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Coming from the east and up from the plains, you can't help but
notice the stark changes in the scenery. Rugged cliffs and the
dry air greet the traveler entering a new world.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park provides a high quality, all
around photographic experience. If your goal is to photograph
a badlands type of landscape while still being able to capture
a diverse array of wildlife, this is a very good location.
One of the things that first hits you is the ruggedness and surreal
quality of this national park landscape. Of particular interest
is how the light works the land, perceptively changing the colors
of the rock and soil -filling the dark nooks and crannies of the
park with a glowing quality.
There are a few must see spots for photography, most of which
are easily accessed by traveling the scenic point road. Try Skyline
Vista, Scoria Point Overlook, North Dakota Badlands Overlook,
Buck Hill (second highest point in the park at 2,855 feet), Boicourt
Overlook and the Wind Canyon trail. All of these places are excellent
for landscape photography as well as various wildlife. In my experience
at Theodore Roosevelt National Park, you will
want to really make the sunset hours a priority. Of course, this
is also the time when wildlife is most active, so keep alert and
keep your speed down.
One of my favorite things to do in the park with camera in hand
is to travel cross country into the unroaded portions of the park.
Cross country travel is permitted in the park and will get you
images not everyone else gets. Generally speaking the terrain
can be rugged, but is also fairly wide open unlike many of the
more thickly forested parks. A good, sturdy pair of hiking boots
and a healthy supply of water are essential for any cross country
exploration. A system to keep your camera gear dry is also important
in case of sudden downpours (there are some pretty nasty storms
in the park rolling in off the plains). One thing to look out
for while cross country is unpredictable wildlife such as bison,
elk, cougar (rare) and snakes.
For those that don't want to haul lenses around, I recommend
the Canon Powershot SX10IS as an excellent all around camera.
The Canon 50D is an excellent DSLR, especially matched with the
Canon 17-55 IS and the Canon EF 70-300mm IS Nikon offers the Nikon
D300 , an excellent camera when paired with the Nikon 70-300 VR
and the Nikon 16-85mm
For ultra-sharp landscape photography, a tripod is a must. I
recommend the Manfrotto 190XDB Tripod and the Manfrotto 486RC2
for a good lower cost quality solution.
Buying your gear through the links here at Parkcamper.com helps
us continue to bring you more specific information for outdoor
trip planning.
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