{"id":1424772,"date":"2017-02-10T10:47:38","date_gmt":"2017-02-10T10:47:38","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2024-12-24T18:23:00","modified_gmt":"2024-12-24T12:53:00","slug":"plant-photography","status":"publish","type":"ht_kb","link":"https:\/\/efloraofindia.com\/efi\/plant-photography\/","title":{"rendered":"Plant photography – a different approach Part 1 – the camera is the LEAST important consideration"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Fwd: Plant photography – a different approach Part 1 – the camera is the LEAST important consideration<\/a> : 3 posts by 3 authors. Attachments<\/span> (1)<\/font><\/span> <\/span><\/div>\n
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I have hesitated to comment much for the whole of the group, knowing that what I shall be saying is likely to come as a surprise, perhaps a shock. It is not easy to find the correct words to challenge conventional wisdoms, conventions\u00a0or behaviour.<\/div>\n
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May I repeat my offer to provide\u00a0INDIVIDUAL advice, communicated in private, with any members wishing to improve their plant photography.\u00a0 The solutions are there but will not be “quick & easy”. I ask a lot of questions and my ‘students’ (no matter what age or seniority)\u00a0will need to\u00a0exhibit effort & dedication, over not just days but months and years. If that has not\u00a0been a deterrent, you are most welcome to contact me individually, allowing advice IN PRIVATE.<\/div>\n
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Returning to advice which\u00a0would apply in almost all cases, I shall begin with what I actually by\u00a0THE CAMERA BEING THE LEAST IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION.\u00a0 Yes, one needs a camera of a certain standard but THESE DAYS the quality of\u00a0lenses in even modest\u00a0COMPACT cameras are of a REMARKABLE standard.\u00a0 With application and some skill, EXCELLENT results can be achieved.\u00a0 One does NOT need a LARGE, expensive, top-of-the-range camera. <\/div>\n
Indeed, for many such cameras are MUCH MORE TROUBLE THAN THEY ARE WORTH and I would advise AGAINST purchasing one!<\/div>\n
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However, what matters MOST is NOT your camera but\u00a0SAFETY and COMFORT.\u00a0 One needs appropriate FOOTWEAR and CLOTHING to be able to spend the DAY photographing plants.\u00a0 This\u00a0is particularly important for those venturing into the HILLS and MOUNTAINS. Though the principal applies anywhere in the countryside.<\/div>\n
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See the attached image taken by my eldest son several years ago in the UK\u00a0(I use a smaller camera now) attired in waterproofs, <\/font><\/strong>walking boots, woolly hat and fingerless woolly gloves with my rucksack on my back, glasses on a cord round my neck. <\/font><\/strong>I felt warm enough and comfortable.\u00a0 The waterproofs meant I would not have to RETREAT if there was any heavy rain <\/font><\/strong>for part of the day.\u00a0 I was on a slope on a hill amongst chalk grassland which is rich in flowers.<\/font><\/strong><\/div>\n

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On my visits to Indian sub-continent, I spend the vast majority of my time wearing WALKING BOOTS!!\u00a0 This applies not just when I am trekking (camping) in the mountains or days out exploring e.g.\u00a0from Gulmarg up to Khelanmarg or Aphawat; from Narkanda to Huttoo in H.P., above the Rohtang\u00a0Pass, also in H.P.\u00a0or on Phulchoki mountain above Godawari, Nepal.\u00a0 Also when walking around Srinagar, Manali, Shimla\u00a0or\u00a0Kathmandu.<\/div>\n
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They provide ankle-support\u00a0whilst the soles grip the surface better.\u00a0\u00a0 This reduces slips and ankle twists –<\/font><\/strong>either of which have the potential to ruin not just a day out but WEEKS of potential BOTANIZING.<\/font><\/strong><\/div>\n

