Essential kit
Whether you're going on a family holiday or embarking on a far-flung travel adventure, you'll want to come back with photos that do the places you visit justice, and not forgettable snaps.
So you can capture amazing travel photos, read our expert guide that's packed with advice and tips, covering everything you need to know, from what kit you should take to making the most of the locations you visit.
1. Essential kit
First up, camera and lens choice. A DSLR or mirrorless alternative offers the best blend of performance and versatility, while their large sensors can deliver excellent results. That said, a high-end compact camera like Fuji's X100T or Sony's RX10 III means you can keep the kit you carry around to a minimum if weight is a concern.
If you are going to opt for a DSLR or mirrorless camera, you need to think about lenses. One option is an all-in-one 18-300mm superzoom that covers everything from wide angle to telephoto in a single lens, meaning you don't have to take it off your camera. Due to the huge focal range, it can put demands on the optics, so you may prefer to take separate wide-angle and telephoto zooms.
Travel tripod
A lightweight but still flexible and sturdy travel tripod is an essential accessory for shooting early or late when the tourists are in their hotels.
Research/Maps
Google is your friend. For ideas, search for images in the area you are visiting. Mark potential locations on a map of the area that you can keep in your pocket or camera bag.
Plug adapters
Always carry an international plug adaptor and throw a three-socket extension plug into your hold luggage so you can charge more than one item from the same connection at the hotel.
Laptop & storage
Carry a laptop to help store, review and even edit your images on the go. Going through your images on the laptop is a great way to while away the long hours waiting for the next flight. Don't forget storage either - backing up your images is vital, so a portable storage device is a must-have accessory. Have a copy of every image in at least two places – say your laptop, a portable hard disk and the original card.
People
2. People pictures
Photographing the people you meet is an essential part of the travel genre. But photographing strangers is scary, right?
It doesn't have to be. A friendly and sensible approach will help you take some lovely portraits – and enjoy some fun encounters with locals. If you want to set up a portrait, start up a conversation and win the person's trust first – then you can ask to take a photo.
When the chance arises, work quickly. Try a focal length of 100mm and a wide aperture such as f/4 or f/5.6 to separate them from their background, focusing on the eyes. If you can, include a little bit of their environment to help tell the story of who they are. A nice touch is to show them the picture on your LCD screen afterwards, and you might win yourself a little extra time for a few more shots.
A candid shot
Alternatively, if you don't want to directly approach people or aren't comfortable doing so, step back with a 200mm (or longer) lens and watch what is going on around you. With some guile and good timing, you can shoot some natural portraits of locals going about their everyday business, and they'll be none the wiser for it!
Colour and detail
3. Be colourful
Colour can be very evocative of a place. Think of the Mediterranean and it brings images of sun-faded pastel hues to mind; Kenya and the bright red traditional clothing of the Maasai people is an obvious mental connection. Capturing these colours is an important element within the travel portfolio and can really give your images impact.
Bold, primary colours certainly have the most power – and isolating them within the wider scene with tight compositions to really make the most of them is an excellent way to draw the viewer's attention. Look out for contrasting colours too, so a blue next to yellow or a green against a red will always help you to create a picture that stands out from the crowd.
Use reflections
Reflections of colour in water are always eye-catching – so whether it's a river, canal or even just a puddle, take a look to see whether you can use it in your composition. Zoom in on the reflection too for an abstract take on the scene.
Use composition
Don't rely on the colour to do all the work for you: you still need to compose your image carefully. This is often helped with contrasting colours so look out for subjects where the main colours work off each other, like the yellow and blue here.
Frame your picture
This shot is ultimately focusing on the bike, but the colour backdrop and shooting through the blue boat with a telephoto lens help to frame it within the scene. The way the blue window shutters echo the boat is a nice stroke of luck too.
4. Be quirky
Observation is one of the keys to good travel photography. Be on the look-out for something fun or different or just plain quirky. In busy tourist areas, the antics of the tourists themselves can make for some interesting images, while local graffiti, posters and even shop window displays can offer up compelling photo fodder.
5. Spot details
Wide scenes are always eye-catching, but it is the small things you come across that prove the icing on the cake of your travel portfolio. Use your telephoto lens to isolate interesting details that show local life. Try to tell a story with these images, so think about how the viewer will work out what it is about. For example, local artisans and craftsmen working with their hands can show a side of the place you are visiting that typical tourists would never think of exploring.
Focal lengths
6. Vary focal lengths
It's amazing how much difference your choice of focal length makes to a scene. To truly explore a location it pays to exploit this rather than rely on one focal length for everything you shoot. Many 'travel' lenses will give you a wide and a long option (typically 18-200mm) so look to the extremes of this range to see how each option changes the emphasis. Otherwise the combination of a good
At the wide end, foreground elements will dominate and become the main subject of the photograph, whereas at the telephoto end of the lens, the foreground either disappears completely or becomes less important. The two images below, from Venice, were shot at the same location at 20mm and 200mm, and show how the emphasis alters fully through lens choice.
Best time to shoot
7. Shoot early and late
If you truly want to get the best from the places you visit, you must be prepared to start early and stay out late. At these times, places take on a different mood: colours change as the light intensity alters, and shadows can cast a whole new intriguing twist to your photos. The good news is, that in the middle part of the day – especially in hot places – you can head back to the hotel and catch up on your sleep, or just chill out at a local café.
Typically, if you are shooting landscapes, you will want to use your travel tripod so that you can set longer exposures, but don't be afraid to boost the ISO setting and work hand-held too. Artificial light can create interesting white balance conundrums (which means shooting raw is a good plan: you can adjust white balance later), while low morning or evening light will give a beautiful warm glow. making even the drabbest scene come to life.
It's true that high ISOs will introduce some noise, but throw caution to the wind: accept this is just adding atmosphere to your images and embrace it. Shooting this way can be quite liberating and you'll be surprised how, even in what seems like the darkest corner with only scant artificial lighting, your DSLR will reward you with some lovely photos.
This feature was originally published in Digital Camera Magazine, to subscribe, click here
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