We are essentially hiking photography minimalists. For us, efficiently capturing our favorite moments is what we do. We take photos for purposes of re-visiting and re-living the beautiful landscapes we encounter while hiking.
We do not spend time deep-diving into the myriad settings of DSLR cameras, or optimizing photos for social media attention. If that’s your jam, there are plenty of phenomenal photography blogs, YouTube channels and guides elsewhere on the internet.
For us, all of our photos are taken with our smart phones (Samsung Galaxy and/or iPhone). When we travel, we’re either filling up our extra space with extra food, or trying to stay as light and lean as possible. So this post is less about camera gear or digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) settings, and more about our personal tips & tricks for hiking photography.
Alas, here are the many tips, tricks and things to avoid that we’ve learned throughout the years.
>>> Consider the rule of thirds
Again, not a definitive rule for all types of hiking photography, but we find that a clean composition will make almost any photograph look better. While hiking, consider the sky, mountains, trees, horizon and foreground. There are definitely times when a well-centered photograph is the best way to capture something, but many times it helps to see things in thirds.
Consider this photo taken along the Skyline Trail Loop in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington. Where do your eyes go first? Where do they go next?
To me, the dark blue stream in section 7 is where my eyes are immediately drawn to. As the streams trails off up the mountain it gives way to the contrasting greens amongst the grey-brown rocks and the white snow. This gives me the feeling of wandering up that stream towards the peak of the mountain.
Next, since the blue sky really pops in section 1, my eyes go up to the top third of the photo. Mount Rainier is prominent amongst the top third in sections 2 and 3. The white snow contrast is really distinct, and the snow is primarily in section 3, which is where my eyes typically end up.
This lack of symmetry tends to give more balance to both the snowy mountain and the sky. A photo with the mountain in the middle would dominate the top third by limiting that gorgeous blue sky. It would also push the beautiful stream to the far left side of the photo and take away some of the balance of the composition.
The eye movement from section 7 towards section 3 gives the viewer a sense of wandering up the mountain towards the peak of Mount Rainier.
>>> Be careful in the shadows
Shadows are both your friend and your enemy in photography. When done right, shadows can be used to accentuate certain areas of your photo. Ansel Adams is a master at this. However, for basic hiking photography with just a phone, it’s difficult to manipulate lighting in a skillful and tasteful way. We encountered these challenges in the Grand Canyon. Despite being one of the most jaw-dropping landscapes in the entire world, we had a hard time capturing in photos what we were seeing in person. Especially at the bottom of the canyon where the shadows dominate the landscape, our photos turned out mostly dark and without much contrast. Skilled photographers or those willing to wait for the sun can certainly capture the moment, but our focus was hiking.
Notice in this photo along the Chesler Park Loop Trail in Canyonlands National Park, Utah, the shadows push your eyes outwards towards the distant hoodoos. The reds and oranges on the rocks run horizontally across the photo, and while stunning in person, there are no black shadows to distinguish these magnificent formations from one another. Preferably, we would’ve hiked this trail a few hours later once the sun rose up in the sky. This would bring much more light to the snow in the foreground to create a stronger contrast in the photograph. The hoodoos would also start to cast thin shadows which would add a layer of depth and dimension to the photo. However, our personal preference is to prioritize hiking early and alone versus waiting to take the best photographs.
If you’re lucky enough to hike throughout Utah in any of the slot canyons (we recommend Peekaboo and Spooky Canyon in Grand Staircase Escalante), shadows help accentuate the curvature of the wavy rock walls.
>>> Keep your camera (phone) accessible
We choose to keep a camera in one of our pants pockets, or if we have our large backpacks on, in the waistband pocket. Wherever it is, it should be easy enough to grab, open up the camera app, snap a pic, and then continue walking.
Our preference is to enjoy the hike itself, not to constantly be seeking the perfect photo opportunities. If we round a corner or approach a ledge, and the view takes our breath away, it’s usually a good time to whip out your camera, snap the pic, soak in the moment and then continue on. We realize some may appreciate a slower pace to admire all the scenery, so finding the balance you prefer is the only right way to experience a hike.
>>> Quick videos can capture wide views better than a panoramic photo.
If your view is 360 degrees around you, or even a 180 degree landscape, videos will often give you better perspective than a still panoramic photo. Same if you’re trying to photograph a view from the top of a mountain, where size and scale is difficult to capture in a still photo. Now this is not always the case, especially for skilled photographers. But we find that all of our attempts at panoramic photos, no matter how steady our hands are during the photo, rarely give justice to the view. When we recollect some of our favorites hikes and peaks, the videos will often give a more accurate portrayal of how we felt when we were there.
Compare this still panoramic to the quick video and see which one gives you a better sense of the surroundings.
>>> Enjoy the view with your eyes first
To put it another way, live in the real world first. Then, pull out your electronics to capture the moment for eternity. We’re fully aware that we sound like old curmudgeons, but personally we’re hiking to enjoy nature firsthand. Let it take your breath away on its own. Our photographs, and this blog, are merely to remember those breath-taking moments.
Things we try to avoid with hiking photography
> Other people in the photos. This is why we almost always try to start our hikes as early as possible. Yes, we’re groggy-eyed when we start, but getting to experience trails without people in front and behind you is our strong preference. When we’re in popular or crowded cities like Sedona or Seattle, this often means waking up by 5am to hit the trails by 6am. The only exception to this rule (or avoidance) is when people are so small in the distance that it accentuates the massive scale of the natural landscape.
> Selfies. We do not have any personal social media, so the only selfies we’ll take are typically the before & after photos of a challenging hike. It’s fun to see our optimistic and ecstatic photos before the hike, and then compare to our slimmed out, sun-burned faces afterwards. But during the hike itself, nature will always be a prettier picture without our awkward faces.
Concluding thoughts on hiking photography
Understand your intent. If your intent is to express yourself artistically, or to take the perfect picture, then by all means find other blogs or tutorials to learn the ins and outs of sophisticated cameras. Time your hike for the perfect weather, the perfect season with the perfect colors, the perfect location of the sun and the shadows. Raise your standards and continuously aim to better yourself artistically.
But if you’re not willing to invest the necessary time, then at least follow some of our basic tips & tricks to elevate your photography game just a little bit. This will allow you to have fun (also important!) while taking photographs that are pleasing to look at. You’ll thank yourself years later when you get to re-visit the beautiful landscapes and thrilling adventures you experienced.
