/p/ - Photography » Thread #292850

[28 / 0 / ?]

Shooting Mountains

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY Thu 13 Nov 2008 04:38:00 No.292850 View View Reply Original Report

Quoted By:

Someone asked for a shooting a mountains guide, so here we go. Vincent, you're better at shooting them than me so please toss in anything I missed.

Also keep in mind these are the experiences I've had with the Rockies in Colorado.

Shooting Mountains

TL;DR – use common sense
Most of shooting mountains is good planning
Scout ahead with a topographical map and image searches
Waterproof backpack
ND Graduated polarizing filters
Tripod
Sleep with your batteries
Non-electric alarm
Use your brain in regards of what shoot based on weather, location, and time of day

11Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon EOS 30DCamera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop CS2 MacintoshPhotographerunknownMaximum Lens Aperturef/5.6111Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution300 dpiVertical Resolution300 dpiImage Created2008:08:12 02:40:43Exposure Time1/60 secF-Numberf/8.0Exposure ProgramManualISO Speed Rating100Lens Aperturef/8.0Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternFlashFlash, CompulsoryFocal Length300.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width983Image Height655RenderingNormalExposure ModeManualWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandard1

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY Thu 13 Nov 2008 04:38:00 No.292851 Report

Quoted By: >>292869

*Planning* – Most important step
Pick up a good topographical map and learn how to read it. The US geographical society makes some excellent ones that can be tailored to your tastes. National Geographic makes ones for particular parks, which will contain trails, campsites, and other information about the park that can be helpful to have and are waterproof. I use the National Geo ones.

Look for an area that interests you based on the topographical map, and then research it on-line and by phone. You can find photos of most places using a combination of Google, DevaintART, Flickr, Photobucket, and Photo.net. This step is essential. By researching an area before hand you will know what to expect and plan accordingly. For example you find out a valley gets a nice a fog in the morning, and knowing that before hand means you can go there first to capture it while the fog is present.

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY Thu 13 Nov 2008 04:39:00 No.292852 Report

Quoted By:

If you are after animals, you must call ahead. The rangers will tell what areas, and what times, and when during the year animals will be present. For example you will not find any marmots in Moraine Valley, let alone during the winter. If you want marmots, you would have to come during the warmer months and go along Old Falls Road. (for Rocky Mountain National Park)

*Gear*
Camelback-packs are fantastic. They hold your normal hiking gear and water while still having room for your photo gear. More importantly they’re lighter than padded photographer backpacks. Be sure to at least bring a plastic garbage bag that you can put your gear in if it rains you. Better options would be the waterproof covering they make for the camelback-packs or a rubber-lined canvas bag that the military makes. I use the rubber-lined bag because I can store my camera and other gear in it at night. Be sure tp store your camera in something waterproof at night. Ignoring the possibility of rain, morning dew and water from your breath as you sleep will make you miserable in the morning if it is on your camera.

A different option, and sometimes better would be a photographer’s vest. They are better for short summer hikes. They are lighter, not as hot, and can still hold your photo gear, map, poncho, and water comfortably.

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY Thu 13 Nov 2008 04:39:00 No.292853 Report

Quoted By:

Photo gear wise you will want a polarizing, neutral density, and gradient filter for digital, and for film a red filter in addition. You can skip the ND filter if you do not have interest in long exposure opportunities that will be present in the mountains, such as waterfalls and streams.

A tripod is also good to have, but can skipped as well if you are not interested in the shots you would want them for. However most landscape photographers do often take them for normal shooting because of the better results you can achieve with one. You will need one for true HDR shots (necessary at times, more so if you do not have a gradient filter), long exposures, and panoramas. Whether you bring a light tripod comes down to what you are willing to carry. Light tripods make long hikes easier but can tip in high winds or in the least suffer shake running long exposures or HDR shots. They are also are not suitable for long telephoto lenses that are used for animal shots. Heavy tripods will limit how far you can hike in day, but are a better choice if you can carry it.

