I don't think selfies distract from the rest. Beautiful photos. I'll be visiting NC soon, we're driving the Blue Ridge Parkway and stopping for a few short hikes. Hopefully staying in Mt Pisgah.
Thanks for the feedback! I was hoping they help illustrate the journey, rather than just sharing the best landscapes I get with my main camera. Mt Pisgah is an excellent spot! Mt Pisgah and the Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower are nice hikes. A little further south you can jump onto the Art Loeb Trail to Black Balsam or check out Graveyard Fields. I wrote about these spots in some of my Shining Rock posts, if you're interested in digging through the archives. Have a great trip, I'm sure it won't disappoint!
I like the selfies! For me, they help to give context, to help me imagine myself in the places you travel to, and to help me feel a little of the love for those landscapes that you share with us…
This looks like it was a great trip Erik. I'm envious that spring has arrived where you are! I don't have a problem with the self portraits - they help add a sense of context and story to your photos. I prefer the higher quality shots over the go pro images, but that's the photographer in me speaking!
I agree about the GoPro images. I just recently learned how to grab still images from the film footage, so they were sort of an after thought. Maybe I can create better ones. The problem is that I cannot take moving or action photos of myself with the DSLR. I'm glad to hear that they add to the story, though. That seems to be the consensus. It was a very nice trip. Spring here comes quick, but only lasts an instant before we get the blazing heat of summer!
I love the selfies as they provide a character to flush the personal narrative. I am looking forward to your thru-hike. I hope you can get your pack weight down to a manageable heft given the mileage. Interesting to know how much of the weight will be camera equipment. There must be ongoing discussions on various chat lines about camera equipment weight. On other occasions you have willingly carried a greater amount of weight than the average hiker. I wonder if this will change with this thru-hike or before the next hike—especially if you find you need to carry more water than you expected.
I've already shaved off quite a bit by a few minor upgrades and just leaving out things I don't really need. The little things add up fast! My biggest decision about camera gear for the Foothills Trail is the tripod. I have a very nice one, but it is HEAVY! Or, I could take my old, very light, but flimsy one. Not sure yet!
Wonderful storytelling of this hike. It makes me long to get on a trail and spend the night in the woods. Despite my time hiking in North Carolina, I've never heard of this area. I'll have to do some research!
I agree with the others that the self portraits add context and a layer of storytelling. I also struggle with being pleased with Go-Pro images and find that I prefer my phone so I purchased a mount to add to my tripod for when I want to get in front of the camera.
Looking forward to following the thru hike! Best wishes!
A modern phone can probably take much better photos than the GoPro. Some even shoot in RAW format, so you can process them in the Adobe Lightroom app on your phone for some great results. Where the phone can't match the GoPro is image stabilization, which is very important for filming while walking.
Thanks for your kind words! The consensus is that the selfies add to the experience, so I'll include more in part 2 of this trip. You should definitely check out this area, if your close. Its just north of Cashiers and easily accessible!
I think the selfies definitely add the human behind the adventure. I'm not a selfie person either but it does add something.
I wondered if we'd see anything eclipse-related from you. I've heard they're hard to photograph because it can fry internal stuff in cameras. Is that true?
Hahaha! I've heard the same thing about photographing the eclipse. Everything I read mentioned using a "solar" lens filter. I have neutral density filters, but that didn't sound like the same thing. Its hard to believe, but I'm actually NOT an expert in rare astronomical phenomena, so I didn't want to risk it, LOL!
I did put the lens of those little glasses I'm wearing in the picture over the GoPro lens to try to film it. However, the GoPro is such a wide angle lens that the sun was way too small to make it out. I'm doing a rough cut of the film footage right now and I'll be sure to keep a little clip of it.
I had to pull up the USGS topo maps to make sense of all this, but now I get it. Eastern US backpacking ain't my thing -- I'm a West Coast boy born & raised -- but I still highly approve!
I did make one trip to your neck o' the woods some years back, a little way north of you, to Waynesville etc. Just driving around, didn't do any hiking.
I'm neutral on the selfies. They didn't detract from my enjoyment of you post, but they didn't add to it either.
Haha! Thanks, Ken. I tend to forget that there are other people reading these essays outside of the Southeast US. I need give the locations a bit more description! 😂
I kinda feel the same way about the selfies, but others seem to think they help illustrate the story. Maybe I'll be judicious about using them in the future.
Sounds like a great hike Erik. As you are heading towards summer, we are heading towards winter - which I am looking forward to photographically. The selfies are great additions to the story.
A really enjoyable read Erik and a lovely account of your trip. I think the selfie images definitely add to the story and give the reader a better appreciation of your journey. A good addition! 🙂
I don't think selfies distract from the rest. Beautiful photos. I'll be visiting NC soon, we're driving the Blue Ridge Parkway and stopping for a few short hikes. Hopefully staying in Mt Pisgah.
Thanks for the feedback! I was hoping they help illustrate the journey, rather than just sharing the best landscapes I get with my main camera. Mt Pisgah is an excellent spot! Mt Pisgah and the Fryingpan Mountain Lookout Tower are nice hikes. A little further south you can jump onto the Art Loeb Trail to Black Balsam or check out Graveyard Fields. I wrote about these spots in some of my Shining Rock posts, if you're interested in digging through the archives. Have a great trip, I'm sure it won't disappoint!
