Hiking & Photography - All You Need To Know

4 Oct

Written By Jens Bjorkkvist

Hilleberg Tent in Vistas Valley — Camping in Vistasvagge - Sweden

For more travel and hiking please read below posts

Lofoton during winter

Hiking the artic

Intro

My love for photography came later than my love for nature, hiking, and camping. In Scandinavia and the Nordics (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland), being outdoors is in our blood. Even as babies, we were left outside in our strollers while sleeping. In Sweden, Norway, Iceland, and Finland, we have the "Freedom to Roam Act”, which allows every person to roam freely, even on private property. I won't go into the details of the act here, but you're welcome to read more about it on the links below. Remember, with freedom comes responsibility. As. always, leave nothing but your footprints behind!

I have been practicing landscape photography for three years now, and I switched to using a mirrorless camera (Nikon z6ii) a couple of years ago. It's exciting to see my progress each year, but I know there is still much more to learn and improve upon. I have been hiking for many years and have learned the dos and don'ts through trial and error. I hope this blog will guide you in the right direction when it comes to hiking and photography.

Sweden: https://www.naturvardsverket.se/en/topics/the-right-of-public-access/

Norway: https://www.visitnorway.com/plan-your-trip/travel-tips-a-z/right-of-access/

Finland: https://www.nationalparks.fi/everymansright

Hiking Equipment

It's important to consider where and when you'll be hiking. Hiking above the tree line in mid-winter is quite different from a short walk in the lowlands during the summer. While hiking equipment such as tents, sleeping bags, and backpacks can be discussed at length, I'll just summarize some key points to keep in mind before making a purchase. Regardless of the type of hike, it's important to consider the weight of your equipment as you'll be carrying it yourself. Additionally, keep in mind that you'll also be carrying your photography equipment.

During my hikes in autumn, which typically last between 5-8 days, my total weight, including food, is around 20-22kg. However, I tend to eat less than most people, so if you have a bigger appetite, you may need to pack an additional 1-2kg of food. I avoid carrying large amounts of water since, in Sweden, the water is mostly drinkable everywhere. Instead, I always carry a Katadyn 0.5L flask with me, which I use for drinking and as a filtration system for extremely dirty water.

Interested in hiking in the North of Sweden? Then check out my post about my hikes there with helpful information, you find it here.

A highly recommended Swedish photographer and hiker is Magnus Lindbom, you find him here.

Tent

I use a Hilleberg Soulo tent, which is not a lightweight tent by any means. However, it is a very strong, secure, and well-tested tent for all-year camping, weighing 2.4kg. If you prefer an ultra-light option, you can easily find a tent under 1kg. For most of the time, a 3-season tent should suffice. The difference between a 3-season and a 4-season tent is that the rain-fly on the 4-season tent goes all the way down to the ground to prevent snow from blowing in.

Weight - Ultralight weighs in at under 1kg, classic tents from Hilleberg weigh about 1,5 - 2,5kg for a 1-2p tent
Material - Two major materials to choose from, both with pros and cons. Silnylon and Dyneema
Seasons - “Always” use a 4 season tent if you expect snow.
Inner tent - Most tents comes with an inner tent as a second layer of protection, make sure its possible to always have the inner tent attached to the outer one since it will be much easier to pitch the tent that way.
Brand - Good tents are expensive, period. Expect to pay between 500 - 1200 EUR.
Reviews - Always read reviews from people actually using them to get a good idea of pros/cons. Search on Youtube.

Backpack

I can recomend checking out Hyper Mountain Gears backpacks, especially the modell Southwest 70. These are very popular backpacks at low weight and “water proof”. A cheaper option can be Ospreay Kestrel 68 with a practical U-formed zipper for easy access on the back, the weight is 1,7kg.

Weight - It is possible to get a 60L bag for under 1,2kg
Extras - Such as pocket for water bladder, hip-pockets, rain protection etc. Some you need and most you don’t.
Try it - Make sure to buy it with the option the return it. At home fill it with the same weight you expect to carry and take it for a walk.

Sleeping bag/Sleeping mat

I tend to feel cold, so I always buy a sleeping bag and sleeping mat suitable for lower temperatures. I prefer having a bag that is too warm and can be opened during the night, rather than having one that is too cold and won't let me sleep. The sleeping mat is as important as the sleeping bag because when you're lying in the sleeping bag, the down will compress and lose its ability to keep you warm. That's why the sleeping pad is important, as it will be the only thing keeping you warm. Before buying, check the R-value on the sleeping pad. Thermarest has a good webpage that explains the R-value, which you can find here. I recommend having an inflatable mat for more comfort but keep in mind that they tend to squeak more than a normal mat.

Material - Down or synthetic. Down is more lightweight and synthetic is more water resistant.
Treatment - Down can be untreated or so called hydrophobic down. Hydrophobic down is more water-repellant but there are still debates whether it’s a good investment or not. Either way, read about it and make your own decision.
Temperature - Sleeping bags come with 3 different temperature ratings. Comfort, Lower, and Extreme.
You should look at Comfort temperature most of the time but most of all use Google to see what others say about the ratings for the sleeping bag you are considering, it can vary a greatly from what the rating says compared to real-life experience!
Care - Taking care of your sleeping bag is crucial. Try to always sleep in some sort of clothes or use an inner case to prevent the bag from getting dirty, this will prolong the lifespan of the bag. Also,’ try to ventilate the bag every morning if possible, I hang my bag inside out over the tent (if its dry) otherwise hang it in a
tree so it can dry out from the moisture/condensation.