Bring extra batteries and cards if you are going out for a long backcountry trip. For regular camping trips, you can avoid buying extra batteries by having a car charger, but you will still need the cards.

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY Thu 13 Nov 2008 04:40:00 No.292855 Report

Quoted By: >>292870

Bring a good strong flash. Having a fill-light can make or break a lot of shots in the wild in which the subject is close to you and in shadow, but the background is under direct sunlight.

*Where to shoot based on time, weather, season, and goals*
How the sunset and sunrise will effect your shots is be based on which side of the mountain range you are on. If you are on the eastern side of a range, sunrises will be give you better sky colors and more dynamic lighting, while evenings work better for mountain silhouettes and lines of light coming off mountains (sometimes mornings are fine for this as well, depending on humidity). The opposite is true for if you are on the western side.

If it is going to rain or snow it tends to start early afternoon. Rain is often in localized little pockets, so you can often find a good vantage point where you can be dry but still photograph the storm. Snow tends to happen most thickly around the peaks and then is blown down from to lower areas, making a really nice hidden peak effect. You can stand in a clearing in front of a mountain without seeing a flake near you but the peak is under white out. Pick a good lower altitude vantage point where the air in front of you will be clear so you can get a better shot of the mountain while it is snowing on it.

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY Thu 13 Nov 2008 04:40:00 No.292856 Report

Quoted By:

Picking the right trail for a certain type of photo is important. Study the topographical map and choose your trail based on what you want to shoot, adjust if the map failed to convey what you needed to know on location. Look for trails above the tree line for good sweeping mountain/sky shots, and look for trails in valleys or clearings for shots that focus on the foreground with the mountains in back. Same with lakes, if you want trees in the shot, go for trails that are bellow the tree line, and above for craggy rock shots. If you know it is going to thunderstorm that day, DO NOT plan on going above the tree line mid-afternoon.

Most animals also live in areas based on elevation; this is one of reasons why it is important to call ahead about where the animals are.

Really, just use common sense when picking a trail while having a clear goal of what you want to shoot in mind.

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY Thu 13 Nov 2008 04:40:00 No.292857 Report

Quoted By:

*Tips*
Sleep with your batteries. A cold night and cold start will kill your camera battery early.

Keep your camera in a waterproof bag at night, but keep it in tent with you. Don’t warm it up or cool it off in relation to the outdoors. Taking it from one temperature to another will cause condensation to form on the lens, or if you change your lens while it is still adjusting, condensation on your sensor.

Bring those little circle stickers people use to price rummage sales and a little notebook. Quite often when hiking you’ll find a great spot but it is the wrong time for a photo. Mark the spot on the map with a sticker and number it, recording the relevant information in the notebook (I like the pocket composition ones personally). For example you find a great vantage point of an aspen glen, but it is the middle of winter. Chances are you won’t remember it otherwise come the next fall.

Make a strap for your tripod. Really it makes life better.

Non-electric alarms are better than cell-phones for that morning rise while camping. Place it in such a way that you have to get out of your bag to shut it off. If you try and do that with a cell-phone, the cold temperature will kill the battery.

If you see an interesting formation on the map, but you don’t see any trails marked, chances are there is a trail there that people have made.

If you walk into the mountains without a clear idea of you want, chances are you are going to come out without anything decent.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 13 Nov 2008 04:46:00 No.292859 Report

Quoted By: >>292873

but mountains are so boring.

Martin !!ve2Q1ETWmJH

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO unknown.jpg, 0B, 0x0

Martin !!ve2Q1ETWmJH Thu 13 Nov 2008 04:52:00 No.292863 Report

Quoted By:

Butterfly !xlgRMYva6s

Butterfly !xlgRMYva6s Thu 13 Nov 2008 04:58:00 No.292869 Report

Quoted By: >>293039

>>292851
Ordanance Survey for Britfags make every type of map imaginable for every region in the British Isles. Love them for this.

