Last weekend I was up in Grayson Highlands State Park VA doing some backpacking and I thought I'd share some of the shots I got. Grayson highlands is a beautiful area home to Mount Rogers(the highest point in VA), beautiful blue ridge mountains, and wild mountain ponies. The weather especially on the first night was a bit chilly(sub zero with windchill
) but it was a beautiful weekend and I came away with some shots I'm happy with and I got to test some new gear. This was a prep hike for going to Philmont scout ranch in New Mexico this summer so I picked up some new gear to try out in order to bring photography stuff with me on the trip. I bought the Peak design capture clip pro-https://www.peakdesign.com/product/clips/capturepro/, longer screws to allow it to work with my thicker pack straps, the mefoto backpacker tripod- http://www.mefoto.com/products/backpacker.aspx, and the Nikon 18-140 lens. The capture clip was phenomenal and a great way to keep a camera accessible without tons of straps everywhere. I like the tripod, it's still not light by backpacking standards(as my hips will tell you) but lighter than my previous one and does it's job well. The 18-140 is a step up from my kit 18-55 and 55-200 that I am planning on being a sort of all purpose walk around lens to avoid switching lenses while hiking. It is much more versatile and let me get some of the more focused shots instead of strictly wide angle which is what I normally do. Because it was a backpacking trip I couldn't always get the best light or spend time in a scene finding the best angles but I had a great time and I hope you enjoy the pictures. If anyone has critiques please give them, I always want to improve, and any other general comments/ questions are very welcome as well. Thanks!
The sun beginning to illuminate the valleys near our camp the first night.
The one astro shot I got the first night before my battery(and hands) gave out due to the cold. I had read that warming batteries back up will often renew their charge and that was the case here. I had extras but I put it in the bottom of my sleeping bag that night and it worked the whole rest of the trip.
A interesting tree near our campsite the second night.
The ridges near our Saturday camp as sunset approached.
A sunset shot
The sunset glow illuminating the ridges a beautiful orangey purple.
A shot off the side of the trail, where the capture clip excelled.
The "wild mountain ponies" Grayson highlands is known for are apparently a little too used to handouts but it allowed me to get some shots I was very happy with.
Part of our group on our way out Sunday morning.
If anyone is interested in more, the rest are on my smugmug here- https://rossthomas.smugmug.com/Travel/Grayson-Highlands/i-q9m5psj
) but it was a beautiful weekend and I came away with some shots I'm happy with and I got to test some new gear. This was a prep hike for going to Philmont scout ranch in New Mexico this summer so I picked up some new gear to try out in order to bring photography stuff with me on the trip. I bought the Peak design capture clip pro-https://www.peakdesign.com/product/clips/capturepro/, longer screws to allow it to work with my thicker pack straps, the mefoto backpacker tripod- http://www.mefoto.com/products/backpacker.aspx, and the Nikon 18-140 lens. The capture clip was phenomenal and a great way to keep a camera accessible without tons of straps everywhere. I like the tripod, it's still not light by backpacking standards(as my hips will tell you) but lighter than my previous one and does it's job well. The 18-140 is a step up from my kit 18-55 and 55-200 that I am planning on being a sort of all purpose walk around lens to avoid switching lenses while hiking. It is much more versatile and let me get some of the more focused shots instead of strictly wide angle which is what I normally do. Because it was a backpacking trip I couldn't always get the best light or spend time in a scene finding the best angles but I had a great time and I hope you enjoy the pictures. If anyone has critiques please give them, I always want to improve, and any other general comments/ questions are very welcome as well. Thanks!
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The sun beginning to illuminate the valleys near our camp the first night.
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The one astro shot I got the first night before my battery(and hands) gave out due to the cold. I had read that warming batteries back up will often renew their charge and that was the case here. I had extras but I put it in the bottom of my sleeping bag that night and it worked the whole rest of the trip.
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A interesting tree near our campsite the second night.
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The ridges near our Saturday camp as sunset approached.
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A sunset shot
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The sunset glow illuminating the ridges a beautiful orangey purple.
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A shot off the side of the trail, where the capture clip excelled.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
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The "wild mountain ponies" Grayson highlands is known for are apparently a little too used to handouts but it allowed me to get some shots I was very happy with.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
Part of our group on our way out Sunday morning.
If anyone is interested in more, the rest are on my smugmug here- https://rossthomas.smugmug.com/Travel/Grayson-Highlands/i-q9m5psj
