April 2024 – DIMENSIONFX

By Nat Hab Expedition Leader Eddy Savage

Nat Hab’s Wild Side of China Photo Expedition is a spectacularly unique journey through renowned nature reserves and culturally significant sites. From an architectural and cultural perspective, we will spend time in large cities, small towns, ancient walled villages and remote high-altitude villages. From a nature and wildlife perspective, we will spend time in lush sub-tropical and higher altitude sub-alpine environments. The photographic subjects are incredibly interesting and varied throughout the trip. I’ve put together a few of my “must-haves” I take with me on every photo expedition I lead in China. Enjoy!

My Camera Gear for China’s Nature Reserves

This is a longer expedition with lots of walking and short hikes, and we move every couple of nights for most of the journey. I have tried several camera lens combinations over the years and found that simple and versatile is the way to go. I don’t want to be weighed down as we tackle our next hike, and I also don’t want to feel overwhelmed by my lens choices. Here is my typical camera setup:

Camera Body

Nikon Z6 (full-frame mirrorless)

Lenses

24-70mm f4 – If you’re ever on an expedition with me, this lens will become known as my “go-to” lens for day-to-day shooting. At 24mm, it’s wide enough to accomplish 99% of landscape shots and 99% of people, city and architecture shots. It’s small as well, so walking through crowded streets or even wearing it all day long on my camera harness isn’t a huge burden.
100-400mm f4.5-5.6 or similar – A telephoto lens with some flexibility goes a long way. When we are out searching for wildlife or birds, having the reach of a 400mm lens is wonderful. This range of lens is also typically a manageable size for travel. Another perk of a telephoto-zoom lens is using it to make some forced-perspective landscape photos, one of my favorites.

Now, with that said, this is by no means what you need for this expedition. I find this is what works for me. The age-old saying, “The best camera is the one you have with you,” goes a long way! Whatever system you end up bringing, my general recommendation is that you have the capability to shoot landscape (wide) and wildlife (telephoto).

Camera Accessory Recommendations for a China Nature Photo Expedition

Polarizing Filter

I will bring the polarizing filter for my 24-70mm lens. A good quality polarizing filter can be a wonderful addition to your kit. If used correctly, they can remove reflections from any non-metallic surfaces, such as the reflections of wet leaves or harsh sunlight reflecting off the surface of a lake. This allows for more vibrance and deeper/richer colors to prevail in your photography. It also reduces the amount of light reaching your image sensor and can help with blurring moving water when used with a tripod.

Neutral Density Filter (or Kit)

I started regularly using a Neutral Density Filter (ND-8 filter is my most versatile, but kits often come with several options) a couple of years ago because I was trying to achieve specific blurred water effects in some of my landscape photography. Essentially, all they will do is reduce the amount of light reaching your image sensor so you can lower your shutter speed to achieve these effects. I will only use these in conjunction with a tripod.

Travel Tripod

Having a tripod in the field can help you achieve some specific shots. I use mine most for capturing specific shots where I want to blur moving water, capture moving clouds or film a timelapse. Some of the mountain streams in the national nature reserves are perfect for this. Adding this effect to your images can add an entirely new element to your photo. Pair the tripod with a Neutral Density Filter or Polarizing Filter, and you can ensure your camera is still enough to get a sharp image while the water blurs. Anyhow, I only bring my tripod if I intend to try these more advanced types of photography, and I want to make sure it’s small enough to pack and carry easily.

Camera Harness / Strap

I don’t think my camera has had a “stock” neck strap on it for some 10 years or so. I find that these straps can become quite cumbersome and don’t secure the camera well enough for my liking. All the in-and-out of vehicles, walking up and down varying terrain, clothing layers, etc. I find I get tangled in the stock camera straps often. I also carry the camera for over 10 hours a day, so having something that takes the camera weight off my neck is ideal. I currently use a camera harness that secures my camera to my chest and straps it down so that even when bending over, it doesn’t move at all. Find what works best for you, and go with that!

Microfibre Towel (3ft x 2ft)

On a rainy day in the Great Bear Rainforest, I saw a colleague pull out this 3ft x 2ft microfibre towel and, in one swift motion, dried off all parts of their drenched camera and stowed it away in their bag. Since then, a medium-sized microfibre towel has lived in one of my pockets whenever I’m in the field. Whether it’s rain, snow, mist or a spill, having a solid absorbent cloth makes drying your precious camera gear a breeze. There’s always a chance of rain in the mountains of China, and a microfibre cloth is a great tool to carry with you!

These are the items I carry in my personal camera kit while on a photo expedition in China with Natural Habitat Adventures. It works for me, but it might not work for you! Whatever gear you bring on this expedition, make sure you’ve tried it out at home and are somewhat familiar with its workings. And don’t forget to take lots of pictures!

The post What’s in My Camera Bag? Wild Side of China Photo Expedition first appeared on Good Nature Travel Blog.

