Wild camping & photography?

[DREW WILEY]

Oh ... and don't take my last post as a doctrine that one has to have a large heavy camera and walk
some extreme distance. No. The point is to get out, slow down and look. Forget all the damn stereotypes about what scenery is supposed to look like and learn to appreciate the light of the real
world. Pretend Fauxtoshop and all its gaudy published pictures never existed. Experience things.
Look at the subtleties. Feel the wind on your face. And shoot like every shot is the only one you get,
even if you are carrying a 35mm camera. What wilderness potentially gives one is solitude, and some
of us find that worthy in its own right. But photographically, no difference anywhere you happen to
be.

 

[PKM-25]

Save for some non-wilderness related corporate and ad work, this is what I do for a full time living. I almost always get better imagery when I live in the places for a few days rather than look at them from afar on a road or trail side. I have done 3-4 days in one place or moved around for up to two weeks and done very well.

Some of my best selling wilderness imagery is done in a very remote places in the Colorado Rockies that take some rope work to asend cliff bands through places with no trails that often have issues like dead fall in an avalanche paths. Twice now I have done one particularly brutal trip, once with an Xpan, the other with a 501CM and come back with fantastic photographs. This mostly has to do with putting photography second and mountaineering / trekking first. I use Google Earth and other mapping programs a lot in pre-exploring new areas, years of experience has taught me what to look for.

I am currently on assignment in DC, when I get back, I am doing this trip with a 4x5 and three lenses. I hope it snows this time, blue bird days are boring....

 

[Diapositivo]

My hero in this regard was Vittoria
Sella.

Vittorio Sella http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vittorio_Sella

(Vittoria would be a woman).

 

[Diapositivo]

If this is your first experience in "wild camping" I would concentrate on that. Just take a small 35mm and some rolls. After you have accumulated some experience you would begin refining the photographic aspect of the activity. There are a lot of things to learn through experience about hiking. And I would wait for next summer unless you go with some experienced else.

I have the (maybe unfounded) impression that you are taking this endeavour without realising that it is not banal. Hikers do kill themselves.

I hope you already have an experience as a "one day" walker and already know how to properly orient yourself, use altimeter, compass etc..

 

[Mr Man]

I would love to do some photo trekking, but when I go away on an expedition I always end up taking a small van full of camping kit as well as my camera kit. I end up finding a spot to camp and then use that as a base to drive or walk to locations for shooting, but this can limit were I can get to as I have to be able to hike there and back in a day. The thought of carrying a tent, food, cooking kit, water, sleeping kit, extra clothing or wet weather kit as well as a 5 x 4 camera, tripod, film holders, film, changing tent, lenses, filters, focus cloth and light meter just looks imposable. I don't want to hijack the thread but what photo and camping kit do others take when they go on a trek?

 

[batwister]

If this is your first experience in "wild camping" I would concentrate on that. Just take a small 35mm and some rolls. After you have accumulated some experience you would begin refining the photographic aspect of the activity. There are a lot of things to learn through experience about hiking. And I would wait for next summer unless you go with some experienced else.

I have the (maybe unfounded) impression that you are taking this endeavour without realising that it is not banal. Hikers do kill themselves.

I hope you already have an experience as a "one day" walker and already know how to properly orient yourself, use altimeter, compass etc..

Definitely plan on learning the 'art' of wild camping first and you're right about going along with others before solo. There's certainly a bit more to it in terms of remaining inconspicuous over here, as others have said. It can be frowned upon in certain national parks in the UK. Hence the term 'wild camping' - a bit of a taboo.

I don't want to hijack the thread but what photo and camping kit do others take when they go on a trek?

