Getting fit for better pictures !!

tonybassplayer

tonybassplayer

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Tony
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Long story short I used to be a fitness fanatic (squash, step aerobics, marathons and beyond etc) but things changed and I got older and fatter.

I am making a conscious effort now to get out more to better locations and hopefully a by-product of that will be to lose weight and get fitter.

I was out at Malham Cove this weekend and decided to walk to the top with my camera bag fully loaded and I must admit when I got to the top I had little energy left and when rested I didn't venture too far before making my way back down to the car.

I really do need to get fitter if I am to make it to more "off the beaten track" locations. Promised myself I will do a couple of high up locations in June when I am up in the Lake Distruct so I need to get the fitness level raised.
 
Luckily there is such a thing as muscle memory apparently so if you were fit once it shouldn't take too long to get fit again.

(According to my 80 year old brother in law who still does triathlons!!)

He's even planning an 80 miler this year to mark his milestone. Nutter.
 
Being a bit fit makes a huge difference to enjoyment of landscape photography IMHO. When up in NW Scotland in February, I scaled a few mountains and it was far more enjoyable to do so without getting totally knackered than having to puff and pant and stop every 5 minutes.

Usually the best shots take effort to get, and are more memorable as a result.
 
GreenNinja67 said:
Luckily there is such a thing as muscle memory apparently so if you were fit once it shouldn't take too long to get fit again.
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Everyone tells me that's the case. I used to be able to run up to 100 miles over the hills when I was fit. Now I'm going for a new knee I'm desperately hoping that muscle memory works. So much to do this summer, and so little time. I can't afford to be bed ridden!
 
When I retired early due to failing health I was overweight and unfit. I decided to convert to digital photography and take up carrying a camera around as an incentive to start walking around again. That soon developed into my photographic weight training regime. As soon as I found I could stroll around taking the occasional photos all afternoon in hilly country without needing rest or snack breaks I would add another heavy lens to the gear bag :)
 
You get fit by doing it!

Being able to access inspiring areas of the country is a great motivator - I would find it very hard to engage in a fitness programme 'for its own sake' (it would bore me).

Joint wear and tear (knees, hips) is cumulative though, so there's no free lunch.
 
tonybassplayer said:
I am making a conscious effort now to get out more to better locations and hopefully a by-product of that will be to lose weight and get fitter.
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Well done that man.
 
I think there's a big difference between a normal level of fitness in walking mainly flat areas and being mountain fit. I remember my first hike up the staircase to the Langdales in my early 30s, I got a shock how steep It was and I used to jog 3 miles on a daily basis. You're body does quickly adapt though If you are persistent and spend a lot of time on the hills. I live near the Peak District and used to head up Kinder at least twice during the week in preparation for a good 10 or 15 miler at the weekend in the Lakes, but there's nothing here that can fully prepare you for the terrain in the Lakes, Snowdonia or Scotland, it's so much steeper and unforgiving, although the rewards are measured.

Try to walk at least 2 or 3 miles each day and introduce steeper terrain and the distance when you feel more confident. Feel how your heart is beating, as you become fitter you'll notice you can do more. GL.
 
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A secondary motivational tool is to use a tracking website like Strava if you carry a GPS on your routes.

It's primarily used by cyclists but being able to log times against segments just keeps you pushing the fitness aspect on training walks. I would often go out to local hills with a 25-50% weighted rucksack just to try and beat a previous Strava time, although the fitness gained was purposefully for fully laden over-nighters high up.
 
I've lost two stone since January with a walk-fit regime. Every day. 30-40 minutes brisk in my lunch break.

Taken the camera out on most days, but the new level of fitness means I can go out for the day with a bag of gear and enjoy myself without feeling half-dead after ten minutes.

Well done Tony. And it's definitely a case of start of small and go up a bit when you feel ready.
 
Getting fit helps massively! Especially when you're on your way to a location for sunrise and you've overslept... you get to the base of a f*** off great big hill/mountain with 30 mins to spare, it means you can fly up the mountain/hill in no time and not miss the sunrise!


"I'll just have 10 more minutes in bed" is always my undoing!
 
Dave in Pendle said:
Good luck with the get fit campaign! Did you see the Peregrines while at Malham?
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Sadly only from a distance at the bottom. My 150-600 could barely pick them out lol.
 
Many thanks for the kind words and encouragement. Heading up towards Ribblehead Viaduct later so going to try a few different locations and get a mile or two in. It's amazing how harder walking is with the heavy camera bag. It will be my camera and one lens in New York that's for certain lol.
 
If you are ever out and about not far from skipton i can recommend a few places to go, they are a bit strenuous, hopefully not too bad.
Rylstone cross is nice for sunsets, easy walking on farm track, but gets steeper towards the last bit.
Embsey crag is also good, you can do the top of the crag shots or take a path to the left and get nice shots looking up the dales.
Drop me a pm if you want any more info or fancy meeting up, i also need to get out more and enjoy the dales, its right on my doorstep.
 
tonybassplayer said:
Long story short I used to be a fitness fanatic (squash, step aerobics, marathons and beyond etc) but things changed and I got older and fatter.

I am making a conscious effort now to get out more to better locations and hopefully a by-product of that will be to lose weight and get fitter.

