Field Dangers for Nature Photographers

[altaf]

I don't know if this counts as nature photography but i felt this was

the best place to ask.

 

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Where would be a good place to learn about survival field techniques

for photographers?

 

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ex:

(1) snake bite

(2) deciding wheres a safe place to camp

(3) fire rules

 

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I am a native new yorker so i don't want to (a) die (b) get in over my

head going backpacking © make an ass out of myself by not following

the rules about fire safety etc... I'm a bit too old to join the

boyscouts :)

[matthew_francey]

0) Just about any book on camping/hiking will do. You can also ask

this question in rec.backcountry or similar newsgroups. Or just wade

around there, since it is one of those FAQ's. None of these

references will deal specifically with photographers, simply because

campcraft is orthogonal to photography [ie, you are not exempt from

any "rules", nor are there extra ones, because you are a

photographer].

 

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1) If you manage to get bit by a snake, you probably deserved it. If

you are concerned, wear boots that go above your ankles. Generally

speaking do what I do: worry more about munging a foot/ankle on a

mis-step.

 

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2) The decision process depends on the environment; winter, alpine,

desert, forest, jungle, etc.

 

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3) Fires are <i>extremely</i> inefficient. The fuel is very heavy,

most of the chemical energy is wasted, the time investment (to start

and maintain) is high. Fires also leave a mess behind. Many places

also flatly forbid fires. White gas camp stoves are vastly superior

in almost every way. The book(s) you will read will go on about this.

 

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a) That you've asked the question means this is an unlikely outcome.

 

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b) Start with car-camping. However, buy and use trail-ready equipment

(usually low-mass and relatively expensive) to become familiar with it

and the patterns of camp life.

 

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c) The only rule about fires is to simply not bother.

[steve_chen]

Other than reading books, visit your local EMS (Eastern Mountain

Sports, there is one on Broadway and Houston, or there used to be one)

or other established camping supply store. Usually they hold short

courses/seminars on basic camping skills, among other topics. They are

usually free to enroll. Best way is to get out there and start doing

it once you know the basics.

 

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I wouldn't worry too much about snakes camping in the continental US.

Only two poisonous terrential snakes (rattle snake and copperhead),

neither one very poisonous. Rarely fatal. Learn some basics and you

will be okay.

 

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Deciding where to camp is more complicated depending on where you are.

You need to rely on experience and information on local wildlife and

weather.

 

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When it comes to fire, use common sense and follow local and seasonal

regulations, which are usually clearly provided in National or state

parks.

[markci]

I'm not sure what a "terrential" snake would be, but there are

certainly a lot more than two venomous ones in the U.S. In addition

to the copperhead and many different species of rattlesnake there are

coral snakes and cottonmouths. Several species of rattlesnakes and

the cottonmouth are dangerously venomous, though encounters are rare

enough in most areas that I wouldn't be that concerned, other than to

wear boots.

[david_khoo]

Hi there - Buy a book on fieldcraft and read it. visit any of your

local camping store and ask about it. The store person usually will

help you. Decide which location you want to go and get as much

information about the place. Think you may want to try a place which

is frequent by campers and trekkers first.

 

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You seem to be very concern about snakes! Believe me they are more

afraid of you than you to them. Most snakes will avoid a

confrontation and will go away if you let it. Snakes will attack when

you accidently step on them(quite rare), or you provoke them(most

likely the case). Like mention before, wear a pair of boots that go

above the ankles(you may want to consider the army ones and nothing

canvas). gather and tuck the ends of you pants with rubberbands and

fit it round your boots,preventing snakes and who know what else from

going up your pants!! Should you be sleeping out in the field, i

think there are snake repellents, is there?!?!(anyway, snakes hate

sulphur. you can put some of this yellow stuff around your sleeping

bag area, but don't overdo it as it will be hard to get rid of it the

next morning).

 

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As far as deciding where is a safe place to camp, well i think there

really isn't one if wild animals is your concern. the basic stuff is

camping on higher ground, avoid open fields or spaces(you do not want

to be the tallest object in a lightning and thunder storm),

etc..etc...(read the fieldcraft book!)

 

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Fire rules - Don't start a fire!! use a portable gas stove or solid

fuel.

 

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regards

david

[bobatkins]

No, it isn't nature photography. You should try the rec.backcountry

Usenet newsgroup. You can read it via www.dejanews.com if you

don't have direct Usenet newsreading capability. Snakebite questions

there are as common as "Which

is the best P&S" questions on photo.net...This thread will be removed

soon.

 

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Snakebites are rare, but can be pretty nasty (fatal) if you are

unlucky. There are rattlesnakes in NY state (and NJ, but I've never

seen one!). The best safety rule is not to be alone if you don't know

what you are doing (and to travel with someone who does know what they

are doing if possible!).

