7 tips for good Photos on Ski Tours: Learn how to take Breathtaking Pictures while Ski Touring

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Ever wondered how the pros take such outstanding pictures while ski touring? Learn how to improve your ski touring images quickly and easily with these 7 easy-to-implement tips.

Skitouring is a fun and physically challenging activity that brings you to remote and breathtaking locations. Not just physical strength and endurance are required, but also technical abilities and terrain awareness. There are a few crucial strategies and practices to consider if you’re an adventurous photographer trying to produce excellent ski touring photographs.

This short tutorial will help you create attractive and aesthetically astonishing images of this fascinating winter sport, from selecting the necessary equipment to understanding lighting and composition and respecting skiers’ pace and privacy. Read on to discover how to photograph the beauty and thrill of ski touring.

#1 Plan Ahead

A ski tour with an overnight stay in a hut, like here at the Martin-Busch-Hütte, should be well planned. Whether you are a photographer or not, planning is part of a safe ski tour. You should know exactly what equipment you need and what not.

Skitouring involves navigating through difficult and challenging terrain. Prepare the route in advance and bring the necessary safety gear, such as an avalanche beacon, probe, and shovel.

#2 Select the Correct Equipment

Equipment on a ski tour: The right equipment on a ski tour is essential. The backpack is already full and heavy – as a photographer you should therefore consider every item carefully.

To capture the skitourer and the surrounding scenery, use a DSLR or mirrorless camera with a quick shutter speed and a wide-angle lens.

At Mountain Moments, we can’t stress this enough: Carrying too much gear will cause you to move considerably more slowly.

#3 Be Mindful of Lighting

Ski tour at the Martin Busch hut. This picture was taken at noon and does not have a particularly nice light. Mornings and afternoons often make your pictures more beautiful. Shoot in manual mode to have the exposure fully under control.

Ski touring frequently occurs in high-altitude regions where the light can be harsh and brutal. The ideal shooting times are still in the early morning and late afternoon, but be ready to change your camera settings as the light changes throughout the day.

#4 Use Composition Techniques

The wonderful, high alpine glacier landscape on Similaun. Note the composition of the image – the classic division with a third sky, a third foreground and a middle third. The skier relates the size of the landscape.

Apply compositional techniques by using the surrounding scenery to give the image context and depth. To draw the viewer’s attention to the skitourer, use leading lines or patterns. Try using different framing strategies to add a feeling of scale and adventure.

#5 Capture Action Shots

Ski action shots are the proverbial salt in the soup when ski touring. The descent is often the most beautiful moment – capture it. The Similaun is in the background. Note the fast shutter speed, use the continuous shooting mode.

Use a quick shutter speed (1/1000 or higher) to capture action shots of the skitourer in motion. You can take numerous shots in succession by using the continuous shooting option. To record action sequences, take into account employing burst mode.

#6 Edit Your Photos

Ski descent from Similaun in the Austrian Alps – this image is only slightly, but purposefully post-processed: The color and the brightness have been adjusted a little bit. When you become more professional, you can choose between different tones and styles. Come on a photo workshop and learn from us, how to get there.

Post-processing can make your images more colorful and contrasty. To change the exposure, color temperature, and saturation of a photo, use photo editing software like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop. Crop the photo to improve composition and get rid of unwanted features.

#7 Be Respectful to your Ski touring Models

Ski touring is a sport that you should not do alone. Be restepctul to your skitouring partners and respect their speed and privacy. And don’t forget to laugh together :)

Ski touring is an emotionally and physically demanding sport, so treat others with respect. Avoid impeding the skitourer’s vision or path, and respect their personal space and privacy. Always put safety first and be open with the skitourer.

You can take great skitouring photos that highlight the beauty and thrill of this demanding sport with the correct tools, lighting, composition, and editing.

With the right equipment, lighting, composition, and editing, you can capture stunning skitouring pictures that showcase the beauty and adventure of this challenging sport.

All pictures in this article were taken on a classic ski tour to Similaun (3599m).

The best Winter Adventures in and around Innsbruck – Skiing, Freeride, Skitour and more

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