Country Roads: Remembering When

 Can't say I've ever been lost while driving around on Kentucky's country roads, but I've sure been turned around real good. That's the nature of the country roads that weave and turn and crossover each other around here. Road names change at just about every crossroads and sometimes they regroup a few miles further down and revert back to the original name. Once I figured out this seemingly lack of planning, I became more comfortable exploring and seeking out the almost never ending photographic opportunities that abound within this Americana windfall.

I actually love driving around backroads. Most of the time I tend to drive slowly stopping ever so often to take a closer look at the historical evidence of times past. That's where the most interesting photo ops can be found. Sometimes I look for something specific, most times I just wing it and let the nature of the moment reveal itself. Regardless, what catches my attention the most, are the rustic flavors that can only be found away from the beaten path. I especially like old fence rows and old barns. 

The ones that cause me to slam on the brakes are the ones where a crop of some kind like cornfields and especially wheat fields converge alongside one of those old fences or barns.

Although I drive around most anytime of day, as with other forms of photography the best times to capture an interesting photograph are early and late in the day. During the summer fog will often greet the morning air and linger well into the later hours before noon. Catch it with a cool or warm sunrise and the sky will often turn pink or orange or red accented with blues and pastels. 

On occasion I'll find an interesting subject and make a note of where it is. Stopping for a while I will explore the possibilities identifying where the sun will rise or set or what it might look like on an overcast day or during a rainy day. I've returned to locations multiple times knowing there is a photo op just waiting to develop. Two, three and sometimes four times it takes before I catch it right, like one of my favorite photos of a mid-October morning overlooking the bottoms along Barren River. 

I knew the sun and fog would converge inside that bottom land if I timed it right. It took several attempts for it to do so, but the effort paid off handsomely. 

Driving the country roads is a year round adventure. I drive a 4x4 Jeep for one main reason; so I can traverse snow covered roads, or rough terrain. I've never been stuck driving that old Jeep. (By the way, it has surpassed 300,000 miles with a little help and upgrades from time to time. It just might outlive me.) Snow days are the best for that blanket of white turns a mundane ordinary looking scene into a winter wonderland and a photographers delight.

As with any outdoor photography, light is the key and the contrasts of warmth and cold are best captured at sundown. Even so, sunrise can often provide a similar contrast especially when an artic blast invades and chills the air to the point where nose hairs grow stiff with each breath. That contrast of artic air, hot sun rising, and a landscape attempting to retain its natural warmth often produces some of the very best country road morning scenes.

The trick to discovering great photo ops while driving down country roads is to be able to identify the potential in a scene even when at the moment you see it, the light may be flat or off and uninteresting. Knowing where the sun will rise, keeping tabs on the weather and potential cloud cover, even the prevailing wind can often lead you toward discovering something truly unique from what is otherwise an ordinary looking opportunity. 

The fall season is often one of the best as the sun has by then dropped lower in the sky and shadows grow longer with each day. Identifying a good location in the off season(s) then returning to it when the conditions are right can produce a satisfying reward visually and photographically. 

Kentucky backroads possess a wonderful Americana feel to them. There are numerous small towns that still retain that old time look and feel to them. The rural scenes seem to stretch across the landscape like a Kincaid painting placing you the art critic inside the real world artistry of the small town, rural American culture. It's a culture that oddly enough is beginning to fade somewhat as cities grow too large for the available housing space and developers buy up land and turn that land into housing additions. I've seen more of this than I care to see. I have photo's I've taken over the years of old barns and locations that are no longer standing or are now filled with homes. 

This old barn was torn down a few years
after this image was taken

It's sad in a way because other than complain, there's not much I as an individual can do about it. Maybe that's why the photographs I've taken over the years just might possess an important nostalgic look to them someday. "I can remember when" are sad words really, because they imply the loss of something important that can no longer be found. Remembering when before its gone just may be as important or maybe even more so, than when its too late.

Beyond The Campfire - What's Instore for this Channel in 2023...(Updated...)

 Well, 2022 is winding down with another 6 or 7 weeks or so to go until the new year begins. The winter season is upon us all of a sudden like. Seems summer just sort of lingered along biding its time, then all of a sudden it turned cold. The fall season for 2022 turned out to be a pretty good and colorful season here in Kentucky. The colors were about as good as they get, but came earlier than expected. 

With the year winding down, I still have some photography pursuits I hope to accomplish before the year is out. Most of those will probably extend over into the new year. So, what's coming up for 2023 for this channel?

I plan on doing more wildlife photography. It's a kind of photography I've done somewhat to a lesser degree than I should, so 2023 will see me getting out more pursuing the local wildlife. Birds of course are always fun to capture, but I want to be able to photograph a wider variety of critters employing stealth to gain closer perspectives and to employ better and exciting photography/videography techniques. Looks to be a challenge, but I'm ready to get out there.

