Travel Photography Tips for Anyone!
If you’re in a foreign country, you’re going to stand out no matter what you do. You’re going to stand out even more if you’re snapping photos of food, crouching on a street corner, or running to catch that shot you see ahead. Here are some handy tips to keep you safe, shooting amazing photos, and having fun on your adventure!
Get Closer
As simple as that. Most of the time minimalistic or detail images make the biggest impression. This tip also applies best with a wide angle lens, since the subject will appear larger while still showing the surroundings.
Lens Choice
If you can only bring one lens, bring a wide angle! Many times you can’t step back to fit the shot into the frame whether its because of the crowds or the tight spaces. For the most part, you don’t want to be lugging around 50 lbs of equipment anyways, so one or two lenses is all you need. Ever seen someone willingly approach someone who has photo vest on and 3 cameras hanging from around their neck? No, me neither. You will be much more approachable with one lens and quicker to react to that perfect shot. Tip: bag choice. Depending on where your destination is, you probably don’t want to be flaunting that you are holding onto hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of equipment. Ladies: use the padded inserts of a camera bag to line a larger purse and tie a small scarf or tape around your camera to better conceal the logo and brand. Men: carry a camera bag that looks more like a messenger bag, anything more discrete than a bulky camera bag.
Be Nice
Your personality and interaction are most important for those perfect shots. Just by being friendly, social and sincere, I promise you’ll capture some of your most memorable moments. Don’t be that person who runs off the bus and sticks a camera in people’s faces, snapping without warning. Carry loose coins too: if you are taking photos of a street vendor, performers, or businesses, don’t forget to leave a tip. I tend to snap and walk on, but by smiling and leaving a tip can open many doors, behind the scenes maybe?
Just Wait on a Corner
Spend a half hour sitting on a curb with your camera ready with shutter speed set and a zoom lens attached, and just wait for something cool to roll by. Something always comes, and you just need to shoot it. This is usually easier to catch with a zoom lens and by using a faster exposure. Unless you are in a gilly suit in the bushes, don’t assume people cant see you. Makes sure to be friendly and smile, but I don’t need to tell you that again! If people do not want a photo taken, make sure you acknowledge that and comply. Other opportunities will arise.
Scenery
As beautiful as the environment may be, you would be surprised as to how a person, or people can change an image. You can feel the pace, emotions, or mood of the place based on the peoples movements, positioning’s, and facial expressions.
Keep Your Camera Accessible
Don’t pack your camera on your back, Keep it handy; It’s a good idea to keep it in a case on your waist, something you can even run with it despite the weight. If it is not quickly accessible you’ll get tired and not as compelled to get those amazing photos. Whenever possible, take the slowest method of travel or transit when overseas, you meet the best people that way!
Shoot the Bad Times
Your best stories are the ones where everything went wrong right? In theory, they make the best photos too! Even when the situation sucks, have your camera ready, not only the illustrate your story, but you could catch something really cool.
Go online to discover unique locations.
My favorite tool is good old google maps. After a little research on TripAdvior and Google reviews, I save the spots I like and use satellite view to find additional places nearby. That way when I arrive at a popular or recommended location, I have already checked nearby places to visit and I can make the most out of my time. Oh! And look for the highest point accessible to get a cool view of the location that many people wont have.
Get IN the pictures.
Don’t forget to have fun! Looking back at your photos is always more fun to see what you looked like, how much fun you were having (or not…), and the creative ways you thought of capturing the moment. My favorite is the horribly cheesy but always fun I’m-a-giant-holding-up-this-building!
Dump images.
It may be difficult or annoying, but if you can “Dump” or download all of your images to a hard drive at night. Traveling from day to day, things can get lost or damaged. Dumping doesn't mean you need to delete the images, that is of course if you have a big enough card, but just in case something happens, you have a backup. Another great tip is to use an online cloud to upload to, so even if your backup gets lost or damaged, you will still have your images.
Be brave and get creative.
The only way to grow with your photography is to press the limits. After you have taken a handful of great “normal” shots, have fun! By thinking outside the box, you will not only impress yourself with the end product, but can create a cool new way of looking at a place someone has seen a thousand times. Get Low, Get High, drag your shutter, use a flash, use people, anything to take it to that next step!
All About the Details
Don’t forget the little things that make each experience great. Take a picture of the mint leaf so beautifully placed on your yummy dessert, the cobblestone that lined the streets near your favorite spot, the sun shinning on your messy bed in the hotel, the memories that will bring back the best of memories.
Hello, natural light!
Natural light can make your photos look great, and depending on the day (sunny, cloudy, or rainy) can even change the mood of the scene entirely. Call ahead for a restaurant if you can, and ask specifically for a window seat, or outside seating if it is available. Don’t hesitate to ask for another seat if your host is planning to seat you in a horribly lit corner. Direct sunlight is most of the time too harsh of a look on food, so look for a shaded area if shooting street food, or under an umbrella if outside.
To use or not to use flash.
It of course depends. If a restaurant has dim lighting, or a museum is kind of dark, It may be for ambiance, or a flash may be too harsh. A brightly lit photo taken with direct flash will flatten the subjects and generally looks unprofessional. Don’t have a tripod to help with the low lighting? Use your elbow and a table. No choice but to use flash? Try to bounce it off the ceiling, tape or tie a napkin (just 1 ply) around the flash to diffuse it, or bounce off of white menu.
Composition.
Doesn’t matter if you’re a smartphone shooter, or thousands of dollars worth of equipment professional, the composition make the difference! Stick to the rule of thirds (if the image id cut into thirds vertically and horizontally, the 4 intersections of lines are where the focal point or subject should be located. Zoom in, zoom out, tilt the camera at different angles and find the best lighting and positioning.