Also, awesome guide.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 13 Nov 2008 04:58:00 No.292870 Report

Quoted By: >>292883 >>292884

>>292855
>Bring a good strong flash. Having a fill-light can make or break a lot of shots in the wild in which the subject is close to you and in shadow, but the background is under direct sunlight.

You mention a lot using a flash for fill, but how/why/on what do you do that when you're shooting what you shoot? I'm honestly curious; I don't know much about flash or landscape shooting (so thanks for this thread; I'm looking to get into it).

Vincent !!8LCSE0Zp1mL

Vincent !!8LCSE0Zp1mL Thu 13 Nov 2008 05:05:00 No.292873 Report

Quoted By: >>292896 >>293039

>>292859
shh mountains are awesome

Being that I never have hiked for more than 10km (round trip) to get a shot, I have little experience using much of NatureGuy's tips.

However I definitely agree with researching the shots available in the area, I often use google earth, flickr and pbase to see what other people have done / Build a sort of 3d model of the area in my mind.

If you are lazy like me and never go more than 5km from your car, you can research older highways and take them. Just make sure you are willing to stop and take pictures. You don't get any good shots from inside your car, and you have to be willing to just abandon the vehicle for an hour or so while you explore an area. A lot of people are lazy so its usually quite easy to find other photographers opinions on what is good / bad about certain areas.

Also I agree the tripod can be a pain to carry for long trips, Spending the extra money on a carbon fiber tripod may be worth it if you are serious (otherwise just get a light one). Definitely make a strap for it, Using it in the "photo backpack" carrying pocket, usually is a pain on your back, and after a couple km you will wish you never brought it.

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO unknown.jpg, 0B, 0x0

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY Thu 13 Nov 2008 05:48:00 No.292883 Report

Quoted By: >>292916

>>292870
Not a good photo, but it will illustrate the point.

The sun is behind the sign, meaning that normally what I would expose for the sign would blow the sky and background out or if I exposed for the ground and sky the sign would be black. You use the flash to illuminate the sign so you can expose for the background properly.

11Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon EOS 30DCamera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop CS2 MacintoshPhotographerunknownMaximum Lens Aperturef/3.5111Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution300 dpiVertical Resolution300 dpiImage Created2008:09:07 17:01:15Exposure Time1/125 secF-Numberf/16.0Exposure ProgramManualISO Speed Rating100Lens Aperturef/16.0Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternFlashFlash, CompulsoryFocal Length10.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width492Image Height737RenderingNormalExposure ModeManualWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandard1

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO unknown.jpg, 0B, 0x0

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY Thu 13 Nov 2008 05:52:00 No.292884 Report

Quoted By: >>292889 >>292916

>>292870
Here's another shot with flash, though in this one it was angle down a little bit.

Get it?

11Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon EOS 30DCamera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop CS2 MacintoshPhotographerunknownMaximum Lens Aperturef/3.5111Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution300 dpiVertical Resolution300 dpiImage Created2008:05:31 11:50:52Exposure Time1/250 secF-Numberf/22.0Exposure ProgramManualISO Speed Rating100Lens Aperturef/22.0Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternFlashFlash, CompulsoryFocal Length10.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width492Image Height737RenderingNormalExposure ModeManualWhite BalanceAutoScene Capture TypeStandard1

Vincent !!8LCSE0Zp1mL

Vincent !!8LCSE0Zp1mL Thu 13 Nov 2008 06:03:00 No.292889 Report

Quoted By: >>292896

>>292884
this pic is win, I don't remember seeing it before.

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY Thu 13 Nov 2008 06:14:00 No.292896 Report

Quoted By:

>>292889
It's back from when I was in Maine, you know the trip with lots of tedious sunsets?

>>292873
Worst hike I did was only like 12miles. I just like camp back country when I can. Usually it's 8mi in the morning with a short 5mi hike after lunch.

You should try back country next summer Vincent, it's a blast and you can get to less shot sunrise spots more easily.

