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Backcountry Journeys
Backcountry Journeys
Our Photography Community
Our Blog
From articles on the latest camera gear, to trip reports from our latest expeditions, our blog is meant for all interested in travel photography.Our Webinars
Our regularly hosted webinars provide photography instruction from our own guides on a wide range of topics.Our Education Portal
Explore our library of articles that cover everything from common questions, to in-depth guides on how to achieve that perfect shot.Community Testimonials
We're proud to foster an amazing group of photo travelers, and here you can find their stories from their past adventures.About Backcountry Journeys
Why Choose Backcountry Journeys
If you're considering a photography tour, hear why Backcountry Journeys delivers the best experience in the industry.Frequently Asked Questions
If you're new to photography tours, or new to BCJ, you can find our common travel questions here.Fitness Levels
Our trips vary on physical intensity, and by reviewing our fitness levels, you can find out which trips may be more challenging, or aligned more closely with your comfort level.Meet The Crew
We've built an amazing team of experienced guides, and dedicated office staff that elevate your travel experience. Get to know their backgrounds, and hear their stories.Travel Desk
You can review our various payment, and travel policies here, along with resources regarding international travel.Gift Certificates
Give the gift of photo adventure! We offer gift certificates that can be applied to any of our upcoming tours.Loyalty Program
We reward our frequent photo adventurers with exclusive discounts on amazing photography tours.Contact Us
If you need to get in touch with our office staff, or have additional business inquiries, you can find our information here.Resources For Photographers
About Our Company
WHAT TO PACK FOR A TRIP
PHOTOGRAPHY
CAMERA
A mirrorless or DSLR camera. Sony, Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, Olympus, Hasselblad, Fuji, or a similar choice.
LENSES
We recommend having lenses that cover 16mm-400mm on most trips. That includes a wide-angle (16-35mm), a mid-range zoom (24-70mm), and a telephoto lens (100-400mm).
BACKPACK
We love f-stop gear packs. We have been using f-stop packs for over a decade. They are specialized photography packs with inserts for gear.
TRIPOD
A sturdy tripod is a necessity. We recommend Leofoto as a great budget option, and Really Right Stuff as the best of the best.
BALLHEAD
A quality ballhead will also save you headaches. We recommend high-quality ballheads from Acratech and Really Right Stuff. Buy for life!
FILTERS
On landscape trips, we may use a Circular Polarizer and/or Neutral Density filters (4-stop or 6-stop ND). Breakthrough Filters offers the best bang for your buck.
L-BRACKET & PLATES
An L-Bracket is the most underrated accessory. Use it connect your camera to your ballhead. It allows for quick switching between vertical and horizontal orientations.
STORAGE & POWER
Bring lots of memory cards and batteries. We'll be shooting a lot! We recommend the SD and CFexpress cards from ProGrade Digital, the fastest on the market
GEAR PROTECTION
We sometimes shoot in inclimate weather and it's good to have protection for our gear. We use rain covers for our packs and LensCoat coverings for our camera gear.
REMOTE TRIGGER
A remote trigger is useful for seascapes and night photography. Most other scenarios we opt for built-in camera self timers.
ACCESSORIES
We always bring lots of lens clothes, you never know when you'll need one. You can also choose to bring other accessories, like camera straps.
DRONE
Drones are allowed at some locations that we travel to. We recommend DJI's line - the Mavic 3, Air 2S, and Mini 3 Pro are all great.
LAPTOP
Some trips include image review and processing, and if not, it's good to have a laptop for backing up images and personal processing.
LIGHTROOM & PS
We use the Adobe Suite for image processing - Lightroom Classic and Photoshop. We recommend these applications.
EXTERNAL STORAGE
We work off external hard drives while in the field and use them to back up images. Look for a SSD, as they will be much faster than your traditional HDD drive.
APPAREL
BASELAYERS
Top and bottom baselayers are essential. We recommend outdoor brands like REI, SmartWool, Patagonia, and Arc'teryx.
JACKETS
You want two types of jackets - an insulator and a shell. The insulator will keep you warm. The shell will keep you dry. We recommend Arc'teryx and Patagonia.
PANTS
Softshell or hiking pants work great for the outdoor activities on our trips. If rain is a possibility, rain pants are an essential item as well.
FOOTWEAR
This varies on the physical activity of a trip. We recommend trailrunners or lightweight mid-hiking boots. Salomon is a great choice. Sandals or comfortable wear is nice to have for downtime.
HAT
Depending on season, you should bring a warm hat for cold and a brimmed hat for warm, sunny conditions.
GLOVES
Gloves are great year-round. The type of glove will depend on the season. We use specialized gloves for photography from Vallerrett.
HEADLAMP
When we're out for sunrise and sunset, we are at the brink of daylight hours. It's always good to have a headlamp, in case you need some extra light.
SUN PROTECTION
Sunglasses and sunscreen are great to have for sun protection. Even in winter, you can get sunburn. We also use Buff's.
INSECT REPELLENT
On some trips, insects are an issue, like Alaska and our western trips in the mountains. It's a good idea to bring repellent just in case.
TOILETRIES
Pack your toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, and any other toiletries you may need during the trip.
WATER BOTTLE
Bring a water bottle! We supply water during trips, but no use in wasting plastic!
MEDICATIONS
We visit remote places for many of our trips and medical amenities (like a pharmacy), may not be available. It's best to bring what you need for the trip duration.
OUR PARTNERS
Disclosure: We endorse the partners listed on this page. We have tested and used their products for many years. We trust them.
In our professional experience, the partners listed are some of the best in their respective categories/industries.
When you buy something using the above discount codes or retail links, we may earn a small commission from our partnership.
In our professional experience, the partners listed are some of the best in their respective categories/industries.
When you buy something using the above discount codes or retail links, we may earn a small commission from our partnership.
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