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How to Take the Perfect Summit Photo

June 15, 2022 by Angie Hilsman Leave a Comment

Man climbs rocky Mt Mansfield with landscape behind him.
The first step to a great summit photo (or above treeline photo in this Mt. Mansfield shot) is great lighting. Photo by: Joe Sack

You did it! You submitted that Vermont peak. Whether you hiked by yourself or with a tight-knit group, you now want to capture the moment.

We’ve all been in the position of asking a stranger to take our photo. It’s risky to rely on that person’s photography skills — or lack thereof — for a share-worthy photo. And while we can’t guarantee you a great shot, we can give you tips for helping your fellow trail users memorialize the moment. Here’s what you need to know to take an awesome summit photo:

It’s all about lighting.

Hiker walks across a rock surface in forefront of photo.
A cloudy background on Killington Peak. Photo by: Sam Yang

Sunny days may seem like the best days to pull out the camera, but harsh overheard lighting can be tricky to work with. The best lighting is on cloudy days, in the early morning, or in the evening. If you can, avoid taking photos when the sun is at its highest point in the sky.

Position the sun in front of, or to the side of, your subject. Positioning the sun directly behind the folks you’re photographing can “backlight” the subjects and make them appear dark.

Be Wary of Shadows

Focus on lighting and shadows for a great summit photo.
Pay attention to shadows to ensure they don’t hide a subject’s face. Photo by: Matt Heller

Look out for shadows cast by tree cover, clouds, firetowers, backpacks, cairns, and other people. Ask folks to remove hats, sunglasses, and masks (if appropriate) so their faces are clearly visible.

Be Mindful of Your Subject’s Head…

Camel’s Hump summit. Photo by: Richard Moran

…and hands… and feet. You don’t want to lop off the top of anyone’s head. If the aim is to get the person(s) and surrounding landscape, make sure the whole of your subject is in the frame.

Additionally, make sure there are no people or distracting objects behind or around your subject. It’s sort of the worst when a background tree later looks like antlers spouting from the subject’s head. Alongside those stray branches, look out for power lines and photobombers.

Try a few Variations

Hiker featured against foggy summit background.
Camel’s Hump Summit. Photo by: Will Kriewald

It’s great when someone takes plenty of photos, as long as the series isn’t a rapid-fire succession. Be purposeful instead of trigger-happy. Consider these variations:

  • A horizontal vs. vertical photo orientation.
  • A closer, detailed portrait vs. a wider, landscape shot.
  • An action shot or candid vs. a posed photo.
  • A funny face or pose vs. a smile.

Utilize the “Rule of Thirds”

Subject sits on Lye Brook Trail looking out at Stratton Pond; demonstrates rule of thirds concept.
Stratton Pond lunch. Photo by: Peckar

In photography, the “rule of thirds” means that if you divide your frame into thirds both horizontally and vertically and place key elements of the photo along the “third” lines or where they intersect, it will be more pleasing than a centered subject. This strategy doesn’t always apply, but it’s very effective, especially if you want to include more of the scene around the folks you’re photographing.

…and the Camera’s Focus Feature

Black pup on rock overlooking Little Rock Pond
Who said all trail users are human? What matters is that the subject, like this pup at Little Rock Pond, is in focus. Photo by: Krista Cheney

Most camera phones allow you to set the focus of the photo. Tap the screen to make sure faces are in focus, as opposed to a backpack or vegetation.

If it’s a group photo, make sure everyone’s looking in the same direction; we’re still fans of the “say cheese” prompt to focus their attention. And if your subject isn’t looking directly at the camera, like above, you want them to face toward the photo’s center, as opposed to looking out of the frame.

Have a Great Summit Photo? Share it.

Hikers silhouetted on Mansfield summit as sun rises
Sunrise on Mt. Mansfield’s chin. Photo by: Andrew McNealus

We love to see Vermont’s hiking community in action! Share your adventure photos with us, and you could be featured on our digital platforms and in our quarterly print publication, the Long Trail News. Email photos to [email protected] or tag us on Facebook and Instagram: @greenmountainclub.

#LongTrail #greenmountainclub #hikeVT

What are Your Tips for a Great Summit Photo?

Of course, there are always exceptions to the above suggestions, like the following photos. (You have to know the rules to know when to break them.) Let us know what else we missed! Share your photography tips in the comments.

Two hikers sit back-to-back with the sun behind them atop Mt. Mansfield.
This summit photo uses symmetry to focus the image and artfully silhouettes the subjects. Photo by: Ken Hancock
A hiker is centered in this Sterling Pond. Photo by: Lavonne Ellis
Camel’s Hump at sunrise. Photo by: Sam Yang

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: how-to

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Ask a Science Teacher: Why is the Long Trail so Muddy?

March 27, 2023

Vermont — and especially the Long Trail — is known for being sort of muddy. We even have an official fifth season, "mud season." Why is Vermont (sometimes known as "Vermud") and the Long Trail so muddy? Why is the Long Trail so muddy? To answer, we asked Joe Bahr, newly minted author of the … Read more

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Mission

The Green Mountain Club is the founder and maintainer of the Long Trail - the oldest long distance hiking trail in America. Established in 1910 to build this trail stretching the length of Vermont, the club now also maintains the Appalachian Trail in Vermont and trails in the Northeast Kingdom in its mission to "make the Vermont mountains play a larger part in the life of the people." Read more...

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