Inspired by Yulia Denisyuk’s passion for travel and travel journalism, we wanted to share some quick travel photography tips to help aspiring travel journalists and travelers make the most of their adventures and come back with stunning images.
So many of us enjoy travelling and taking countless travel photos on our trips (in other words travel photography). And whether consciously or subconsciously, we also know that travel photos have the potential to connect us to our beautiful world.
Images of places, cultures, art and even food can carry us away from our mundane everyday existence. They can transport us to a magical place that we once explored and experienced. There is nothing greater than reliving a magical sunset, that mountain summit or some beautiful architecture months or years later.
To ensure you make the most of your travels and experience as a travel photographer, here are 12 travel photography rules to keep in mind on your next trip.
1. Be a Knowledgeable Travel Photographer
Take the time to research the locations, customs, and photography norms of the place you will visit. Find out as much as you can about the place you are travelling to. And don’t just rely on websites and books. Having a real conversation with someone from the area is so much more helpful than any book out there. Remember customs vary not only by country, but by region and religion as well. Understand and appreciate the diverse cultural context, and be respectful of these differences. A little research prior to your journey goes a long way. It’ll help you avoid disappointment and despair when you encounter photography restrictions at your destination.
Rome in August is probably not the best choice for a visit to Italy. Not only was it super hot, it was also so very crowded. Taking any travel photos without crowds of people was impossible.
2. Be Observant of Your Surroundings
Life is happening all around you all the time. People interacting with each other, people interacting with nature, nature putting on a grand show during sunrise, sunset, or even during a thunderstorm. But don’t wait for some preconceived notion of the perfect moment to take your camera out and take your travel photos.
At the same time, don’t see the world simply through your viewfinder. Observe the scene, anticipate the shot that you really want to get and be ready. Don’t just fire away at every situation only to get home to realize that you completely missed the moment.
3. Set Realistic Travel Photography Goals
A very famous travel quote, “We travel not to escape life, but so that life does not escape us”, really hits the nail on the head for me. Be real about why you travel and what you want to gain out of each travel experience. If you are travelling to a marketplace and want to get a true sense of local lifestyles and customs, then look for naturally occurring scenes. Don’t look for people that you can pose or stage to get your shot. Those travel images are not true to your experiences.
This is by no means a perfect shot. But the fact that this angle shows just how crazy transportation choices can be in smaller villages and towns in some countries. It certainly makes for an interesting travel photo to share with friends and family.
4. Choose Your Gear Correctly
Packing for any sort of travel is an art in itself. Especially if you are going away for an extended period of time. Travel photography requires a slightly different mindset in terms of gear than wildlife or portrait photography. For travel photography an ultra-wide angle focal length like the Canon 16-35mm f/4 or one like the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 works well. It has a good range of focal length ideal for travel photography.
Another good tip for your travel photography trip is to be aware of the weight of your gear. If you are going to be visiting several places within a short period of time, you provably don’t want to carry all your lenses and all your cameras because of the weight and time restrictions.
5. Know Your Photography Gear
This is one of the basics of photography, no matter what your genre. You should know your camera inside out. When you are travelling and have strangers pose for you, that is not the time to try out different settings and fidget with your gear.
People begin to loose patience and often get leery of you and your ability to take a good picture. They are more likely to simply walk away, rather than waste their time with a stranger who does not know how to operate his/her camera. Along the same lines, don’t take that new lens out for a spin when you are on the travel experience of a lifetime.
6. Be Confident in Your Photography Skills
Travel photography can be quite fast paced. You are trying to capture a scene as it is playing out in front of you. You don’t really have the time or the opportunity to re-compose the shot and then click the shutter. However, this does not mean that you have to just fire away at the maximum fps (frames per second) that your camera can handle, then pick the best of the lot in post-processing. Instead, use your technical as well as artistic skills to read the scene, analyze the light, assess the right camera settings, imagine the outcome, anticipate the shot and then take the picture. Not only will you improve your observation skills over time but you will also improve your photography.
