RV Solar Power

Solar Power for Camping, Hiking and Photo Gear

I live simply, and when camping do the same.  I'm not one to watch TV at night at home or while traveling. I tend to watch the night sky and do a bit of reading or art-making while camping. I do watch movies at home, but prefer the quiet of camping and my connection to the land and universe.  On a cold night I light a fire and enjoy friends and family at camp.

When dry camping, I like to keep my 12V house battery charged for lights and to run the water pump and toilet.  I bought a 50 watt and a 35 watt solar panel.  The 50 watt panel came with a kit that includes a 12V backup battery for traveling and to charge AC devices. I have not needed the 50 watt for my limited power needs in my Saturn.  All of my interior and exterior lights are LEDs so they use very little juice. I turn off the water pump when not in use.

At Wahweap campground,  a 35 Watt Solar Panel is hooked up
to trickle charge my rig when dry camping.  It's often sunny out here
in the Southwest, so solar is the way to go.

Boondocking in Utah, my solar panel has kept my 18 footer fully charged
for a week of camping.  When I unhook and go for a backcountry 4WD,
I disconnect the panel and take it with me, for emergency power.

Since taking this photo in the fall, I've removed the awning as it was torn, and had a lot of mold when unrolled.  I will replace it.

While dry camping (boon docking) in Colorado, I kept my battery charged
by solar trickle charge.

Solar Power for Hiking and Backpacking

I am a photographer, and carry lots of camera gear while hiking.  Digital cameras eat batteries for lunch, so it's important to be able to keep the batteries charged in the field.  On a recent 5 day backpack, I tested a few solutions to battery use. One solution was to carry 3 dedicated Nikon batteries for my D5100 (my lightest weight camera body); another idea was to use the Goal Zero to charge the AA batteries for use in my point and shoot over the 5 day trip.  Here are some suggestions to increase the battery power when recharging at home is not an option.

• Try to limit the amount of "chimping", reviewing every photo. (any monkey can do that)
• When shooting video, which requires the use of the LCD, don't review when finished recording
• Weigh the difference between carrying extra batteries for your cameras, or re-charging in the field

What I learned was that for 5 days of photography, including video recording, I need an additional dedicated Nikon battery, which only weighs a few ounces.  But since I also carry and use an iPad, I like the Goal Zero system for charging batteries and devices in the field.

I bought the Goal Zero Solar Panel/Charger.  It charges 4 AA batteries using the sun in a short 2 hours.  Once charged I can use the device to charge up more AAs or directly charge my iPad or iPhone through the USB port located on the battery pack.  I don't mind the extra 1.2 lbs and can charge AA and AAA. 

The battery pack has inputs for the solar panels and USB devices.
It includes an LED light that runs for 120 hours.

The Goal Zero Guide 10 Plus Solar Kit, weighs just 1.2 lbs and sells for around $80. at Amazon
Here's how it works, hang the Goal Zero Panel on your daypack or camera bag, and hook up
 the battery pack. The panel will charge the battery pack in 2 hours.
Connect your USB device to the battery pack and charge
your iPhone, iPad or digital camera.

Or Purchase the latest, greatest

Winter Camping in Utah

Exploring in Southern Utah, Muley Point Keyhole

Owning a travel trailer has extended my camping to 4 seasons.

There have only been a few weekends since the winter began that I've missed camping out in Utah.  Although the nights can be cold, and it's a bit more of a challenge to star gaze, having a camper with a heater makes all the difference.  I keep my Sunline Saturn at the Cadillac Ranch RV Park in Bluff, Utah.  Driving out to my "second home" from Durango is easy, just a little over two hours.

Renovating the Awning.  It was funky, so I removed it.

The campground is not too busy in the winter, and my favorite site is very private, south facing, and great for campfires and the dark night sky.  Diana and Tim, the owners of Cadillac Ranch are becoming fast friends, and I enjoy chatting with them when not in my "private", solo, mood.  I bring a bike, and enjoy a ride around town, or just take it for a drive, and don't use it at all!

I removed one of the bunk cabinet doors and installed blackboard.  Artist in Residence.

