TIPS – HIKING & PHOTOGRAPHY
Hiking and photography go hand in hand. The chance to be at a slow pace, in beautiful landscape, is a prime opportunity. This article is here for those who hike seriously, especially those on multi day hikes. My recent completion of the Overland Track in Tasmania Australia, helped form some useful findings that I hope you will find of use.
My specific location advice for the Overland Track can be read here
Our family has always been keen walkers and we often take them on walks that perhaps on occasion, we underestimate. A 22km walk from Charlotte Pass to Mt Kosciusko being a prime example. Luckily our kids are pretty tough! I of course carry photo equipment with the prime aim to capture stock imagery. Carrying a small pack and a camera slung over my shoulder has worked fine. I simply swing it further towards my back and never had an issue with it getting in the way. However in our training for the Overland Track this was clearly not going to work
Carrying Gear
Our family has always hiked but not as far as the Overland Track, and not over multiple days. I have always been able to swing my camera over my neck and shoulder and walk. For cycling I use a 3 point strap that moves the camera towards my back and stops it falling forward when in the saddle. However once you put on a large hiking backpack and use poles both of these options dont work.
Some rapid research led me to Peak Designs Capture Clip
https://www.peakdesign.com/en-au/products/capture?Color=Black
Equipment
High quality DSLRs such as the Canon 5DsR, combined with L series lenses gives you the best chance of capturing the immense detail that fields of flowers. My favourite lens of the moment is the Canon 16-35mm F4. When used well it is exhibits a level of sharpness I have not seen in any other combination of camera or lens. Of course with canola and sunshine a polarizer will enhance your images significantly. If you can find a composition that is 90 degrees to the sun then you will be in polarizer heaven. Just be careful to not overdo the effect and watch for dark spots in the sky.
Tripods are great to use. Not from a shutter speed point of view, but from a composition thinking mindset. Tripods always help you to slow down and really compose a scene. Slowing down sometimes is really speeding up things quality wise!
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