Photography Tour to Spiti: A Visual Journey through the Cold Desert

India is known for offering a variety of landscapes. Whether it is mountains, beaches, valleys, rural scapes, urban skylines – you name it, we have a place for it. Each landscape, to a photographer, offers many opportunities and situations to capture, but one such landscape that is often undervalued but truly aesthetic is a desert valley.

Spiti Valley – The Majestic Middle Land

The Middle Land – Spiti Valley, is one such landscape situated over 12,500ft above sea level where summers are short and cool with temperatures averaging 10-20 degrees Celsius and winters are long and freezing, with average temperatures below freezing and can drop to -30 degrees Celsius. Set between the rest of India and Tibet, the mountains of Spiti are rocky, gigantic, and majestic, all at the same time. It is a true delight for anyone to marvel at this valley's beauty, but only a photographer's mind can do justice to this place.

A Note to Budding Photographers – Don’t Imitate, Create

In today’s social media era, I have noticed some young photographers surf different platforms to find images shot at a particular location where they are planning to travel. Sadly, some even try the same composition or try to add elements that the x photographer has added. As a photographer, I have some advice for such individuals: never try to recreate an image; we all are different individuals with a creative journey of our own. That x photographer clicked that image because it was his calling. He/she felt connected to that moment and probably the conditions like weather, time, light etc. were conducive to express what he/she experienced at that time. One should be a storyteller and listen to the creative voice inside them as the viewer would want to know their story behind it.

Let Nature Collaborate with You

Sometimes it so happens that as you stand there, looking through the viewfinder, something’s missing and a shifting of the clouds or a ray of light appearing out of nowhere feels like Mother Nature collaborating with you, quietly stepping in to help fill the blank spaces in your frame. It is a wonderful feeling to those who bear witness to this Phenomena. Always remember, patience is the key. While photographing nature, take a moment to slow down and trust the process.

When the Best Shots Happen Off the Itinerary

Though it has its downsides, while planning the itinerary, you tell yourself that you will spend a certain amount of time at a particular location before moving on to the next location. However, before you realise, hours have passed, the itinerary has gone out the window and that’s when the best images happen.

Must-Visit Photography Spots in Spiti Valley

On any photography tour to Spiti, one must visit Komic village, set at approximately 15,000 ft. above sea level. The village gives a breathtaking view of the mountain ranges from a vantage point and manages to loop everyone in its beauty. Photographers can and should take advantage of its height and include humans in the frames, for that will add to the scale of the mountains being shown.

A few kilometres away is the fossil village, Langza. One can make use of his/ her camera and capture the scale of the Buddha statue and the mountains covering this village.

Further, a hidden gem of the Middle Land is Losar village. The mountain ranges of this area are well-textured. Photographers on a Spiti Valley Photography Tour can highlight these textured mountain ranges in their images, and on a cloudy day, the light and shadow game on these textured ranges make way for a powerful composition.

Dramatic Landscapes – Dhankar and Pin Valley

For more dramatic images, photographers can also visit Dhankar and Pin Valley. The large vertical rock formations of Dhankar provide a certain uniqueness to the landscape frames of this village. Pin Valley also plays a great role in image-making, as it brings out green as well as brown patches of mountains, all within the same frame.

Details That Add Depth – Flags and Wildlife

There are some hidden facets about the valley which don’t come to the forefront easily but these little things do make for great image components. For example, the flags that adorn the mountain ranges, monasteries, temples, and other buildings add character to an image. Additionally, the wildlife of this valley (blue sheep, red fox) can be an exotic holding point of an image. Do explore this wildlife in Kibber or wherever you stumble upon them, and take the opportunity to include them in your images.

Start Clicking Early – From Nako Itself

The areas leading up to Spiti valley also make way for great images. The change in landscape (from the lush green mountains to rocky textures) starts from Nako and one should start image composition there itself.

Astro-Photography Under Spiti’s Night Sky

Lastly, don’t forget to try your hand at astro-photography under these clear skies. We don’t get to witness such serene star-studded skies in the city – make use of them while you are soaking in the beauty of the valley!

