View Full Version : Photography Opportunities
J.L.M.Webb
08-10-2009, 14:25
Hey all :)
I am planning a thru hike SoBo mid June in 2010. Could someone give me a few places that offer great photographing opportunities? I photograph anything so long as it captures my eye so it doesn't matter if it's a forest, waterfall, rock; anything! Thanks,
Jake.
Homer&Marje
08-10-2009, 14:40
The whole trail should suit you:D The Whites in New Hampshire is fantastic, probably the best views on the trail...but everywhere offers it's own unique opportunities.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/7/8/4/6/sdc11527.jpg
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/7/8/4/6/23580022.jpg
J.L.M.Webb
08-10-2009, 14:46
That second one is amazing :D Is that taken in the Whites in New Hampshire?
Homer&Marje
08-10-2009, 14:56
That was taken off Skyline Drive in Virginia...Shenandoah NP.
Got tons of em in my gallery:D my latest was here in MA
http://picasaweb.google.com/HomerAndMarje/Berkshires09#
J.L.M.Webb
08-10-2009, 15:48
Wow it all looks amazing :D Can't wait to go there!
High Life
08-10-2009, 16:16
i would agree , there are places almost daily on the AT that are good for photo taking
the best times to get photos are early in the morning and sunset . if you get up before sunrise and find a good spot you'll get amazing photos . lighting is a important part of photography normal daylight is less dramatic , before and after storms are good times too .. heres the link to my flickr page ..
www.flickr.com/broken_images (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/www.flickr.com/broken_images)
there are a couple sets from the AT covering over 3000 miles
enjoy
High Life
08-10-2009, 16:17
my link was broken .. here try this
http://www.flickr.com/photos/broken_images
J.L.M.Webb
08-10-2009, 16:21
Thanks :) Don't suppose you have deviantART do you? :p
J.L.M.Webb
08-10-2009, 16:22
@ High Life: Wow some of them are stunning :D
High Life
08-10-2009, 16:27
hey thanks , i'm glad you like them
i was thinking of carrying a DSRL (like a nikon D40 ) on the CDT & PCT
and see if i can get even better .. :sun
High Life
08-10-2009, 16:28
sorry i dont know what deviantART is
J.L.M.Webb
08-10-2009, 16:29
Ahh I never used a Nikon, always been a Canon man :p My brother uses a Nikon...actually I think it's a D40...but not sure so don't quote me on that :p but he loves it! I think with a really good DSLR you'll get much better results but it's also up to the imagination of the photographer!
Tennessee Viking
08-10-2009, 16:30
Some of the famous ones around in the south:
Three Forks
old Cheese Factory
old tree at Bly Gap
Fontana Lake
Standing Indian
Clingmans
Max Patch
Views from Rich Mtn Tower
Bald Mtn exposed ridgeline
Big Butt/Coldspring Mtn
Big Bald
Beauty Spot
Roan Highlands
Jones Falls
side trip to Elk River Falls
Bob Peoples
Laurel Falls
Watauga Lake
Lonewolf
side trip along the Creeper
Whitetop
Graysons (ridgeline, fields, & ponies)
J.L.M.Webb
08-10-2009, 16:33
Thank you ^^ very helpful. I'll be sure to note them down :)
Homer&Marje
08-10-2009, 16:33
This is one of my favorites here.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/7/8/4/6/sdc11669.jpg
Love hiking near the clouds....
High Life
08-10-2009, 16:35
Some of the famous ones around in the south:
Bob Peoples
bummed i didnt get a pic of bob , but i do have a few of LW
got one of him and gypsy hitching in VT .. its a classic if i do say so :banana
Hey High Life, what model camera(s) did you use for those pictures? They came out great!
High Life
08-10-2009, 16:52
oh thanks man , all the AT pics were taken with a nikon cool pix L12
which by the way i flip floped in 07 and i drop the camera in a spring at
gravel spring huy in the Shenandoah N.P . i took the batteries out let it dry and three days later the worked again , it also was on the trail for 950 miles
in 2008 which was particularly wet as well. it pretty good got it at best buy for under 200 . just remember one this ...
