November 21, 2018

Photographers: My Favorite Vacation Lens

For me, one of the hardest parts about traveling, is choosing what gear to bring and what to leave at home. It’s so hard! Especially if I have to travel light or if we’re just going to be away for a few days. I love my prime lenses, especially for weddings and portraits, but if I can only bring one lens, I want something that’s going to be more versatile. Something that can get great close up shots, breathtaking wide angle shots and still allows for that shallow depth of field that I’ve come to love over the past few years.

With the Holiday’s right around the corner I figured this may be a question a lot of photographers would be thinking about and it’s a question I thought about this past November when Blake and I flew out to California to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary. California location we’ve been wanting to go for a few years now so when the opportunity came, we took it. (And I’m so grateful!)

Knowing we’d be exploring lots of new areas, knowing I could only bring one lens and I would want flexibility I decided to bring a lens I haven’t used in a while and one of my first favorite lenses. 🙂

My Canon 24-70 2.8 L USM.

Since getting home, I’ve gone through the images and I have to say, I was not disappointed. If you’re looking for a little inspiration check out these shots. 😉

 

Canon 24-70 2.8 L USM.

 

24mm   1/100   f 7.1   ISO 100

This first group of shots was taken at Hearst Castle.
While I usually shoot wide open at 2.8, I choose to shoot 7.1 to keep more of the detail in these more landscape type shots. I also want you to know we were on a tour so if you see some funky settings, I was trying not to get left too far behind and making some quick adjustments. 😉

42mm   1/100   f 7.1   ISO 100

50mm   1/320   f 7.1   ISO 400

42mm   1/125   f 7.1   ISO 320

70mm   1/640   f 7.1   ISO 400

51mm   1/400   f 7.1   ISO 125

25mm   1/320   f 7.1   ISO 400

70mm   1/100   f 7.1   ISO 160

70mm   1/100   f 7.1   ISO 1000

38mm   1/100   f 2.8   ISO 1000

Let the light in! Thank you 2.8. 🙂

35mm   1/160   f 7.1   ISO 400

I think one of the best parts of traveling and shooting is getting to try different things and capture different backgrounds. These shots were on the beach at sunrise then later at sunset. Even though I had Blake in a couple of these shots I kept my aperture at 7.1 so that we could keep the detail of the landscape behind him. Not my typical, but fun to play with this time about.

25mm   1/160   f 7.1   ISO 400

30mm   1/160   f 7.1   ISO 400

Can I just put a pause right here. I love this man. 😀

57mm   1/800   f 7.1   ISO 400

24mm   1/500   f 7.1   ISO 400

30mm   1/100   f 2.8   ISO 6400

27mm   1/100   f 2.8   ISO 6400

34mm   1/400   f 2.8   ISO 100

38mm   1/160   f 2.8   ISO 100

Huge thanks to my Mother-in-law for taking this shot of us!
As a photographer, I have so few shots of the two of us! Maybe you can relate. 🙂

 

Thanks for checking out this post! If you have any questions about the Canon 24-70 2.8 L USM, shooting, how awesome Cali was or anything else, send me at e-mail at rachael@rachaelwatsonphotography.com.

Till Next Time,

 

 

 

 

PS. If you’re looking for more posts geared toward photographers, make sure to check them out here. If you have something you’re curious about, just let me know! I always love hearing from you. 🙂