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TRAINERS (or similar footwear) do NOT provide good ankle-support and often their soles grip poorly.\u00a0 How UN-FASHIONABLE I AM but I could not care less!<\/div>\n
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I also use a walking stick.\u00a0 I started this in the 1980s (when I was still in my twenties – young, fit and strong) and <\/font><\/strong>remember buying\u00a0one that served me well for years when leading a botanical tour in Pakistan in 1987.\u00a0 More <\/font><\/strong>recently, I have used\u00a0strong folding walking-sticks (which can be stored in my small day ruck-sack when not <\/font><\/strong>required).<\/font><\/strong><\/div>\n

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In addition to helping me avoid falls on SLIPPERY ground (the rocks and steps at lower levels can be especially <\/font><\/strong>slippery), the stick helps me negotiate steeper ground than I otherwise could AND can enable me to reach lower <\/font><\/strong>branches of trees\/tall shrubs\/climbers, enabling me to take close-ups of their flowers or fruits.<\/font><\/strong><\/div>\n

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This brings me to other clothing.\u00a0 Having water-proof CAGOULES (jackets) and OVER-TROUSERS is <\/font><\/strong>a MUST.\u00a0 Along with a warm woolly hat and gloves.\u00a0 Whenever I travel to the mountains of India I take a spare set <\/font><\/strong>of these items to be used by my guides or local travelling companions – who seldom have or bring such items. Clearly, <\/font><\/strong>there are different conditions in HOT and HUMID conditions.<\/font><\/strong><\/div>\n

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In both the UK and India, jeans are FASHIONABLE but UNSUITABLE for the mountains!!\u00a0 Yes, they may be tough and hard-wearing but when wet, cling to the legs, tiring walkers and providing almost zero protection from wind.\u00a0 IF conditions are COLD, this is a SERIOUS situation, which can lead to HYPOTHERMIA and even death!\u00a0 Or accidents due to slips\/falls\/bad decision-making.<\/div>\n
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Let me give an example.\u00a0\u00a0Some years ago, I was accompanied by the young, fit and strong son (in his late twenties I <\/font><\/strong>think) of the local man who had been the Sirdar for two botanical treks I led in the Miyah Nullah, Lahaul, H.P. in the 1980s. <\/font><\/strong><\/div>\n
He had acted as guide for many treks in the NW Himalaya.\u00a0 I hired him for the day to accompany me above the Rohtang Pass <\/font><\/strong>(4000m+) in H.P.\u00a0 I requested he come properly equipped for a FULL day.\u00a0 A 4WD vehicle was used to reach the top of the <\/font><\/strong>Rohtang and then we set-off in reasonable weather.\u00a0 He, unfortunately,\u00a0was attired in trainers, jeans, a jacket plus VERY large,\u00a0<\/font><\/strong>strong umbrella <\/strong>(these are used by golfers) – no hat or gloves.\u00a0 I was NOT impressed, having ASSUMED he would be PROPERLY dressed…..<\/strong><\/font><\/div>\n

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After a couple of hours the wind got up and it started raining.\u00a0 This presented NO problem for me but his umbrella did not <\/font><\/strong>function well under such conditions, he had no waterproof over-trousers, his jeans a SERIOUS problem – as was his damp foot-wear. <\/font><\/strong><\/div>\n
I was left with no option but to abandon the day EARLY – despite him being younger and MUCH stronger, coping with the altitude<\/font><\/strong><\/div>\n
better than I.\u00a0He was starting to get VERY COLD and when COLD & WET, it is easy to SLIP on rocks & boulders, doing oneself SERIOUS harm.\u00a0I was entitled to be UNHAPPY at the wasted opportunity of exploring at even higher altitude.\u00a0 IN THE INTERESTS OF <\/font><\/strong>SAFETY WE HEADED DOWN.<\/font><\/strong><\/div>\n

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Had he been a photographer, he would RAPIDLY have not CARED LESS about taking photos and even if he had, they were likely to <\/font><\/strong>have been of poor quality.<\/font><\/strong><\/div>\n

