10 Useful Travel Photography Tips For Improving Your Photos
10 Useful Travel Photography Tips For Improving Your Photos
#10. Get Closer
The famous Hungarian war photographer, Robert Capa, often referred to as the greatest adventure photographer in history, once said, ”If your pictures aren’t good enough, you aren’t close enough.”
Perhaps, his experience in early photography had taught him well. Quality photography pays attention to details and the only way to do that is to move closer.
You don’t have to be shy to get closer to people, or lazy to move near your target; unless you want your photos to look shy and lazy! Instead, move closer and capture things the way they are.
#9. Get Lost On Purpose
Funny, right? If you are on a hike, for instance, you don’t have to stick to the traditional tourist path. Instead, you need to explore the unusual paths. Get lost, just go. Take your photos in a whole new environment. This way, you will have cracked the monotony in photography.
And, believe me, monotony is not so pretty in photography. In fact, you will discover more attractive sites. Just remember to carry a pair of compasses.
#8. Wake Up Early, Stay Out Late
Nothing inspires a beautiful morning than the glimmering rays of the rising sun. Nothing is even better than the relaxing evening sunset. Great photography is a result of a good texture of light, only evident in the mornings and evenings.
Perhaps you will need to sacrifice your overtime sleep if you need something substantial. Furthermore, the luring scene of the sunrise or sunset could create the perfect natural background for your picture.
Wake up early, stay out late and take photography to the next level!
#7. Rule Of Thirds / The Golden Ratio
You’ve obviously seen in many of the digital cameras lines running vertically and horizontal on the display screen. They are the guidelines to be used according to the rule of thirds. The rule suggests that the subject should be aligned with the guidelines in such a way to ensure proper proportions.
The main reason for this is to discourage the positioning of the subject at the center of the photo. It also helps avoid the appearance that the picture is divided into equal halves by the horizon. The whole idea helps frame the image in a way that appeals to the eye.
Proper use of this golden ratio will yield amazing results.
#6. Always Bring a Camera
You are never sure about what to expect while traveling. A wise photographer should always be ready to shoot. As it seems, luck plays a very key role in traveling photography. Having a camera with you is one thing, being ready is another. Did you know that most of the memorable good times do often occur when you least expect? Now you know.
If you want to capture such moments, you need a ready-to-shoot camera everywhere and every time. You do not have to strap a heavy equipment around your neck, a good carry-with-you camera is a point-and-shoot. There are many brands that come with different colors to choose from. You will definitely find what suits you.
#5. Do Your Homework
In short, do your research and have a plan. When traveling to new places, you aren’t well acquainted with the various places to visit and take photos. Go online, check blogs, google search, read articles and even go to the social media for aid.
This way, you will discover the best places to take photos. After doing your research well, you need to shortlist the places you plan to visit and what to expect in such places. Make sure that you capture the best scenes. All should go well, and you will have a wonderful photography trip.
#4. Use a Tripod
A tripod can only take seconds to erect but will hold your camera in a steady position for as long as you wish. A steady camera is a key necessity for almost all kinds of photography. At night or cases of low light, the camera is set to night settings.
This will mean that the exposure and shutter speed is reduced. With this reduction in speed, a steady position has to be maintained so as to avoid blurred images. Only a tripod can do this perfectly.
Doing nature photography will also need a tripod since you might have to wait long for the animal to appear — a scene which will occur for a short time. You have to be steady enough to capture such moments.
Tripod are nowadays built to be collapsible and they generally don’t take a lot of space. They would fit perfectly in your backpack.
#3. Shoot in Manual Mode
Manual mode shooting is preferred for a couple of reasons. With the auto settings, the camera tends to decide everything for you, the exposure, light, shutter speed, the aperture, and even the ISO. Wonderful, right? But if you’ve been keen enough, you should have realized that at times the quality of such photos doesn’t reflect the real setting.
For example, in low light situations, the camera tends to increase the amount of light. And this is where you print a photo of individuals with red eyes, glowing skin or even closed eyes. You would have carefully moderated this manually. So, it is worth learning to use the camera manually rather than depending upon it to lead the way.
#2. Know the Weather
Depending on the setting you need, knowing the weather should be your number one priority. Weather can offer the best for your photo shooting, and yet it can still ruin everything. Don’t wait got off guard by the changing weather conditions to surprise you.
Do your research on the expected weather conditions of the places you plan to visit. Almost all weather conditions are good for specific photo shooting. Whether snowy, rainy, cloudy, sunny, stormy with lightning, all you need is to be informed. It will even aid in the planning of your travel trip to specific places.
#1. Post Processing
Sometimes back, processing a photo was quite complex. Only professionals could do it. But with the recent advancements in digital photography, even a starter can do great. What is, even more, is the introduction of mobile apps that can operate quite similar to the previous sophisticated software like Photoshop or the Lightroom used on a PC.
Nowadays, some of these mobile photo editing apps not only offer the basic enhancements but can also achieve advanced effects. Examples are the Snapseed and Enlight. With a little fine-tuning, it is difficult for one to tell whether the photo is taken by a professional DSLR camera or an iPhone.
Therefore, carry your camera and a smartphone and you are good to go!
13 Cloister Road, London, UK