 

As others have said, you have to go out of your way (or be unlucky)

to get bitten by most North American snakes. Last night there was

a program on the Doscovery channel, with a lunatic Auatralian

naturlist who was driving abound Arizona looking for big rattlers.

When he found them he would drag them out of their dens by the tail

using his bare hands,

poke at them with sticks, hold them up in the air and generally do all the thing you should <b>NEVER</b>

do

if you come across one. At least on the video they showed, the snakes

just hissed, rattled and postured, they never struck at him. I guess this shows that you really have to provoke most

rattlers into any sort of attack. Of course if you step on one by

mistake, you could be in trouble.

[altaf]

This question was not really about snakes in specific just about

field dangers of nature photography. The snakes were used as an

example you could easily insert any animal into the question. I

realize that it is the humans that are invading the animals territory

so i wanted to minimize this intrusion by following some basic

guidelines. I see a great deal on this forum on where to go, when to

go, what to bring, but if you don't have at least some basic idea of

survival techniques can you really say you do nature photography

instead of taking snapshots at a local arboretum or wildlife refuge.

Granted there will be people on both sides that will argue what is

and what is not nature photography and that argument is about 1 day

younger than canon vs nikon so i'm leaving that one to st. ansel to

sort out himself and tell us.

 

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Thanks to everyone for the responses. If there are specific

references to books you have found valuable those would be helpful as

well. I'm sure a ton has been written about every topic i asked but a

nice concise book is always a rarity.

[bobatkins]

There really isn't all that much "out there" in the wilderness tying

to get you. Critters generally would MUCH rather get out of your way.

The only exceptions I can think of are bears (grizzlies) and any

large mammal (Moose) defending it's offspring. Cougars (mountain

lions)

have been known to attack unprovoked too, but it's pretty rare. They

seem to have a liking for joggers - probably confuse them with

running animals. People have been killed by Deer, Elk, Bison etc.,

but you pretty much have to be asking for trouble to get into that

situation. Grizzlies, on the other hand, have killed three nature

photographers that I know of (probably more). Luckily, you won't

find too many grizzlies in the NY area...

 

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The average nature photographer really doesn't need "survival" skills,

just common sense. On a day hike take some water with you (at least

twice as much as you think you will need!), take along rain gear

even if it doesn't look like rain, always let someone

know where you are going and when you expect to be back. Don't

attempt solo multi-day backbacking trips in the wilderness unless

you know what you are doing. Take along a cell phone (but turn it

off unless you really need to use it!!).

 

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As I commented before, try rec.backcountry. There is (or was) lots

of stuff there about survival, animal attacks, snake bites, bears,

and neverending debates about things I won't mention or they may

infect this forum too!

[mike___5]

Al,

No matter how little you may know about hiking, your chances of getting hurt or into a problem are a lot less than riding the subway carrying your gear. : )

 

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Go hike with someone that's a hiker that you know would like to take better pictures and you'll both have a great time. There are a lot of great places to hike/camp in your area. I think your best bet would be to decide where you're going then pick up a book on that specific area. Kind of like deciding what you want to photograph before buying all the gear. : (

 

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Any way you go about it, if you use common sense you'll generally be fine. Just carefull asking the bears to pose. I hear that their favorite pose is licking peanut butter off an F5 that's is use. : )

[jason_elsworth1]

A great book on backpacking gear and technique is the Backpackers

Handbook by Chris Townsend. It will tell you what to take and how to

do it from an overnight to a 6 month trip. It doesn't cover much on

field craft but is esssentila reading.

[howard_creech1]

Al, I don't think you have to worry much about large (or small)

mammal attacks...unless you are way into the Wyoming or Montana back

country. Snakes are little problem...with the exception of

cottonmouths/moccasins...these snakes can be very agressive and

territorial. Plus they come out in the winter on pretty/warm days to

sun....the single best piece of advice is to make a little noise

(forget the Davy Crockett thing...the animals know you're there) and

go slow...and watch where you put your feet (both for the

snakes...even more important for the possibility of slipping or

falling) If you really haven't been in the woods...don't worry you

won't see much until you learn how to get into position without

alerting the local populace. Water Moccasins are limited

geographically to south of the Mason-Dixon line...so unless you are

headed for Florida. Louisiana, the Okefenokee, or other wet swampy

southern areas you won't see many cottonmouths. As to fires...take

the advice offered and bring a camp stove...if you absolutely must

build a fire DO NOT build a circle of stones...these never go away,

and they are un-needed...just dig a shallow hole and build a small

indian style fire in the hole...when finished you can douse the fire

and bury the remains...no danger of fire spreading and no ugly

circles of stones left behind for the next guy. Have fun and don't

worry too much, your chances of getting wet, cold, and dirty are much

better than your chances of being attatcked by wild animals or snakes.

