Things to keep in mind while assembling your backpack for Landscape Photography
As with any other photo shoot a little time spent planning and arranging your gear will go a long way in making sure you get all your shots prefect while on a mission to shoot stunning landscapes. There is an extensive array of expensive products provided by the different manufacturers to lure a photographer who is planning to venture into this popular genre of photography. Here in this article we have assembled a few pointers to help you make smart choices while preparing your backpack for Landscape Photography.
As with any other photo shoot a little time spent planning and arranging your gear will go a long way in making sure you get all your shots prefect while on a mission to shoot stunning landscapes. There is an extensive array of expensive products provided by the different manufacturers to lure a photographer who is planning to venture into this popular genre of photography. Here in this article we have assembled a few pointers to help you make smart choices while preparing your backpack for Landscape Photography.
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| Photo by Cuba Gallery |
The Ideal Camera
Needless to mention that camera is the most important piece of equipment, but choice of the camera format completely depends on what you wish to shoot and to what purpose you wish to use your pictures for. Although a simple prosumer camera especially the new generation one’s with the wide angle zoom lenses could shoot beautiful landscape pictures it won’t serve the purpose of a serious Landscape Photographer; for them a camera with a full frame sensor is the ideal choice if not even an APS-C sized sensor camera will do.
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| Digital Camera |
The Best Lenses
Lenses are an important factor in determining how good your images will be coz your images will only be as good as the quality of light that comes in through the lenses so regarding optical quality there is no room for compromise. You may use a variety of lenses to shoot landscape pictures.
a. Prime Lenses
Although some of the new generation zoom lenses come pretty close, the optical quality of the prime lens is unsurpassed.
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| Prime Lens |
b. Wide Angle Lenses
When it comes to Landscape Photography wide angle lenses are the preferred weapon of choice for most photographers. They help you shoot a large expanse of land, provide good depth of field and shades especially the blue tones of the sky come out better when using an ultra wide angle lens.
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| Wide Angle Lens |
c. Zoom Lenses
Zoom lenses are most convenient when it comes to composing your shots, they allow you to perfectly frame your shot without the need to move around with your camera. Landscape photographers often use telephoto lenses to move in closer to the details of a scene. One other useful feature that the tele-lenses invariably have is the optical compression of the field.
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| Tele Zoom Lens |
A Good Camera Bag or Backpack
Select your camera bag or backpack wisely, A good camera bag should be weatherproof, comfortable to carry and should have lots of space to accommodate all your shooting gear and accessories. Additional storage space to accommodate a laptop or even some spare clothing will be great.
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| Camera Bag or Backpack |
A Good Tripod
A sturdy tripod is mandatory when on a trip to shoot landscape pictures, the travel / trek with your equipment will wear you off and the use of heavy lenses in low light conditions will become difficult. A tripod can help you overcome all these issues you can shoot in very low light, use all your heavy lenses and still get sharp images, you may even create beautiful panoramas. Remember the sturdiness of the tripod is more often than not directly proportional to its weight here in lies the compromise.
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| Tripod |
Check list - Indispensable items for your backpack.
1. Essential Filters
Using Filters allows more control on the elements you intend to shoot. Filters can be used to enhance colours, clear filter are useful in protecting your valuable lenses while UV filters helps reduce haziness created by ultraviolet light in foggy conditions. Polarising filters are extremely useful to enhance contrast, to control glare and reflection and also for saturating colours like darkening a blue sky on a bright day.
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| Filters |
2. A Charger and Spare Batteries
While on a field trip you could never calculate how much of your precious battery life will you use up while using your zooms, trying out different settings, reviewing your pictures etc, more often than not you end up with a depleted battery before you even notice. So always make it a habit to equip your camera bag with an extra set of high capacity batteries and a quick charger. Even if you manage to finish the trip without ever using them the peace of mind that it provides is well worth the trouble.
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| Charger and Spare Batteries |
3. Suitable Rain Gear
A suitable rain cover for your camera or a simple plastic bag should be present in your backpack at all times, Always remember when you are outdoors the weather is very unpredictable and conditions can change quickly.
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| Rain Gear |
4. A Compact Cleaning Kit
A cleaning kit consisting of a blower, lint free cloth or microfibre cloth and lens cleaning solution should always be kept in your camera bag. It may come in handy more often than you think. However do not attempt to clean your sensor instead visit your camera service centre if you think your camera sensor needs cleaning.
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| Cleaning Kit |
5. A First Aid Kit
A First aid kit consisting of some antiseptic lotion, some cotton, ointment, bandage, sunscreen, moisturiser, insect repellent cream / spray is a must. If you are shooting alone remember to carry your mobile phone / other communication devices at all times and make sure they are fully charged and in perfect working condition.
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| First Aid Kit |
Always remember a Landscape shoot is not as easy as a walk in the park you may have to tow your equipment over much longer distances that you originally thought in order to get the perfect shot. And out there exposed to the forces of nature you will exhaust yourselves much quickly than you have planned. So while planning your gear always remember less is more. It is always useful to do a recon of the are you wish to shoot decide on the timings, the angles and various other factors like determining the type of lenses, filters etc that you might want.
In the next article we will discuss about Photography - Landscape Photography - Landscape Photography - 10 Tips to Shoot Exotic Landscapes
In the next article we will discuss about Photography - Landscape Photography - Landscape Photography - 10 Tips to Shoot Exotic Landscapes
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