I like the selfies! For me, they help to give context, to help me imagine myself in the places you travel to, and to help me feel a little of the love for those landscapes that you share with us…
Great! That's just what I was trying to add by including them. Showing some of the journey along the way!
This looks like it was a great trip Erik. I'm envious that spring has arrived where you are! I don't have a problem with the self portraits - they help add a sense of context and story to your photos. I prefer the higher quality shots over the go pro images, but that's the photographer in me speaking!
I agree about the GoPro images. I just recently learned how to grab still images from the film footage, so they were sort of an after thought. Maybe I can create better ones. The problem is that I cannot take moving or action photos of myself with the DSLR. I'm glad to hear that they add to the story, though. That seems to be the consensus. It was a very nice trip. Spring here comes quick, but only lasts an instant before we get the blazing heat of summer!
I love the selfies as they provide a character to flush the personal narrative. I am looking forward to your thru-hike. I hope you can get your pack weight down to a manageable heft given the mileage. Interesting to know how much of the weight will be camera equipment. There must be ongoing discussions on various chat lines about camera equipment weight. On other occasions you have willingly carried a greater amount of weight than the average hiker. I wonder if this will change with this thru-hike or before the next hike—especially if you find you need to carry more water than you expected.
I've already shaved off quite a bit by a few minor upgrades and just leaving out things I don't really need. The little things add up fast! My biggest decision about camera gear for the Foothills Trail is the tripod. I have a very nice one, but it is HEAVY! Or, I could take my old, very light, but flimsy one. Not sure yet!
Wonderful storytelling of this hike. It makes me long to get on a trail and spend the night in the woods. Despite my time hiking in North Carolina, I've never heard of this area. I'll have to do some research!
I agree with the others that the self portraits add context and a layer of storytelling. I also struggle with being pleased with Go-Pro images and find that I prefer my phone so I purchased a mount to add to my tripod for when I want to get in front of the camera.
Looking forward to following the thru hike! Best wishes!
A modern phone can probably take much better photos than the GoPro. Some even shoot in RAW format, so you can process them in the Adobe Lightroom app on your phone for some great results. Where the phone can't match the GoPro is image stabilization, which is very important for filming while walking.
Thanks for your kind words! The consensus is that the selfies add to the experience, so I'll include more in part 2 of this trip. You should definitely check out this area, if your close. Its just north of Cashiers and easily accessible!
Oh yes, the phone is terribly unstable! Thanks for sharing!
I think the selfies definitely add the human behind the adventure. I'm not a selfie person either but it does add something.
I wondered if we'd see anything eclipse-related from you. I've heard they're hard to photograph because it can fry internal stuff in cameras. Is that true?
Hahaha! I've heard the same thing about photographing the eclipse. Everything I read mentioned using a "solar" lens filter. I have neutral density filters, but that didn't sound like the same thing. Its hard to believe, but I'm actually NOT an expert in rare astronomical phenomena, so I didn't want to risk it, LOL!
I did put the lens of those little glasses I'm wearing in the picture over the GoPro lens to try to film it. However, the GoPro is such a wide angle lens that the sun was way too small to make it out. I'm doing a rough cut of the film footage right now and I'll be sure to keep a little clip of it.
Well if you're not an expert in rare astronomical phenomena I'm unsubscribing! The nerve! 😂😂😂😂
🤣😂
I had to pull up the USGS topo maps to make sense of all this, but now I get it. Eastern US backpacking ain't my thing -- I'm a West Coast boy born & raised -- but I still highly approve!
I did make one trip to your neck o' the woods some years back, a little way north of you, to Waynesville etc. Just driving around, didn't do any hiking.
I'm neutral on the selfies. They didn't detract from my enjoyment of you post, but they didn't add to it either.
Haha! Thanks, Ken. I tend to forget that there are other people reading these essays outside of the Southeast US. I need give the locations a bit more description! 😂
I kinda feel the same way about the selfies, but others seem to think they help illustrate the story. Maybe I'll be judicious about using them in the future.
It is true that photos with a human in them are almost always more pleasing to the viewer.
And no, you don't need to elaborate for those of us who live on the other side of the country. We can all get maps.
Haha! Maps are nice, too!
Sounds like a great hike Erik. As you are heading towards summer, we are heading towards winter - which I am looking forward to photographically. The selfies are great additions to the story.
Thanks for the feedback! Most people seem to like them. I've never made it to the southern hemisphere. It's wild to me that the seasons are reversed!
A really enjoyable read Erik and a lovely account of your trip. I think the selfie images definitely add to the story and give the reader a better appreciation of your journey. A good addition! 🙂
Thanks! It seems like almost everyone likes the selfies, so I'll be adding them from now on!
Hi Erik! I'd love to share this piece on day 16 of my Kissing the Earth series - https://satyarobyn.substack.com/p/invitation-to-kiss-the-earth - let me know if you'd like a paid sub for the month so you can receive the poems - satya@satyarobyn.com. Was lovely to accompany you on your hike : )
Excellent! I would be honored for you to share this and very grateful for the subscription! Thanks, Satya!
Marvellous 😊
PS let me know when you're subscribed so I can comp you 😊
Ha, sorry! Busy morning for me. Done!
No worries - also done!
I like the selfies! Especially the full body ones which give a sense of how vast the landscape is.
Thanks, Lia! It seems they do illustrate the story pretty well and, as you mentioned, add a sense of scale. I'll try to keep them in the future!