Each photographer has heard this recommendation earlier than: pack gentle. However on a multi-day wilderness shoot, it’s about greater than cameras and lenses. Your survival equipment issues simply as a lot as your gear.
After I traveled by the Alps to work on my Hasselblad Masters sequence, I needed to discover the stability between top-notch picture high quality and sensible endurance in excessive circumstances. At this time, I’ll stroll you thru precisely what I carried, what I might have left behind, and how one can optimize your personal journey equipment for panorama pictures.
The Problem: Capturing in Excessive Situations
5 days earlier than manufacturing started, my largest concern wasn’t the climate or route planning—it was whether or not my digicam would even arrive on time. We had already postponed the shoot twice, and winter was closing in on the Alps. Lastly, two prototypes of the nonetheless unreleased Hasselblad X2D 100C landed in my mailbox, together with the brand new XCD 38V, 55V, and 90V lenses, plus the ultra-wide XCD 21mm.
It felt like Christmas morning, however with no handbook and solely days to be taught a brand-new system. The journey had formally begun.
Digital camera Gear: High quality Over Amount
My gear wanted to deal with the rugged circumstances with out weighing me down. Right here’s what I packed:
That’s already lots of weight, however the pure digicam setup stuffed solely a fraction of my 70L pack. The remaining? Survival gear.
Out of doors Gear: Staying Alive within the Alps
When photographing in distant places, your consolation and security are simply as vital because the digicam in your fingers. My necessities included:
Sleeping system: ZenBivy Mild Mattress (ISO mat, down quilt, and inflatable pillow).
Water: 3 liters plus a backup filter.
Meals: Freeze-dried meals for dinner and breakfast.
Clothes: Rain jacket, rain pants, and a down jacket.
Instruments: Mountaineering poles, multitool, and headlamp with purple gentle mode.
All in all, the pack weighed about 15 kilograms—heavy, however each merchandise had a goal.
A Brutal Ascent and Unforgiving Climate
The climb to Slovenia’s Bivak pod Skuto hut was grueling: 1,500 meters of elevation achieve over simply 8 kilometers, with fog and rain decreasing visibility to 30 meters. By the point we reached the hut, it wasn’t simply the shortage of panoramic views that challenged me. The shelter rapidly full of hikers, making the thought of quiet, managed pictures unimaginable.
As an alternative, I turned my consideration to the main points. A rocky crevice revealed a surreal composition of the hut framed by jagged stone layers. It grew to become one in every of my favourite photographs from the journey, a reminder that generally the very best photographs come from adapting, not sticking to the plan.
Flexibility Beats Perfection
That night time, persistence paid off. For hours, my pal Marcus and I took turns shielding the X2D from drizzle with an umbrella, ready for the clouds to interrupt. Round 10 p.m., the sky lastly cleared. I used the Aputure lights to light up the hut towards the dramatic backdrop, capturing one of many defining frames of the sequence.
At dawn, one other alternative offered itself. The hut emerged in delicate daybreak gentle as fog lifted from the valley, giving me the clear panorama photographs I had hoped for.
Professional tip: Convey a headlamp with purple gentle mode. It preserves your night time imaginative and prescient whereas nonetheless letting you verify your digicam settings.
Conclusion: The Excellent Journey Package for Panorama Pictures
Mountaineering again down, I mirrored on what labored and what I might change. The XCD 55V barely left the bag—two or three lenses would have been sufficient. Rain gear, nevertheless, was non-negotiable. And the Hasselblad X2D? It exceeded my expectations. The depth and element within the Uncooked recordsdata made the grueling climb value each step.
Takeaways for Your Personal Package
Carry fewer lenses to scale back weight and enhance artistic freedom.
Prioritize survival gear—consolation permits creativity.
Keep versatile. Situations won’t ever align completely, however they’ll all the time supply one thing.
The Bivak pod Skuto may not have given me clear skies at first, nevertheless it taught me the worth of adaptation.