I will be doing a good amount of canoeing on Barren River Lake, mostly during the summer months when the wind moderates. It's a beautiful lake that snakes its way across south central Kentucky. I've managed a few overnight and multi-day canoe camping trips just to check out the possibilities and was excited about what I discovered. Looking forward to making more of these kinds of adventures.

I'm planning on a multi day canoe adventure where I hope to make a circumnavigation of the lake, about 140 miles all the way around. Probably won't paddle that many miles, but will attempt to cover extended stretches, especially in the Peters Creek area. These attempts will include a lot of video footage that will be incorporated into a Beyond The Campfire Video Production series. Been working on a project idea called "From the Water's Edge". It's a long term project where I photograph the scenic beauty of Barren River Lake from inside my canoe. Still working out the logistics for this one, but I'm exited about the possibilities.

Next fall season I will again be making multiday backpacking trips into the Mammoth Cave NP backcountry. This is an under-utilized resource and offers a fantastic backcountry adventure. The limiting factor here will be my bothersome hip. The doctor says I've got some arthritis in there along with some other issues. Hasn't prevented me from getting out, but does slow me down and limits the intensity of what I can do physically, but I'm still going.

The end of 2022 and into January of 2023, I will be making a trip(s) up to Seymour Indiana to chase after those amazing Sandhill Cranes. Will be checking out Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area and other locations in that area where upwards to 40,000 Sandhill winter over. It's a grand site indeed to witness a huge flock of them wing their way across the landscape at daybreak or returning to their roost at sundown.

Shanty Hollow is always a destination and I will again be doing some hiking/photography trips into that area especially during the spring when the waterfall is at its peak flow. Plan on canoeing over there as well to explore some of the wildlife opportunities.

As I mentioned previously, wildlife photography will take on a larger percentage of my photographic attempts. Doing so will also dictate employing techniques that will hopefully place me in close proximity to the wildlife. I will be gathering some road-kill to use as bait in the fields behind where I live. With any luck at all, I may be able to attract birds of prey and vultures, possibly even coyotes or fox. Deer of course are abundant in the area and provide for a ready photographic resource.

So, I'll have a full year ahead of me. Certainly there will be spur-of-the-moment opportunities and setbacks. The plan is to expand and improve on the Adventure Photography video series within the Beyond The Campfire framework. A lot of work for sure, but something I have been working on for several years now. So, I'm excited to get started and to share these adventures as Beyond The Campfire video productions. Come join me and share the videos! Even better, see ya out there!

A Chilly Day on Kentucky's Barren River Lake - Photographing Gulls, Killdeer, and Bald Eagles

There was a bite to the wind on that November morning as a cold front had carried artic air into the region where it lingered like a chilled blanket over the landscape far longer than Kentucky would normally experience this time of year. Thanksgiving, still about a week away, was but an anticipation still to happen, but in the meantime I needed to get out for a while and exercise my legs and my camera.

The alarm sounded much too soon and with blurry eyes, I stared at it with a disgruntled disposition not believing it was already time to get up. But, it was, and I did, for I wanted to catch the sunrise as it bathed the farm country near Lucas.

My plan was to see how the sunrise might develop, then work across The Narrows to see if the gulls I had encountered the day before were still there and close enough to effectively photograph. The sunrise was better than I had hoped for as it climbed above the horizon appearing between a silo and a farm house. My hands grew numb as I waited for it, the wind cutting well into the inadequate gloves I wore. 

Even so, as the sunrise developed, I fired off a number of photo's and felt good about the results. I stopped shooting when the cold air numbed the end of my trigger finger enough to where I could no longer feel it. By the time I rolled into the parking area above the marina at the end of The Narrows peninsula, I had warmed up enough to use my binoculars to survey the lake.

There were some gulls, but they were far off, too far in fact to be able to photograph. I waited a short  while to see if they might migrate closer in, but they seemed content to stay well out on the lake.

This part of the lake is perhaps the most scenic with tall trees lining the edges of the lake. The Corp of Engineers drops the lake level about 25 feet or so during the winter and by doing so exposes the sharp contrasts of gravel beaches and rocky drop offs creating a beautiful almost canyon-like appearance. Fog and morning mist will often hover over protected areas where the wind doesn't affect its development. Across the way you can see an odd dark line that reaches about 1/3rd of the way up the tree line and wraps its way all the way around the visible shore. My guess is that dark line is the result of very high water levels from years past as I have other photo's taken several years ago that show that same line.