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UNLESS ONE IS SUITABLY DRESSED TO KEEP WARM & DRY, MOTIVATION AND DEDICATION ARE SOON LOST, WITH NOT ONLY GREAT\u00a0 PHOTOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITIES MISSED BUT RISKS OF HARMING ONESELF IN MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENTS INCREASED.<\/font><\/strong><\/div>\n

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AMONGST LOWER HILLS, THE RISKS ARE NOT AS GREAT, BUT GETTING SOAKING WET, SELDOM HELPS AND ONE CAN SLIP EVEN WHEN WALKING AT MODEST ELEVATIONS!<\/font><\/strong><\/div>\n

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TO “NOTICE” PLANTS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITIES – NO MATTER WHAT THE CONDITIONS, ONE NEEDS TO FEEL COMFORTABLE.\u00a0 RELIABLY AND CONSISTENTLY TAKING QUALITY PHOTOS ALL DAY IS DEMANDING, INDEED OFTEN EXHAUSTING MENTALLY.\u00a0 IT IS SUCH A PITY TO WASTE OPPORTUNITIES WITH UNSUITABLE FOOT-WEAR OR CLOTHING.<\/font><\/strong><\/div>\n

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I am aware that WALKING BOOTS are NOT the norm in India and NOT readily available.\u00a0 BUT BOTANISTS (AMATEUR OR PROFESSIONAL) MUST PUT ASIDE CONSIDERATIONS OF FASHION.<\/font><\/strong><\/div>\n

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During my last visit to Kashmir I hired a Kashmiri recommended to me (he lived near Tangmarg) for a couple of days walking <\/font><\/strong>on Khelanmarg & Aphawat.\u00a0 I brought with me, waterproofs and warm gloves & a hat.\u00a0 He was willing to use the water-proof jacket <\/font><\/strong>but DESPITE a MONUMENTAL torrential down-pour, REFUSED to put on the water-proof trousers – IN CASE HE WAS SEEN WEARING THEM BY SOMEONE WHO KNEW HIM…… <\/font><\/strong><\/div>\n

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I remember\u00a0during my 1983 Expedition\u00a0in the mountains of\u00a0Kashmir, walking through the streets of Srinagar in my water-proof clothing during a down-pour\u00a0– this caused quite <\/strong>a stir and much amusement amongst the local residents, who either got wet, used an umbrella (with limited success) or sheltered from the rain.\u00a0\u00a0 THIS REMINDED ME OF THE SONG WITH THE VERSE, “MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMAN GO OUT IN\u00a0THE NOON-DAY SUN”…<\/strong><\/font><\/div>\n

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I do NOT wear walking boots around Delhi in temperatures of 40C plus…..<\/font><\/strong><\/div>\n

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I intend to cover other aspects of plant photography in further postings but this is already sufficient to digest…..<\/p>\n
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Nice advisory to the researchers working in subalpine and alpine zones. It is often said that weather is not bad, the clothing makes it bad or good in mountains.
While going through this I remembered one of my friend who because of his bad protection gear nearly escaped snow blindness. Work in high altitude is only possible when one is ready for all situations of weather. AND field works in high altitudes are often less and restricted to summers only; one has to utilize each and every opportunity which may be denied in lack of proper clothing.<\/p>\n
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Fair enough about ‘alpine’ and ‘high altitude’ but MUCH of what I have to say applies at lower elevations as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Fwd: Plant photography – a different approach Part 1 – the camera is the LEAST important consideration : 3 posts by 3 authors. Attachments (1) I have hesitated to comment much for the whole of the group, knowing that what I shall be saying is likely to come as a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"ht-kb-category":[9489],"ht-kb-tag":[],"class_list":["post-1424772","ht_kb","type-ht_kb","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","ht_kb_category-photography-issues"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/efloraofindia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb\/1424772","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/efloraofindia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/efloraofindia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/ht_kb"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/efloraofindia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/efloraofindia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1424772"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/efloraofindia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb\/1424772\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/efloraofindia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1424772"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"ht_kb_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/efloraofindia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb-category?post=1424772"},{"taxonomy":"ht_kb_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/efloraofindia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht-kb-tag?post=1424772"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}