Boulder waterfalls and slides at Paria Canyon, Part 1

Hello Everyone!

As a programmer here at Betterphoto, normally every week I will try to fill you all in on site improvements and helpful tips for using Betterphoto. However, there are more important things to discuss today, like my vacation!

Later next week I'll be going on a two night backpacking trip through Paria Canyon in northern Arizona and I'm very excited. Due to this new photography hobby, I just can't seem to leave my camera behind. However, this will be my first hiking/photography experience so I have a lot of questions. I found a great article that Jim Miotke wrote a while back on Backpacking with a Camera that has been helpful. You can also see a picture of yours truly crossing some swift rapids with my backpack about halfway down.

My first question is how much photography equipment to bring. Here is the equipment I have access to: Canon Digital Rebel, EF 100-300mm lens, EFS 18-55mm lens, Speedlite 420EX flash, Canon full size tripod, Slik mini tripod, and a polarizing filter. I'm considering leaving the flash and bringing the large tripod, but I'm just not sure yet.

The next issue I have is how I should be accessing the equipment during the hike. I think I will miss out on too many good shots if I leave my equipment in my pack. I raided the photo contest prize box and am thinking of wearing the Tamrac Sling Pack camera bag on my chest. I briefly considered a photographer's vest, but I'm hiking with the same ruthless friends that have never let me forget that I opted in for a safety helmet on a horseback ride. I'm not sure they would let me get away with a vest since I'm such an amateur.

My last question is the fun part. Should I buy any other equipment to get the most out of this trip? As you can see, Paria Canyon is a desert slot canyon with lots of shadows and bright sunlight. I plan to check out Tony Sweet's course on filters to get some more guidance in the future, but would a warming filter or a split grad filter really help me out?

I'll share my photos and experience here in two weeks after I'm back. Hopefully I'll capture some nice canyon shots, boulder waterfalls and slides. If you have any advice or experience with backpacking with a camera, I would love to hear about it!

Comments

[betty]

I just came back from the Utah Wildlife Photography trip with Jim Miotke and thought I would be totally embarrassed to wear the photographer's vest. I have to tell you, almost everyone had one and it is lightweight, can help with layers, and extemely convienient. There's nothing worse than missing a shot because you need a new card, a battery or have a smudge on your lens and have to stop, take off your backpack, rummage through it to get what you need. I strongly suggest bringing the vest with you. What's a little embarrassment for a great photo anyway?

[Jim Miotke]

Speaking of other equipment, I really like the Canon 20D and the new (small and lightweight) 100-300mm lens. This will only put one back about $3000, though. I've been asking Denise but she says I have to wait. :)

[Sharon]

Hi, Jay - First, have a great trip - it sounds like it will be awesome. In terms of a backpack, I think the best advice I can offer is find a good camera store that carries various different types and sizes, take all your equipment with you, and try them out! Since you have a pop-up flash, I think you could leave the 420EX at home, but I would never leave home without my tripod! A good backpack that allows you to strap it on to it will make your life much easier; otherwise invest in an OpTech strap for it (they make great ones for cameras too). I think a vest sounds great too - put all your other things in the backpack and your camera equipment in your vest - your friends will think you are smart. Grad ND filters might be a good idea but if you can't afford them or don't want extra stuff, check out the article on my website for one way to do a Grad ND with Photoshop (you can also take 2 exposures with your digital camera - one for the highlights and one for the shadows and blend them in Photoshop). Make sure you have enough memory cards and battery power and storage space for them. I always recommend shooting in RAW but if you are short on memory, shoot jpeg except for those absolutely once in a lifetime shots. If you shoot in RAW, you can warm your images up in PS with the RAW image processor, or do as Bryan Peterson suggests and set your white balance on shade or cloudy rather than auto. Can't wait to see your images!