Practical Tips – Travel Light, Stay Energetic

To visit Spiti Valley, one needs a minimum of 8-10 days to cover most of the valley. Photographing in Spiti can be challenging and rewarding at the same time. High altitude means thinner air, and hiking with a backpack full of equipment can get exhausting, so travel light and conserve your energy. Only one camera body with one or two lenses, an extra set of batteries, and SD cards with a tripod should be sufficient.

Spiti – A Meditative Journey Through the Lens

Spiti offers an opportunity to find yourself in a meditative state of calmness and silence away from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis. It’s a place where time slows down, you get to find your own story within you, and tell it through the images you click.

Essential Gear for Your Photography Tour to Spiti Valley

Spiti Valley – a land that needs no introduction now, is an ideal space for photography. Its picturesque beauty can often leave you speechless! But amidst all the awe and admiration, do not forget to pick up your camera, for you will regret not capturing the beauty of the valley.

For any Spiti photography tour, there is some bare minimum equipment one needs to carry. Do remember not to carry equipment in excess, as that will only add weight and not utility. Below is a list of equipment we feel is essential, but do let us know in the comments if you feel otherwise:

1. A camera with at least 20 megapixels

Needless to say, one needs to carry a DSLR or Mirrorless camera (and not depend on phone camera), but ensure that your camera is at least a 20 megapixel one. The reason being, if you are using images for digital screens (mobile phones/Laptops) and social media or even prints of A3 size, 20 megapixels would suffice.

More megapixels give more creative freedom in editing photos. You can crop and zoom into photos without worrying about them becoming pixelated or blurry. Also, if you plan for large prints or cropping, aim for 24-36 megapixels or higher.

2. Lenses

The primary function of a camera lens is to gather and focus light from the scene being photographed, creating a sharp and clear image. Different lenses allow photographers to control focal length, aperture, and depth of field, enabling them to capture a wide range of scenes with varying perspectives and levels of detail.

Landscape / travel photography typically needs lenses that offer a wide field of view, sharpness, and good depth of field. One can carry a standard kit lens, typically a zoom lens 18 – 55mm / 18-105mm (crop sensor) or 18-35mm / 24-120mm lens (full frame), which provides a versatile range for general photography. Also, one can use wide-angle (35mm or shorter) or ultrawide-angle lenses (10-24mm) for extreme perspectives or dramatic compositions.

For daylight images f.4-f.22 aperture is perfect, which is provided in standard kit lenses. However, for evening low light situations f1.8-f.4 plays an important role based on your shooting style.

Spiti is also home to exotic wildlife like Blue Sheep, Red Fox, etc. Carry a telephoto lens (70 – 200 mm/ 100 – 400 mm) to capture the incredible wildlife of this valley, or super telephoto lenses with a focal length of 400mm or above.

3. Filters

Lens filters are accessories that attach to the front of a lens. It is a piece of glass/plastic that attaches to the front of a camera lens to modify or enhance the captured image by selectively blocking or allowing certain wavelengths of light.

There are different kinds of lens filters and their uses, but here we will discuss only three of them, which are mainly used in landscape photography.

(i) UV Filter - The basic filter used by most photographers is called a UV filter, which reduces the effects of ultraviolet light,t especially in high altitude or bright conditions, and protects the lens from dust and scratches.

(ii) ND Filter - Neutral Density filters are used to reduce the amount of light entering the lens, allowing longer exposures in bright light conditions. It darkens the scene by blocking the light in F-stop reduction. They come in different f-stop numbers such as ND2, ND4, ND8, etc. Choosing the right strength of ND filter depends on the lighting conditions and the effect you’re trying to achieve.

(iii) Polarizer Filter - A polarizing or CPL (Circular Polarizing) filter is a must-have tool for landscape photography. It can reduce reflections from glass, water, and wet surfaces. It can be used to reduce atmospheric haze and to make the scene look much more vivid.

4. For Astro-photography

Photography tours to Spiti are incomplete if you don’t indulge in some astro-photography under those clear skies of the Middle Land.  