Anonymous

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO unknown.jpg, 0B, 0x0

Anonymous Thu 13 Nov 2008 06:17:00 No.292897 Report

Quoted By: >>293039

every time ive been afraid of getting my camera wet, which in southern california basically means only when im canyoneering, i used an actual drybag. its akin to a giant ziplock, but it folds over on itself alot to ensure a seal, it's made of a kind of rubber bonded with nylon or some fabric, and there's a valve to let the extra air out. they also sell giant airtight pill bottles, they float but they're incredibly cumbersome.

i never really go out looking for pictures though, i just go neat places hoping i'll see cool pictures.

11111Horizontal Resolution240 dpiVertical Resolution240 dpi1

Anonymous

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO unknown.jpg, 0B, 0x0

Anonymous Thu 13 Nov 2008 06:37:00 No.292910 Report

Quoted By: >>292912 >>292916 >>292918

see if you can find the hidden surprise.

Vincent !!8LCSE0Zp1mL

Vincent !!8LCSE0Zp1mL Thu 13 Nov 2008 06:44:00 No.292912 Report

Quoted By: >>292918 >>292919

>>292910
I laughed when I saw it

I like the idea of getting guides on here, maybe we can get an archive going for once. Especially if we get some other members to put up their own expertise.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 13 Nov 2008 06:49:00 No.292916 Report

Quoted By:

>>292883
>>292884

Yeah, usually when I think of fill flash it's more just to get rid of shadows on someone's face or wherever than DR issues. Makes perfect sense.

>>292910
Lol'd.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 13 Nov 2008 06:52:00 No.292918 Report

Quoted By:

>>292910
here
>>292912
sure, ive got your pano guide saved. i havent seen anything else useful here in the past couple of months though.

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO unknown.jpg, 0B, 0x0

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY Thu 13 Nov 2008 06:53:00 No.292919 Report

Quoted By:

>>292912
Here's your pano thread

11Camera SoftwareAdobe Photoshop CS2 Windows111Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution72 dpiVertical Resolution72 dpiImage Created2008:03:26 09:10:45Color Space InformationUncalibratedImage Width1150Image Height17081

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY

View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO unknown.jpg, 0B, 0x0

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY Thu 13 Nov 2008 06:55:00 No.292920 Report

Quoted By:

Here's the one I did on zoos. I don't have a screen cap of the one I did masking for some reason, but I still have all the stuff I used to make it. Repost it?

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY Thu 13 Nov 2008 10:36:00 No.293039 Report

Quoted By:

>>292869
>>292873
>>292897

These are the kind posts we need in guide threads for them to work. Build on what's been posted or disagree but support you disagreement with a viable different option.

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 13 Nov 2008 10:52:00 No.293046 Report

Quoted By: >>293050 >>293051 >>293052

We don't have mountains in the Netherlands, we barely have hills.. ;__;

Hill guide pls?

‮suomynonA ‪‪‪‪‪‫‬‬‬‬

‮suomynonA ‪‪‪‪‪‫‬‬‬‬ Thu 13 Nov 2008 11:09:00 No.293050 Report

Quoted By:

>>293046
>Cow meadow guide pls?
fix'd

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 13 Nov 2008 11:11:00 No.293051 Report

Quoted By:

>>293046
http://www.klm.com/

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY

NatureGuy !se3A3TwzdY Thu 13 Nov 2008 11:12:00 No.293052 Report

Quoted By:

>>293046
Shoot the northsea instead?

Capcode	All Only User Posts Only Verified Posts Only Moderator Posts Only Manager Posts Only Admin Posts Only Developer Posts Only Founder Posts
Show Posts	All Only With Images Only Without Images Only Spoiler Images Only Non-Spoiler Images
Deleted Posts	All Only Deleted Posts Only Non-Deleted Posts
Ghost Posts	All Only Ghost Posts Only Non-Ghost Posts
Post Type	All Only Sticky Threads Only Opening Posts Only Reply Posts
Results	All Grouped By Threads
Order	Latest Posts First Oldest Posts First

On these archives

Your latest searches

Shooting Mountains