Cascade falls on Cascade Trail.
On a whim I decided to Facebook Ryan Seth of the Annapolis Running Shop in Maryland, USA for some tips on trail running in the area. Here is their FB page as well. I wanted to take some more East Coast pictures of trail runners and thought this might be an opportunity. Ryan rustled up some savvy trail runners and we headed out to Patapsco Valley State Park just to the east of Baltimore, MD. Check out their site as their PDF maps are printable and highly detailed.
I was a little anxious about this trip because I had arranged to meet some folks to take me to the local trails, one of whom was a local running shop owner. I didn't want to disappoint. I had never done this kind of trail running photography before, but I figured it out as I went along.
I wasn't sure about carrying my gear either. I have an F-Stop Guru (which is great by the way) but it's too big for trail running. I wish F-Stop made a smaller minimalist pack with hydration with room for only one pro DSLR and a nice wide angle lens. Here's to hoping. I ended up using an old Mountainsmith fanny back, (thanks Yves!) with the shoulder strap to carry my D800 with Nikon 14-24mm fatty wide angle, some spare batteries and snacks. I added stability to the whole package by using an F-Stop Gatekeeper strap around my front to pull the Mountainsmith shoulder strap snug. It did surprisingly well. I have tried a LowePro toploader for this but it is too bouncy on the front. and not made for the back.
I wasn't sure about carrying my gear either. I have an F-Stop Guru (which is great by the way) but it's too big for trail running. I wish F-Stop made a smaller minimalist pack with hydration with room for only one pro DSLR and a nice wide angle lens. Here's to hoping. I ended up using an old Mountainsmith fanny back, (thanks Yves!) with the shoulder strap to carry my D800 with Nikon 14-24mm fatty wide angle, some spare batteries and snacks. I added stability to the whole package by using an F-Stop Gatekeeper strap around my front to pull the Mountainsmith shoulder strap snug. It did surprisingly well. I have tried a LowePro toploader for this but it is too bouncy on the front. and not made for the back.
This lumbar pack that I used is 17 years old and still going strong.
I am not sure what model it is but it most resembles the current
Day TLS.
You can see the strap that came with it on my left shoulder.
On the Mountainsmith website there are smaller ones that are probably more appropriate for running.
I am not sure what model it is but it most resembles the current
Day TLS.
You can see the strap that came with it on my left shoulder.
On the Mountainsmith website there are smaller ones that are probably more appropriate for running.
A frontal view with the F-Stop Gatekeeper around my lower chest to pull the MS shoulder strap snug. I look like a regulah strap hangah cap! It works though.
Any other ideas out there for trail running photographers?
At the beginning of our run I ran in back as any newbie to an area would do in a group. When I came to some pretty sections I would holler out to Ryan and Josh to come back and run it again. They were sure nice about it but I began to see that this was not ideal for either one of us. It breaks up their run and I get less shots because I feel guilty asking them to stop all the time.
After a bit of this I decided to run with my D800 in hand with the lens cap off. Quite scary really but the terrain was not too technical. Once I did this, I ran ahead of them and whenever I came to a sweet spot, I would stop and shoot a bunch as they went by. I would then have to pass them again which I am sure was a little annoying, but perhaps not as bad as having them run up the same hill twice. So although I was a little nervous, I was able to get some great shots without having to ask the subjects to "do it again".
At the beginning of our run I ran in back as any newbie to an area would do in a group. When I came to some pretty sections I would holler out to Ryan and Josh to come back and run it again. They were sure nice about it but I began to see that this was not ideal for either one of us. It breaks up their run and I get less shots because I feel guilty asking them to stop all the time.
After a bit of this I decided to run with my D800 in hand with the lens cap off. Quite scary really but the terrain was not too technical. Once I did this, I ran ahead of them and whenever I came to a sweet spot, I would stop and shoot a bunch as they went by. I would then have to pass them again which I am sure was a little annoying, but perhaps not as bad as having them run up the same hill twice. So although I was a little nervous, I was able to get some great shots without having to ask the subjects to "do it again".
Heading down the Cascade Trail to see what else Patapsco has to offer.
Most trails are well marked.
Up the Buzzard Rock Trail.
Going down the Saw Mill Trail. We lucked out with glorious weather.....for a Canadian!
Still going down the Saw Mill trail over a fun technical section.
Thanks again Ryan and Josh for coming with me, enduring my calls for reshooting pictures and worse, running that hill just one more time! I had a great run and hope to come down again sometime. It was such a treat for me because of the 40-50 F weather and no snow or ice. The trails were in great shape as well.
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