From what I can gather, there are three species of gulls that winter over in Kentucky; the Herring Gull which is the most common, The Ring-Billed Gull which is very common, and Bonaparte's Gull which turned out to be the most common one I photographed on this outing. There is a fourth one that is very rare but has been seen this far east and that is The Franklin's Gull.

Herring Gull

 I ended up moving on backtracking to the access road and working my way over to a location at the end of that crumbling road. This is really a beautiful location and it was here I discovered a good number of gulls, several hundred in fact, maybe upwards to 500. They drifted here and there circling and darting, then diving head first into the water to chase a tasty morsel. You could follow where the schools of bait fish were by where the gulls were congregating.

Bonaparte's Gull

I walked the 100 yards or so to the waters edge and sat next to an old cedar log. To my right was a long point of gravel beach that extended a good ways into the water. 

On its front edge several Killdeer were strutting around making their distinctive high pitched call. I could not get very close to them as they were quite jumpy so I made several long range photos and a few video clips of their antics. I sat there for a couple of hours enduring the cold wind that was blowing directly into my face. A good number of gulls drifted by, but way off across the open water several hundred gulls congregated along a gravel beach. 

Ever so often they would rise up and fly around only to return to their roost within a minute or two. That collective flight was fun to watch. While doing so, I noticed two large birds drifting along up high just above where those gulls congregated. A quick look through my lens revealed they were two Bald Eagles...and they were drifting toward me.

I began to fire off photo after photo and without noticing it, I caught them as they drifted near the pale moon almost hidden in the bright sky. Eventually, they came almost directly overhead. Amazing birds they are, bold, majestic, confident, striking against the sky.

In time they drifted off and eventually I returned to my Jeep for a snack and a warm cup of coffee. While sitting there I noticed what I thought was a coyote running across the sloping rocky bank to my right. With my binoculars I identified it as a red fox...with another domestic dog chasing him. The fox out ran the dog, darted over a fallen tree trunk, and left the other dog behind who trotted off retracing his steps. No photos, but it was fun to watch.

Further around that embankment, I noticed a good number of gulls swirling and diving just off the bank. It was good walk over there, maybe somewhat less than a half mile, but I walked across a frozen mud flat, up a rocky bank, and down to the waters edge where I gained a great vantage point for photographing those gulls. Spent over an hour there until the bait fish moved into deeper water and the gulls followed them. Before they all drifted off, a good number of them moved to my left where they were backlit by the bright sun. It was then I captured my personal favorite from the day. 

It is a simple composition with a gull drifting with outstretched wings highlighted and backlit by the sun, all against the dark, shaded distant embankment. It's the simplicity of the image that makes it my favorite.

The time passed by quickly and even though it was quite chilly, I really did not feel the cold so much. Watching and experiencing these birds as they effortlessly glided across the sky warmed my insides where the cold did not make any difference. I did manage to shoot a few video clips and along with some still photo's created a short video commemorating this fun shoot. Please enjoy.

Backpacking Mammoth Cave NP: Echo's From Times Past - Something Strange Happened While Camping Next to an Old Cemetery

 It was a faint sound at first almost drowned out by the wind that swirled through the tops of the massive ancient trees. I did hear it, a distant, indistinct laughing that seemed to emanate from all around not coming from any particular direction. At random, it would echo across and through the woodland blending with the wind. It was the faint and distant sound of a child playing and laughing, yet there was nothing visible to see. Did it have any connection to the old Miles-Davis cemetery?

My adventure began as an idea to make another photography/videography trip into the backcountry of Mammoth Cave National Park. This time around, I was going to stay for three days and two nights with the intent of spending the entire three days at my favorite location known as "The Bluffs". 

As it turned out when I arrived at the park headquarters to get my backcountry permit, The Bluffs area was already booked for the first night I was going to stay there. Instead I opted to reserve one night at Sal Hollow, and spend the second night at the Bluffs. To get to Sal Hollow required taking a short alternate route, branching off the Buffalo Creek Trail, which added another mile and a half or so to my hike. The cut off to that trail was located close to the Bluffs side trail cut off.

Somehow or another, I missed the cutoff turn to Sal Hollow. How this happened I'm not sure because it is pretty obvious where the trail connects with the Buffalo Creek trail. I just simply walked right past it without seeing it, and this is why I ended up at the old cemetery. By the time I realized what had happened, my troublesome hip was hurting and my legs were a bit tired and my desire to backtrack and continue hiking down to Sal Hollow had pretty much evaporated.

Leaning against a corner fence post, I stood at the entrance to the cemetery and surveyed the 1/4 acre or so of headstones most of which appeared to be heavily weathered. I chose at that time not to take a closer look at this well kept plot of land. It was clean, not overgrown, and possessed a peaceful, rustic value all its own and I thought the light would be better later in the day to capture a few photos within its boundaries. Before moving on, I looked at the map and realized my mistake of missing the turn, then sighed as my rebellious hip dictated against any further heavy hiking for the day, so I decided to setup camp near the cemetery.

