Backpacker Photo School: Get Your Camera Ready

In the first edition of our new photo skills blog, BP's senior asst. photo editor shares rule #1 for taking the perfect photo: Always have your camera out. That's not as easy as it sounds.

In the five years I’ve spent working in Backpacker’s photo department, I’ve seen a lot of amazing shots. And not just from the pros: More and more, our readers are capturing all the right moments, too and more often than not, it’s all about timing.

So, what does it take to grab the perfect shot without a moment’s notice?

The first step is—don’t laugh—to have your camera out. Like a lot of people, I’ve been guilty in the past of carrying my camera up and down mountains without ever even taking it out of my bag. But if you don’t have your camera ready to quick-draw, you’ll be restricted to shooting only when your party takes breaks.

This raises a few problems: 1) Rest breaks are for resting. 2) You’ll spend your time clamoring for uninteresting shots while everyone else eats honey-roasted cashews. (And, come on, you know you want some cashews too). 3) Is an animal really going to choose your rest stop as its opportunity to pass through? Doubtful.

More often than not, spectacular things happen unexpectedly in the middle of a hike. If you’ve got your camera packed away, chances are, you’ll miss the moment. Tell me if this sounds familiar: “I’ve got to take off my pack and find the camera. I think it’s in the lid of my pack. Or is it entangled in my rain jacket somewhere? Wait, that’s the headlamp. Maybe I put the it in the smaller pocket on the side.”

Before you know it, the weather or light or wildlife you’re hoping to shoot has changed or moved on, and there’s no picture left to take by the time you’re ready for it.

Missing the shot gets old fast, so you can either give up carrying a camera you never use, or get smart about packing. Here’s how:

Always have your camera instantly accessible—it shouldn’t take more than a few seconds for you to go from hiking to clicking. Less time looking for your gear means more time spent composing the perfect shot.

We all know we drink more water when it's in a Camelbak because it take no effort to get at. In the case of point-and-shoots, I’m almost positive hip-belt pockets were invented specifically for cameras to be extra accessible. These pockets open wide enough for a small point and shoot to easily slide in and out. I can have my camera out and turned on before I even stop walking.

My camera’s small enough that I put it straight into my pocket when I leave my pack. Why? I never want to go without it; If I go off trail into the woods or scramble up a big rock to a great view, I’ve still got the camera with me.

The same goes for SLRs with heavy lenses. Buried in your pack, they’re just more training weight. And hanging a heavy camera around your neck all day gets tiring—trust me, I know.

We’ve got a solution: I use a technique that Backpacker’s Rocky Mountain Editor Steve Howe taught me. Simply attach a LowePro Topload ($30-$120 depending on the size) to the shoulder straps of your pack with a carabiner on each side so the camera hangs in front. All day the camera’s at the ready, but it doesn’t weigh on your neck like it would if you just used the neck strap. Plus it doesn’t swing around as much and it’s well protected until you’re ready to shoot.

Bottom line? You will come home with more photos if your camera's ready to be used on every step of your hike.

How do you keep your camera ready for the perfect shot? Share your comments below. Have a photo you want to share? Enter it in our Reader Photo Contest!

To get you inspired, click on this slideshow of of reader photos I love because they all captured just the right moment:

—Genny Fullerton

Image credit: Ben Fullerton

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Eric

Sep 23, 2010

Do you have the picture of how you carry your Nikon DSLR. I am looking for a solution right now how to carry DSLR when I do multipule day hike.

Paul Bates Photography

Aug 30, 2009

Hey there Genny!

Thanks for the great article! I saw it in my email and had to read it since I've been trying to get into some backpacking and wasn't sure what to do with my Nikon D90.

I went ahead and got the Lowepro Topload Zoom 1 and am pretty happy with it. Go check out some of my pictures at <a href="http://paulbates.com">Paul Bates Photography</a>

Paul Bates

GAnerson

Aug 24, 2009

I use the syncpack front pack system (www.thesyncpack.com) to carry my camera and accessories. I am currently using a Canon SX1, which provides a good balance between size/weight and flexibility. The syncpack is certainly large enough to hold an SLR with a medium length telephoto lense.

Jon Peck

Aug 23, 2009

I've often wondered why people hiking with an SLR camera slung around their neck don't use an inexpensive chest strap with a neoprene holder that goes over the camera. Keeps it from swinging, and the camera is always ready. Available at camera stores. I've used one happily for years.

Aug 22, 2009

I carry my Lowepro Topload with the waist strap of my day pack so my legs are carrying it. I attach the camera bag to my pack with a carabiner so that it will not accidentally fall when I open the waist strap.

Pete Ross

Aug 20, 2009

I carry an older Olympus C740 point and shoot. I fabricated a camera bra from waterproof ripstop nylon. It is held to my chest with a 1/2 inch wide elastic band that encircles my torso and is closed with Velcro. To support the weight of the camera I have attached a Velcro strip to the top of my pack and another to the camera carry strap. I merely reach up and attach the carry strap to the pack using the Velcro to remove the weight from my neck. Camera is very accessable and is protected.

Kevin

Aug 20, 2009

I simply make sure that my cannon a1000is is in my pocket at all times, that way its always ready.

Joerg

Aug 20, 2009

I also use a topload camera bag for my SLR, and use the Tamrac N-11 Backpack to Camera Straps instead of carabiners. Works well and is not much more expensive than 2 carabiners ($17, www.tamrac.com).

PKilgore

Aug 20, 2009

I always carry a Nikon D80 with a wide angle lense in a LowePro mounted on my sternum strap. I get great pictures but the thing is so heavy. Can anyone recommend a point and shoot that takes quality pictures but also has a battery life that can handle 500-700 shots before dying?

deepika bhatt

Aug 17, 2009

camera is first choice of travellers...by which they can capture all those thing those are amazing in features....

deepika bhatt
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