7
Apr 2024

7Apr 2024 Conservation

Photographic Wonders of China’s Four Sisters Mountain & Siguniangshan National Park

By Nat Hab Expedition Leader Eddy Savage

One of the most striking aspects of the mountains leading up to the Tibetan Plateau is just how huge they are. On our Wild Side of China Photo Expedition, we journey through the Qionglai Mountain range, west of Chengdu, and find ourselves in the foothills of the Himalayas. We pass through the Wolong National Nature Reserve, climb several thousand feet, and drive through a series of tunnels to find our view of the mighty Mount Siguniang, which translates to Four Sisters Mountain. Standing at 20,510 feet, Four Sisters Mountain is taller than any mountain in North America (Mount Denali stands at 20,310 feet). We spend the night in nearby Rilong where we are poised to arrive at Siguniangshan National Park as soon as they open the gates. This UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts sub-alpine coniferous forests, Tibetan villages, herds of domesticated yak, rare sub-alpine birds and tranquil mountain streams that delight my inner photographer. I’ve compiled some of my favorites for your enjoyment.

Our first stop on the way to Siguniangshan National Park is this stunning vista of Four Sisters Mountain. On a clear day, the four peaks can be prominently seen in the distance.

Peaks of Four Sisters Mountain from left to right:

Yaomei Peak – 20,510 ft

Sanguniang Peak – 16,486 ft

Erguniang Peak – 17,310 ft

Daguniang Peak – 17,569 ft

It’s an extraordinary experience getting closer to the park. We drive through Wolong National Nature Reserve, which has broad-leaf deciduous forests at the valley bottom. By the time we climb out of that valley, we are in a mixed coniferous forest—from sub-tropical to sub-alpine in just a couple of hours.

There are three large glacially carved valleys within the park. We spend our day in the Shuangqiao Valley and explore over 20 miles of roads and trails at 11,000 to 13,000 feet elevation. Whether you’re on a spring or fall departure, there is always a chance of snowfall. However, the mid-day sun usually melts most of it away by the afternoon. It always makes for some dramatic scenery.

Heading west in Sichuan Province brings you closer to the Tibetan Plateau. As soon as you cross the mountain pass from the Wolong National Nature Reserve, more evidence of Tibetan culture is present.

As a photographer, the vibrance of these Tibetan prayer flags allows for some unique images. I love the contrast between the harsh and rugged mountain and the colorful flags.

The Tibetan prayer flags all have writings meant to promote peace, compassion, strength and wisdom. They blow in the wind, spreading those words to the surrounding land and people for the benefit of all.

Tibetan prayer wheels have prayers and mantras written on them, so spinning them effectively sends the prayer into the surrounding area. They were initially designed for people who were illiterate or could not speak. Some prayer wheels are powered by wind, fire or water. We see lots of these around on our photo expedition, and we spend a lot of time looking for ways to capture their deep meaning in an image.

Lots of rivers and creeks flow down from adjacent hanging valleys. You can see evidence of the harshness of winter everywhere—rockfalls, landslides, floodplains, etc. The main river, however, has found the valley bottom and meanders gently adjacent to the trails and roads we use. Finding that perfect shot is a goal of ours.

This sub-alpine park also offers opportunities for new wildlife. While rare and unlikely to be seen, red pandas inhabit surrounding forests. Also, altitude-specific birds like the grandala pictured (a member of the Thrush family) may make an appearance.

This tranquil scene is where the valley levels out, and the river widens. The stream is shallow and very slow-moving, and over time, different water levels have occupied the valley bottom. This has allowed clusters of trees to grow in some of the previously exposed land. This is the place to be if you’re looking for epic reflections and foreground.

This area is nicknamed “The Chinese Alps.” The valley is surrounded by numerous 14,000-17,000-foot-high mountains. There is a new dramatic scene around every bend in the road.

As we climb higher into the park, the trees become sparse. Several belts of trees have clung to the mountainsides around the main river tributaries, beautiful and dramatic in contrast to the mountains behind.

The valley is about 20 miles long, and we spend the day finding new ways to photograph the scenery on drives and hikes.

And finally, being at a higher elevation, we start to see domesticated yak around every corner. The mountain valleys have been the preferred grazing spot of domesticated yak for hundreds of years, and this is likely the only place we’ll regularly see them on our photo expedition.

Domesticated yak of all ages greet us along the roadsides and in meadows. I really enjoy being able to photograph them with their habitat so prominently displayed behind them.

The post Photographic Wonders of China’s Four Sisters Mountain & Siguniangshan National Park first appeared on Good Nature Travel Blog.

7
Apr 2024

7Apr 2024 Conservation

How to Get a Picture of a Wild Himalayan Snow Leopard

In the autumn of 1973, wilderness writer and naturalist Peter Matthiessen joined preeminent field biologist George Schaller high in Nepal’s Himalayan Mountains on a journey that would soon become legendary. While Schaller was there to study the mating habits of the bharal, or Himalayan blue sheep, Matthieseen was on a quest for spiritual enlightenment. That is, a quest coupled with the hope of glimpsing one of the region’s most elusive animals: the snow leopard.

This strenuous two-month expedition resulted in one of Matthiessen’s best-known and award-winning books, The Snow Leopard—a work that still enlightens and inspires readers today.

