I wanted to put a post together that goes over what I use to get my landscape images.  While I do list the exact gear I shoot with, I don’t want this post to make is seem like that portion is critical.  It’s far more important to get out there with what you do have -vs- spend too much time online lusting over the gear you don’t have.  Landscape photography is all about spending time outside finding the right locations then shooting them with the right light.

here’s a list of what exactly I’m currently shooting with:

1. canon 5D mark III (upgraded from a 5D mark II which upgraded from a 5D “classic”)
2. canon 16-35mm II L (upgraded from a 17-40mm L)
3. canon 70-300mm L IS (upgraded from a tamron 70-300 VC)
4. Induro CT-313 carbon fiber tripod
5. Arca Swiss P0 head
6. Really Right Stuff B2 AS II lever clamp
7. camera bag of some sort (I prefer backpacks these days)
8. Lee filter holder (links to all my filters are here)
9. Lee CP
10. Lee 2 & 3 stop hard GND
11. Lee 1 stop soft GND, HiTech 2 stop soft, cokin 3 stop soft (don’t use them enough to upgrade to all Lees yet)
12. Vello Shutterboss Timer remote
13. Waders
14. headlamp/flashlight
15. Vibrating alarm clock watch
16. The photographer’s Ephemeris
17. Tide, weather and sunrise/sunset info
18. transportation
19. friends!

The first part of that list is pretty gear intensive.  Let me start off by saying if landscapes was ALL I was going to shoot, I wouldn’t have the setup I have above.  It’s overkill.  You can get great image with a digital rebel camera IMHO.  Landscapes are far more about getting out and knowing how to setup than what you’re setting up.  I would say you “need” interchangeable lenses to do what I do.  Primarily because I shoot wide angle most of the time, and camera’s w/o interchangeable lenses typically don’t offer wide angle lenses.  The other issue with non interchangeable cameras is they tend to have smaller lenses that either can’t take filters at all or it’s tough, and it’s also harder to work with grads with the smaller lenses since the transitions cover the entire lens.  This isn’t to say you can’t work with a P&S or similar small camera.  They’re great for carrying less, but personally I want to use filters and I want to have control over focal length choices, so I prefer a DSLR or at least an EVIL setup.

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Once you get past the gear aspect, the most important aspect of landscape photography is putting in the effort, both time and energy to getting the shots.  I spend countless hours scouring both flickr and google to find new locations.  You can use sites like my own location guide here on BJP.com or something like lighthousesofri.com (another one of my sites) as well if they’re in your area.  But if not flickr is a great resource as are google’s own maps.  Just look for interesting areas around you then figure out how to get there legally.

From there, find a resource that will tell you the conditional information you need.  This includes sunrise times and directions (the photographer’s ephemeris is what I use on my desktop, then LightTrac on my iPhone) as well as tide (I use the magic seaweed there) and weather.  I will say I don’t listen to the weather reports though… It seems they’re not right that often, and even when they are it scares more people out of shooting what turns out to be epic sunrises or sunset.  I’ll shoot in anything short of a downpour, and even then I’ll usually just go into the woods and find a nice waterfall.  Perfectly clear mornings are actually my least favorite for landscapes, I LOVE dramatic clouds…

The last few things on my list are very basic items.  An alarm, a light, waders and a camera bag.  The alarm is crucial.  Sunrises come every morning very early and it’s tough to wake up.  I use a vibrating alarm clock watch as it wakes me up very well but more importantly it doesn’t wake up my wife.  This is the one I have.  I also have a petzl headlamp.  I also have neoprene chest waders with stocking feel.  I went with stocking feet because they pack much smaller so I take them with me everywhere.  I put them on inside my normal boots then just dry my boots when I get home when I need to use them.  I have several friends with waders with boots on the ends and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen them leave them at home or in the car because of their size and regret that decision later.  I bring a pair of crocs with me in case I’ve used them and need dry shoes for the ride home.  Camera bag wise, use what you like.  I’ve reviewed a ton of bags here on this site, currently I’m still using my f-stop loka (almost a year later, that should tell you something) but really, backpacks are where it’s at for getting off the beaten path.  They just keep everything out of your way better.  I’ve since been using my thinktank retro 7 for a few things (only because I’m working on a review) and it’s quickly shown me how much better backpacks are for landscaping.   Transportation should be pretty obvious, you need to get “there” somehow.  And finally, friends…  Why?  Because if you’re shooting with someone it will motivate you to get up to shoot even when the weather seems crappy.  You can complain to someone or ask for help when needed.  You can both keep each other awake as needed as well.  The final benefit of shooting with someone is you have another layer of security in terms of getting help and someone knowing where you are.  I always bring a cell phone (and I’ve turned on the tracking on mine so my wife can fine me/it) and I tell people where I’m going.  But having someone else there is a big help in case you get hurt or need any sort of help.  We go on NSOP outings all the time with groups and it’s a ton of fun as well!

That pretty well covers what it takes to get some great landscape photos.  Please don’t obsess about the gear, the other things I shoot, weddings, sports etc all dictate the camer I’ve chosen, not landscape photography.  Landscaping is much more about getting out there and enjoying your surroundings rather than the gear you use.  Get out there and have fun!  If you’d like to shoot with me, join NSOP or drop me a note via the contact form above.  I also offer workshops.