Backpacking the Pacific Crest Trail and Beyond
It’s been wonderful to see so much beauty and breathe lots of fresh air this past year. Photography can’t capture all of that — there’s no substitute for experiencing it yourself. But I hope some of the loveliness of what we’ve seen comes through in this collection of my favorite images from 2011.
Clicking each photo will take you to a larger version on my flickr site. You can also view all my photos there:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/myelectricsheep/
I’m honored and excited that the Nature Conservancy selected one of my photos from Kings Canyon National Park to be their photo of the day. The photo is also featured on their homepage (left column) today.
Nature photographers often carry a heavy pack containing a big full-frame camera, multiple large zoom lenses, and a sturdy tripod. The weight of the photography equipment alone can reach 30 pounds, on top of which hiking gear is added. In addition, nature photography of the traditional fashion requires substantial time per shot: to set up the tripod, attach the correct lens, frame the composition, screw on filters, and wait for the perfect light. This approach isn’t possible on the PCT, because hiking 20 miles a day over mountain passes, for five months, requires a light pack and continuous motion.
Fortunately it is possible to create excellent photographs quickly, with light, small gear. Here are some tips for lightweight backpacking photography equipment:
Wandering the Wild 