Welcome to a Digital Camera Battery specialist
of the Nikon Digital Camera Battery
So you like photography and go on some pretty cool adventures too? Then adventure photography might be for you. We’ll teach you everything you need to know to get started.
What Is Adventure Photography? The name is pretty straightforward. Adventure photography is simply the act of photographing adventures, typically in the outdoors. It’s a niche defined by stunning landscapes, dynamic personalities, and challenging, ever-changing shooting conditions.
There are a plethora of subjects to photograph within the niche – anything from trekking and climbing to whitewater kayaking to downhill mountain biking; and everything in between.
My personal style stems from a journalistic, documentary-style approach with lifestyle photography influences with battery such as Nikon Coolpix S10 Battery, Nikon Coolpix P6000 Battery, Nikon CP1 Battery, Nikon EN-EL8 Battery, Nikon Coolpix S50 Battery, Nikon Coolpix S52 Battery, Nikon EN-EL9 Battery, Nikon D5000 Battery, Nikon EN-EL10 Battery, Nikon Coolpix S5100 Battery, Nikon Coolpix S600 Battery, Nikon EN-EL11 Battery. I prefer to go on epic adventures; capture them as they unfold before me. Or behind. Or above. And I’m not afraid to go out of my way (or comfort zone) to get an especially epic shot whenever an opportunity presents itself.
All geared up; ready for adventure! This is the stuff that I’m carrying on my journey around the world.
What You’ll Need: Chances are if you’re already shooting, you’re already using a lot of these tools. If you’re not, we’ll help you figure out what you need to get started.
Camera: This one seems obvious, but there are tons of different options out there. I personally shoot with a full-frame digital SLR (specifically, a Canon 5D Mk II.) The 5D’s full-frame sensor has incredible image quality, great low-light performance, and takes full advantage of wide-angle lenses. However, it is bulky, heavy, and expensive. It’s probably the best option for my needs, but it might not be for yours. The camera descriptions below will help you figure out which one is.
One advantage to shooting with a pro-level dSLR is the incredible processing speeds. This was a 45-minute-long exposure. The image processed in mere seconds; my camera was ready for more – plus my larger battery still had juice.
■Digital SLR: These cameras are tried and true. They’re used by professional and amateur photographers around the world. The distinguishing feature of a dSLR is its interchangeable lenses. The two most popular brands are Canon and Nikon — but there are a handful of other manufactures on the market as well. dSLR’s are a mature platform with hundreds of lenses available and tons of aftermarket accessories. They are incredibly versatile and are loaded with advanced features. However, they are also heavy, bulky, and expensive. Prices can range anywhere from $800 for a brand-new, entry level Canon 700D to nearly $7000 for the top-of-the-line Canon 1Dx!
Daniel Bruce Lee took this photo of me while adventuring in Iceland. The torrential downpour of sideways rain forced me to keep my 5D packed up, but he was able to keep shooting due to the robust weatherproofing of his Olympus OM-D E-M1 mirrorless camera.
■Mirrorless: Mirrorless cameras are a relatively new platform, but they’re quickly gaining in popularity for many reasons. They offer dSLR-like performance, in a package that’s much lighter and more compact. This is achieved by ditching the mirror (as the name suggests). Instead, the images are recorded directly onto the digital sensor. Because these cameras are being built on a relatively new platform, they’re often loaded with new technology, such as WiFi uploads and remote control via mobile phone. Mirrorless cameras can range in price from a few hundred dollars (Panasonic Lumix GF3) to several thousand dollars for the compact, full-frame Sony Alpha a7S. While they offer a lot of advantages in size and weight to a dSLR their biggest disadvantage comes at the expense of the platform’s newness: there are far fewer lenses and accessories available when compared to their more established cousins. A unique feature of the Sony full frame mirrorless system (A7/ A7R/ A7S) is the ability to use almost ANY lens ever created with the addition of an adaptor. An adaptor takes the place of the mirror and allows you to use Canon, Leica, Minolta, Nikon, just about any lens you can imagine. Corey shoots with a Sony A7 for its compact size and incredible image quality.
If adventuring directly in the water, action cameras are a great choice for shooting due to their waterproofing. This shot was taken with an older GoPro Hero 2.
■Action: This category is popularised by GoPro. Action cameras are incredibly durable, versatile, and relatively inexpensive (when compared to a high-end dSLR), but they lack the image quality, adjustability, and ease-of-use offered by dSLRs or mirrorless cameras. I regularly use them in conjunction with my 5D for both photos and videos. They can be mounted anywhere, are completely waterproof, offer a ton of shooting and recording modes, and they can really take a beating. The new Hero 4 Silver ($465) offers more power than ever before, but it comes at a price. The newest top-end model is more expensive than the top-end models of previous generations.
Mobile photography allows you to quickly capture, edit, and share an image, all on one device.
■Mobile: Chances are, you already have a smartphone. And it probably takes pretty good pictures. It’s lightweight, easy to carry – and to use. Your smartphone can be protected by a waterproof case – or if you have a phone like the Samsung Galaxy S5 Active – you don’t even need one. Because you’re shooting photos on your phone, it’s incredibly simple to edit them and instantly post to social media. However, the image quality and versatility of your phone when it comes to photography is nowhere near the level of a dedicated camera, no matter how good your phone is.
A telephoto lens allows you to hone in on your subjects from afar and show intense displays of emotion.
Lenses: If using a dSLR or mirrorless camera, you’ll have the opportunity to choose which lenses you’d like to use with your camera. There are two main categories for lenses: zooms and primes. Zoom lenses allow you to change the focal length with a simple twist of the wrist. Prime lenses (commonly referred to as “walking zooms” because you have to physically reposition yourself adjust the composition’s z-axis) have a fixed focal length. Generally speaking, zoom lenses are more versatile, while prime lenses can produce sharper images.
Wide angle lenses allow for unique perspectives that maximise the view of not just your subject, but the background as well.
The second lens-choice consideration is focal length. Wide lenses have the ability to emphasise a subject in the foreground while simultaneously cramming a ton of background in the frame. Telephoto lenses allow you to really hone in on a tight area to create drama or show emotion from your subject, but they don’t allow for the inclusion of much background. Some lenses, like the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L allow you to have both effects, in one convenient package.
Lenses with a fast maximum aperture will aid in shooting during fringe hours of darkness, when the sun is not out.
The final main consideration for choosing a lens is the maximum aperture. A larger maximum aperture (designated by a smaller number, for example, f/2.8 > f/5.6) creates a larger opening in the lens, allowing more light to pass through and reach the camera’s sensor during an exposure. This is an incredibly important factor when shooting outdoors, because we’re often shooting on the fringes of darkness — whether it’s the pre-dawn start on summit day, or chasing the last rays of light to get the perfect campfire shot.
I prefer the process of shooting on primes, but my weapon of choice for most adventure photography is the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM due to its versatility. The 16-35mm is an ultrawide to normal zoom lens with a fast maximum aperture. On the wide end, it allows me to capture vast, dramatic backgrounds. At 35mm, however, it makes a great lens for portraiture as well. The fast maximum aperture allows me to maintain my shutter speed and exposure when the light starts to drop.
Memory Cards and Batteries: I always carry extra memory cards and batteries when shooting adventure photography. On hiking/climbing trips, I usually average one battery (about 1,000 photos) per day. If shooting long-exposure night time-lapses, I plan on having one full battery for every shot I want to make. Memory cards are lightweight, so I carry as many as possible (usually 4-5 32GB cards.)