" the most important part of the camera is the 12 inches behind it" - ansel adams
thanks again guys im happy you like the photos !
High Life
08-10-2009, 16:53
oh thanks man , all the AT pics were taken with a nikon cool pix L12
which by the way i flip floped in 07 and i drop the camera in a spring at
gravel spring huy in the Shenandoah N.P . i took the batteries out let it dry and three days later the worked again , it also was on the trail for 950 miles
in 2008 which was particularly wet as well. it pretty good got it at best buy for under 200 . just remember one this ...
" the most important part of the camera is the 12 inches behind it" - ansel adams
thanks again guys im happy you like the photos !
holy crap that had a ton of typos
hope you understand what i said :P
J.L.M.Webb
08-10-2009, 16:56
" the most important part of the camera is the 12 inches behind it" - ansel adams
Brilliant photographer and quote! Have you looked into other makes of camera i.e. Canon and Olympus? Those two + Nikon I find the best but it's all a matter of opinion.
I carry a nikon D 40 with me where ever I go....Takes incredible pics and the weather doesn t bother it too much. http://picasaweb.google.com/socrholic61
J.L.M.Webb
08-10-2009, 17:13
I carry a nikon D 40 with me where ever I go....Takes incredible pics and the weather doesn t bother it too much. http://picasaweb.google.com/socrholic61
Great quality pics :) Nikon's are really good.
High Life
08-10-2009, 17:24
ive never tried those but im sure they are good ..
check out this page though really good info here
http://www.kenrockwell.com/index.htm
he has some great advice ..
as far as the trail goes ..
there are great photos to be taken
get to know the camera really well before you go
Homer&Marje
08-10-2009, 18:19
All of my recent photos have been taken with a Samsung S860 8.1 megapixel digital camera.
For the price, $100, and the weight about 12 oz I feel it's perfect for me and backpacking.
J.L.M.Webb
08-10-2009, 20:28
Yeah, a light camera is best (and preferably one that is cheaper :) )
I just bought a Canon eos Rebel xs, can't wait till I can get out of Texas and back to the AT. I carried a point & shoot last time and the pics turned out o.k., but the ones i've taken with the Canon around home here look great. Maybe the new camera will do The Smokies justice.
saimyoji
08-10-2009, 21:37
many people state that there are few good views in PA, but they just aren't going to the right spots......north of Port Clinton you'll find good photo ops at the Pinnacle, Bake Oven Knob, Lehigh Gap....and....as you walk towards Lehigh Gap from Ashfield Rd. you'll see signs for the South Trail and North Trail (Both blue blazed.) that have excellent views both north and south (along with tons of blueberry and huckleberry patches).....you just have to be willing to walk blue blazes.
Jim Adams
08-10-2009, 22:48
High Life,
Beautiful photos!
Lenses matter slightly, the camera body doesn't matter much...it is the 12 inches behind the shutter that indeed does matter. I was told years ago in photography classes that the camera doesn't matter. No one looks a a great painting and praises the painter by asking him what kind of brush he used!
Good job!
geek
High Life
08-11-2009, 00:56
wow erman , i think i will definately pick up a D40 now great color on those lehigh gap photos..cant beleive i hiked PA twice in two years ...lol
and Jim Adams thank you so much ,I'm really glad that you guys like my pictures
hopfully i will hike the CDT and get some more good stuff :)
cutman11
08-12-2009, 01:26
The ledge rock outcropping at McAfee Knob and Tinker Cliffs in VA. Most photographed spot I think.
jeremyupham
08-13-2009, 16:40
I have hiked in Baxter State Park ME. Depending on the fog/weather, the views of Katahdin and just below are awesome. The ponds below Katahdin usually have moose in them if you are into photos of wildlife. I would also agree the White Mtns have some incredible views.
Snowleopard
08-13-2009, 19:52
Great photos folks.
" the most important part of the camera is the 12 inches behind it" - ansel adams --true.
Take a lot of pictures before you go. Look up pictures by great photographers; if you can, go to museums and see the real thing. An actual photographic print by Ansel Adams or Edward Weston is pretty amazing. They used view cameras with 8"x10" negatives.
