Preparing for a trip…
Fact: I don’t get out to shoot as often as I would like. I enjoy the outdoors, and get out to hike as often as I can, but there are many other important aspects of my life that limit my time in the woods. However, that makes the time that I get out to shoot more valuable, and therefore I try to make it as enjoyable and productive as possible. Because of this, the planning of photoshoots becomes incredibly valuable.
Before my trip to Mount Pierce, I had to decide that Mount Pierce was the best shot for this weekend, and that I was able to make the shot happen.
The first and most important aspect to planning a phototrip is the weather. Days in advance, the weather for the weekend looked clear and cold. However, there would be limited snow in the valleys, and therefore I had the mindset for a certain type of shot. It’s important to know what type of weather would be conducive to the shots on your ‘want list’ so that when it arrives, you can act on it appropriately.
With the forecast pointing to a shot from the alpine zone, my next goal is twofold. Most important is to find someone to go with. I don’t always hike with others, but sunsets in the alpine zone dictate a buddy system. I fortunately have a pretty good network of people who with a few days notice are usually up for a hike at odd hours. This week, I was lucky enough to hike with Will Tourtellot, a former AMC Naturalist and MWO Intern. And a fine photographer.
Lastly, the planning goes to picking the right peak for the anticipated light and time of year. Mount Pierce has a classic view of the Northern Presidentials, but the light in the dead of winter comes from behind you.
In late March, the sun’s northward journey lights up the peaks much better. To help visualize the shots, I use a combination of Google Earth and a great program I’ve found called the Photographer’s Ephemeris. This program lets you plug in the date and location, and it shows you the path of incidence of sunlight at sunset. Very useful, as you can see from the screenshot!
Beyond that…gear up and go! As often as possible. Which I will have to do for the dream shot of Mount Pierce that still eludes me, as I discussed in the last post!