[fritz_m_brown]

What the heck, I might as well wade in here. First for a book I heartily recommend The Complete Walker put out by the Sierra Club and available in bookstores everywhere. As far as animal dangers go, I've been camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, etc all my life. I've seen bears (including grizzlies) up close enough to count their nose hairs. By and far the biggest animal trouble I've ever had has been with chipmonks. These rodents will absolutely destroy your pack to get at your crackers inside. For other animals the best advise I can give is to just be aware of what is around you. Bears by and large pose no real threat except in unusual situations, ie you surprise one, you try to get between a sow and her cub, you push too close to a bear on a kill. In places like Yellowstone and surrounding areas where there are lots of grizzlies make sure you don't do any of the above and likely you won't have any trouble. In other areas, the threat is too low to even consider. If you are hiking on bear country, keep your cooking area and food storage away from your tent so if a bear is investigating looking for a free meal he wont bother you in your tent. Same basic advise for any animal you can mention including snakes. <p> One consideration that all nature photographers (and others interacting with nature) need to keep in mind is the threat of rabies. In the east rabies is endemic in racoons. There is an epidemic of rabies going on in racoons in Ohio and surrounding areas and is spreading. Out west rabies is primarily found in bats. Our lab detected rabies in more bats this year than ever before (that probably reflects more people sending in bats to be tested than an actual increase in the rate of rabies). The point is that any animal, especially a bat or racoon, acting out of it's character may be rabid and you should LEAVE IT ALONE. <p> Back to the camping advise, if you go car camping, take along luxury items like a good folding chair, good food, lots of dry clothing, a good sleeping pad (!) , and a warm sleeping bag. That will tremendously increase your camping pleasure. Good luck and have fun. If you find yourself wanting to camp out in Idaho get ahold of me and I can steer you to some spectacular sights.<p>

[cwphoto]

Al,

If you can survive NYC, then you can survive anywhere. Seriously, the

road trip to your destination is the most dangerous section. Join a

local hiking club, and use a butane stove for cooking.

Curt

[kuraoka]

The Sierra Club has a course on basic backpacking techniques. It

includes lots of training (or indoctrination) and a couple trips. You

can find a local chapter (maybe even on the web). Look into your

local college extension and Parks & Rec. Depts too.

 

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As far as book-learnin', I do not like "The Complete Walker." Two

books I highly recommend are "Walking Softly In The Wilderness" by

John Hart (ISBN:0-87156-813-6 softcover) and "The National Outdoor

Leadership School's Wilderness Guide" by Peter Simer and John

Sullivan, (ISBN: 0-671-61821-0 softcover). Those ISBNs are for the

editions in my library -- there are probably updated versions out by

now. Finally, speaking of the Boy Scouts, the Boy Scout Fieldbook is

an excellent reference.

[matthew_francey]

"New Yorkers like to boast that if you can survive in New York, you

can survive anywhere. But if you can survive anywhere, why live in New

York?" -- E. Abbey

[chelsea]

Since we're indulging in giving hiking/camping advice, I'll jump in

here with my two cents' worth....

 

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It's usually not the snakes or bears that make your outing miserable,

it's the little things that are often overlooked. Like inappropriate

clothing. Nothing is worth than having the weather change to wet and

cold unexpectedly, and not being dressed for it. Check weather

conditions before going out.

 

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Be prepared for stinging/biting/divebombing aggravating little

insects. Find out if there are tick or chigger problems in the area in

which you're going. Bee stings can be downright life-threatening to

those with allergies.

 

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Certain plants should be avoided, poison ivy/oak being the obvious

ones. Learn to identify and avoid stinging nettles, thorny plants,

etc.

 

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Proper footwear is important, blisters are NOT fun. Learn how to walk

on different types of terrain, nothing like a twisted ankle to slow

you down.

 

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TRY YOUR GEAR AT HOME being going out. I've seen countless campers

with brand new stuff still in the package and didn't have a clue what

to do with it when they got there.

 

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Practise with the stuff. Find a campground close to home and try out

the techniques; if they're not working, you can drive home.

[steve_chen]

Sorry for the lousy spelling. By "terrential" snakes, I actually meant

"terrestrial" snakes, or snakes that live on land. Coral and

cottonmouth snakes are in water, no concern to backpacking in the

woods. It is a relief to know that only rattlers and copperheads are

out there in the US, compared to what you can come across in other

parts of the world.

[peter_may]

This is probably way off the point, but I just wanted to correct some

horrendously wrong information about venomous snakes offered by Steve.

Cottonmouths are semi-aquatic snakes, and are USUALLY found in or near

water, but depending on the habitat, they can be long distances from

water at some times of year. They can be a dangerous snake in any

habitat. Coral snakes, found only in the southern states, are

definitely not aquatic. They are primarily burrowers, and are

therefore far more typical of more upland, dry-litter habitats.