Even though the area is not a designated campsite, I thought it would be okay to stay there for the afternoon and one evening and I found a nice flat area off in the woods, a few yards in front of the cemetery and pitched my tent. A thick layer of leaves provided a soft cushion however, a burn ban was in effect so no fires were allowed. I would not have created one anyway as it was much too windy to be safe with all those leaves blowing around. That's why I always pack my venerable Coleman Peak 1 packer stove.

Throughout the afternoon I meandered around the area looking for photo ops snapping pictures here and there. The wind worked the tops of the trees pretty much all day, and with each gust hundreds of leaves would spin across and fall onto the woodland floor like a work of leaf art showcasing various shades of brown, red, and yellow snow. It was this canopy of color that caught my attention photographically and I spent a lot of time and covered a lot of ground simply looking up to find suitable compositions on high. 

It was during this time I began to hear the laughter of a small child off in the distance. At first I wasn't sure of what I was hearing. It was a tiny, subtle, yet happy voice really, one that seemed somewhat distant, yet hauntingly real and innocent. What was troubling about it was, just how haunting it sounded for it seemed to flow across and through the woods not coming from any particular direction. It seemed to emanate from all around like it was a part of the ambient atmosphere. There was no real pattern to it as it occurred at random times ever so often. I'd be working the camera and hear it again as slightly more than a whisper, but distinct, almost like it was trying to catch my attention without being too obvious.

I really did not think too much about it at first, yet I would turn my head trying to pinpoint from where it was coming, but mostly I simply explored the surrounding woods looking for photo opportunities. Over the next hour or so, I continued to look for photographic opportunities and as the afternoon progressed, the laughter continued to randomly occur, yet it became more prominent, a more distinct echo through the woods. Eventually, I made it back to the cemetery and this time I stepped into it to take a closer look at the headstones. 

To my dismay, many of the headstones were carved with the names, birth dates, and death dates...of young children.

A chill ran through my spine as I read a few of the inscriptions; 

William J. 

Son of R and E Davis

Born Sept 12, 1861 

Died Aug 14, 1864.

I stepped over to another one of an adult;

J N Miles

Born Aug 1, 1847

                                                           Died Oct 27, 1886

I continued on to several others a few of which told the sad stories of just babies who were no more than a few weeks old. Many of the headstones were simple stones with no markings on them and appeared to have been taken from the surrounding area and placed as a simple memorial to mark the grave of someone. There were headstones marking the lives of wives and husbands, but the most sad ones were the ones of infant sons and daughters of which there were several. This small plot of sacred earth spoke of the struggles those who tried to tame this rugged land must have endured.

Eventually, I continued on, looking for a composition to photograph, but randomly through the afternoon up until almost dark, I kept hearing that child's laughter in the background. I guess through the afternoon I must have heard it at least 8 or 10 times, maybe more. 

Eventually, I discovered what appeared to be the foundation of an old cabin consisting of large squared off boulders taken from the surrounding landscape. The structure itself was long gone, but the foundation was unmistakable. I figured it must have belonged to some early homesteaders from long ago. While there, I again heard the soft laughter and I wondered what connection this old cabin had with the names of those from the cemetery.

Not being someone who is prone to over play his hand or allow his imagination run away, I tried to convince myself it was just the wind rubbing tree limbs together, but the laughter of a small child sounded so real, yet far off and so dream-like, I had a difficult time reconciling what I was experiencing. Later that night as I lay inside the tent reading a true adventure book, I subconsciously listened for something that may be related to the sounds, but can not for sure say I heard anything except possibly for one faint, remnant laugh of a child playing off in the distance. In time, I drifted off to sleep as the wind continued to blow across the trees through the night.

The next day began as a routine breaking camp morning; a quick oatmeal breakfast, tearing down the tent, packing away the gear, then the short hike out to the junction trail that would take me to The Buffs area. The wind continued to blow throughout the chilly day. While I was setting up camp at the new location, a time or two I thought I heard that laughter again, way off and even fainter than before...coming from the direction of the cemetery which was maybe a half mile or so away as the crow flies over the other side of the ridge. 

The rest of the second day was uneventful and my thoughts were consumed with searching for photographs, making video clips, and resting my troublesome hip. By that evening, I was pretty tired and called it an early day. 

