Every photographer has heard this advice before: Pack light. But when you set off for a multi-day shoot in the wilderness, it's not enough to just minimize your camera equipment. You have to think about your comfort and survival. It's not just about cameras and lenses. You need to stay dry, warm, safe, and hydrated – otherwise, you won't be able to concentrate on your shoot. When I traveled through the Alps to photograph my Hasselblad Masters series, I had to put together my equipment in a way that combined first-class image quality with practical endurance for extreme conditions.

Today, I'll show you exactly what I took with me, what I could have left out, and how you can optimize your own travel kit for demanding landscape photography.

The challenge: A photo travel kit for extreme conditions

Five days before the start of production for my Hasselblad Masters photo series, my biggest concern wasn't the weather, or the route planning – but the camera itself. My team was booked, all locations were prepared, but the camera wasn't there yet. We had already postponed the shoot twice, from May to July and then to the end of August. Now it was the last chance to photograph the series before winter set in in the mountains and the huts closed. Then, finally: Friday morning, the postman rang – not once, but twice. Two of the world's five existing prototypes of the then-unreleased Hasselblad X2D ended up with me. One camera came directly from Sweden, the backup from a test shoot in China. Also included were the three new V-Series lenses XCD 38V, 55V and 90V, as well as the ultra-wide-angle XCD 21mm. It was like Christmas and birthday on the same day. At first, I didn't even know how to get the battery out of the housing properly or remove the bayonet cover – there was no user manual yet. Not an ideal start for a high-profile assignment, but the adventure could begin.

Ahead of me lay 14 days in the Alps with one of the best cameras in the world – a dream for every photographer. But the most important question now was: What goes in the backpack? Because as impressive as the X2D was, I knew: If my basic needs are not met, the photography won't work either.

The camera equipment: Quality over quantity

As a base for my equipment, I chose the Lowepro PhotoSport Pro 70L AWIII – a backpack that is characterized not only by its large packing volume, but also by its high level of carrying comfort. Perfect for long tours with heavy equipment. The Lowepro has an integrated Camera Cube module in which I could store the Hasselblad X2D with the four lenses XCD 21mm, XCD 38V, XCD 55V and XCD 90V, my magnetic filter system from Freewell and four spare batteries. Since it was my first shoot with a Hasselblad, I took all four lenses with me – to be prepared for any situation.

I also packed my Gitzo Traveler Series 2 tripod, which I have already presented in a detailed review video. Last but not least, two Aperture MC LED lights were added for targeted lighting during night shots.

The pure camera equipment only made up about 8 liters of my backpack – the rest was reserved for survival and comfort.

The outdoor equipment: Surviving in the Alps

Anyone who photographs for several days in remote mountain regions must prepare well. In addition to the camera, clothing, food and sleeping systems were just as important.

In my backpack were:

ZenBivy Light Bed System: A combination of ISO mat, ultralight bed cover, a down quilt and an inflatable pillow – as close to a real bed as it gets in nature. I have already written a detailed article about this sleeping system in my blog. (Get 5% off the entire ZenBivy range via my link.)
3 liters of water plus water filter for emergencies.
Dinner and breakfast – freeze-dried for minimal weight.
Headlamp with red light mode so my eyes can adjust to the darkness.
Rain jacket and rain pants – indispensable in the mountains.
Down jacket, hiking poles and a multi-tool.

The entire kit ended up weighing 15 kilograms – a lot, but everything had its purpose.

An ascent full of challenges

On this tour, I was accompanied by my good friend Marcus, with whom I have been going on adventure trips regularly since our youth. We have known each other since the third grade, and while he often marches over glaciers in his swimming trunks, I am always heavily loaded with my photo equipment. Our journey began in Kamniška, a small town in Slovenia, where a thunderstorm was brewing in the afternoon. Instead of starting the hike directly, we decided to wait out the storm and simply turn our car into a mobile sleeping camp. Thanks to our ZenBivy Light Beds, we had a comfortable base that fit perfectly into the car and were able to enjoy a quiet night.

