going to costa rica and looking for tips

[save_alkaline]

hello all. i'm pretty new to this real photography thing. it's been a hobby i've always wanted to get into but biting the bullet on an expensive camera and accompanying equipment was hard to justify. i recently did so, partially thanks to the fact that my wife and i are headed down to costa rica in june and i would like to get some nice shots while i'm there. in the meantime, i'm really shooting and reading a lot trying to learn as much as possible prior to the trip.

so, do you have any advice / tips for a newbie photographer going to that part of the world? i currently have a Nikon D40x w/ an 18 - 105 VR lens and that's about it, lol. oh, i did also pick up a remote control for my camera to make better use of my cheap tripod. i'm not looking to spend a whole lot more money at the time being, however those graduated filters look like they could be of use in an area like Costa Rica.

anyway, thanks in advance for any tips and i hope to share some of my resulting pictures when the time arrives.

[clayfrog]

Hi there. You know I found myself in exactly the same position a little over a year ago - I was planning a trip to Costa Rica and used that as my excuse to finally buy the camera I was drooling over. I've just returned from my second trip there and would be happy to share my experience, for what it's worth.

I had with me 28-135 lens and polarizer and that was about it. It covers a decent range in general but I found myself consistently needing more reach, at both ends. Your 18mm I think is sufficient for wide landscape shots, but if you are at all interested in capturing wildlife I would get something in the 200-300mm range (preferably with VR). All of my monkey pictures came out dark, blurry, and too distant at 135 and handheld. I would recommend a monopod for the long shots to reduce camera shake, especially if you can't get a lens with VR. You can get a decent one for around $15 on Amazon - they are easier to carry than a tripod and can double as a walking stick.

Since it will be well into the rainy season in June, make sure you have some good rain protection. A good waterproof/water resistant camera backpack will help if you plan on hiking, and always keep a rain jacket or trash bags with you to throw over your gear in case of a sudden downpour.

The sun is extremely intense, so you will get a lot of blown out skies - I don't think there's any way to avoid it in every situation. A graduated ND or CPL can help with landscape shots, though.

Anyway, my 2 cents. Hope that helps!

Are you flying into Liberia or San Jose? If you're traveling in the Guanacaste region or Arenal I'd be happy to share info!

[save_alkaline]

thanks for the advice! i recently picked up a lowepro fastpack 200 and will be sure to bring a poncho or something with me for extra protection.

i was curious about the sky. we were in mexico last year and the sun was pretty intense there as well. i was hoping to find a way to combat that a little and had looked into the Cokin ND graduated filters. i assume these will help and for $50 or so they don't seem to be too expensive.

we're flying into Liberia and are staying in Conchal hotel in Brasilito but i'm not sure where all we'll be venturing yet.

[Digidave]

Moisture is going to be your biggest problem. I've never been anywhere tropical with a camera but I have read some things about fogged up lenses & such. The first thing I would do is get some of those gel packs to absorb moisture & a lot of them! I'm not sure what exactly they are called. I would have them in my camera bag, & the camera in the bag whenever not in use.