PHOTOSPORT PRO MEETS THE NEW HASSELBLAD X2
ALBRECHT VOSS
ALBRECHT VOSS
Photography for me is an invitation to explore my environment. Since I was 15 years old, I have seen the world through a lens. This perspective makes me appreciate small, inconspicuous moments and makes me take great strains to find unique motifs. Hikes through the Alps are my favorite excursions, in search of new motifs. Here I have to work out my pictures. For my photo serieses, I always travel by car in the morning and then hike through the midday and afternoon to my destination, where I usually stayovernight. This way I reserve the time with the most beautiful light for photography. For my current photo series I traveled over two weeks from the Julian Alps in Slovenia, through Italy, Austria and Switzerland back to my home country Germany.
NEW HASSELBLAD X2D
During the tour, the right equipment is essential for me to enjoy some comfort even in adverse conditions. As a Hasselblad Master Photographer I had the chance to work with the new Hasselblad X2D and the three new XCD 38mm, 55mm and 90mm lenses for my last trip. This combination is fantastic for landscape photography. The camera and lenses are ultra compact, very lightweight and at the same time offer the highest level of image quality, sharpness and dynamic range that you can get on the market. So I'm 100% sure that effort during shooting will be rewarded with top-notch image results.
For photo productions in the mountains, I don't just have my camera system and tripod with me. For a tour with an overnight stay, I always take rain pants and a rain jacket, a light down jacket for the evening, as well as a hat and my Vallerett photo gloves. There is nothing worse than standing wet or cold on top of a mountain. It's easy to lose the desire to take pictures in such circumstances.
In addition, a sleeping matt and bag, sometimes climbing equipment, as well as 2 liters of water and food for 2-3 times come with the tours. It is easy to see that most of my equipment is not related to photography. With that said, many classic photo backpacks are not well split for me, as they usually offer very limited options for stowing such large, bulky items safely away from rain or snow. My research for photo treks led me to the Lowepro PhotoSport Backpack Pro 70l AW III. I have always had super experiences with Lowepro. For example, my Protactic system of belts and lens cases, as well as my first photo backpack, the Vertex 300AW, still serve me well after over 10 years of hard, daily production use.
PHOTOSPORT PRO 70L
The PhotoSport Backpack Pro 70l AW III is brilliant for longer trips. It comes with some base weight, but adjusts so well to the body that it fits very well all day, even with a 20kg pack weight.
At the bottom I store my sleeping bag in a separate compartment. In the main compartment is the camera cube (more on that in a moment), and on top of that my sleeping mat, provisions and warm clothes. On the edge of the inside there is a separate pocket for a drink bladder with 3l capacity. The head compartment is an ingenious design. It can be easily removed and used as a standalone bag using the shoulder strap provided. This is where I store all my important documents, money, tissues, medicine and my headlamp. I can take the bag anywhere while leaving the backpack in the car, tent or shelter. On its exterior, the PhotoSport Backpack Pro 70l AW III doesn't skimp on attachment options, either. I stow my rain gear in a pocket at the front with quick access. Side pockets hold my Gitzo GK2545T-82QD tripod, as well as a 1l water bottle. I can also easily attach my hiking poles and crampons for glacier tours.
The highlight of the backpack for me is the integrated GearUp pocket. It serves to cushion the photo equipment in the backpack and allows access from the front or back of the backpack. The GearUp Pro XL that comes with the backpack has enough room for my Hasselblad X2D, four lenses, a set of lens filters, and small items like batteries and the camera strap. The special feature is that you can also use the bag separately from the backpack. With the included carrying strap, it becomes a slingbag in no time and was my companion at all times, once I had arrived at the summit. The heavy backpack I then immediately put down in the tent or accommodation and was only with the small bag on the road. The GearUp Pro XL has a top and a side access and is thus very easy to use both on the body, as well as on the ground.
SUSTAINABILITY IN LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY
in my mountain images, I always try to find compositions in which the landscape appears untouched. However, anyone who has ever been to the Alps knows that you can find human traces everywhere. Especially tourism changes the landscape on a large scale. Lifts, ski slopes and restaurants can be found on almost every mountain in the Alps. This helps many people to enjoy this magnificent nature with the comfort they are used to. At the same time, this infrastructure also takes away much of the experience. With my photography, I want to advocate for sustainable tourism concepts.
More and more mountain hut owners and communities rely on regenerative energy concepts for their huts. Modern architecture with natural materials blends in with nature in the Alps instead of sticking out of it. These are good approaches that I address in my photo series Modern Alpine Architecture.
Why I love landscape photography
Photography in the mountains combines all my passions: Photography, nature, climbing and delicious food. The productions in the Alps are a great change from a busy everyday life as a commercial photographer. Even though getting up early, going on long tours and fighting the elements is very exhausting, these photo tours give me more energy than they take away.
There's nothing like the first warm rays of sunshine on your face after a cold night behind the camera!
