I'm going to the Sierras for a backpacking trip. Were doing 2-3 day loops in sequoia, kings canyon, and yosemite. I'm bringing my camera a few lenses, tripod, and extras for photography and cinematography. Anyone have any tips as far as keeping things light? Where to keep it in your pack? Tips for shooting on trips like these? Any general tips? Thanks
Backpacking Photography
- Thread starter MLeone
- Start date
juicedrummer11
Active member
i would just try to think of what you will be shooting and how you want to shoot it beforehand because you might not need all of your lenses. maybe a zoom and a wide angle would be all you need to cover all of your ranges unless you had some other things in mind for shots.
DrZoidberg
Active member
F stop bag... Also bring less stuff. Just the camera, tripod and some sort of mid range type zoom would be fine, or bring a 50 or 35 or something depending on how you like to shoot. I stopped bringing all my shit everywhere a long time ago and it's so much better.
Mag
Active member
If you want to save weight you could think about bringing a table-top tripod. It won't get you a lot of height, if any, but it certainly will be small and light, and because it's so low down you'll most likely be able to get something steady pretty cheaply.
I can't really comment on what lenses/gear you'll need as I don't know what you have/plan on shooting.
I can't really comment on what lenses/gear you'll need as I don't know what you have/plan on shooting.
RileySnyderPhoto
Member
Get a compact or Micro Four Thirds to keep it light
JibbaTheHutt
Active member
whatever you decide to pack, make sure you keep on the side of the bag closest to your back. it will keep it closer to your centre of gravity and make it seem like less weight. also make sure your backpack is well fitted.
Thanks all for the input!
@Balto I have no idea what you mean but I 'm assuming a sarcastic good luck carrying my equipment? Haha thanks... I mean it's not super long, I'll be fine
-I'm just gonna bring my real tripod because a gorillapod won't suffice.
-Thanks to whoever said the way to pack your bag tip.
-I also agree with the person who said only bring a wide angle, and mid range zoom... but I also want to bring a telephoto for wildlife photography
Hope I didn't miss anything... Thanks for the tips and suggestions everyone! Keep them coming!
@Balto I have no idea what you mean but I 'm assuming a sarcastic good luck carrying my equipment? Haha thanks... I mean it's not super long, I'll be fine
-I'm just gonna bring my real tripod because a gorillapod won't suffice.
-Thanks to whoever said the way to pack your bag tip.
-I also agree with the person who said only bring a wide angle, and mid range zoom... but I also want to bring a telephoto for wildlife photography
Hope I didn't miss anything... Thanks for the tips and suggestions everyone! Keep them coming!
RileySnyderPhoto
Member
That is a brand. Compact is a more universal term. Thats like calling making a copy a Xerox.
First of all... I gotta ask this... you're doing 2-3 days in 3 different NPs? Are you actually backpacking or just camping. I have spent a whole solid week in Kings Canyon alone, and didn't even scratch the surface of that place - and we only went through Sequoia out of necessity because the road forces you to. If you have 3 days, you can barely do Yosemite as it is, much less the other two...
Anyways...
Shoot 35mm film. Digital is a fucking pain in the ass when backpacking, and it weighs a ton. Film weighs way less than batteries, and unless you're doing timelapses film really is the way to go (I mean, if it was good enough for Ansel Adams and Co....)
That said. If you must shoot digital, at least you're only doing 2-3 days. I get about 3 or so days out of a BP-511 on my 20D, and got about the same when I had my 5D. Unless you're shooting timelapses, you might be alright, depending on your camera, it's power efficiency, and the mAh of your batteries...
Regardless, I'd turn the brightness on your screen to the lowest feasible level, and conserve the shit out of them. Put it on like 30 second auto turn-off. Make it so you don't have auto-review, either.
For a tripod, either buy one of those really light, plastic, cheap tripods, a gorilla pod, or hope for the best. Lugging around a weighty tripod sucks dick, even with the most well supported bags. If it breaks out there, then whatever, do what you can. weigh it down using your pack if you need to.
Keep your camera gear close to you, and available as possible. I keep mine in the hood of my pack, or around my neck, almost at all times.
Bring only two lenses, or a wide standard, like a 35mm equivalent. I spent 5 days backpacking in the Trinity Alps with just a 28mm, 4 rolls of film, and my lightest film SLR. I shot about 30 exposures a day, and still had about 12 un-exposed shots remaining when we got back to the trailhead. In some cases, I would have really liked a longer focal length, as 28 is too wide for most wildlife.
