wider prime as a general walkaround lens, since the 18-55 is just total crap.
>> ac
>>41452
Telephotos don't take candids, they take voyeurism. If you want to take candids, get a wide or a normal and get close. Don't lurk in the shadows, you make us all look bad.
>> ac
>>41452
Also, the EF-S 18-55 isn't bad if you're shooting outside in good light where you can stop it down a bit. 18-55mm on an APS-C sensor is a great focal range. And there's no other way to get that wide without dropping some *serious* coin.
>> Anonymous
Call me crazy, but my recommendation would be to go with a tiny rangefinder.

Alas, that was the era of film and not digital, so I'll say to stick with small primes, and try to be inconspicuous. Try not to take touristy pictures, as has already been said. A big ol' telephoto might turn people off, but if you keep your body fitted with a nice small prime (pancake would be best, but i'm not a big canon guy so i don't know if they have any), it'll be a little less unwelcome, partly because you have to get up close with it. Everyday settings and situations would work nicely. People going to work, lunchtime, etc.

In fact, I would try to stay away from the telephoto and stick with primes, but i've been called insane before, so take it with a grain of salt.

Can't help to think that the tiny Pentax ME or the more full-featured Olympus OM-1 would be fantastic in this situation. Small lenses, small, quiet cameras. Inconspicuous at its best.
>> Anonymous
>>41457
Just to comment on this, because I've had a similar experience with telephoto/normal lenses and catching candid scenes.

Framing with a telephoto from far away is extremely different from framing with a normal or wide angle at close range. You will notice this when you see your pictures, and your viewers will too.
>> Anonymous
I do a lot of on the street photography, and if people think you're just some weird tourist they won't even notice you. I've been three feet away from people and taking their photo and they never noticed. So, just act like a tourist, oh, and be quick. If you can set your camera on auto,do it, and shoot a lot.