Don't forget to look at things without the viewfinder. Some of my most memorable images are only in my memory and not on film.
Highlife, if you are looking for an SLR, take a look at the new Olympus E=P1. It's lighter than conventional digital SLRs and has nearly the image quality. It's on my wish list. http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympusep1/
Johnny Appleseed
01-19-2010, 14:04
Gulf Hagas Maine in the 100 mile wilderness. 5 mile loop off trail that offered the best views of my thru hike, beating out the presidential range. Easy hike.
Tons of waterfalls, cliffs, grotto pool, etc.
Grand canyon of the east is the advertising jingle.
Great photo-opps all over. In my home state of PA, good spots include the Penn-Mar overlook, Pulpit Rock & the Pinnacle. You can find beauty everwhere you look.
Johnny Appleseed
02-01-2010, 01:13
Just got a canon G10 14.7 mega pixel from fleabay. Extra battery and one 16MB memory sd. For 465$ after shipping. It is supposed to be the next best thing outside of a dslr camera (heavy) which I was gonna carry until I found out about this from a forum, but I had to get one w/ high quality. I love forums-just post your problem and wait for a response. I am gonna carry 2 16MB sd cards.
The camera doesn't matter so much.
The thing that really matters is light. I found decent light sort of rare on the AT, especially in the long green tunnel itself. It often is too dark or too harsh. When it is nice and diffuse, you definitely need a tripod.
But I'm talking mostly about high quality art photos. Most of what I see from hikers is documentary snaps. Quite a different thing, and if you're just going to post on the web then a cheapie camera will do. Good enough for 95% of hikers.
It takes a lot of time to make a good photo. They rarely just happen, and taking lots of quick digiphotos doesn't work very well for quality or composition. You actually construct a nice shot carefully and patiently; seek out a spot and wait for when the light is good. Or come back in the morning or evening.
It gets in the way of making big miles, but this is how it is done.
Delta-Dawn
01-30-2011, 15:39
Great thread! Thanks to everyone that listed places of photographic opportunity...I'm making note of them all! My Nikon D90 will be with me SOBO. I know I could probably snag my daughter's point and shoot to save weight, but my camera is one of my best friends. I could never leave it behind. (And I would be calling my husband at the first town to have him ship it to me anyway, lol). :)
takethisbread
01-30-2011, 17:04
Gulf Hagas Maine in the 100 mile wilderness. 5 mile loop off trail that offered the best views of my thru hike, beating out the presidential range. Easy hike.
Tons of waterfalls, cliffs, grotto pool, etc.
Grand canyon of the east is the advertising jingle.
My biggest regret. It was pouring and cold. I bypassed it.
Sassafras Lass
01-31-2011, 18:45
My requirements for my AT camera were:
~ AA or AAA batteries (not gonna be a town hound - ie hours spent charging electronics - therefore need easily accessible batteries)
~ Manual controls
~ Fast lens
Got the discontinued Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LZ10. f/3.3-f/5.9 (not the best) but has a Leica lens. ISO 100 relatively noise-free (unless you're a diehard pixel peeper). AND - it weighs barely 5 oz. w/ batteries and fits perfectly in my hipbelt pocket. So it's my trail camera.
Unless someone's feeling generous and wants to donate a D700 and 17-35 lens for my expedition? :D :banana
The whole trail should suit you:D The Whites in New Hampshire is fantastic, probably the best views on the trail...but everywhere offers it's own unique opportunities.
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/7/8/4/6/sdc11527.jpg
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/1/7/8/4/6/23580022.jpg
love the pics, do you use a dslr or a point and shoot"? I've carried a dslr but have been thinking of cutting weight and just using a p&s.
That was taken off Skyline Drive in Virginia...Shenandoah NP.
Got tons of em in my gallery:D my latest was here in MA
http://picasaweb.google.com/HomerAndMarje/Berkshires09#
some really nice pics there, thanks for sharing them!
my link was broken .. here try this
http://www.flickr.com/photos/broken_images
Some great pics! Really like 468360_10151062927441229_5333069
This was my favorite photo spot.