A bit out of my budget at the moment, but I've been looking at one of these to balance the weight - Dead Link Removed

 

[DREW WILEY]

Potential gear probably deserves its own thread, and you'll elicit just about as many opinions as there are fromats and models of cameras out there. But in principle, as general advice, I'd say forget
all those fancy camera daypacks and their heavy rubber packing. Learn to use simple lightwt bubble
packing and plastic bags, or spare clothing as padding. Only take what lenses and gear you really need, and already intuitively use. When you're tired and a storm is closing in, you need to do things
instinctively. The less bells and whistles a camera has, and the less battery-dependent, the better.
Some things that are wonderful in the studio can fail in the weather. Unless you are doing strictly
handheld work, get a solid tripod, but no heavier than necessary. A flimsy one or wobbly ballhead doesn't realistically save any weight if your pictures are blurred! Expect things eventually get dinged
up, no matter how careful you are. Never put your own safety in jeopardy just to get a shot. Squalls
and lightning won't wait for you. Always have a decent parka and sweater, even if you're out for a
dayhike in potentially cold or wet areas. Talk to the locals or travel with an experienced individual if
you're not experienced yourself. Camping gear itself is a bit involved and off-topic, but there are plenty of websites dedicated to that subject.

 

[PKM-25]

I agree with Drew about one trick pony camera, lens cases and packs, think of it this way, if you put a lens in a case instead of a beanie or wrapped in a quick dry fleece, can you wear that lens case...?....I doubt it.

 

[paul_c5x4]

I don't want to hijack the thread but what photo and camping kit do others take when they go on a trek?

On my last trip to the Lakes, camping kit for a week consisted of: Down sleeping bag, bivvy bag, light weight flysheet, 3/4 length Thermorest, a Pocket Rocket, and a small Ti pot - Total weight around 3Kg.
Photo gear: 5x4 camera, three lenses, tripod, light meter, six film holders, changing bag, filters, and film - Say 8Kg.
A down jacket, waterproof coat, poncho, and a spare base layer, socks, & underwear completed the kit. This all went in to a 40l ultralight backpack and combat vest.

On the next trip, the flysheet will be swapped out for a larger poncho that can double as a shelter - The tripod and walking stick would double up as support poles. At this time of year, I'd change to a petrol stove as butane/propane proved to be short lived in cooler weather - The flame would die while the canister was still half full..

A lighter camera, one less lens, and a smaller changing bag would be the only changes on that front. With the typical wet weather that Cumbria has at any time of year, going light can be a bit of a crap shoot, so it is worth taking gear that can serve multiple uses. A poncho will keep the rain off and can be used as a shelter or a groundsheet (a mylar space blanket could also serve as a groundsheet). As mentioned earlier, the tripod & walking stick can form part of the shelter. A down jacket worn at night means a lighter sleeping bag can be taken but this needs to be balanced against expected night time temperatures.

Going ultralight entails taking extra care and having an exit stratagy should things go pear shaped without relying on Mountain Rescue - A mobile phone is not a substitute for poor planning.

A bit out of my budget at the moment, but I've been looking at one of these to balance the weight - Dead Link Removed

Save your money - I've used something similar, and chest packs can be a right pain in the butt. If you really want to hang stuff on the front, get yourself a couple of snap rings to clip into loops on the backpack shoulder straps, then you can hang a small bag from them.

 

[Poisson Du Jour]

I would love to do some photo trekking, but when I go away on an expedition I always end up taking a small van full of camping kit as well as my camera kit. I end up finding a spot to camp and then use that as a base to drive or walk to locations for shooting, but this can limit were I can get to as I have to be able to hike there and back in a day. The thought of carrying a tent, food, cooking kit, water, sleeping kit, extra clothing or wet weather kit as well as a 5 x 4 camera, tripod, film holders, film, changing tent, lenses, filters, focus cloth and light meter just looks imposable. I don't want to hijack the thread but what photo and camping kit do others take when they go on a trek?

And it is!. If you take all that gear as listed, what will the weight come to? Something else has to be left back in the van — your tent? Sleeping bag and mat? Stove??

Priorities first are to live 'out there' in relative comfort and take what is comfortable to carry on your back. Sure, there are muscle-bois out there who will take every camera they can think of, plus tent, GPS, altimeter, iPhone, recorder... ??? . Let them: they "probably" have the physical capacity to do so (in Australia there are only two I think who take large (4x5) outfits into the wilds for 2 weeks of self-contained wilderness walking. Well known Tasmanian photographer died climbing Mount Hayes in 1996 with 45kg on his back, a lot of that a Linhof, 5 holders, 3 lenses and a meter. But the rest of us go out there to enjoy the scenery and experience: a camera is just to record what we see at specific times — not necessarily to create a masterpiece of light and tone on the first day out.

