Different photography genres require different approaches. As a travel photographer, I wouldn’t necessarily benefit from the same techniques used by studio photographers. When you’re traveling and doing backpacking photography, there’s a lot of moving parts that must be accounted for. You also need to stay well-prepared for any unexpected situation(s) that might arise while on the road. Here’s a list of tips you can use on your next backpacking adventure.
20 Backpacking Photography Tips
Doing backpacking photography in unfamiliar locales means you need to be on your toes at all times. Follow these tips to make shooting go a lot smoother.
1. Get Insurance
Insurance is a must when traveling outside of your home country. It protects you from incurring major bills in case you land in the hospital during your trip. Travel insurance can also cover things like missing luggage and canceled flights depending on the plan you choose. Two popular ones you should consider are World Nomads and Safety Wing.
If you own expensive equipment, you can protect it with photographer insurance. This will cover your camera, lenses, accessories like filters, batteries, and SD cards, and even your computer. If you’re a working photographer, you may also want to get general liability insurance, commercial automobile insurance, and disability coverage to cover your bases.
2. Use A Lightweight Backpack
Traveling long hours with a pack on your back is draining for even the most seasoned traveler. Add in back, neck, or posture issues and you’ll likely be feeling the burn. For this reason, make sure the backpack you’re using isn’t too heavy. You’ll already be filling it with gear and various other accessories for your day out. The weight will quickly add up.
Day packs from outdoor companies such as Osprey or The North Face are your best choice. They’re designed to be lightweight specifically for this purpose. You can also use a “photography backpack” if you want, but they’re usually a bit heavier as they contain extra compartments to store and protect your gear.
3. Use A Lightweight Setup
Use the smallest camera and lenses you can. DSLR cameras are big and bulky. They’re also considerably heavier than every other camera available. While they take stunning photos, they’re a pain to haul around on the road. The best option for backpacking photographers is a mirrorless camera. It’s lightweight and has near-identical image quality when compared to a DSLR. The downside is they use a smaller crop sensor which captures less of the scene. But more and more photographers are downsizing their gear and going mirrorless because the differences in overall image quality are negligible.
Next up is your lens selection. Whether you prefer prime or zoom lenses, know that the more you carry, the heavier things become. For this reason, many travel photographers use a single zoom that provides wide, standard, and telephoto focal lengths. If you’re using primes, I’d suggest only carrying 2 to 3 max.
Finally, you may need a tripod to stabilize shots or for shooting time-lapse photography and video. A full-size tripod adds considerable heft to your rig, with even the most lightweight ones being in the 3 to 4 lbs. range. Lightweight tripods are prone to vibrational shake and can even be knocked over by wind gusts. Some models include a hook to hang your backpack from to help stabilize it. Consider investing in a smaller, mini-tripod such as a Gorillapod instead. These weigh about half a pound and can provide lots of stability.
4. Know Your Gear
Chances are you have favorite camera settings or certain shots and angles you lean on. It’s important that you know the ins and outs of your camera gear. You don’t want to be on location and fiddling around with your camera. You could easily miss a shot because you didn’t know how to properly set your shutter or speed-burst frame rate. Become like a trained marksman who can intuitively put together their rifle while blindfolded. Get to the point where everything you do with your camera is instinctual.
5. Backup Your Files
Today’s digital world makes it easy to take thousands of photos in a single session. Storing them for safekeeping isn’t quite as simple. It can be time-consuming to move large files to a location where they’re safe and accessible.
The easiest way is to upload all your work to the cloud. This allows you to access your files anywhere, anytime, as long as you have an internet connection. The downside to using the cloud is having storage limitations. If you need more space, you’ll have to pay for it. For example, Google Drive gives you 15 GB of storage with a free account. Upgrade to a paid plan and you can get 100 GB for $1.99/month, 200 GB for $2.99/mth, and 2 TB for $9.99/mth.
The other route is to use a portable external drive from brands like Seagate or Western Digital. For roughly $100 USD, you can get a 4 TB hard drive. The downside is that the drive can always fail and you may lose all your photos. If you go this route, always back up your files on a second external drive. Back up the backup! Even though they’re the size of a smartphone, it’s another piece of gear you’ll need to carry around, which makes some photographers favor the cloud.
6. Carry Extra Accessories
If you shoot a lot, bring extra accessories so you don’t get caught with your photographic pants down. Two things you’ll need to plan for are memory cards and batteries.
You know how much content you shoot. Bring enough SD cards to capture everything you want. Some high-end cameras have dual SD card slots, but most people swap them out once a card is full. SD cards come in various sizes. If you shoot RAW (large file size, more information) you’ll have less storage room on the card. If you shoot JPG (smaller file size), you’ll have more storage room. The megapixel count of your camera’s sensor also eats into how many photos a card can hold. As an example, a 32 GB card can hold 416 RAW files shot with a 22 MP sensor. Do your homework for the card sizes you need.
Batteries are another must when it comes to additional accessories. Mirrorless cameras depend on them more than DSLR cameras, so you’ll need to carry a few extras with you. You can purchase the manufacturer’s battery, but I’d recommend buying a third-party model. They’re roughly three times cheaper and usually sold as a 2-pack.
7. Invest In Durable Gear
Photography requires a certain degree of physicality. Gear gets knocked around and dinged up via normal wear and tear. But backpacking with a camera can be even more perilous. You could fall on a hike, a camera could tumble out of your bag, it could get crushed in your luggage, or hit while walking through a crowd.
Entry to mid-level cameras aren’t normally built with highly durable parts, so you’ll have to take extra care to make sure they’re safe. If you’re hard on your gear, consider investing in a rugged camera like the Olympus TG-6 which is crush-proof and drop-proof.