If you're going digital, I'd recommend doing something about the same - especially in those three areas, which tend to be extremely rugged. I'm not sure if you're trying to capture any wildlife, but if that really is a thing you must do, then decide whether it's worth taking a long lens with you on the trek here and now, because if you're not using it, you're wasting it.
Anyways...
Shoot 35mm film. Digital is a fucking pain in the ass when backpacking, and it weighs a ton. Film weighs way less than batteries, and unless you're doing timelapses film really is the way to go (I mean, if it was good enough for Ansel Adams and Co....)
That said. If you must shoot digital, at least you're only doing 2-3 days. I get about 3 or so days out of a BP-511 on my 20D, and got about the same when I had my 5D. Unless you're shooting timelapses, you might be alright, depending on your camera, it's power efficiency, and the mAh of your batteries...
Regardless, I'd turn the brightness on your screen to the lowest feasible level, and conserve the shit out of them. Put it on like 30 second auto turn-off. Make it so you don't have auto-review, either.
For a tripod, either buy one of those really light, plastic, cheap tripods, a gorilla pod, or hope for the best. Lugging around a weighty tripod sucks dick, even with the most well supported bags. If it breaks out there, then whatever, do what you can. weigh it down using your pack if you need to.
Keep your camera gear close to you, and available as possible. I keep mine in the hood of my pack, or around my neck, almost at all times.
Bring only two lenses, or a wide standard, like a 35mm equivalent. I spent 5 days backpacking in the Trinity Alps with just a 28mm, 4 rolls of film, and my lightest film SLR. I shot about 30 exposures a day, and still had about 12 un-exposed shots remaining when we got back to the trailhead. In some cases, I would have really liked a longer focal length, as 28 is too wide for most wildlife.
If you're going digital, I'd recommend doing something about the same - especially in those three areas, which tend to be extremely rugged. I'm not sure if you're trying to capture any wildlife, but if that really is a thing you must do, then decide whether it's worth taking a long lens with you on the trek here and now, because if you're not using it, you're wasting it.
I rescind my first statement. I didn't read that you were doing 2-3 day loops in all three.
In that case, you should still be alright. Make sure you have a car charger so you can charge while traveling between locations. That said, Sequoia's proximity to KC might not give you much time to charge depending on what you're thinking of doing, and what your timeframe may be, so you may be looking at going 4-6 straight days without a recharge. Prepare for this.
Kings Canyon is also very deep and extremely awesome just to drive into. You're going to want to take photos of this. Straight up 1500-2000 foot granite walls up the side of a raging river, right next to a road (although now that it's August after a relatively dry winter, perhaps not 'raging') Bring a UWA, at least just for that. It's pretty incredible.
Damn. I can't wait to go back there in Sept/Oct.
In that case, you should still be alright. Make sure you have a car charger so you can charge while traveling between locations. That said, Sequoia's proximity to KC might not give you much time to charge depending on what you're thinking of doing, and what your timeframe may be, so you may be looking at going 4-6 straight days without a recharge. Prepare for this.
Kings Canyon is also very deep and extremely awesome just to drive into. You're going to want to take photos of this. Straight up 1500-2000 foot granite walls up the side of a raging river, right next to a road (although now that it's August after a relatively dry winter, perhaps not 'raging') Bring a UWA, at least just for that. It's pretty incredible.
Damn. I can't wait to go back there in Sept/Oct.
Belzebub
Member
Don't worry, everybody here is overreacting as far as weight is concerned. Unless you are climbing big mountains or doing very hardcore hiking you should be fine bringing your cam, three lenses, tripod, accessories and the rest of your hiking gear.
Just remember to pack your backpack balanced, nothing is as tiring as an unbalanced pack.
And I would consider to keep your cam easily accessible as you often get the best shooting opportunities when you enter a new area.
Just remember to pack your backpack balanced, nothing is as tiring as an unbalanced pack.
And I would consider to keep your cam easily accessible as you often get the best shooting opportunities when you enter a new area.
You do realize that he's backpacking in Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon, right?
Yeah man, I mean if it was my choice I would spend the whole summer in these parks but this is all my schedule really allows for so I wanted to see a little of everything. I think I'm gonna bring a roll+film body and just leave it in the car and shoot with it sometimes when we see cool places to stop. I do have a car charger and 5 batteries and 1 battery is enough for a day of shooting I'm hoping... I'm kinda iffy though because I'm gonna be shooting a lot of night timelapses... we shall see. Anyone around sacramento wanna let me borrow a few batteries for 10 days? Thanks though dude.. I appreciate the response.