From my base camp in Bluff, I drove each day to a nearby trailhead for some photography and watched rocks grow old.  Within 5 miles of camp are some of the most awesome landscapes and Ancient Puebloan ruins around.  Folks travel from all over the world to visit Valley of the Gods, the Moqui Dugway, Muley Point and Monument Valley.

Just a few miles from camp, Comb Ridge is a 75 mile long "snake".
The hike up to this big view takes about an hour, and although there is
no designated trail, exploration is endless.

RVwest Magazine features a story about My Adventures and RV Lifestyle

RV West Magazine Article about Kit Frost

Kit Frost's Photographs and Camping Adventures Featured in RVwest Magazine 

My rig at the Watchman Campground in Zion National Park

I was thrilled to get a call from Jessica Kirby, a writer for RVwest Magazine.  What do you think of the story she wrote about me and my life of adventure?
Click here to read the story.

Dry Camping in the San Juan National Forest, near Durango, Colorado

Cameras and Camping at Bluff Hot Air Balloon Festival

Give a sense of place in your photos

Tell a story with your subjects.

Compression of space: a lesson in using longer lenses.

I teach Photography.  Most of the participants in my workshops have always wanted to learn photography.  Many students are retired and some want to learn a skill for a second career.  Many talk of being ready to devote the time, energy and commitment to their photo education.  On workshops and private lessons, we have a mix of beginners, intermediate and advanced photographers. What all students have in common is the desire to create beautiful images and to learn to use their digital cameras and lenses properly.

Balloon Photography Lessons:

• Choosing the right lens for the job, i.e. compression of space, wide view, details.
• Storytelling
• A sense of place.
• Proper exposure, shutter speed and ISO for moving subjects
• Proper choice of aperture for emphasis
• Working with the "star of the show" and the "supporting cast".
• Working with challenging light, sunrise, sunset, night photos
• Tripod or no, tethered or not.

Cameras and Camping

This past weekend we all met in Bluff, Utah for the Annual Bluff Balloon Festival.  I set up my travel trailer at the Cadillac Ranch RV Park in Bluff, it was full, as were all of the accommodations in Bluff. But Diana (Cadillac Ranch) made sure that folks could boondock if necessary so they were not without a site.  Students stayed in a nearby motel. The class arrived at my camper for pre-sunrise breakfast, and coffee.  At that time we gathered around my dinette and planned the day, discussing basic camera settings to get started.  We left camp at around 8am, as the balloons launch close to sunrise and sunset.

Later in the day, I taught the grand landscape and photographing in harsh light at Muley Point at the top of the Moqui Dugway on Hwy 163. At the end of the day, we also used my campsite to gather around the picnic table and talk about photography and the challenges of the day.

The light has been really harsh in the Southwest recently, so I composed this image by framing the distant Monument Valley and nearby boulders of Muley Point.

Great Ideas for Departing Camp

I ran into this link on www.thecampingjournal blog.  Although the blogger is no longer posting, having retired from his writing.  His information is still valid IMHO

It's a helpful list when packing up camp and leaving the campsite, when moving on.  I have forgotten a few things that didn't cause too much harm, like leaving the ceiling vents open.  But I must admit, I can be a bit rushed when leaving camp, so although I glued a list to my door, this checklist is a good idea.

What kind of list, items would you add, subtract from this list?

RVwest Newsletter - eNews about RV travel, product Reviews and Photography

http://www.rvwest.com/campaigns/html/11762

Comment below please.  I'd love to know what you think of RVwest.

Time Lapse Photo Sequence: Zion National Park

One of the things I love the most about travel and photography is the luxury of time.  Time to watch clouds pass, time to watch rocks grow old, time to watch changing weather.

While camping at the Watchman Campground, I spent each morning taking a series of still images with my Nikon D300 and D5100 and set the timer on the camera to make a photo every 10 seconds or so. Later, at home, I uploaded the images to iMovie, set the time each image would last for .2 seconds, added music and here you see the results.

Here's a link to an article from petapixel.com about 5 people doing Time-Lapse Photography  I'm impressed by the photos, the use of the "rail" and the subjects too.

And check out this recent National Geographic interview and Time Lapse by Michael Shainblum.

What do you think?