I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes a great backpacking photo. I was able to breakdown the type of photos I saw on Instagram into five styles: Nature & Trail Shot, Group Photo, Selfie, Candid, and Share-Worthy. Some of these styles blends elements from each other. I started thinking about each type of photo and how it made me feel. Then I thought if it’s something that would impress family and friends. Here are my thoughts on finding that perfect photo.
These shots are great and all, but they’re a dime a dozen. I see shots like these everywhere. Anyone could have taken them, there’s no story to connect to, and sometimes no credit given. I’ve learned that my eyes seem to glaze through these photos and I continue scrolling. This particular photo is rather dismal and maybe reflects the season’s mood. It doesn’t draw a positive emotion. The trail is centered in the photo and it doesn’t really communicate anything to me other than a trail that’s been used by many people. That doesn’t really excite me as something new and untouched, as I perceive nature should be. Let’s move on to the next style.
Everyone loves a group photo. This one’s from the Instagram account of one of my heroes, Nirmal “Nims” Purja. This is one of the types of pictures that could be a painful memory for some people. Why? Have you ever been the one asked to take a photo you wanted to be a part of? I have. It’s a terrible feeling. That’s why I made the trekking pole tripod adapter so nobody has to experience that pain. Anyway, this photo is awesome because of the picturesque background. They chose a good angle for sunlight and captured the full range of blue sky with the sun’s glare in the corner. I can feel the crisp cold air and breath in front of me as I look at this photo. I could imagine the joy I would feel being with all these people that share the same love of mountaineering. Belonging is a basic human need and this photo shows it well.
Selfies are all about me. There’s nothing wrong with that. I think it communicates a healthy self-esteem and let’s the world know this is MY picture. It’s best to use a “fish eye” type of lens so it captures as much of the photo as you can inside a short distance. Some problems of this is that it distorts the image a bit and creates a sense of surrealism. I like it because it allows people to examine the outfits, gear, and close-up details we’d miss in other types of shots. This is great for branding, marketing, and other commercial motivations. You do want to aim for the best lighting position and have a nice background for your photo to show you’re really out there and not using a green screen.
Candid shots are fun if you have someone in the group that really enjoys taking photos. You can take turns getting shots of each other. If you’re alone, you can use our tripod adapter, combined with a bluetooth button for smartphones, and setup some great candid shots that way. This combines elements of the selfie and nature & trail shots which creates a great story. The focus is on both nature and the subject with a 50-50 balance between the two. I think this is a great step-up from the selfie and basic trail shots. You should try taking these more often but I’m aware we often forget when we’re focusing on getting to our destination. Remember to take a photo break!
I noticed that the share-worthy photos combines elements from all the styles above. This is my favorite type. It puts the focus on nature and beauty of the landscape. It feels like the focus is more like 99-to-1. It places the subject in a very minor role in the photo. A small, seemingly insignificant being simply alive and witnessing the great glory of the world. This is the story of our lives and reflects the world’s place in the universe. The colors are vivid with great contrast between the water and sky. The feeling of being alone out there must feel incredible. It creates envy in me and I wish I was the person in the photo. This is what makes it share-worthy. It’s the emotion, the desire to go to the destination and witness it yourself. The photo is taken from a position where it feels like you just stumbled upon this person from an incredible vantage point that’s different from what the subject is seeing. You can take this photo as well and it can be done with a smartphone, bluetooth photo button and tripod. If you do take some incredible photos, please send them to us on our Facebook & Instagram pages linked at the bottom of the page. Cheers and happy trails!