The next morning, one of the toughest climbs of the entire tour began. Ahead of us lay 1,500 meters in altitude over just eight kilometers. The path led us first through dense forests, then over steep scree fields and finally deep into the next cloud layer. Again and again the sky cleared for brief moments before we disappeared into the fog again. It was exhausting, demanding and a real test for our fitness. Around noon we finally reached our destination: the Bivak pod Skuto. This small, architecturally impressive shelter was designed in 2015 by OFIS Architects and flown to the mountain in three parts by helicopter. A helicopter would have been nice for me at that moment, because the steep climb had completely exhausted us.

But instead of a spectacular panorama, a white wall awaited us. Dense fog shrouded the entire valley. The visibility was a maximum of 30 meters, and none of the majestic peaks I wanted to photograph could be seen. In addition, there was another problem: the hut was not empty. More and more hikers gradually arrived – first two French ladies, then a French group of men, later a Slovenian couple who set up camp on the floor due to a lack of sleeping places. My original plan to implement my concept in peace dissolved in the chaos of the full hut.

Bivac Pod Skuto - Modern Architecture in the Julian Alps

Flexibility over Perfection

In that moment, it became clear: I had to let go of my expectations and make the best of the situation. I grabbed my Hasselblad X2D and started exploring the surroundings. The weather was icy, the wind was biting, and a fine drizzle topped it all off. We couldn't use the drone because of the humidity and poor visibility. The cabin was difficult to photograph from the valley side because the terrain drops off extremely steeply there. But on the other side, an interesting opportunity presented itself: the roof of the cabin reflected the structure and color of the folded layers of rock. I looked for a composition that harmonized these elements.

After a few attempts, I discovered a hole in the rocky landscape about ten meters deep. The cabin was just visible in the background. I placed my tripod right on the edge of the abyss, secured the XCD 21mm, and held the camera firmly – because the wet rock didn't offer a secure footing. The result: one of my favorite images of the entire series. The layers of rock create a mystical, almost extraterrestrial-looking scene, in which the small refuge appears as a haven from an alien world.

After warming up in the cabin with a hot tea, we ventured back out into the cold. Night was falling, and according to the weather forecast, the clouds should clear soon. For two hours, Marcus and I took turns holding an umbrella over the camera. Then, finally, around 10:00 p.m., the clouds parted. I positioned the Aperture MC LED lights to illuminate the cabin in a targeted manner and was able to capture a series of images that perfectly captured the atmosphere of this place.

The second shot at sunrise

After a restful night in the ZenBivy system, the alarm clock rang at 5:00 a.m. the next morning. We quietly snuck out of the cabin so as not to wake the other hikers and got back to work. The second night shot was just as magical. The cabin stood in the soft light of dawn, and the fog slowly began to clear. After the night shots were in the can, we waited until the other guests of the cabin had set off. I took the opportunity to also record a series of images of the most beautiful views from the cabins into the mountain landscape.

Pro Tip: If you get an LED headlamp, make sure it has a red light mode. This light is weak enough not to impair your night vision but is sufficient to see your camera settings. For longer distances, you can then switch to the white light LED with zoom function.

The first shot of my Hasselblad ENLIGHTEN photo series.

Conclusion: The perfect travel kit for landscape photography

As we walked back down the steep path into the valley, I thought about my equipment. Could I have left something out? The XCD 55V was hardly used. On the next tours, I reduced my lens selection to two to three lenses. The rain gear was essential. Even if it gets hot on the ascent – the weather often changes at the summit. Warm clothing and a dry change of shirt are essential to avoid cooling down.

And what about the camera? The Hasselblad X2D completely won me over. The level of detail in the images is incredible – you can lose yourself in the structures of the rocks and the fine swirls of the clouds. When I dragged the first RAW files onto the computer, I knew: the first image for the Hasselblad Masters series was in the bag.

What did I take away from this first shooting day?

The less equipment you take with you, the freer you will be to photograph. Too many options can slow you down.
Your basic needs are just as important as your camera setup. If you are tired, soaked, or dehydrated, you will not take great pictures.
Be flexible. The weather, conditions, and location will never be exactly as you plan – use what you are given.

The Bivak pod Skuto is an incredible place, nestled in the rugged mountain landscape of the Julian Alps. I will definitely return – hopefully in better weather. But the adventure was not over. After this tough start, we went even deeper into the Alps, with new challenges. The next episode is about an even bigger challenge: How do you deal with bad weather when it threatens to ruin your entire shoot? Stay tuned!

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Happy shooting, and see you next time!