The only 5 Accessories You Need for Landscape Photography

When I head out on a landscape photography session, I have things I always take, without exception. Other things I might take depend on the distance to the location I have in mind, the type of photo I want to take as well as the weather.

As a rule, I will always take spare batteries and SD cards, my capture clip to have instant access to my camera at all times, my phone with planning apps, a CPL and my Swiss army knife. These make the task of getting a good landscape photograph a lot easier.

There are other things that are optional, but do sometimes come in handy … but can also hinder you if you are on a long hike, or by taking up space in your bag.

This was a handheld Panorama shot from our campervan side window … such an amazing view!

I have 5 things I can’t live without and take with me every single time … as well as some additional extras later in the article that are not essential, but come in handy for certain landscape photography sessions.

Camera Bracket

Peak Design Capture Clip - You need this in your life!

The capture clip from Peak Design (not sponsored) has to be one of my all time best accessories I have ever bought.

It took me a while to buy it as it is pretty pricey, but when I did I wondered how I'd even survived without it. It really is one of those defining moments in my landscape photography journey, and should be a compulsory buy when getting into this genre of photography.

The Capture Clip holds the camera right at your shoulder, so you can grab it at any moment

I actually had a session recently where I forgot to put it back on my bag after using it elsewhere. I felt lost without it and I took far less photographs than I would have if I'd have had it with me.

It basically gives you access to your camera at all times, without having to take your bag off your back. It sounds simple and it is. But having your camera there, ready to go is such a great way to hike with your camera, because you are more than likely to get those fleeting moments … and just use your camera more than you would if it was in your backpack.

Also because your camera is right there on your shoulder, it reminds you to look for compositions and take photos …. a bit like a friendly reminder.

It is quite comfortable and balances out some of the weight in my backpack

Spare SD Cards and Batteries

There is nothing worse than getting to a location to find you have filled up your memory card or you turn on your camera and the one and only battery is about to run out.

I've even been out for a walk to find that I don't have a single battery with me, no word of a lie, I turned my camera on and it didn’t do anything. I then looked in the battery bay and it was empty … which is a little embarrassing … but we don't talk about that …😆

Having spares is such a good plan. A lot of the time the will sit dormant in your bag, and you might not need them a lot of the time, but when you do, you'll be glad you packed them … and you know it will be that one time where the light is just absolutely gorgeous, on of those once in a lifetime moments and you are there … with a dead camera …

You don’t need the fastest cards in the world. I have used these in my A7iii for years and they have never failed on me. In my A7iv, I use these ones as they give a bit more speed and let me shoot the S&Q 4k mode which is fantastic for timelapse photography and slow mo. They are a bit more expensive, but having the V90 rating does mean that they are a lot faster than the V30 SD cards I use in my A7iii.

CPL filter

If there is one filter you should get, is a Circular Polariser Filter. This adds a subtle bit of saturation and contrast to your photographs as well as getting rid of reflections on some surfaces.

It really is the filter I use a lot when shooting landscapes and it is the one filter that will change how your photographs look when you get used to using it.

I use a few different ones, but the main one that stays in my bag is the CPL from freewell. The colours seem stable and the polarisation is good.

Look at the reflections on the Jetty, as well as the colour of the sea

Smartphone with planning apps

A smartphone can be your lifeline to the rest of the world, especially when you're in some remote landscape far from civilisation so it can be a safety item as well.

However, when you have the right planning apps on your phone, this can give you a heads-up of when to expect the light, when to expect the weather to turn, or where to look for the milky way.

The one app over everything else I truly recommend is Photopills. The one thing I use over everything else in this app is the sun AR function. As long as the compass in your phone is calibrated, it will show you exactly where the sun will rise, so if you are scouting a location, you can work out exactly where you need to be to get the shot you want, and you will know what time you need to be there as well as what position might work when that sun does shine through.

As well as this it is good to get a weather app. The one I like to use is Weather and Radar. I have it on my Android phone … I’m not use if it available on the iPhone, but I will check and add an update here in the near future.

…update, it is available on the iPhone as well as android phones and is absolutely free … although you do have to put up with adverts which acn be a little annoying.

Appropriate Hiking gear for the conditions

There is nothing worse than being ill prepared for when the conditions change … and when you are in the mountains, it can change really quickly.

In fact, I was out yesterday for a sunset shoot at Llyn Y Fan Fach in the Brecon Beacons. The weather looked like it was going to be good for the evening and then by the morning, a weather front was coming in.

However when I was on the hike, the front showed up a little early, and it changed quickly. From being sunny and warm to cold windy and rainy within about 30 minutes. So having the right great with you is essential.

I will always have a map and a compass, especially on those longer hikes. If the weather comes down you will want to know that the direction you are walking is the right way.

In the winter, on the top half, I will have a base layer, a t-shirt (one of those quick drying ones), a jumper and a jacket. With photography gloves, a wooly hat and if it is really cold a Buff to keep my neck warm.

On the bottom half, I will have a base layer again and then walking trousers. You will only really wear jeans until you get caught out once … then you will know how heavy and cold they get.

I have a decent pair of hiking boots and it has taken me a ling time to find a really good pair. You need to search around and find a pair that works for your feet. I have the Salamon X Ultra 3, I have wide feet and these seem to work really well for me, but do sone reasearch on hiking boots or shoes and see what works for you.

