19 Apr

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In the canopy, tree climbing techniques for photographers

Author: Carlos Sastoque

Born and live in a country where most of its surface is covered with forests of all types, for example, cloud forests, rain forests forests the tropical Andes that the practice and development of my tree-climbing techniques to get photos from the top of these ecosystems. I must confess that for me (and I suppose that for any other photographer who was shot in the deck) would be more comfortable and easy to walk to travel from a broad research harassment or wildlife with camera and tripod on my shoulder, as you do in Alaska, or even Cozier, traveling in a Land Rover in the savannas of Africa, but the truth is that making the images you want to live in the country and least studied habitats in the world, we must overcome fear of heights and leave the comfort zone man on earth.

In the Amazon, we believe that between 70-90% of its biodiversity living, traveling and living in medium to high level of the jungle. Not only So it goes up a tree can give a nice breath of fresh air into the jungle below, you can shoot up to the sunrise and sunset with the light, a larger picture in an ecosystem where several feet below the darkness that has probably solved long ago.

THE TEAM

I will Speaking first to the tree climbing equipment:

The idea is to climb the tree that you pass a climbing rope in one or more branches tree to be mounted. One end of the rope is attached to another tree and the other end is that you climb. I use half inch. braided rope. I have several of these channels so you can work different trees in the same region, I'm taking photos. I have a cable 90 feet to 250 feet, which cover almost all different heights, I would like to work at. Here we must bear in mind that you need a chain of at least 2 ½ times the length of the pitch of the string twice the industry and the angle and take a few knots the rope. Different stations in the tree that I can adapt my shooting conditions of the site. Many animals are when they roost in a predictable manner all evenings for example, if one of my stations will work in the afternoon and another station may be better placed to take advantage of the morning light.

To support the body I use a Petzl harness standard, although I am seriously considering the possibility of using a seat more comfortable if I take photographs hanging from the rope.

Climbing rope needs a mechanical device called promotion. Harness attaches to climb up the rope from slipping, but if their weight is brought down, it grabs the rope with small teeth that penetrate it. Ascenders so you need two: one is attached to the chair and the other with a tubular piece of tape, can stay at the top and drag it up the rope. I use Petzl ascenders.

The last important accessory you will need a descender. The name says it all: it is used to get safely through the rope. I have two: a figure 8 and a rack descender descender.

Other accessories are used snags on several tape loops of tubular, cowhide gloves, a Etrier (a wide belt).

In the next section, I will talk about the other tools and equipment for all seasons.

TECHNOLOGY

When I arrived at a place I've used, I do not photograph and put a rope at a time. I try walking in the area for a few days noticed that the fruit trees, roosting sites, nests, follow-up canopy, the remaining trees, etc., all places that attract wildlife during the day or perhaps the hope – throughout the week. Once I finger on the shaft promising I am looking for some larger trees so I can climb safely. Other important points to consider are the light next to any time of day, how clean is the view (a tree with many branches will be difficult to work from), if the species being photographed is too sensitive to human intrusion, whether it is a nest of extreme caution should be taken so as not to interrupt the cycle), climbing trees in good health should be dealt with the germination of the branches at the top.

Once the climbing tree is selected, I use a sling adapted Marksman an empty plastic bottle of soda pointing forward. Wrapped around the plastic bottle are 300 feet of 16-pound monofilament. About to lose monofilament I Ate 9 oz lead fishing. Now, choose the best branch of the tree, the blade pointing the ballast and drop the monkey. Hopefully, after a few countries have achieved, I the only singer in the group chosen and the probe will land on the other side. Now the sequence of the probe and the draw of this 300 feet of monofilament wire curtain. Can make the single back in the bottle, while the other side of the curtain to go up the cable. Once the point of the rope in my hands, I repeat the above process but this time I tie the climbing rope curtain cord. In the end, I will climb the rope on the branch you selected. I tied a piece of rope in the other near a large tree with a double knot the bowline.

STATION

While the platforms are more comfortable using in a tree because I can use my tripod and even sleep in them, I'm not used to build several reasons: if I work in a national park or reserve, which may be required to obtain a permit, something that I think probably refused, I would also have a lot of wooden boards that require a certain distance of the exercise, I believe that the tree suffers much less with a smaller number of nails, if the platform is not a place I have to go back very often all the efforts in building a platform will be lost, rather than the following method has proved very useful, quick and efficient for my needs.

I prefer to put my picture on the right fork at the station formed by the main branch of the tree with a strong secondary. This is what I can hang my honda seat fabric on each side with ease. Once you reach the junction of the first thing I do is go to nail two newspapers from all parts of the fork. These records will be supported by the device Photo / objective through a Bogen Manfrotto Super Clamp Studioball Graf and my ballhead. Then my harness to the seat height on the fork so I maneuver my camera in a sitting position, this seat is very important because a lot of time to spend 12 hours in a tree and standing the whole time would be too tiring. Then sometimes (depending on the subject docile) I have two-pin 6 feet x 3 feet camo pieces of fabric on each side of the station act as a blind. Once all of the station is set up I can bring my computer that I linked at the end of the rope. The assembly is secured with bag hooks and belt loop. It is very important that everything, including you, which is attached to an anchor point in the tree. I left a lot of there and find a room is a miracle. Changing lens care is especially important because you do not surface in place, I size of two packs, one of them empty, so you can easily discourage distance objectives, filters and accessories.

Before attempting to climb the tree, I advise you to take a course on techniques and safety. Once you've gained confidence in the process, you will be rewarded with magnificent views and beautiful images of the cover.

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About the Author:

Soy a professional photographer who normally writes the text of my task. My images and text have been published in numerous magazines, calendars and books in the world.
Carlos Sastoque Photography

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