TRAVEL
PHOTOGRAPHY
BEFORE
YOU GO
Research
•
Do research on your destination
on what to see and what to photograph. Look at other people’s photos of your
destination. Check out your destination in travel books, magazines, travel
brochures and websites to get an idea of what is important to that area and
what light and techniques have been used.
•
Think about what you want to
shoot and when. Famous icons are best in early morning or late afternoon. Up
close street scenes and markets in between. Plan your days before you go.
•
Research the customs,
traditions and special events not only to photograph but so you become aware of
what to expect and what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.
•
Find out the location of camera
shops and the tourist information centre.
Practice before you go.
What to Pack
•
Depends on what type of trip
whether you take a DSLR , a hybrid, a point and shoot or a smart phone. A DSLR
and a smaller one is a good idea but if you have to travel light a point and
shoot or smart phone is best.
•
Battery charger, spare battery,
travel adapter.
•
Memory cards-4GB or 8GB but not
all on one big 64GB (which stays in the camera the whole time) in case the
camera is lost or stolen. Remember RAW takes up much more room on the card.
A small wrap around tripod. However an
alternative is to use a fence, a camera bag, or a jacket bundled
into a cushion.
WHAT
TO PHOTOGRAPH
Most of our travel shots are imitations
of post cards. It is common to snap iconic images such as the Sydney Opera
House or the Matterhorn. However, we should try to think outside the
postcard shot.
· Our photos need to evoke the emotions we experienced when we
were there; the smell of the gardens, the awe of the mountains, the thrill of
the roller coaster, the colour of their clothes, the wonder of a wild bear, the
adrenaline of wild water rafting and the hustle and bustle of the streets.These photos will enable us to relive our memories and communicate
how we felt to others.
· Think about your first impressions. What did you feel? Use a
notebook to jot down these first impressions: smell, heat, cold, sunny, fog,
architecture, colour, language, people, size of mountains, vistas, flora and
fauna.
· Get out there and discover the rhythm of life, try to capture the
feel of a location and tell a story in your shot. Get up early, go to bed late.
If you are on tour use any spare time.
•
Good photos take commitment,
time and energy. Tour itineraries rarely leave room for serious photography.
Try to make a scheduled time each day to photograph, don’t give up.
•
Never be satisfied
with your first view of a place. Get closer, use different angles, different
lenses, different filters. Wait for the light, wait for people to either move
in or out of your shot. Once you have exhausted every possibility then move
onto the next situation.
•
Always have your
camera with you. Serendipity plays an enormous role in Travel Photography. You
may stumble upon a scene just right for the moment. So be prepared have your
camera on the right settings or even on “P” or Automatic so you can capture the
scene before the people move or the light changes. Think of it as hunting, be
ready to capture whatever pops up.
•
Get lost. Wander
down alleys, get away from tourist sites, sit in a café and wait for a story to
unfold. Look around bends and over rises adapt to the rhythm and become more
observant.
•
Photograph things
that identify the area such as grand vista, monuments, Transport, shop windows,
colours, arts, food, as well as fashion, people, markets and accommodation.
•
Photograph local events like
festivals, markets, races, art shows etc. A local tour guide can help you find
the best locations.
•
If it is a road trip capture
the trip itself. Capture the feel of the trip. If it is hot capture empty drink
bottles or a sweaty brow. Candid shots of the car interior after all that is
where you spent a lot of the time.
•
Capture humour. For
example a child asleep in front of a world famous landmark or visit.
•
You need to be a “Jack of all
Trades”. Travel Photography includes Landscapes, Portraits and everything in
between. For example, street photography, motion photography, wildlife, flowers
and don’t forget light and composition.
LANDSCAPES
•
Mountains, forests,
lakes, rivers, deserts, wetlands and sea coasts all have their own
characteristics. The Nile differs from the Murray, The Andes differ from The Snowy
Mnts. Try to capture what makes them different. Try to capture how you felt
there. A sunny happy beach or a rough weather, craggy, cold coastline.
•
Add scale to your
landscapes. The sense of size doesn’t always translate through a
photo. Use people or familiar objects like a car or a boat to give a
scale of size in your photo.
•
Use layering to
give a depth of field. Have a point of interest in the foreground, middle
ground and background.
•
How to deal with
busy tourist sites. Sometimes there are too many people in your shot to avoid
this you can get up early before the throngs appear or you can move and re
compose the shot. Another technique is to use a tripod and a very slow shutter
speed and the moving people disappear
•
An alternative is
to include people to enhance your shot. People make a scene come alive. An
outdoor café looks better with people in it than empty.
PEOPLE
•
Capture everyday life. Look to
take people doing what people do: sweeping, smoking, standing in a doorway,
children laughing, and walking by. Take their local dress, local activities,
buying and selling in markets.
•
Create a photo
story in markets. Take wide shots and then close ups of items and money
changing hands or a handshake.
•
Take the texture of
their clothes or a weather worn face.
•
Capture people
doing their jobs; smiling waiter, museum curator, street performer, railway
workers and other tourists.
•
Don’t be shy to take people. The way they dress and behave give emotion and
context to your photo.It is best to ask permission first. Chat first ,explain
why you want the photo. Most are flattered and willing. If not respect their
wishes. Some may ask for money, remember they may be very poor.
•
Photograph your
travel companions, include yourself . Don’t take them standing in front of an
icon but rather action shots, interacting with the locals or engaging in an
activity; eating local foods, playing with locals, reef diving, horse riding,
cruising, etc.
•
Use a wide angle
lens to capture them in their surroundings to give context to the story or zoom
in just to get the expression on their face but try not to lose the context.
•
Run ahead of your
companions and turn around and shoot them getting off the bus, out of the boat
or just walking through the forest or the streets, get them in context.
BUILDINGS,
MONUMENTS, STATUES, ICONIC STRUCTURES
•
Think about what
they represent and try to capture that with the type of light or weather that
would suit best. Get away from postcard snap. Foggy weather creates romantic
look to Sydney Harbour Bridge. Wet, cold, grey gives a miserable feel to
Edinburgh.
•
Resist the postcard
snap. Take close ups of metal beams, bolts, patterns. Architectural detail will
compliment traditional pictures of famous landmarks. View Icons from a
different perspective. Frame them differently. Include people, shoot outside
and inside a building.
•
Include your
accommodation whether it is 5 star luxury or a rough camp site. It helps tell
the story about the location.
•
Use a distinctive
feature as a silhouette against the sun. Hide the sun behind the object.
CITIES AND
TOWNS
• Each city has its own distinctive setting, architecture, famous
site, food and dress. When photographing a city, town or village do 3 things:
• Capture the overall sense of the place, a wide shot showing
setting or skyline.
• Capture famous landmarks
• Capture the life of its inhabitants
• Get an idea of what is important to the place by checking out the
postcard stands.
• Amusement parks offer a variety of shots including facial expression.
• Include signage such as in markets, street signs which give
context to the place and signs in different languages.
FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY
·
Get a window seat in a
café/restaurant and use natural light and turn off the flash.
·
Take local cuisine, artfully
presented dishes, a coffee with a fancy pattern, take the menus in foreign
languages, table tops, patrons and the exterior of the restaurant.
·
Try to get street vendors
preparing their food.
FINALLY
• Mix up your shots. Don’t take all people or all buildings
or all landscapes.
• Use different angles, wide shots and zoom.
• Use different light and composition techniques.
• MOST OF ALL HAVE FUN.
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