TAKE A HIKE!

Summer holidays are here, so what about setting aside a couple of days to ‘go bush’ with your camera for some quality photography time? And why not leave the car behind and head out on foot to really immerse yourself in a location? Here’s a few things you

Ready to take your landscape photography to another level? Then it’s time to head for the bush and spend a night or two under the stars. Our introductory guide to backpacking covers the essential hiking equipment you’ll need and some of the best photo gear for travelling light.

any experienced landscape photographer will tell you that the best pictures emerge after you’ve spent a bit of time at a location, becoming familiar with your surroundings and getting a real feel for the essence of a place. Watch the light change throughout the day and maybe even experience some different weather conditions. And it’s not just about landscape, wildlife photography inevitably requires spending more time at a location, waiting and watching.

You can’t do any of this by just driving up in a car and hoping for the best. No, you need to leave the car behind, don the backpack and set out on foot, prepared to spend one or more nights out under the stars (which present another potential subject, of course).

So, what do you need? The main objective is to travel as light as possible without compromising your personal safety or your ability to get the pictures that you want. If you’ve never trekked before, it’s advisable to start with shorter hikes, perhaps only over one or two days, which is not only less challenging physically but also means you don’t have to carry so much, particularly in terms of food and water. The location will also dictate what you need to take in terms of clothing and, again, novices shouldn’t aim to be too ambitious on their first couple of trips. For example, stick to established walking tracks and perhaps even use a bigger

camping site as a base for doing day walks.

Preparation is everything. Start by carefully studying your planned route so you’ll have a better idea of what you’ll encounter in terms of the terrain, seasonal conditions and how much time is involved. Study the weather forecasts for the area and take heed of any warnings. Bad weather isn’t necessarily a bad thing in photographic terms, but there’s not a lot you can do in persistent heavy rain, thick mist or gale force winds. Knowing the likely weather conditions is also important when it comes to deciding what clothing to take, and the objective here is to keep dry, warm and comfortable so you can function optimally both physically and mentally. If you’re heading into a mountainous area, you’ll probably have to cover all possibilities – not just because the temperature variations between day and night can be considerable, but because the weather can change quite rapidly…from sunny and warm to wet and cold within half an hour. Comfort And Cost The comfort factor is an important one and certainly applies to your clothing, but also your footwear and whatever you’re carrying on your back. Break in new boots or shoes well before your big trip, and, if possible, try out a backpack fully loaded. Most feel OK when empty, but any problems with, for instance, harnesses or belts will be amplified when they’re under load.

The bottom line with outdoor gear is indeed the bottom line. There’s a lot of cheap stuff on the market, but much of it is poorly designed and badly manufactured using lower grade materials so reliability and durability are issues and, consequently, your safety may be compromised. It will really pay to invest in better quality products from the reputable brands, even if you’re only planning to do a few trips a year. You don’t want to be continually distracted or slowed down by equipment deficiencies or failures. The major companies making outdoor clothing and equipment also invest a lot in researching new materials and more efficient designs which are then extensively tested before being put on the market. While these products may be more expensive initially, they deliver practical benefits such as being lighter, stronger, warmer, drier, more comfortable, more versatile or easier to set up and use.

The advice here is very simple, don’t risk either your well-being or your safety by trying to save money on your outdoor gear. For photographers, it’s a means to an end – i.e. getting to a location where you can take great pictures – so if it gets you there and gets you back successfully, it’s been worth the investment.

And what about your photo gear? Again the objective has to be to minimise the weight you have to carry without restricting what you want to. However, be realistic about the latter so you don’t necessary have to be ready for anything. Decide what you’d most like to shoot – for example, wide-angle landscapes – and then concentrate on that and achieving the best outcomes. Besides, you’re going to have to balance your photo gear with everything else you need to carry and, in reality, your clothing, food and camping gear takes priority because it’s the ‘support system’ for your outdoor photography. If you’re contemplating hiking or trekking as a new direction for your photography, you may want to consider equipment better suited to this activity… for example, a smaller and lighter weight mirrorless camera body instead of a bulkier D-SLR, and a compact travel-style carbonfibre tripod.

Remember, it’s the accessories that can soon mount up, so pare these down to the basic essentials – spare batteries, a cleaning cloth, and the ‘must-have’ filters (i.e. a graduated ND for landscapes) – plus whatever else you need for your intended subject (such as a remote trigger for time-lapse sequences, wildlife or star trails). Don’t underestimate your power requirements (it’s worth determining exactly how many shots you’re getting from a charge because the camera specs can be optimistic), but carrying spare battery packs is the easiest option and possibly the cheapest. Remember that long exposures and techniques such as time-lapse or any multi-shot capture will greatly increase your power usage. Safety First Needless to note, safety is a priority when hiking in remote locations which, in Australia, often means being out of mobile phone range if you get into trouble and need to summon help. But there are plenty of basic precautions you can take – along with being suitably equipped – such as not overextending your physical capabilities or skills, learning some basic bush craft and first-aid, always notifying somebody of your plans and schedule (compulsory in many National Parks which may also require a personal emergency beacon) and simply not taking any silly risks with the weather, difficult terrain or potentially dangerous wildlife such as snakes.

The advice here is very simple: don’T risk your wellbeing or safeTy by Trying To save money on ouTdoor gear...