How to Turn Your Hiking Photos into Something Tangible

If you’re like many hikers, you probably take a few photos on your phone or digital camera and then let them sit on a memory card or hard drive. But there are other ways to create lasting memories that are fun to share and take home with you

By Erika Haugen-Goodman

Hiking allows us to experience an immersiveness in the moment and surroundings that few other activities offer, though it can be a challenge translating that feeling into something tangible that’s fun to look back on year-round in your photography. If you’re like many hikers, you probably take a few photos on your phone or digital camera and then post them for friends and family to see, or let them sit on a memory card or hard drive. But there are other ways to create lasting memories that are fun to share and take home with you.

Instant cameras

Film photography has largely been replaced with digital these days, but in recent years the renewed interest in instant cameras has given people a fun and easy way to create home displays of their photographs. These cameras are fairly inexpensive, easy to use and let you create interesting arrangements with the photos you take. You can find them at dedicated camera stores, as well as general stores and online. The photos they produce are small enough to carry with you, string on wall arrangements or stick to the fridge. It’s easy to come up with a creative way to show them off!

A stack of instant photos sitting on a trail map
Instant camera make it easy to create physical copies of your photographs. Photo by Erika Haugen-Goodman.

But there are some downsides to instant cameras. If you want to take a lot of photos, you might find the film to be expensive, and the quality of the photographs themselves is far from digital images. If you think of them as a way to capture a memory rather than the minute details of the moment, you’ll have more fun.

Printing your digital photos

If instant cameras aren’t your thing, there are also ways to bring your digital photography to life. A number of online printers offer easy-to-use services, or if you’re more of a hands-on type, home printers are also an option. Some of the more popular online services include Mpix and Shutterfly, but there are a lot of choices out there. You can also look for local shops to support, and you’ll get the advantage of in-person service.

However you end up taking your memories home with you, it’s fun to have a visual reminder of your adventures that lives in the spaces you occupy. You can even turn the idea into a fun project and capture specific themes or concepts to display. Let your creativity run wild!

Slow down

Analog photography is all about patience. Before you take your picture, make sure everything you want to capture is in the frame and the scene is something that caught your eye. It’s okay to pass on a photo that isn’t lining up like you want. Analyze what you’re seeing through the viewfinder before you press the shutter and you’ll be rewarded in the end!

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2021 issue of Washington Trails magazine. Support trails as a member WTA to get your one-year subscription to the magazine.