As you will know by now, I am an avid lover of walking and the outdoors and I like to combine that with my love of photography. That is a combination that works well but also produces some conflicts!
As a photographer, I like to carry my Digital SLR. As a landscaper, I like to carry a tripod and other essential gear. The minimum would normally be the DSLR, a couple of lenses, a tripod, some filters, and a remote release. There are therefore two issues with combining walking and photography. The first is weight, especially when all that equipment is added to the other essential walking gear such as extra clothing, waterproofs, water, sandwiches, maps etc etc. The other is time because to get the best pictures, time and patience is needed to find the best viewpoint, wait for the right lighting conditions etc, and when you are on a long walk, time is something you may not have. These two can really be a conflict if you are on a long walk!
Pictures like the one above which was Commended by the judges in the Take a View Landscape Photographer of the Year competition would not have been possible had I not been carrying all my equipment on the walk!
There are other side issues! It can sometimes feel like a good walk is spoilt because the time and effort spent looking for good pictures can take away some of the enjoyment of the walk itself, even to the extent of feeling frustrated if you don’t manage to get any ‘competition winning’ pictures. You can spend so much time thinking around capturing that amazing view on camera, that you actually neglect to just enjoy the view! On top of that, it is really difficult to get into a good walking stride with all that equipment hanging around your neck!
So what is the answer? Leave the gear at home, just enjoy the walk……and miss some potentially great shots when you come across some fantastic views (especially bearing in mind the fact that walkers reach parts that others rarely get to see) or when part way round you get some amazing light? Take a compact……and compromise on the quality of the pictures? Walk for pictures sometimes, and just walking at others?
I haven’t yet found the real answer to this conundrum! I know me, and I know I would be frustrated to miss a great shot but on the other hand I want to enjoy the walk just for the walks sake – as someone once said, ‘What is life if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare’! Photography can sometimes seem to take that ‘stand and stare’ away!
What I want really is a camera the size of my phone that produces results of a Hasselblad!! How about it Steve Jobs??
Thanks for stopping by and reading the ramblings of The Dorset Rambler!
The Dorset Rambler
The Dorset Rambler 
Lovely looking blog. Look forward to reading your posts about beautiful Dorset!
Thanks so much Gisele!
Terry, sometimes that which you come across during your walks is not meant to be captured with your camera – sometimes you are meant to just experience the moment – great blog
I know, but I like to take it with me too!! Must be stronger!!
Beautiful pictures! Occasionally walk with someone. They can help carry some of your gear. They might point out something interesting you didn’t notice. In return this leads to even more enjoyment and sharing.
Your Flickr FB friend,
Donna