Instead of preoccupation with photographic gear, take the minimum you know you will use. Use the rest of the time to immerse yourself in the scenery and after that, brew up something interesting on your camp stove, like damper. Of course, that cast-iron pot might have to take precedence over the folder...

My 4-night walk kit
'Brutus' the EOS1N, with 17-40mm or TS-E 24mm
Sky1B and POL filters 77Ø, one fitted to lens
2 rolls of 135/36
Notebook and pencil
Weight: 3.4kg, packed

Alt. kit (same duration)
Zero Image pinhole 6x9
3 rolls/120
L758 meter
XA + 2 rolls 35mm
Weight: 1.2kg, packed

Tripod
Gitzo GT0931 carbon fibre, 1.8kg


You wants a carry-on list!? All in a Berghaus 60L pack

Titanium stove head + 100gm propane/butane gas canister (substituted with a MSR Whisperlite + 200ml shellite in cold weather/high altitudes)
MONT Moondance 1person tent (1.9kg)
Sleeping bag (1.4kg)
Thermarest Micro (750gm)
Spork, Swiss army knife
Collapsible Sea-to-Summit bowl
Collapsible 2.5L water flask
(inside pack) 1L water flask with hose
Plastic cup
Gas lighter (in locked position)
Sunscreen (roll-on)
iPood spade (yes, that's it's real name!) + industrial strength paper
Industrial-strength mozzie repellant
Head torch (fresh batteries installed)
Small lantern for inside tent
Change of clothes (Budgie Smugglers are excellent as they dry quickly after swimming)
Sox (2pr)
Bandaids, waterproof surgical tape for treating blisters
Puritabs for treating water
Hand sanitiser goop
Toothbrush (half-size) and 35mm container with stuff inside it
Raincoat (rolled up, doubles as a pillow)
Chux wipe (this is my towel: dries quickly, weighs nothing)
CROCS for around camp, in glow-in-the-dark pink so I can find them at night
Long-sleeved sunshirt
Jumper (worn, or packed); just a vest in Spring-Summer
hat or beanie (but not both)
gloves (winter only)
Foldable closed-foam mat (for kneeling/sitting on); bought 25 years ago at a fleamarket...
Wooden spoon (to belt stickybeak tourists peaking over my shoulder)
Superior Little Person's Book of Words (accessory to the wooden spoon)

Food bits (say for two to three nights)
Vit C tabs (counted for walk)
Fish oil caps (good for heart, counted for walk)
M&Ms container for maintenance meds of my 35-year old transplant
Green tea, earl grey tea, camomile tea
35mm container of Red Box/Manuka blend honey (for the tea)
Portion serves of pasta twirls and film container of sauce; another film container with grated cheese
Gravlax, dried tomato, mesculin, blob of mayo and chips (treat for night one!), freeze-dried icecream (just add water and shake)
TinyTuna (75gm diced toona for sandwiches)
Salada (crackers)
Pathology specimen container with Vegemite inside (yum!)
Dry biskits (2 a day)
Powdered milk mixed 50/50 Dead Link Removed (big energy boost start to the day)
Goobies for brekky (VitaWeeties with cashews or dried apricots)
Sultanas
Chocky (of course, of course) — deep frozen before heading out in hot weather to prevent if being poured instead of chewed...)
Galaxy SII phone (turned off, used only to contact Ranger or in an emergency)
.
.
.
.
As I've said, I now strongly favour recording my walks with a pinhole — a proven conversation starter wherever I go. And it is much lighter to boot!

Other food stuff, highly variable, depending on climate and walking distance. I dislike packed freeze-dry food. Lots of alternatives though.
Target weight is 17kg (pack) add camera+tripod is c. 24.5kg or a third and a bit of my weight — any more I cannot do, of 61kg).

Now let's see what others are carrying!

