Landscapes. The word alone conjures up images of Ansel Adams and Bob Ross (sometimes together, battling it out in a cage match for artistic dominance.) One of the most common ‘entry-level’ categories of photography, its scope is so broad that it can be broken down into countless sub-levels. Plenty of time can be spent cracking apart the specifics of seascapes, urban landscapes, aerial landscapes, and the like, so today I’ll just be talking about the general preparation for your ‘hike-in-the-woods’ variety.
Preparation –
When Duke pointed at you and said ‘knowing is half the battle,’ he wasn’t kidding. The internet is a wealth of knowledge about various state and national parks, hiking trails, lakes, rivers, and waterfalls. Fantastic apps like Trey Ratcliff’s ‘Stuck on Earth’ is fantastic in finding hidden gems in the outdoors near you. If you don’t have an iPad, Google Maps can do a fine job as well. Pop in your town, turn on the ‘Photos’ filter in the upper right corner, and pictures from nearby places that have been posted on their Panoramio photo site will begin popping up. All of a sudden, neat little places like winding brooks, covered bridges, and scenic overlooks are discovered just a short drive away (at least in central Pennsylvania – let me know if anyone happens upon a lovely cascading waterfall on the corner of 5th Avenue and 42nd Street.)
Does your destination involve travelling by foot? It’d be great if every gorgeous landscape was visible from the side of the road, but unfortunately that just isn’t the case most of the time. Chances are, you’re going to get those feet going, so make sure you’re properly prepared for a stint in the woods! Whenever I’m planning on a hike anywhere to take photos, I’m never without the following:
Hiking boots – I wear a tall pair of Bogs waterproof boots. I spend a lot of time standing in streams and other bodies of water, so I had to trade good traction and hiking comfort for water protection. Make sure you’re 100% comfortable in the pair of boots you decide to buy – the trail will reveal if they aren’t a perfect fit VERY quickly.
Utility knife and flashlight – We may not be going into the woods to sleep on the ground and cook hot dogs over a fire, but we still need to be prepared for anything. Flashlight before knife, in my opinion. You may think you’re in the clear during your hike out in broad daylight, and you can see perfectly fine as you snap those sunset shots glittering through the trees or spilling golden light over distant mountains from your overlook – but then you turn around and realize you have a multi-mile hike back to your car in the darkness. I’ve been there. It isn’t fun – ALWAYS bring a flashlight!
Food and water – The last thing you want is to get to the end of your long hike, finally presented with the majestic scene you’ve come to capture, and you are overwhelmed with hunger and thirst. These are distractions, and some of the hardest for your brain to ignore. Getting that perfect composition, taking the time to move an extra foot over, or lowering your tripod another few inches – all of these just don’t seem ‘worth it’ when you’re stomach is growling or your mouth is parched. An assortment of nuts and seeds is the perfect energy food for the trail. They give you plenty of fuel without the crash of sugar, and also can supply other nutrients to prevent cramps and soreness. As for drinks – nothing beats water. Nothing. Don’t be afraid to refill from the stream, either. Just make sure you’re filling up your bottle with moving water, preferably at the end of a set of rapids. Stagnant water is a breeding ground for bacteria. I always have food and water with me – I want to be completely focused when it comes time to get the shot.
Camera gear – All of it. Tripod. Any kind of carrying case or sling. Filters, hoods, EVERYTHING! Hell, if you have room for your flash and a little umbrella, do it! Who knows if that setting sun will make for a phenomenal self-portrait and you need some fill light? No matter where I’m going, I never skimp on the gear I’m bringing. The time I don’t bring something is exactly the time I need it. (Once I slid down a gorge with my camera to get another angle on some falls – still thanking my lucky stars I had a friend along to go back and get my camera harness to throw down to me. No way I was climbing back out without both my hands free.) Call me crazy when it comes to preparation, but I leave nothing behind.
So you’ve done your research. You have your destination mapped out. You know the kind of hike to expect. A comfortable pair of boots are on your feet. Your flashlight has fresh batteries and your utility knife is strapped to your belt. Nuts, seeds, and berries fill a ziplock bag stored away in your backpack, and you’ve got a bottle of fresh water. All of your lenses, filters, caps, remotes, and the like are tucked away and organized in your pack. You’re ready to head into the wilderness, intent on bringing back Mother Nature’s marvelous work back home to share with the world in your photographs. In my next article, I’ll talk about the general technique in getting the shot you want.
Wait….you charged your battery the night before, right?
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Colin Gallagher is a 27 year old photographer out of Central Pennsylvania.
Website:http://colintgallagher.com
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