Because they are burrowers, they are not frequently seen at most times

of year. But they can be very dangerous if messed with. As pointed

out by several earlier respondents, the majority of venomous snake

bites in the U.S. (something like 70%) are "illegitimate", a term used

by snake people to denote that someone was doing something to or with

the snake that they shouldn't have been doing in order to get bit in

the first place (sometimes attempting to kill it). Many snake lovers

look on "illegitimate" bites as a form of natural selection. Best

advice is to keep your eyes open, and if you do see a snake, back off

and leave it alone.

[peter_may]

One last erroneous point about venomous snakes in the U.S. - I guess

it depends on how you define "not very poisonous", but both

copperheads and especially the various species of Crotalus

rattlesnakes (the bigger ones, not the pigmies and massasaugas) are

quite dangerous snakes. While bites are rarely fatal, a decent

envenomation by any of these snakes will often earn you a few days in

the hospital, some horrendous pain, and often permanent disfigurement

or loss of function (loss of fingers, toes, permanent nerve damage,

etc.). All venomous snakes should be treated with extreme respect.

I'll shut up now.

[jim_harrison]

Hi Al,

Personally I think its a worthwhile thread, so I'll respond while its here. I spend quite a bit of time camping, canoeing and backpacking. So to reiterate a couple of points...some snakes are poisonous and even deadly. Usually, they are not a concern if you watch were you are going. Some places, such as Cumberland Island, have an abundance of poisonous snakes, but you should know that before going there. It�s the same with other animals. Grizzlies are a concern in Glacier Mountain Nat�l Park, but not in the Grand Canyon (where you still have to watch your step.) I think its a good idea for anyone to take a good Basic First Aid class (try a local community college), but you should especially learn about this if you are spending time away from medical assistance doing nature photography. I think that a twisted ankle, a tumble down a hillside or hypothermia are situations you are far more likely to encounter (and potentially life-threatening.)

 

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As far as deciding where to camp safely and fire rules/etiquette. Well, there are lots of books (REI, Amazon) and lots of opinions (don�t build a fire, fires aren�t bad if you do it right, or tires burn real good). The best thing I can think of for you to do would be to browse a couple of books and see if you like/agree with the content and how it is presented (NOLS books come to mind). Of course, you could always sign up for a NOLS course. An easier way to learn would be meet some people who like to camp (and they seem like sensible people to you), go with them and see what they do. You could go to a store and start buying equipment, but as a photographer you probably know how that works out. That said, exposure (the kind that can kill you, not your photos) is a serious problem when out of doors, so if you don�t do anything else, get yourself a decent compass and an accurate map and definitely learn how to use them. If your outdoor skills need to be developed, knowing how to get back home is a good place to start.

 

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If you wish to discuss anything further, please feel free to email me privately.

Jim

[patrick_chase]

My all-time favorite source of information on smart and safe

photographic practices would have to be:

 

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http://bobatkins.photo.net/info/binky.htm

[jeff_hallett1]

If you are a native New Yorker I would advise staying in a nearby

motel/campground. Venture out to places where others may be near to

help you in case. Read stuff mentioned in above posts.

 

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Lg animals ,snakes, spiders and mosquitos are not as forgiving as the

avg NY native.

[marv_thompson]

This time of year hunting can be a real concern, I always carry , and

this time of year, religiously wear, a safty orange vest and stocking

cap. If I even have a hint that someone is around with a gun, any

time of the year, I put the vest on.

 

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I get checked for a hunting liscense now and then, I don't hunt, but

then I don't look like a deer either with the orange on. Don't be

fooled into thinking that just because the area is off limits to

hunting that you are even remotely safe. Hunters get off track and

into the wrong areas, and there are poachers galore that would rather

leave you for dead than risk getting caught. My concern is for the

poachers, honest sportsmen may make mistakes, we all do, but the

criminal element is by far the most dangerous.

[ellen_wilson]

Tired of reading yet? I used to have the same fears, and actually

still do. Wilderness camping takes practice. You will see once you

get to where you are going and spend some time there. You will forget

some stuff, and chalk it up to not knowing. It is impossible to

anticipate everything. Take lots of film, film, film. Especially

higher speed stuff you think you won't use, but then wind up pushing!

So anticipating light conditions is paramount. Wildlife are more

afraid of you then you of them. Take it easy on yourself and don't

over do, then you won't have any energy to take pictures. This is a

good question, so why don't you go there and tell us about your

experience?

[paul_tsong]

Al,

 

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Some great advice on how to aquire camping skills. But the single most

important thing to a.) prevent death and b.) prevent you from getting

"in over your head" is hike or camp with other people. Even

experienced hikers have to accept some risk if they choose to hike

alone. A simple thing like a twisted ankle can be very dangerous if

you're alone and 20 miles from the nearest trailhead.