My Everest Photography Journal PRO TREK Witnessed It with Me

      For every outdoor photographer, the opportunity to shoot on Everest is a dream job. Here stand several mountains over 8,000 meters tall, this is the place closest to the sky, and the site of the greatest collective expeditions in human history. And I just happen to be doing the job I love.  

      In April 2019, I received another client commission to document the entire process of their Everest climb, which of course meant accompanying them to the summit. Let everyone experience the beauty of Everest together.

As an outdoor photographer, the most important thing before each trip is to prepare various shooting equipment, taking into account the project content, local environment, and more when selecting gear. For this shoot, I carried three digital cameras, six lenses of different focal lengths, plus various charging devices that filled my photography bag to the brim.  

    With most of my gear being photography equipment, I needed to reduce the weight of what I was carrying. Based on this, I considered using a wearable outdoor watch. In the end, I chose CASIO’s PRO TREK PRW-50Y, primarily because the PRW-50Y features a solar-powered system. First, it eliminates the need for a charger, and second, it removes the worry of battery drain during the climb—just a bit of sun exposure can power it for days.

        On April 28th, our large group gathered in Kathmandu, Nepal, and on the 29th, we took a small plane to Lukla, the world’s most dangerous mountain airport. From there, we began a roughly 10-day trek to Everest Base Camp. At this time, Nepal was just entering the monsoon season, and the weather changed extremely rapidly.  

        It is precisely these weather changes that give photographers like me the chance to capture stunning images of nature, but such opportunities often vanish in an instant. I usually rely on the CASIO PRO TREK PRW-50Y’s barometric pressure measurement function to gauge pressure bands and trends, predicting weather changes and using the PRW-50Y to seize the perfect moment to shoot magnificent scenes of surging clouds. The PRO TREK PRW-50Y handles it all effortlessly, and at high altitudes, it produces only minimal errors that are virtually negligible.

    Trekking from Lukla to Everest Base Camp, the altitude rises from 2,300 meters to 5,300 meters, and almost every day involves climbing in elevation and long-distance hiking. The equipment I carried weighed nearly 20 kilograms in total. Facing this fixed load, I had to strategically manage my stamina based on the terrain, which was the most crucial aspect of my journey. Notably, the PRO TREK PRW-50Y also has an altitude measurement function. As I walked, the PRW-50Y displayed altitude data in real-time based on my movement, allowing me to assess the upcoming path and reserve some energy to photograph my clients’ trekking process.

        As the altitude increased, the PRO TREK PRW-50Y continuously updated the altitude data along with my steps. When our team reached 5,500 meters, the sky grew bluer. Many say the Everest region is the place closest to the sky, where countless stars form a Milky Way visible at night. That’s absolutely true—experiencing it firsthand is utterly mesmerizing.

        As an outdoor photographer, I naturally couldn’t miss such a golden opportunity. In the evening, timing my shot carefully, I used the compass feature on the CASIO PRO TREK PRW-50Y to determine the eastward position needed for the photo, set up my camera, and quietly waited for the moon and shooting stars to glide across the sky. During the wait, it sometimes felt boring, but also full of anticipation for the unbelievably beautiful photos that would come from the long wait. Every time I find myself in such moments, sitting alone in the wilderness and witnessing the wonders of nature, it always brings a truly magical feeling.

    From April 29th to May 1st, after completing the initial acclimatization, the entire team began the long wait at Base Camp for a good weather window. With luck, we would secure a favorable window around the end of May to successfully ascend to 8,848 meters.  

        In my understanding of outdoor photography, it’s not just about capturing moments of action. Great photography works are the result of thoughtful creation, not mere snapshots of what meets the eye. Don’t think about how to shoot, but rather how you want to shoot. Though this may sound convoluted, after spending some time with photography, you’ll realize that this is the true essence of it. While wearing the PRO TREK PRW-50Y, I clearly felt the thoughtfulness of CASIO’s PRO TREK outdoor watch series in its many considerate features and premium material choices. Wearing the PRO TREK PR-50Y significantly increased my fondness for the PRO TREK series.  

        For me, outdoor life and photography have long been woven into my very being, becoming indispensable parts of my life.  

        In the years I’ve spent engaging with the outdoors and photography, I’ve experienced many things unavailable in city life and witnessed the wonders crafted by nature. I’m also grateful to be in the profession I’m in today.