Camera Equipment

Lenses

This is the first question to answer, and it comes down to what you will be photographing. The camera is, of course, on your list to bring, but think about which lenses to take with you. Do you really need that third lens? Try to bring lenses you can use for more than one scenario. I usually bring one wide-angle NIKKOR Z 20mm f/1.8 S which works perfectly for night photography such as northern lights and astro, but also for landscape photography. The second lens I bring is a Nikkor Z 24-200/4-6,3 VR lens, which covers most other situations. Lenses are heavy, so do your best to slim the numbers down.

Tripod

The tripod is the second thing to put some thought into; if you only shoot handheld in good-light situations, perhaps you don’t need one. But when shooting in low-light situations or running water, a tripod will be an important and necessary part to bring. Try to find a tripod made of carbon fiber, and maybe you don’t need a full-size one. You can easily save weight if you go with a lower tripod. I have one from Siriu that weighs about 1.2 kg, but I am still in search of an even lighter one. I always take out the center column to save some extra grams.

Battery

A crucial item is batteries; you do not want to run out of juice after 2 days. In cold temperatures, batteries lose their power more quickly. One tip is to always keep them in a well-protected bag or, even better, in your inner pocket, close to your body heat. During the night, I always keep my gear (including batteries) in the inner tent, well protected in a bag. Are you really nervous? Keep them in your sleeping bag.

I use a mirrorless camera (Nikon Z6ii), and I bring one battery for every two days in the field. So four batteries for an eight-day trip. I also have a power bank, but I never rely on it for my photography. The reason for this is that you will also have other gear you must have a power source for, such as your phone, a headlamp or flash light, and perhaps an emergency transmitter.

Memmory Cards

Here, you can go nuts; memory cards don’t take up space or weigh you down. Some people use one or two cards with 128GB or even more. Personally, I only use 32GB but have several cards with me. I have labeled all my cards (1, 2, 3, etc.) and keep them in a slim case. I use one card for each day, and my reason for doing so is:

If I drop or lose one, I only lose one day of photos.
If one memory card malfunctions, I only lose one day of photos.

Buy well-known brands when it comes to memory cards; don’t go cheep on this; good memory cards are your foundation in your photography, and yet I have never had a memory card fail on me. The size of RAW files is roughly the double size of the megapixels on your camera, so if you use a 24 MP camera, each file will be about 48MB.

Separate camera bag

I have several camera bags, and all of them are from Lowepro. There are many brands out there, but I always seem to find what I need at Lowepro. In this case (hiking) i use a small case that just fits everything. I keep this bag in my backpack, but the main reason I have it at all is because I often travel by plane and I like to quickly grab all my camera gear before checking in my backpack. Keep in mind that all batteries should be kept with you on the plane and are not allowed to be checked in.

For all other camera gear, I suggest you lay down everything you normally have with you when shooting, pick them up one by one, and think “Do I really need this”. I have made a list of what I bring on my trips and use that as a starting point.

Access to camera

Access to your camera is important; if you always have your camera in your back pack, you will never stop and take your time to take it out for that one shot, and to be honest, there are a lot of situations like that when hiking. Letting the camera hang around your neck is not a good solution either; your neck will start to hurt, and in many situations, a loose camera swinging around is not ideal. Many modern cameras handle bad weather really well; wind, snow, and light rain are usually not a problem if the camera and lens are weather sealed (make sure if yours are or not).

In my opinion, there are two options. The first is a solution called Capture Camera Clip V3 from Peak Design. It's a clip you put on the shoulder strap of your backpack and gives you quick and easy access to your camera. The downside is that the camera is not protected at all.

The second solution is a small bag you have on either your chest or your hip. Look at the Hyper Mountain Gears Camera Pod; it's a light-weight case with quick access but also gives protection against the weather. Also, try to have some sort of protection cap for your mounted lens; it's easy to scratch the front element while hiking, even though the lenses can take some pretty good beatings today. I use some soft rubber-ish caps that are elastic, and one fits all kinds of things.

Clothes

Clothes are key when hiking and doing photography; it can be very cold, wet, and miserably to be honest. Layer is king here; use Merino wool close to your body as a first layer. The second layer should be pants made for outdoor activities such as hiking. I do not recommend jeans. The second layer can be wool too, or some sort of mix of wool and synthetic. On top of that, a warm sweater or light down jacket and top it of with a wind protection jacket. I never use raincloths unless it's really raining. Keep in mind that the Gore-Tex membrane will wear down over time, especially if you have a backpack on your shoulders.

Gloves are important, and I have tried many, but the ones I use for really cold conditions are inner mittens combined with an outer shell from The Heat Company. They are not cheap for sure, but they really do the job.

General ideas

Hopefully you’re getting ready to start hiking as a photographer soon; just keep in mind to actually take your time. Doing photography as a hiker is not the same as doing photography back home. If you really want that one great shot, expect to spend many hours or even days outdoors. It's not wrong to stay a day or two in the same location. Give nature time to reveal all its secrets. Was the weather bad and cloudy? Wait until early morning, and you might be in for a treat.

Don’t forget to quickly check your photos in the camera, zoom in to make sure they are in focus, and spend some time on composition. It's so painful to come home and realize photos are blurry or a weird branch is sticking out from the lower left corner. You will make a lot of mistakes, but you will also get better with each trip you take. Being alone in the wilderness for a week or more definitely has its challenges, but it is also extremely rewarding.

Feel free to ask any question and I will do my best to answer them …