As for people telling me to get a compact camera... I wish I could but unfortunately my budget doesnt allow for it.
As for people telling me to get a compact camera... I wish I could but unfortunately my budget doesnt allow for it.
snowisawesome
Member
Man up and take what you need. A DSLR, small tripod, extra batteries and cards, and a few lenses isn't that heavy. Try packing an elk quarter out 5 miles and then you might understand heavy.
Not so helpful for backpacking specifically, but I would suggest shooting bracketed exposures, or using something with very high dynamic range (film, certain digitals maybe). I have been to yosemite, and while it was a while ago and I only had a superzoom point and shoot, the dynamic range (if I am usign the term correctly) of the landscapes was huge. Much more than anything I was used to, but I think this was almost 4 years ago. Figured it was worth mentioning though.
RileySnyderPhoto
Member
I don't know about you but my mk III can last a long time on a battery, I can shoot a lot and still not go through more than 2 in a 2 week period. Just depends on LCD useage really. I don't think you would need that many batteries unless you are shooting video.
I was shooting 2 timelapses today + pics + video. I did have too many batteries but it was good to have the security.
Thanks all for the help and input! I had an amazing time. First two nights we camped in Tuolomne Meadows. One day we hiked Mt.Dana from Mono Pass. The first day we just explored the valley. Then after that we headed to King's Canyon for Backpacking. We did some in The Jennie Lakes Wilderness and some in King's Canyon NP. We started at the Big Meadows trailhead in the afternoon and hiked to Weaver lake camped then to seville lake then to jennie lake. It was a 3 night 4 day trip. After that we went back to yosemite and that night went to glacier point for a few hours. It was beautiful, haven't seen anything like it. It was perfect too because we were camping at Bridaveil Creek. The next day we only did Sentinel Dome because we had to get our stuff together for the airport and shower, we were also pretty sore. Over the course of the trip my buddy and I got some great pictures, video, and timelapses. Some cool starlapses included the milkyway from the top of Lembert dome, milkyway from jennie lake(you can see the reflection in the lake too), and the moon setting and you can see the light on half dome going to pitch black from glacier point. All in all it was a great trip.
As far as weight, my backpack was heavy but you just get used to it. I probably took way too much camera gear but I survived and we were ok.
Thanks!
Thanks all for the help and input! I had an amazing time. First two nights we camped in Tuolomne Meadows. One day we hiked Mt.Dana from Mono Pass. The first day we just explored the valley. Then after that we headed to King's Canyon for Backpacking. We did some in The Jennie Lakes Wilderness and some in King's Canyon NP. We started at the Big Meadows trailhead in the afternoon and hiked to Weaver lake camped then to seville lake then to jennie lake. It was a 3 night 4 day trip. After that we went back to yosemite and that night went to glacier point for a few hours. It was beautiful, haven't seen anything like it. It was perfect too because we were camping at Bridaveil Creek. The next day we only did Sentinel Dome because we had to get our stuff together for the airport and shower, we were also pretty sore. Over the course of the trip my buddy and I got some great pictures, video, and timelapses. Some cool starlapses included the milkyway from the top of Lembert dome, milkyway from jennie lake(you can see the reflection in the lake too), and the moon setting and you can see the light on half dome going to pitch black from glacier point. All in all it was a great trip.
As far as weight, my backpack was heavy but you just get used to it. I probably took way too much camera gear but I survived and we were ok.
Thanks!
Skibumsmith
Active member
make sure you do a trip report on here when you're done. i want to see those photos.
Awesome!
Jiberfish
Active member
I went on a week long backpacking trip earlier this summer. 13 mile hike to get in. I brought a dslr, 3 lenses, 3 batteries, 2 sd cards, grad nd filters and a small tripod i got off of BH photo. Called a Cullmann nanomax 200t. THe ballhead wasn't the best but it was a great tripod for camping. I strapped the tripod to the side of my pack. Carried the camera and a few lenses in a small case i attached with caribiners right on my chest. stashed the rest in the top of my pack. Worked great! wasn't the lightest and the hikes were super hard but i was hiking really far. And i only weigh 120 lbs so im sure it would be fine if you brought that much. Also it was easy to take pictures on the trail.
RileySnyderPhoto
Member
Good lenses can weigh more than the body of the camera...