How to photograph in strong wind
Practical tricks for sharp pictures when the wind is trying to take the camera out of your hands.
In Torres del Paine gusts of 80–100 km/h are normal. A tripod on its own is not enough; sometimes it is worse than nothing because it acts like a sail.
Lower and heavier
Keep the tripod short and hang your bag from the centre hook. Kneel behind a rock and use it as a windbreak. A low point of view also tends to make landscapes look more dramatic.
Faster shutter, burst mode
Handheld at 1/500 s with a slightly higher ISO is usually sharper than a long exposure on a shaking tripod. Shoot short bursts and pick the sharpest frame later.
Protect the lens
Dust and spray are constant. A lens hood and a UV filter you don't mind scratching save a lot of stress.
Tip: Wind often drops just after sunrise — that is your best window for long exposures.