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| Bridge to Paradise. |
As soon as I decide I will be taking a road trip, the future journey starts rolling and rolling through my mind. This is a subconscious process, it just starts happening. I suppose it is from a lifetime of being a planner-type of person. I don't do much that is last minute or which is not thought through. Even weeks before I go, I start thinking about all aspects of the trip, especially photographically. So the process starts. Hopefully, it ends with a great trip and wonderful images.
As I previously wrote, preparation is key. I'm not talking about preparing the night before. I'm talking about preparing earlier rather than later--weeks, even. I've learned some lessons on not being as prepared as I had thought I was.
What I will write here is not comprehensive, but the procedure I go through as the concept of the trip gels into reality. To be comprehensive, I would have to write an long essay. My goal is to give you the highlights of my process and have you then think and devise your own method of preparation. The end game is to bring back good images (memories), for our lives are a succession of personal stories which we want to remember and tell our family and friends. Photographs help us remember and recount those stories. Also, I want to be able to travel as light and quick as possible but take enough equipment to cover the majority of opportunities as well as not miss key images--and, with whole process being stress free! Good luck!
To photographically prepare for an upcoming road trip, here is what I think about.
First, I ask myself the basic question. What is the primary purpose of the trip? Is the primary purpose making photographs or traveling with friends or family with making photographs secondary? Answering that question puts me on one of two paths because the goals of the trips are much different.
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| Paddle Surfing at Sunset, Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii |
I then ask myself a series of preliminary questions:
What are my photographic goals for this trip?
What will be my photographic style be for this trip? (all handheld, time for tripod work, etc.)
How long will I be gone?
How much time will I have to photograph?
How will I feel if something goes wrong and I lose the photos through my own negligence or some external force?
Have I researched the areas I will be traveling to know what opportunities I will encounter?
When, generally, is sunrise and sunset each day?
What weather and humidity can be expected?
What other considerations do I need to be aware, such as the number of bags, luggage, size, weight that might restrict what I can take?
Is there anything I need to do before I go such as getting a permit or are there any restrictions on photography (usually with large DSLRs only) in the places I might visit?
More tomorrow on this topic. But my general philosophy is going lighter, faster and taking less is better. I cannot tell you how many trips I have taken and not used most of the gear I carried. My advice is don't try to anticipate everything. Don't take equipment and prepare for EVERY possible photograph that may present itself to you. Its okay to miss some. Its okay just to enjoy a scene. You don't have to bring the kitchen sink just in case. If you research properly, you should already know what you may list as the highlights of the areas you plan to visit.
I love exploratory travel, especially road trips. I try to fully enjoy the trip while setting time aside for making some good images. The process can be as easy or as stressful as you like. I like easy. Enjoy!
Dennis Mook
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