What should I check before a pre-dawn or night drive to a photo spot?
A tickable checklist for dark and early drives and remote locations. Switch on the remote, hills and winter options and add a temperature to flag ice risk.
How the tool works
Sunrise and night photography often means driving while tired, in the dark, and parking somewhere remote. The checklist covers rest, telling someone your route and return time, phone charge and offline maps, a head torch, warm clothing, boots, first aid, a flask, fuel, tyres, and the return plan. It is split into before you leave, you and the car, kit, the road, the spot and getting home.
Choose the conditions that apply and the list changes. The dark option adds animal, mist and dazzle reminders, the remote option adds turn-back times and a paper map, and the winter option adds ice and de-icing items. If you enter a forecast temperature below 4 degrees C, the page flags ice risk and adds the cold-weather items. Four degrees is a cautious rule of thumb, and ice can still form at higher readings in shaded spots.
Tick items as you go, use Copy list to paste the list into a note, and Reset to start again. This is a general list and not professional or legal advice, so adapt it to your trip and your vehicle, and check the weather and road conditions before you set off.
Questions
Why does the page flag temperatures below 4 degrees C?
Road surfaces can be colder than the air, so a reading a few degrees above freezing can still mean ice in some places. Four degrees is a cautious rule of thumb, not a guarantee either way.
Is the list saved if I close the page?
No. This page does not store anything. Use Copy list to keep a copy.
Is this a complete safety plan?
No. It is a general prompt list. Adapt it to your route and vehicle, and check the weather and road conditions before you go.
More photography tools: Leave-by time planner, Landscape photography weather checklist, Landscape photography packing list