As I lay in my tent that second evening reading, just after dark, I heard what was the most chilling and heart stopping sound of the entire trip. The best I can describe, it sounded like a very loud screeching / hollowing, that lasted about six or seven seconds, followed by some faint rustling of leaves and cracking of small branches, the sound of movement, across the ravine like something was walking over there. Then all was quiet except for the breeze that still moved across the trees, and it never happened again occurring only that one time. Even so, with the events of the previous day still fresh in my mind, it was an eye opening sound, one in all my years of camping in the woods, I had never heard before. 

The next day was spent hiking back to the real world. All the while as I was walking down the trail, I listened for that child's laughter, but never again did it materialize, just the sound made by the continuing wind cutting across the trees and a few birds singing a cheerful song. 

With each step, and during each rest stop, I pondered about the lives of those who were buried in that cemetery, especially those of the children. Who were they really, and what heartaches did they endure? 

What was the sound I heard? I'm not sure, but it sounded like a small child playing and laughing. Maybe it was just the wind...but maybe...just maybe...it was a haunting echo from times past.

When Frost Settles: Don't Wait Until It's Too Late

 I stepped outside one cold morning and inhaled the crisp air of the late fall season. Most of the leaves had already dropped and covered the yard like a multi-colored blanket. Around the perimeter and scattered across my little acre stretched tall trees; beech, hickory, a few oaks, sugar maples, and other assorted kinds, mostly bare now, but some still retained remnants of their fall colored coatings. Fallen leaves, mostly dried and brittle, crunched under foot as I trod toward the end of the yard and then into the wooded area beyond.

 I weaved my way through the woods, ducking under low hanging limbs, stopping ever so often to examine the evidence of a deer rub where the bark of a three inch thick sapling was scrapped off exposing the brighter under bark of the smallish trunk. 'Must have been a nice buck that made this one...' I thought to myself as I felt along the rough edges of the rub. At the end of the woods, the area opened into a corn field, just stubble now all dry and brown, but casting a subtle and distinct aroma of dried earth and harvested corn stalks.

 I stopped for a moment and took in another deep breath. The chill of the morning continued to hover silently across the landscape, yet I felt warmed now from the walk. It felt good to be there, able and ready to experience the natural world at its best, something my heart and soul needs from time to time, even more now that I am retired. It's when the frost settles across the land that makes all the difference...and winter is not far off where snow will cover these same fields.

For close to 30 years I worked in the high tech, hurried pace of the IT world, and before that spent far too many years following a dead end career that almost broke my spirit. That stretch of years provided a steady living for my family offering a means to an end I'm grateful for, but it was a high price I paid for it. During that time my adventures afield were limited to a few days here and there, a morning, an afternoon, then back at it working on the details of too many high pressure projects with un-realistic deadlines. Not only did I feel stressed, I was stressed, far more than I realized, to the point it began to show. Other friends and even family members noticed, asking my wife if I was okay...I looked really tired and burnt out...which I was. Somehow, I muttered through, one day at a time, often staring out the window day-dreaming about floating in my canoe, or fishing, or camping beside a sparkling set of shoals.

The time eventually came when I was able to retire, a bit early, the circumstances leading up to that moment are not important, but the effect of doing so was. Even so, it took a few years for the stress level to subside, but it eventually did and I began to realize just how much time had slipped by and how little of the adventures I so enjoyed were missed. Even though I've tried to stay in shape and I've done a respectable job of doing so, time and age does catch up. A troublesome hip, more general aches and pains, longer recovery times, well, they all generate a slowing down enough so the level or degree at which I can participate doing the things I enjoy so much has been tempered. Hasn't stopped me, and now I get out more than I ever did when I was younger. Can't push it too hard, but I do push it right up to what I know is my limit, then I back off.

As I stood next to that corn stubble field, the cool morning air hovered around my eyes generating a wind born tear that blurred my vision. Across the way a few deer worked their way along the edges looking up toward me from time to time just to make sure I was no threat. Their once tawny coats were now turning winter gray and the little ones born the previous spring were almost as large as their mothers. Overhead a Redtail hawk screeched as it sailed effortlessly across the field expanse then disappeared beyond the tree line. What had been a brilliant morning sun, suddenly closed down as a bank of darkened clouds moved in and the crisp fall morning became almost cold. 

Later that afternoon, I made my way over to the pond at the far end of that corn field. I sat partially hidden and camouflaged at one end of the pond and in a short time a family of squirrels chased each other through the woods to eventually and cautiously meander down to the pond for a cool drink. They were fun to watch and as silently as I could snapped a few long range photo's of these interesting and energetic creatures. 

As I sat there waiting for the sun to settle toward night, I was thankful to once again have the health and vigor enough to enjoy doing such things, and I was thankful for the time to do them. 

When the frost settles across the land is a special time of year where the seasons mark a dramatic shift toward winter. In previous years I had all but lost contact with such moments and had almost waited too late to enjoy them. I suppose the lesson here is to not allow life to get in the way of living. Don't wait until it is too late, for frost can quickly settle across a persons world, so much so, enjoying the simple things of life are far too often lost over time.