In the summer it can be really changeable depending on where you are in the world. In the UK, I will still pack wet and warm gear, but sometimes this will stay in the car. I will check the weather and if it is going to be warm all day. I will make sure I have lots of water to stay hydrated and then wear quick drying fabric. You will sweat a lot and you will need to keep hydrated. I also take a hat to protect my face from the sun as well as plenty of suncream.

At the end of the day, it is all about being sensible when you go out for a photo session in the wilderness. If you are ill prepared, it can and will go wrong. Most of the time, you will be fine and will get back home ok … but for that one time where it doesn’t, this is when you will be kicking yourself, and you will then have to rely on others to get you to safety.

If you are not comfortable with this. The best bet would be to go out on a photo day with someone who is more experienced than you. Someone who will help you get the best out of the day and will guide you to gaining confidence in your abilities of hiking and taking photographs whilst out in the wild.

I do 1-2-1 sessions on line as well as in person (in the UK). So if you are interested, head to my contact page, send me over an email, and let’s arrange a trip out to take your photography and hiking skills to the next level.

Optional Extras

These next few are optional…

Tripod

You'd think a tripod would be an essential item but you don't really need one to get started.

In fact some of my favourite landscape images have been shot handheld, so no tripod needed for a lot of the photos I take.

Now if you are a little older and struggle to keep the camera steady, or you like to shoot long exposures, then it is essential, but if you are and average Joe like me, you really don’t need one all of the time.

I used to take one with me all the time … but then I noticed I wasn’t using it all the time. So I am now more calculated as to when I bring my tripod.

If it is pouring down with rain, it is going to be a wet hike, or it is in the middle of the day. I tend to leave it at home. But if I have a sunrise or sunset planned, this is when I will definitely bring it.

Another time is when I am going to shoot waterfalls, seascapes or anything where I want to shoot with a much slower shutter speed than normal. This is when. tripod is essential … but if you are just starting out … there is no need to get one straight away.

I have owned many over the years, and now I have a carbon fibre tripod, but for years I just got some second hand ones from local camera shops. The Optex video tripod is great and I have owned many of these … it was made in the 80s and is solid and not that heavy. You can normally get one for about £20-50 on ebay if you don’t have a camera store near you … but this is a great and cheap option if you are unsure about getting a tripod.

ND filters

ND filters are another one where people normally say they are essential for photography, but I disagree. They are definitely an optional extra and again, I have taken many landscape photographs that I like without them.

If you are thinking if getting some … I’d start with a 6 stop ND filter. This will give you most of the coverage you need … and by manipulating the other settings, you can easily change a 4 second exposure into a 15 second exposure.

If the six stop is too weak for the conditions you are in, all you need to do is wait until the light drops … and it is actually a great filter for shooting really long exposures at sunrise or sunset.

If you don’t have the option of waiting around, this is when a 10 stop filter is great as you can shoot really long exposures in the middle of the day, and give quite a unique look to your shots compared to the iphone shooter.

If you are just starting out, I’d avoid the big square filter kits, instead get a circular filter, and get a magnetic one . These are so much better than the screw on ones due to the speed at which you can attach/detach them.

These are great magnetic filters

L-Bracket

I rave about L-brackets and have done for so long. They are great … but again, not essential. I you are predominantly a tripod shooter, this is where they come in handy from quickly switching from landscape to a portrait orientation … and they also offer a bit of protection for your camera.

Now if you camera has a flip screen, this is when they are not so good as they get in the way of the flip screen when you want to tilt it … which is the whole idea of a flip screen. Watch the video to see what I mean.

I have the A74 and have a botched half cage rig, with a Peak Design quick release plate attached to the side, so this is a kind of workaround where I get 99% of the tilt function of the screen whilst still being able to use it like an L-bracket.

Remote trigger

Another accessory that is completely optional is the remote trigger. This lets you trigger the shutter without touching the camera. It was essential for older SLRs and DSLRs but nowadays it really isn’t that necessary.

Again, if you are doing long exposures, over 30 seconds, you will need one of these. Especially with the Sony cameras as there is no way to shoot for longer than 30 seconds without one.

I have one, but don’t always take it with me. If you are looking for a shutter release for your camera, I’d recommend the one in the image below. These have interval functions as well as being able to set the time you want to shoot the photograph for. So no need to keep an eye on your watch, just set it up and leave it.

Conclusion

After writing this article, I have realised, that a lot of the optional accessories are only really needed if you predominantly photograph long exposures, waterfalls or seascapes. Then, you could almost add all of these to the essentials list … however, if you are just getting started and are not sure which direction to go in with your landscape photography, the best bet is to get to grips with the 5 essentials, and then build up from there.

As I always say, photography is modular and you can and should build up your kit over time.

I started photography in the mid 90s with a Canon EOS 5 (Film Camera) and the kit lens. I used this for over a year before buying any accessories.

Then over time, I got more and more accessories … some I loved, some I hated, but these are the ones I have stuck with over the years, even with the very sophisticated modern cameras we have today.

If you like this article and want to read more, click here to find out about the essential skills you need to work on to get better as a landscape photographer.

Thanks

Mike 😁👍