Nature photography tip: Take hiking poles on difficult terrain

Saturday 4 October 2025, 14:07 by Rob Dijkstra | 1,949 views | 1 comment

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Do you leave the paths for your nature photography? Then taking hiking poles with you is highly recommended. Even if you are simply heading into nature in the Netherlands for your photography.

Switzerland - f/8, 1/100s, 200 ISO @ 35mm
Experience with mountain hiking comes in handy in the Netherlands, especially in areas where you are allowed to leave the paths, such as the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen, parts of the Gelderse Poort and sand drifts. Here, steep, muddy or sandy paths can be quite a challenge. Also think of the Ardennes and the Eifel, where the paths can be long and steep.

As well as good walking shoes with grip, experience is essential. If you lack that experience, hiking poles can help. They support your balance and reduce the strain on your back, especially when you are carrying heavier equipment. They are light and often foldable, so they are easy to take with you. Practice is important here too.

And if you want to look around calmly through your thermal camera or binoculars, stop for a moment. Walking while looking around at the same time increases the risk of falling or slipping.

Share: WhatsApp Facebook

About the author

Rob is fotograaf, filmer en natuurgids. Onder de naam WILDvanNATUUR organiseert hij een groot aantal excursies en workshops voor hobbyfotografen en natuurliefhebbers in het gebied tussen Zuid-Duitsland, Denemarken en de Franse noordkust, op maximaal een dag autorijden.

Landscape photography tips from the North Pole
by Elja Trum
Nature photography tip: Prepare for cold and sun at altitude
by Rob Dijkstra
Nature photography tip: Choose the right Alpine region for your shoot
by Rob Dijkstra
10 Tips for Beginner Photographers
by Elja Trum
5 Beginner Tips for Better Photos
by Nando Harmsen
Tips for a photography trip. Part 1: The camera bag
by Nando Harmsen

Show every article in Nature photography

home

1 comment

Hans van Sterkenburg wrote on Tuesday 7 October 2025 at 12:53 | reply
Hi Rob

I walk about 10 kilometres every day. In the Netherlands and not a mountain in sight. But walking poles. For example, mine. I always use them and have done so for 40 years. Last year they needed replacing. And now foldable. Perfect. I am explicitly talking about walking poles here and not about Nordic walking. Also handy, of course, if a wolf appears on my path.
Translated from Dutch.

Have your say

Please note: Articles older than a week can only be commented on by signed-in visitors.
Would you still like to comment? sign in or create a free account.

Become a better photographer every week

A practical photography tip in your inbox every week.
39,179 photography enthusiasts already receive the tips! More about the weekly mail. Or keep up to date via Facebook. Sign-up secured with Google reCaptcha.

Elja Trum

Photofacts; everything to do with photography!

Would you like to take better photos and keep up with what is happening in photography? Photofacts publishes articles that teach you something about photography — from a product announcement to a practical shooting tip or a look at a website. Photofacts covers photography every day and is a hobby project of Elja Trum's that got out of hand. The articles are written by a team of volunteer authors. If you would enjoy writing one or more articles for Photofacts, do get in touch.More about Photofacts

Photofacts is made possible in part by