 

[Vaughn]

In my younger days, I'd pack my backpack as if for any 10 or 11 day backpack trip, and toss the 4x5, film, 5 holders, changing bag, tripod (Gitzo 300 - pre carbon fiber days), meter, etc on top of everything else. I had the largest volume pack Gregory made. Okay, it weighed 85+ pounds, but like I said, it was my younger days! I like to keep it at around a pound a year now -- up to about 60 pounds for a week...I am at 250 pounds (aiming at 230).

 

[summicron1]

People today are a bunch of wusses.

In 1912 the Kolb brothers ran the Grand Canyon and Colorado river, from Green River Wyoming all the way to the end, in wooden boats hauling gear for more than a month plus a 35 mm movie camera, 8 by 10 view camera, tripods and some smaller (4 by 5) cameras for snapshots, and a portable darkroom. Got some great shots. The big cameras used glass plate negatives, too, I believe.

So I'd say you can handle whatever you want to.

http://www.grandcanyon.org/kolb/kolbbrothers.asp

their book was also a really great read, if you seek inspiration:

http://www.amazon.com/Through-Wyomi...&qid=1347426518&sr=8-5&keywords=kolb+brothers


but if it is me and i want to do "large" format in the wild, I grab the rollei, a coupla pro-packs and call it good.

 

[batwister]

People definitely are wusses today. The age of health and safety. I think it's worse over here for finicky campers/ramblers and there's more of a sport's mentality - with appropriately branded gear. It's less 'Roughing It' and more 'Roughing It in the Correct Fashion'. That said, I respect the potential hostility of the outdoors and certainly wouldn't take silly risks.

My main problem is how skinny, weedy (and white) I am and I'm pretty impressed by the 'muscle bois' with all that gear. I can probably just about manage 10kg with frequent breaks! All manliness aside. I suppose summer is the best bet for these photography expeditions, when all you might need is a flysheet and light sleeping bag.

 

[batwister]

I'll be watching some Ray Mears before I go.

 

[paul_c5x4]

I'll be watching some Ray Mears before I go.

Up on the moors, the pickings are slim, and down in the valleys, you'll be fighting over every morsel with other foragers. I wouldn't recommend carrion or roadkill unless you see it as it dies outherwise it can be pretty grim eating Best bet for fresh food is the local mini/supermarket (Booths in Cumbria is well stocked).

If you're looking for cheap camping gear, Alpkit has a small range of good quality stuff - Have a jacket & bivvy bag from them.

 

[Blighty]

Just do it. In my younger days, I would take my tent and other backpacking stuff (sleeping bag, stove etc.) along with my Mamiya TLR outfit and big(ish) tripod and go hiking over the high tops of the Lake District. Good idea about trying out a campsite first, just to make sure you're cut out for it, although to be honest wild camping is supposed to be an enjoyable pursuit, not a date with death. Just make sure you take sensible precautions; ensure you're fit enough and don't overdo it; teach yourself navigation using map and compass or at the very least a GPS unit - this is the most important part - it's one thing knowing where you're going but next to useless if you don't know where you are. The rest is, or should be, common sense. Oh, and one more thing, don't camp too close to mountain streams; they can rapidly become torrents in time of heavy rain - I speak from experience! Regards and good luck, B.

 

[PKM-25]

People today are a bunch of wusses.

Depends on what company you keep I guess. I have gotten my self into some hairy situations, done a ton of solo work and the people I hang out with have done the same, half a dozen have submmitted Everest, two without oxygen and one friend had to cut his own arm off in your state's desert.

Most people today are wusses, yes, but many I know would also leave your river floating heroes in the Utah dust...

 

[coigach]

Just don't be eating any of that yellow snow is all I can advise. I think the great Frank Zappa would agree.

I hike into wild country often, and sometimes wild camp in the mountains too. Just remember that if you are camping a tent, sleep mat, sleeping bag, appropriate clothing, map, torch, water, cooking equipment / food on top of cameras, lenses, film, tripod can weigh a bloody tonne. Sounds obvious, but a too-heavy pack is a sure way to kill enjoyment. Might be an idea to do a wee practice-run before setting out somewhere far.