A Backpackers Photography Guide

 I stood motionless for a moment to rest my troublesome hip. My 25 year old Jansport pack felt somewhat heavier now several miles into my hike across the backcountry of Mammoth Cave National Park. The air was crisp and clean with a bright sun and blue sky accenting the magnificent fall colors that were just now beginning to explode across the landscape. Over my shoulder I carried a small tripod with my Nikon camera attached which I use almost exclusively for video. Attached to the camera was a sensitive microphone that improved the audio quality of the video clips I made with it. My Sony along with a couple of lenses were packed away inside my pack. 

With somewhat of a relieved grunt, I unbuckled the pack waist belt, and slid the 40 plus pounds off my shoulders. For a few moments I simply listened to my surroundings. Silence was most of what I detected, at first, then deep in the woods a few birds gave away their position. A fall breeze caressed the upper reaches of the tall, ancient trees adding its song to the birds. Somewhere deeper in the woods, a squirrel chattered his disapproval of something he saw. There was a quietness combined with soft melodies of a deep woods speaking to me as I sat propped against a nearby tree trunk. It was time to breakout my Sony for a few still shots of this magical place.

Backpacking and photography can be an ideal combination for a photographer, but it can also become a cumbersome burden if not approached with the right mindset. The way I approach this combination is based on a good number of years of backpack and canoe camping experience, for in many ways, they use very similar in approaches.

Backpacking of course requires you carry your gear on your back. It is physically demanding at times, which demands a certain level of fitness to be able to at least somewhat comfortably and safely to pull it off. The idea about gathering your gear for backpacking follows the same axiom as canoe camping: Keep it Simple, Keep it Light, Keep it Low, and Keep it Tight. The basic gear requirements are Pack, shelter/sleeping, food/cooking, water. 

Backpack. A backpack needs to be of sufficient size to accommodate your gear, including camera gear. Five thousand to six thousand cubic inches is not too large. The pack needs to have strong, padded, adjustable shoulder straps and a wide padded waist belt. A competent gear specialist at any good sporting goods store can help you with finding a pack that not only has the capacity to carry your gear, but also fits well, is flexible, and moves with you. 

One professional wildlife photographer I follow often carries a pack with all his camera and camping gear that weighs in around 35 kilos. That's over 75 lbs. He's also about six foot five and weighs about 215 pounds. Most people will not be comfortable carrying that much on their back. On average, 35 to 40 lbs is okay for most average sized men with 40 lbs being somewhat on the heavy side, while most women will be comfortable with 25 to 35 lbs. On the day I described above, my pack and camera gear came to a little over 45lbs with the camera gear contributing about 15lbs of that amount.

Shelters can be a simple tarp strung between two trees, or a small packers tent. Depending on time of year and location, protection from mosquitos and other creepy crawlies usually demands some kind of a tent with a mosquito netting enclosure. Finding the right tent for your comfort can often be a confusing endeavor, but the idea here is weight. 

A one person tent is more than adequate and is usually smaller and lighter in weight. Tarps of course are very light and offer a rustic example of outdoorsmanship. During the fall after the bug season is over, tarps can be a good idea. Weather is a concern when using one as a hard blow may cause your gear to get wet. Hammocks have become quite popular in recent years and offer a comfortable alternative to the tarp/tent options. Rigged with a light weight tarp over the top and they provide a very nice cozy home.

Sleeping most often requires a sleeping bag. There are numerous example of bags with down filled, or high quality synthetic filler being the most popular. Down is great as it is light and compresses into a small volume. It is somewhat expensive, and must be kept dry as if it ever gets wet it will loose its heat retaining qualities until it dries out. Synthetic fillers are less expensive, provide good quality warmth even when wet, and dry out quickly. They do not compress as well and require somewhat more filler to obtain a given temperature rating. 

A sleeping pad of some kind is a real plus. These can range from self inflating full length pads, to smaller and lighter air mattresses. Both do a good job, with the self inflating full length pads providing more durability, but tend to be bulkier while the air mattress approach works well but can be somewhat less durable. Sleeping bags are rated to a temperature range. The one I use is over 25 years old, filled with synthetic Quallofil and when new was rated to 0 degrees F. It is still a good bag and remains quite comfortable if not a bit bulky. Some bags are multi-season bags, meaning they are good for 2 to 3-seasons or 4-seasons. I'd pick a good 4-season bag.