8. Shoot In All Seasons
When shooting outdoors, the weather won’t always cooperate. Some countries like Iceland have weather that changes multiple times throughout the day. If you’re backpacking trails and mountainous areas, you’ll need to keep your gear protected.
Some (but not all) cameras and lenses are built with weather-resistant materials and sealing. This is especially important for lenses, as they can take on moisture in wet and humid environments. If you regularly shoot in such places, look into gear that can stand up to the weather. If your camera isn’t waterproof, you can purchase a plastic sleeve cover that will shield it from wet weather. Also important: carry lens wipes and a microfibre cloth to keep your lens clean at all times.
9. Pack For The Weather
Different locales bring different climates. The clothes you wear in Thailand aren’t going to cut it in Alaska. Check the weather before you go out. You may need to stuff your pack with a few extra layers, as well as sunblock, bug spray, and rain gear. Sunglasses are a no-brainer, and I’d also advise buying a waterproof cover for your backpack to protect its contents.
10. Proper Footwear
I can’t stress enough how important proper footwear is. When I first visited Southeast Asia I realized the flimsy flip-flops I brought were not conducive to the amount of walking I was doing. My ankles and knees became sore very quickly. If you plan on walking long distances or on various terrains, make sure you have comfortable shoes. Something that provides you with arch support and can withstand all sorts of weather. A good hiking shoe is ideal, so do some research and grab a pair before going on your trip.
11. Bring Extra Cameras If Needed
I can’t count the number of times I’ve been out shooting and wished I had a second camera with me. A tiny action cam like a GoPro or Insta360 Go 2 can be worn on your person, documenting as you go. These are especially useful if you want POV action footage such as riding a motorbike or surfing.
Another popular option is a drone. Not only are they relatively small, but they provide amazing aerial footage of the surrounding area. Some of the most popular photography today comes from drones, producing shots you’d never be able to take any other way.
12. Get Plenty Of Rest
Backpacking takes up a lot of energy. If you’re not a spry chicken anymore, it’s going to deplete you even faster. Make sure you get a lot of rest before you go out. If you know you have a long day of shooting ahead of you, don’t stay up late pounding shots. You’ll be walking a lot under the sun and dealing with any other elements Mother Nature might throw at you. Prepare properly so you’re shooting at your best and you’ll reap the rewards.
13. Bring Snacks & Water
If you’re in remote areas, you’ll need to bring enough food to keep you going throughout the day. If you’re shooting in a city, snacks can help you save money from eating expensive restaurant meals. Only pack healthy foods. Ditch the junk and replace it with food that will give you energy. Nuts, seeds, energy bars, bananas, and sandwiches are all healthy alternatives.
You’ll also need to carry water with you. Get a refillable water bottle and travel with a few electrolyte tablets. These will help replenish vital salts and minerals that you sweat out during the day. Don’t let yourself get dehydrated, as it can lead to a loss of strength and stamina.
14. Carry Emergency Items
Backpacking photography can bring you to remote places where it’s easy to get lost. No matter where you shoot, always carry some emergency items. Things like a hiking GPS device, or even your smartphone with offline maps are invaluable modern tools. Download an offline map of the area so you can use it without an internet signal.
Conserve your phone battery by keeping it in Airplane Mode and only use it when necessary. Carry a power bank and charging cord in case you do run out of juice. Any experienced remote backpacker should also have a compass and printed maps just in case.
Finally, bring a first aid kit with you. You may get an injury that needs immediate medical attention. If you’re far from a hospital, the first aid kit may save your life.
17. Conserve Battery Power
I mentioned earlier to travel with extra camera batteries, but it’s also important to use them effectively. You can conserve your camera’s battery life by dimming the display screen, and turning off the camera when it’s not in use. Another trick is to only compose in the electronic viewfinder. Most modern cameras have a setting that triggers the viewfinder to only turn on when you’re looking through it.
18. Soak Up Your Surroundings First
Before you start snapping away, settle into your surroundings. This technique slows you down and helps connect you to the scene. You’ll be able to make thoughtful compositions when you’re in a more relaxed state. Taking photos on the fly can still produce excellent images, but putting some thought into your shooting will push you to grow as a photographer. Look for interesting subjects that you can make the focus of your shot. Try to incorporate layers in your images. See if people around you are willing to pose. Take 5 or 10 minutes to appreciate your surroundings before pulling out your camera.
19. Try To Photograph In The Best Light
You won’t always have perfect light when shooting outdoors. Most travelers are out during the day, which is when the sun is at its harshest. The best light is during the golden hours. This is the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset. If you hate waking up early, sunset shoots can still produce some incredible photos. Sunrise shoots tend to have a more ethereal, dream-like quality to them. Either way, shooting during the golden hour gives you dramatic light that makes for more expressive photos.
20. Go Against The Grain
If you can help it, try not to replicate images you’ve seen a thousand photographers post on Instagram. Don’t be afraid to “get lost” when traveling. Embrace the unknown. This is usually when some of the best photos are taken. Explore a side street, or visit a lesser-known tourist attraction. Shooting out of your comfort zone will push your artistic limits. You can also try editing your photos in different ways. With endless presets and editing techniques you can make your pictures look however you wish. The point is, be different. Don’t be a photographer that takes generic photos. Go against the grain and stand out from the crowd.
Get Out There And Shoot
Backpacking photography is a popular genre, but far too many people wait until circumstances are ideal before they can get on with it. Don’t wait for the perfect conditions or locations. You should be picking up your camera and shooting at least a few times a week no matter where you are. This will keep you on your toes so you’ll be ready when you do hit the road.
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