Find a dark sky location far from city lights. Next, carry a sturdy tripod with you. Without a tripod, you cannot imagine trying out astro-photography. No human hand is stable enough to hold onto cameras for long exposure shots (like 5-30 minutes).

Invest in a good intervalometer. Also, download a few star tracker apps in which you can see star positions and constellations (like Night Sky).

5. Other Miscellaneous Equipment

A few other equipment is required. For example, use a camera belt/strap. It becomes tedious to put the camera back in the bag after every shot. A strap/belt helps in simply hanging the camera by your shoulders.

Carry at least two sets of batteries. High altitudes tend to drain camera batteries faster.

Also, carry a lens cleaner kit. Spiti is largely a desert valley, and the weather is dry and dusty. A lens cleaning kit will come in handy.

Lastly, carry extra SD Cards, because storage should not be an impediment in shooting!

In case you are going to Spiti through photography workshops or guided photography tours, do reach out to the organisers and ask if they have any other specific equipment, they want you to carry.

From Sunrise to Sunset: A Complete Photography Tour to Spiti Valley

The Art of Photography: Capturing Light in Landscapes

Photography’s literal meaning is ‘drawing with light’. We, as photographers, deal with different kinds of lighting conditions, but we majorly strive for soft light, especially in landscape photography.

During sunrise, the light carries blue and violet tones and the evening light has a warmer softer tone to it, commonly referred to as the golden hour. Both morning and evening lights are soft and create long shadows, adding a sense of three-dimensionality to your subjects.

Spiti Valley: A Photographer’s Dream Destination

Every photographer dreams of creating images during soft-lighting conditions like sunrise and sunset, as lighting conditions are favorable. But some landscapes are capable of giving you good images even during the day. Spiti, the Middle Land, is one such breathtaking location.

Best Morning Photography Spots in Spiti

• Komic Village: A Rustic Wonderland at 15,000 ft

If you find yourself on a Spiti photography tour and wish to start your day with striking morning light images, do explore Komic village – set at approximately 15,000 ft. above sea level, where the rustic mountains will be caught beautifully in nature’s light. The looped roads seen from an aerial view make way for astonishing landscape images.

• Losar: Rocky Mountains & Lush Green Fields

Morning light can also be captured well in Losar. The uniqueness of Losar lies in the rocky mountains contrasting with the lush green fields below. The rocks are layered like steps leading up to the top and can be a good component for landscape images. In fact, photography tours to Spiti can feel incomplete if one misses out on exploring the landscape in Losar.

• Kye Monastery: Aesthetic Landscapes & Spiritual Essence

Do not forget to explore the morning light in Kye Monastery. The monastery and the vastness of the aesthetic landscape behind it together create a striking well-composed image. You can even consider capturing landscapes from inside the monastery. A windy morning can give you a good image with a ‘fluttering’ feel.

Capturing Landscapes During the Day

During the day, all spots of the village look like slices of heaven, giving a good light and shadow work on the rocky mountains. But while you’re on a Photography Tour to Spiti Valley, make sure you make use of the chiaroscuro involved on a good sunny day, otherwise harsh light images tend to give a flat look.

Best Evening & Sunset Photography Locations

• Spiti River-Bed: A Glistening Landscape

Towards the evening/ sunset time, do set out to explore off-beat locations. For example, the Spiti riverbed, seen from a vantage point, gives the river a glistening look, creating a well-textured landscape image. If you are not at a vantage point but on the road somewhere in Kaza, use the landscape on the other side of the river.

Also, do not forget that the best images sometimes come out unexpectedly from the not-so-famous nooks and corners. Keep an eye out for places that give out great composition (even if they do not form part of a famous tourist spot) and make use of them.

• Dhankar & Pin Valley: Soft-Light Sunset Photography

Lastly, do visit Dhankar or Pin Valley for soft-light sunset images. Dhankar’s large rocky formations make a scale-oriented image, and on a day when clouds are persisting, they can add to the image’s skyline. And as is said about Pin Valley, its serenity speaks volumes and its vastness creates a well-scaled image.