It’s no secret that big cats stir imaginations, from the majestic lions of Kenya’s Maasai Mara to the jaguar, a large and spotted feline that holds court over South America’s Pantanal. And snow leopards are no exception. For a long time, so little was known about these shy and solitary creatures that inhabit Earth’s uppermost reaches that they took on an almost mythical status. Local residents call them the “gray ghost” or the “ghost of the mountains” because they’re so rarely seen.

In fact, when Matthiessen embarked on his expedition, only two Westerners had reported seeing a snow leopard over the previous 25 years. One of those Westerners was Schaller, who was also the first to capture a snow leopard on film. In 1971, his photos appeared in the pages of National Geographic, giving the world its first opportunity to view this fabled being in its natural habitat.

The Elusive Snow Leopard

Getting a photo of a wild snow leopard is no easy task, although it’s been made much easier in recent years. Spotters and master trackers know exactly where to look and what to look for, such as fresh scat, snow-embedded tracks and even marking patterns.

Since Matthiessen’s The Snow Leopard was first published in 1978, a lot has been learned about these shy and solitary creatures. They can reach up to seven feet in length and weigh anywhere from 60 to 120 pounds. They roam mostly at dawn in the pre-morning hours, then again in the afternoons and evenings.

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Due to a difference in their anatomical structure, snow leopards can’t actually roar, though they do chuff, purr and growl. They move about quietly, preferring steep, snow-covered mountainsides high above the treelines, in places where the air is thin and the weather often relentless. Their thick fur—colored whitish to gray with black spots and rosettes along the neck, head, and back—easily camouflages them within the landscape, making them extremely difficult for the average eye to see.

Where to See Snow Leopards in the Wild

According to the Snow Leopard Trust, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the snow leopard, there are believed to be between 3,900 and 6,400 wild snow leopards left around the world, though the actual number remains unknown. They inhabit a large swath of alpine and subalpine terrain that traverses 12 countries in northern and central Asia, including Mongolia, Afghanistan and Bhutan.

Schaller captured his now-famous photos in Pakistan’s Chitral Valley—another place snow leopards are known to frequent—and dozens of them roam freely in Russia’s Altai Mountains, at the convergence of China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan. However, one of the best places for spotting them is in India’s Ladakh territory, part of the larger Himalayan mountain range, where approximately 200 or so reside.

India’s Ladakh Region Awaits

For the perfect opportunity to explore this storied region and capture images of the rare snow leopard, embark on Nat Hab’s 11-day Snow Leopard Quest Photo Expedition. Tucked away in the remote Himalayas of northern India, Ladakh itself is framed by dramatic peaks and dotted with Buddha-filled monasteries, meditation caves and secluded villages. It’s a region heavily influenced by Tibetan culture and home to India’s largest national park, Hemis National Park, where you’ll find one of the highest population densities of snow leopards in a protected area on the planet.

Nat Hab’s small group size of eight and a flexible daily schedule offers participants the best chance of catching a snow leopard undisturbed. Perhaps we’ll see one who has descended to a lower altitude to feed on bharal, ibex and smaller marmots and hares that inhabit the sides of steep rock walls and graze along valley streams. Or we may spy a cat perched inconspicuously along a high ridge line. Be sure and keep your camera at the ready!

Getting a Good Photograph

The odds of capturing snow leopard pics increase once you immerse yourself in the territory of these magnificent creatures. Nat Hab’s adept spotting scouts and master trackers work tirelessly to follow the cats’ every move. The terrain may be rugged and difficult, but the rewards of seeing a snow leopard in the wild are indescribable. If you’re especially lucky, you might even spot a snow leopard cub (or two!).

Ladakh’s additional wildlife is as equally as incredible. Look for long-legged wild sheep known as urial, golden eagles and bearded vultures soaring overhead. And stay alert for a sighting of the Himalayan wolf, known for its wooly fur and ability to adapt to cold and high altitudes.

There are also the natural and cultural beauties of Ladakh itself, such as narrow valleys and colorful roadside prayer flags, winding rivers and unoccupied palaces, all of which are ripe for discovery…and for photographing.

Although Matthiessen never did spot a snow leopard during his 1973 expedition, seeing one wasn’t his sole purpose. As a 2018 New Yorker article points out, “If Matthiessen had merely wanted to set eyes on a snow leopard, he could have driven from his home on Long Island to the Bronx Zoo, where snow leopards have been bred in captivity since 1966.”

Matthiessen knew that the possibility of glimpsing a snow leopard in its natural habitat, rather than in a zoo or menagerie, would be something else entirely. However, even not seeing one would be a tremendous feat, especially when you’ve scoured the world’s tallest peaks and loftiest landscapes in your quest. That’s because it’s in the ‘seeking,’ Matthiessen realized, that the real magic occurs.

Ready to see and photograph snow leopards in the wild? Learn more about our Land of the Snow Leopard adventure and our photo-focused Snow Leopard Quest Photo Expedition. Or, explore our photo expeditions around the globe!

The post How to Get a Picture of a Wild Himalayan Snow Leopard first appeared on Good Nature Travel Blog.

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