LOL!
Yeah I got my first SLR when I was 12 and I spent a lot of time back then just working in manual or sometimes in aperture priority or shutter priority modes. I tend to work much less in fully manual these days and more often in aperture priority or automatic.
I guess because I don't do as much photography as I used when at home I'm loathe to try out slide film when on a trip incase I screw it up.
I'll think about getting a few films though and testing it out on the next UK break which is in September.
I'm off to the Antarctic in November and will take both digital and film SLRs then and may go wtih slide film for that one!

I completely understand. Unless I'm taking a course in photography or on a holiday, I don't pick my gear up as much as I should either. Shame on me as it's the only way to get better.

And I agree aperture priority is a must a lot ot times when shooting animals since you don't have the time to sit and figure out everything in manual. They're not exactly gonna sit and pose for you forever.

How cool that you are heading to Antarctica!:) Always wanted to go. Trying to talk hubby into going. I've tried to do a search on the different forums here to find out about anyone's travels there and can't find much.

I'm sure know what they say about photographing snow and/or glaciers or white backgrounds in the Auto mode. That's a tricky one.

What kind of trip are you taking? If you don't mind giving me the scoop, I'd love to hear about it.

Yeah the exposure is going to be tricky on that trip as the bright whites and blues will throw the meter readings.

But Pold Goldstein is a photographer expert who'll be on hand and so too will Jonathan and Angie Scott (who I met in Kenya in April). I'll just ask them for lots of tips!

It's the late November trip from www.exodus.co.uk that we're booked on.

Kavey,
That looks like a wonderful holiday! I'm surprised the Scotts are going to Antarctica. For some reason, I can't picture them without being in a 4x4 jeep filming or shooting in Africa. Seeing them all bundled up in coats, hats and gloves should be worthy of a few good photos!

I'll add Exodus to my favorites on the computer. They've got great trips everywhere imaginable. Thanks for that.

They've been at least 10 times and love it! Their home is in Kenya but their heart clearly has space for two continents!

Kavey: Definitely go digital in Antarctica unless you are really good with tricky exposures. With all that white, it's really easy to over/underexpose and either blow out details or not get enough.

We went in Jan 2003 and had a fantastic time. I used an Olympus C700, a 2mp camera with a 10x optical zoom, no image stabilization (IS), and no teleconverters or filters as my brain doesn't function quickly enough to remember more than a few camera settings! Our gallery is at www.pbase.com/deseml/antarctica_2003, and I guarantee you'll get tired of looking at iceberg pics!

I used exposure compensation on almost every shot I took and a variety of settings depending on light availability and motion. Since my camera doesn't have IS, the camera's Sports Mode came was very helpful in moving zodiacs to get better focused pictures. Not being very experienced in photography I just kept shooting away, hoping to get some keepers. Of course, Photoshop helped alot too!

Antarctica is as awesome as Africa, but in a different way. You'll love it!

ovenbird-
Those pics are really great. That looks like one beautiful place and one fantastic experience. Those icebergs are breathtaking. I'm sure more so in person.
Thanks for giving me more ammunition to convince my husband to go!;)

ovenbird

I'll say you go some keepers! What beautiful images.

I love the penguins. I was amazed when I saw the "King penguin colony for as far as you could see" and I couldn't pick a favorite of all of the others. Too many to choose from. Great job.

Cindy

divewop: Thanks...I hope you can convince your hubby to go...it really is another world down there. Let me know if you have any questions or can help in any way!

sundowner: Thanks too...and guess what? That King penguin colony was only the second largest on South Georgia Island!