Food is very important and should be nutritious and filling, and taste good. There are so many freeze dried packer food options today it is all but impossible to discuss them, but this is the way to go for extended trips. They are a bit pricey, but so much lighter and they really are quite good. Just add boiling water and wait a few minutes and you have a quick nutritious meal. For a simple overnighter, a quick visit to the grocery store and you can discover all kinds of food options that do not require refrigeration. Weight again is the concern, so keep it as light as possible without sacrificing quality. Instant oatmeal, trail snacks, granola bars, jerky, energy bars, quick rice, are all good options for backpacking.

Cooking can become an issue depending on the weather. Even the most experienced backpacker can have trouble building a fire during a downpour. There are numerous packer stoves available. The type of fuel they use verses the energy they produce varies considerably. I use a 40 year old Coleman Peak One packer stove. It uses standard Coleman fuel, works like a charm, and will boil a pot of water in no time. It has been all but flawless for these 40 years of operation. The only drawback is it is a bit heavy and can leak out of the filler cap if the internal pressure is not released after use. An extra aluminum bottle of fuel can be useful for extended outings. The use of a small metal cup, or small pot will work for almost any cooking that requires hot water. A small light weight skillet is handy for frying options.

Water is always a problem. It is heavy, and sometimes not readily available. I usually carry a small Nalgene bottle for on the trail drinking. I also use a water filtering system from PUR to replenish my supply as needed. There are numerous styles of water purification systems. Mine is a pump type. Other simply use gravity by hanging a source in one bag and allowing it to filter through into another container. Do not compromise with this. Get a good quality water filter system and you will never have any issues with potential tainted water sources. No filter? Simply boil the water for several minutes and allow it to cool. That will kill anything that might cause a problem.

As a quick overview of the basic backpacking gear, I'm sure it falls short on many aspects. I'm pretty old school when it comes to backpacking and my gear reflects much of that. Gear available today is far more efficient, way lighter, and pricier. My old gear has served me well, and I see no real need to upgrade...mostly anyway. The newest piece of gear I have is still a good 15 years old. Oh well. It works for me.

As far as the photography aspect goes, it's an open book as to what works best. For the most part, what works best for you may be entirely different than for me, as your needs may differ from mine. Cell phone cameras today do an amazing job and they are light weight too. However, they still have some limitations. I for one prefer to use my standard digital camera equipment because I believe it provides a wider range of capabilities. Weight here is again a factor. Just your basic survival gear can accumulate in weight very quickly. Toss in a camera body or two, a couple of extra lenses and batteries, then a tripod, and you can easily add another 10 to 15 lbs to your pack.

Here is what I usually take. One solid, but light weight tripod. It's rather small, but provides good support, and you really do not need much. Two cameras, one primarily for video using a basic kit lens, and one I use mostly for still photos, but I also will use it for video as well. An external microphone that attaches to the hot shoe on the camera. This really does help as it allows me to stand off a ways but have my voice amplified. For my still picture camera I bring two lens. An 18 - 50mm and a 75 - 300mm zoom. Both are relatively small and compact and most importantly, light weight. Their combination gives me all the focal range I need. Toss in some extra batteries, a remote cable release/intervelometer, and an extra card and I'm good to go. This combination is actually a bit too much. I can get by with one camera and lens and a small tripod. It just depends on what you want to accomplish. As I also shoot video footage, both A and B roll, I most often require two cameras, but I've also been known to curse the extra weight as I am hiking in or out, so...pack wisely.

What makes the combination of backpacking and photography so appealing it the fact that you are there. Being there is half the logistics. The idea of placing yourself where the most potential exists opens up all kinds of photography potential. You will begin to see things you might otherwise overlook. As opposed to rushing through a shoot, it becomes easier to simply slow down and allow what nature has to offer to present herself to you. I tend to limit the mileage of the hike so I can base camp when I am concentrating on photography. I'll hike into a location, set up camp, then spent the rest of the day(s) simply exploring the surrounding area. I may look for specific setups, or most often, a photo op simply jumps out at me. I'll see something during the morning light that may well present a completely different look by that evening. Sometimes I'll just sit and allow what is there to reveal itself.

Concentrating on photography during a backpacking trip keeps you occupied and focused on an objective. Many times I've left the camera at home to just get away for a while. There are many benefits from doing such a thing, but the days can get long just sitting around relaxing. With a camera in hand, I  begin to see my surroundings with a different eye. The atmosphere of the location becomes much more alive and vivid when I can visualize the light as it streams into view. The sights, sounds, and vibrations of being in nature for an extended period of time become engrained into the moment. I love it. I seek it out. I am absorbed by the experience. 

There is nothing better for a photographer when a truly unique moment of light presents itself. Having placed yourself in a location to allow such moments to happen, well, makes all the physical effort of getting there all the more worthwhile.