I was out at Malham Cove this weekend and decided to walk to the top with my camera bag fully loaded and I must admit when I got to the top I had little energy left and when rested I didn't venture too far before making my way back down to the car.

I really do need to get fitter if I am to make it to more "off the beaten track" locations. Promised myself I will do a couple of high up locations in June when I am up in the Lake Distruct so I need to get the fitness level raised.
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Well said that man. I really need to follow your lead Tony. I've gone from an active job and playing rugby and squash regularly 5 or 6 years ago, to doing no sport and a sedentary job. As a result my weight has shot up and I have pretty much lost all of my fitness. An excellent post, and good luck achieving your goal.

Simon.
 
In New York and the moment and certainly doing some walking !! Did over 8miles on the app yesterday and was pushing myself all the way. Eating plenty as expected but certainly feeling fitter and going to keep this going when home. Averaging about 12,000 steps a day on the app at the moment.
 
I walk 5 mile most days over flat and hills to keep fit, before or after work, 2 ten milers over most weekends. With advancing years however the fitness doesn't stop shoulder pain, back pain and joint pain. Keeping fit is a great help but remember to keep the equipment light, else you are only going to have car park photographs.:thinking::thinking:
 
droj said:
Joint wear and tear (knees, hips) is cumulative though, so there's no free lunch.
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This can be a major problem, something I have been experiencing recently ... did a lot of hiking (inc Ten Tors etc) in years past but if muscle memory exists it doesn't help joints :(
 
Getting fit is a great idea, but also on the day have a good breakfast and take correct food with you to give you that boost. Also depends on how and what you carry on the day with weight distribution. Also, gets taken for granted some but the correct clothing too so you don't get too hot or cold.
 
My problem is a bad back caused by ancient trauma... I was sent to see a physio by my doctor over two months ago,, as it was getting out of hand.
The problem with spondylitis is that it is chronic and will not go away. Though exercises help with the stiffness and strengthens muscles supporting the spine. But some of the pain remains.
I now do 20+ minutes of exercises night and morning, and a few more when ever getting up after sitting for any length of time. I am also losing weight by cutting out all sugar and all snacks between meals... a few pounds a week at most.

After the last flare up I could only walk about a mile before it became extremely painful, I can now go about double that.

As we age it takes far longer for the body to repair things, and muscles and ligaments stiffen with age. at 82 things are a bit more problematic. though things are certainly improving.
I see the physio again on Wednesday. so will see what he thinks. (I do more exercise and more strenuously than he seems to approve of)
 
Not so sure about all this get fit lark especially as one gets older, not doing me much good.

Only runs I ever had were after too much beer and a juicy Doner bab on the way home, only gym I knew of was the bloke with that name who worked behind the bar.
Had a rather unhealthy lifestyle including fried breakfasts and smoking with long nights in licensed premises.

When I retired gave up the drink and fags, also tried eating better too, result is never felt so bloody awful, body hates it especially fruit.
Bit of moderation required I reckon and big mistake overdoing the health bit, have to say i'm glad I didn't go green earlier.
 
When my father felt he wasn't doing enough exercise he viseted the doctor for advice , At the time he was 76 with arthritis , The doctor said " John when you think of doing the exercise, sit down and wait until the thoughts dissapere "
 
Like I mentioned at the start I was a real fitness fanatic but that has sadly gone but at 58 I feel I still have a chance to get fitter than I am and what a brilliant way to do it by getting out in the lakes and Scotland etc taking pictures.
 
droj said:
You get fit by doing it!
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Exactly. No point wasting money at a gym when you can get fit doing something enjoyable instead.

hillwalkinggirl said:
I walk 5 mile most days over flat and hills to keep fit, before or after work, 2 ten milers over most weekends.
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Similar here. I have a four and a half mile route I try to do most weekday evenings, then I like to do a ten to fifteen mile walk at the weekend.


Steve.
 
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I also think it's odd that people will drive to a gym, do a few miles on a treadmill, then drive home.


Steve.
 
One of my favourite exercises is walking up a local steep craggy hill, steep and craggy enough that some of the walking is quite tricky, and occasionally calls for scrambling over rocks using both hands. For those who prefer to avoid scrambling the city council has spent a lot of money developing a variety of good paths, paved over boggy bits, created stairs past the steeper craggier bits, and so on.

As I approach this hill I pass a very modern gym with huge floor to ceiling windows. Through these somewhat dark tinted windows I can see ranks and ranks of people sweating away on walking machines, cycling machines, etc.. And looming up behind this gym are the sunlit crags of this lovely hill. I've been meaning for ages to take the time to find a good viewpoint and a position of the sun from which a good photograph making this point can be taken.
 
Walking the escalators at Holborn station! Jeez that's a steep climb, and if you come in on the Piccadilly Line, there's 2 of them. That's my morning exercise... I've got a damaged Achilles at the moment though, so going anywhere is painful.
 
Jelster said:
Walking the escalators at Holborn station! Jeez that's a steep climb, and if you come in on the Piccadilly Line, there's 2 of them. That's my morning exercise... I've got a damaged Achilles at the moment though, so going anywhere is painful.
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Certainly is a steep climb especially the last one (I used to arrive on the central line) they have always been useless escalators
Can remember when they first banned smoking after the Kings Cross fire, people stopped just before the top of the climb to get a fag ready to light as soon as they left the station
 
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