I've been doing this for years, and you need to buy the best, lightest outdoor kit you can afford, and be absolutely ruthless when packing. My packing luxury would be a decent book and / or mp3 player, as you will be hanging about waiting for light to change for hours. Photo equipment-wise, pare back to the essentials. If I'm going on a mountain trip, I don't take my usual range of kit - it's either the Mamiya 7II with one lens, or the Fotoman 617 with one lens, and a lighter tripod than my normal. In the mountains, everything is a trade off.

You need to plan plan plan and keep a keen eye on the forecast for weather windows, or you'll be hanging around in the rain all day. But being up high when the light is good and low at the beginning / end of the day is fabulous. In the UK you'll have to work for it though...

This is by far the most accurate weather forecast for UK mountains: http://www.mwis.org.uk.
This tool might help you plan locations / angle of sunlight: Dead Link Removed
and here's the OS 1:50 000 maps online:http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/maps/.
You might also enjoy the APUG 'Hiking and Trekking Groupthere was a url link here which no longer exists)

Feel free to PM me.

Have fun!

 

[Renato Tonelli]

As usual, lots and lots of great advice - wish this forum was around when I started hiking with my gear about 20 years ago.

I too, would stress SAFETY. Common sense dictates: map out your route carefully, be aware of your surroundings, be careful where you step, pick your camp carefully, put your food sack high up on a tree, away from your tent and so on, ad infinitum. Hiking/camping with someone else gives a sense of security.

My last hike/camping trip (New York State) was just three days and the heaviest item was the water i had to haul in. When I am hiking/camping in the Apennines where I come from and in areas I am familiar with, I only carry 1 Liter of water because I know where potable water can be found. This makes a huge difference weight-wise. This last trip I resorted to a wood cooking stove (Emberlit) that folds flat and weighs about 160g. - it worked great. Freeze-dried food is a great weight and space saver but you need water and fuel to be able to use it.

I trimmed the 4x5 gear as well: Linhof Tech with a 135mm lens that stays mounted when the camera is closed, MIDO film holders, light meter, carbon-fiber tripod with monoball (which I don't usually care for), two filters, loupe, cable release.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Ho hum. Been doing it my whole life. Gear has gotten lighter and fancier, but to tell you the truth ...
standard equipment when we were young (literally) ... axe, cast iron skillet, side of bacon, full ham, a few zucchini, small watermelon or several cantaloupe, dry rice, fishing gear, sleeping bag,etc. Typical first day ... four to six thousand foot grade over twelve miles in two hours! Those were
the days! Now that I'm well over sixty, I've been reduced to buying some of that fancy new gear and am clear down to a pitiful little 65lbs pack, and slogging along at about two miles an hour or less The trick is to keep moving, stay in shape, and truly enjoy it. For a beginner, just hang out with some ole worn-out geezer like me and learn the ropes a step at a time.

 

[batwister]

This thread has become a great resource. I've just bought a new pair of £15 socks, so I guess I'm not messing about.

Thanks for the wealth of info.

 

[benjiboy]

My previous experience of "wild camping" as a young marine put me off the outdoors for life, and marching 30miles over rough country in 8 hours with a 56lb pack and a rifle and being tired, cold, wet, and hungry is strictly for the birds, I'll leave landscape photography to others who I'm sure are much better at it than I.

 

[EASmithV]

I had clothes! :munch:

 

[benjiboy]

I had clothes! :munch:

That'a another story Mr.Smith, that I might relate some day.

 

[Vaughn]

Just got back from a couple backpack trips with the 4x5. Five days (Mon. - Fri.) on a solo backpack trip in the redwoods -- about 20 exposures. Once I left the trailhead, I did not see anyone until I got back to the trailhead...nice! Then a quick week-end trip into the Trinity Alps with one of my boy's backpacking club -- took one shot.

In the redwoods, a bear walked into one scene I was photographing -- but he was only in the scene for perhaps 4 seconds out of the total of 45 seconds, so I doubt he'll show up.

Now to find time this week to develop the film. It will be interesting as I used some out-dated (1996) Tech Pan film. Exposed at ASA 16 so every exposure was long, with an hour being the longest. For exposures metering around a minute or more, I doubled or quadupled the time.

Vaughn