Recognize The Potential - Its All About Visual Context

 Adventure Photography does not necessarily suggest as a photographer you must travel across the country to find suitable subject matter. Doing so is certainly a plus, however by employing the element of evaluation to your local home range, you can discover and capture amazing photographs without ever having to travel outside your budget range. The trick is to recognize the potential of what you have available close to home and then deliver a finished photograph that captures the context of the moment.

I still have a number of bucket list items I hope to someday fulfill. I would love to spend a week during the fall at the Boundary Water Canoe Area, or hike into the Grand Canyon, or visit some of the amazing national parks I've not been able to get to yet. All are noble quests for anyone much less a photographer, but with travel costs what they are now days, well desiring to do those things and being able to afford doing them don't always coincide. Instead, I've started looking closer to home for opportunities. 

What I've discovered is just how easy it is to overlook the photographic potential of nearby locations. I've also started to understand how important it is to first recognize the potential of a given location by evaluating what it has to offer. The hard part is  conveying the visual context of the moment. Visual Context? Well, let me explain it this way. If I were to tell you I found an object and left it at that, you might think, 'Okay...so.' But, if I were to tell you I found it while walking on a volcanic sands beach and stepped on it barefoot, or while hiking in the mountains during a snow storm, well, now you have some visual context around the item that portrays it in a deeper meaning. In order to increase the impact of a photograph, it must have some visual context applied to it.

So how do you accomplish this? Much of the process is simply instinctive reactions combined with an element of common sense and observation. For example. Snap shots of a local lake are fine if all you desire is to make a simple record of an outing. They are the kind of photos you see all the time, nothing new or unusual about them. Capturing aesthetically pleasing photographs requires you to take your photographic efforts a good deal further down the road. For example, the photo on the left above is actually a pretty nice photo and it does have some context applied to it. You can deduce it was taken early at a lake and there was some driftwood along the edge. But, how did the photographer get there?

The photo on the right provides a good deal more context in that you can determine the moment was attained while paddling in a canoe across a calm lake on a foggy morning...Context. The first photo leaves the viewer with some mystery to contemplate from simple context, which is a good thing, while the other one generates a mysterious, and adventurous story line using more complete context.

Recognizing the potential of local photo ops takes some intuitive thinking to create context. Consider time of year and weather. What are the prevailing conditions during any given season? What is the potential for stormy weather, fog, wind, beautiful sunsets or sunrises, clear skies, clear and clean night skies, do you place the horizon high or low or across the middle in the composition, or maybe something entirely unexpected like a random encounter with wildlife. The idea then is to do some research and / or rely on past experience to set up a potential opportunity to discover what just might transpire photographically at a given location and then to apply an element of context to the moment by including subtle visual clues that show the viewer why this moment was important. Doing so interjects some of yourself into the photo.

Another part of the process, and the whole purpose of the exercise, is to be willing to be on location when the best light is available. Most of the time early or late in the day offers the best light potential, but it does not always require that. During the fall or winter, often overcast skies will create soft light that will cause the fall colors or the stark blend of winter contrasts, to resonate against the background. Middle of the day harsh lighting can be used to your advantage provided you find the best location to take advantage of it. Photograph the shadows, shoot the details of translucent light, isolate a single object against a dark background. The photo of the gull above shows the graceful flight of these amazing birds. The lines across the bottom half helps to provide some context as they are waves created by a passing boat.

It is those kinds of opportunities we too often overlook. Personally, I will shoot any time of day regardless of the lighting conditions. I just simply adjust my approach and look for the subjects that fit the conditions. Context is not always easy to apply, but there can be subtle visual clues. The star shaped flowers on the image to the right is surrounded by the context of dense foliage and soft shadowy light which generates the feeling of walking into a heavily wooded area. Context.

Recently, using my canoe to get there, I spent a few days camping on an isolated gravel beach at one of the local lakes. During the middle of the day, what surrounded me was rather ordinary snapshot type of opportunities. But, I began to look past what I was seeing in the middle part of the day, to recognize the potential of what might occur around dusk and then again before daylight. I call that approach "Visualizing beyond the ordinary". Things like fog, or subtle movement across the calm surface of a body of water, reflections, blurred movement, among many other elements help to provide context to the potential of a successful photo.

Camping on location gave me the advantage of being there when the light was at its best and as I suspected, this ordinary looking place offered up some rather nice photo ops when the light shifted into its best dressed moments. I simply allowed the moment to reveal itself contextually.

Recognizing the potential of a given location requires you to stop and think, then visualize beyond the ordinary, to see what could be, as opposed to what is, at a given moment. Context is difficult to convey. Sometimes you get it right, and sometimes you don't, but that is part of the learning process. When you get it right, the rewards often far out weigh the amount of effort it took to place yourself there.