Need some advise on Landscape/Buildings
 

I am soon to receive my new sigma 10-20 f3.5, I am going to take some images of a 6 lane motorway from a bridge and a close up of a wind turbine, can you advise on what f number to start off speed etc will take them off a tripod. I have never had a filter of any kind on any of my lenses because of loss of IQ, but I notice that on landscapes filters are sometimes used.
Processing the images is there anything I need to know I use DPP and Photoshop Elements 6 images will start off in raw.

Hi Terry - the 10-20 Sigma has an 82 mm thread for filters. I had one in the past but got rid of it when I changed to FX format. There are only three filters I got for it - an ultra thin UV to protect it, a circular polarizer and a midrange graduated neutral density. Depending upon light and where you place the horizon - the Grad ND and full ND's are an essential part of my landscape kit. I use the Cokin P system and often hand hold (rather than use the official holder) the filter in front of the lens to avoid vignetting. The 10-20 is very quick to vignette - an ultra thin uv and a Cokon P holder system together will do it. It is a very nice lens to use, but avoid photographing the rear of any (particularly lady) friend you wish to keep - instant tons of cellulite :D I think Elements 6 will handle RAW but as a Mac man am not too sure, Don't know DPP. Enjoy the new glass it's a very good piece of kit.

Thanks for your reply, The DPP is a Canon product and the raw will be converted in that, among some other minor adjustment if needed, I then convert to jpg and do more processing if necessary in Elements 6. I went for a recky and used my Sony Cyber-shot DSC N2 to get some angles on where to setup here are a few shots of the motorway, of cause it might be better at dusk and with a few more vehicles on the road, and of cause I want to introduce in the image the concept of speed.

Terry,

Depends how much you want to show the motion of the vehicles. This one:
http://www.worldphotographyforum.com....php?photo=303
was 20 seconds, f/16, ISO 200.

Faster shutter speed (and wider aperture) will give less movement. It costs nothing to experiment, you'll learn a lot in the process, and you'll be a better photographer for it. Tray a range of different settings. Without knowing what you want, and I don't think YOU know what you want yet, it's difficult to advise what the best settings will be.

A tripod is pretty much essential for this kind of picture.

Thanks for your reply, I will do some experimenting of cause, but just wanted to get some idea where to start, if you could only buy one filter, would you but one ? or what would it be for landscape and buildings.

Would I buy a filter for buildings? No. Would I buy a filter for landscapes, maybe, maybe not. For landscapes, I tend to shoot raw format, process at two exposure values and blend the two shots together to get the equivalent of an ND grad filter.

If you must buy a filter for landscapes, get a ND grad as Andy153 has suggested.

I have never used a filter, and it looks like I wont buy one now, I also take all my shots in raw, just needed to know what the majority do. I will have to learn how this blend of two exposures is done. Thanks