7. Be Present in the Moment
Being present in every moment of every day is a life lesson we all can benefit from. It doesn’t just apply to travel photos. Great moments happen every day around us that are worth documenting not just for our clients but also for ourselves. Training your mind to really live life in the moment and not worry about all the other distractions will also help you really “see” what is around you. More often than not, you likely travel with a very tight agenda and timeline. No sooner than you get to your destination, you are already mentally prepared to move on to the next stop. Instead, try and plan a single excursion for a day and really focus on learning and experiencing that place or activity before moving on. That way you can really take travel images that accurately speak to your experience.
8. Be Personable and Communicate Your Needs
Self confidence, an open attitude, and a genuine smile, are important wherever you travel. People around you will generally respond to you with the same attitude that you show them. Be open and honest about your need to photograph something or someone. More often than not, people will respond positively to you. Most people love to have their picture taken. If you are uncomfortable or nervous about something or someone, it’s best to just leave the camera in your bag. Sometimes a smile and wave are all you need to get a willing subject for your travel photos.
9. Get Permission Before You Photograph People
Almost everyone around the world knows what a camera is, and what it can do. Even if you don’t know the language, simple hand gestures and pointing to the camera are enough. Not understanding the language should never be an excuse to photograph an unwilling person. As a photographer, the responsibility of asking for permission before you click the shutter rests solely on you. If you have time, learn some simple phrases, related to photography, in the language of your destination country. This will not only allow you to communicate more directly with your subject, explaining why you want to take a photograph, but it also shows your interest in the local culture. Sometimes use your camera as an ice-breaker. Take a picture and show people the photos you’ve taken of them. You will find that photography instantly becomes more fun and less intimidating. More than anything, respect the fact that “No” really does mean NO.
10. Keep Good Travel Notes
This will help you with your travel photography in the long run. Most people love to create travel photo books of their travel experiences. Having a good log or journal of your adventures will help you add detail and context to the images at a later stage. If you are an aspiring travel blogger or if you want to submit your travel photos to a publication, these notes will be a life saver. Most magazines want as much detail as you can provide about a place, your travel experience as well as your travel photos.
If a pen and paper are not readily available you can even use the voice memo app on your phone to record an audio narrative of your experience.
11. To Pay or Not to Pay for Your Travel Photos
Perhaps, one of the most controversial situations while travelling abroad, is the question of giving money to people you photograph. There is always that one uneducated, desperate tourist who gives money to get what they think is an award-winning prized travel photograph. And soon enough, it becomes a lucrative business in the local community. This can get quite uncomfortable and unsafe for other photographers traveling through the same places. Most photographers prefer engaging people openly, and sharing their need for a picture. In most cases people are more than happy to share their story, and to be heard. However, if someone expects money for a photograph, then the decision becomes less of whether to pay and more of whether to take the photo. That is a judgement call. Each of us needs to make it on a case-by-case basis. And remember to be mindful of the example we are setting for future travellers and photographers.
12. Travel Without Taking Pictures
As travel photographers this is an important tip. Take the time to really travel without obsessing over capturing every minute of every day with your camera. Spend time exploring your surroundings, and your body and mind will thank you for it. Even if you are on assignment, add some down time to your schedule. Not only does it help you relax, but also recharges those creative batteries for when you do get back to work!
We hope these 12 tips for travel photography were insightful and will help you achieve better travel photos on your next adventure. A little planning and a little patience will help you make the most out of your travel adventure and come back with some incredible travel photos that document your incredible journey.
If you want to improve your travel photography, check out this free TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY VIDEO E-COURSE by CulturallyOurs founder, Karthika Gupta. It is a 5 day free video series where she walks you though all the key elements in travel photography and also takes you in the field for some hands on travel photography tips.
Sign up for the FREE E-COURSE here.
We cannot wait to see your travel photos. Tag us @culturallyours on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram so we can see your photos.
0 Comments