Elevating Your Travel Photos
You’ve relocated abroad or are finally taking your dream trip. How are you going to preserve those memories? Going out and buying an expensive camera is not required. Utilizing the tools you already have (such as a smart phone), you can still take frame-worthy photos and create drool-worthy albums to share with your friends and family. Here are some tips to keep in mind when photographing your travels!
Consider your angle. You stumble upon a breathtaking scene and instinctively reach for your phone to capture it. Take the first shot, then consider experimenting with different angles. Does the scene look more captivating if you move ten steps to the left or crouch down for a lower perspective? Don’t settle for the first image you take. Embrace the adventure of trying different angles. This simple act of creativity can transform a good photo into a great one.
Below: Three different views of the iconic church in Lake Bled, Slovenia
Subtract elements that do not contribute to your story. When picking up the camera to document a scene, consider only including elements that add to the story versus trying to include too much. If possible, crop out light poles, street signs, trash cans or hordes of people who don’t contribute to the image of the scene in front of you (unless that is your story). This can be hard to do in a busy area, but waiting out a busy moment will often lead to a short gap where you can get an image without so many distracting elements or additional people. A busy scene is the perfect opportunity for those with more advanced camera skills to experiment with longer shutter speeds. This creative technique can blur out the people in front of you or capture the bustling energy of the scene. Don’t be afraid to play with your camera settings and try something new. The results may surprise you in the best way.
Tori gates in Kyoto captured with a slower shutter speed
Remember the food. A big part of every country and culture is the food; adding a few images to your travel album helps tell a full story of that trip. What is the dish this location is known for? What is the beverage the local people drink with dinner or for celebrations?
Croffle at Dreamy Camera Cafe in Korea
Know what medium you are photographing for. If you are photographing for a blog or online outlet, photographing horizontally (landscape) appears better online. If you are photographing for Instagram, typically, portrait (vertical) orientation is better. If you plan to print your images, consider how they will be displayed in your home and photograph accordingly. I usually photograph a scene vertically and horizontally, so I have both options. If you only have a short time, take the image horizontally and crop it vertically later if needed.
Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, I captured this scene both horizontally and vertically.
Capture candids. I get it; you dream of the perfect family Christmas card photo in front of the medieval castle where everyone looks and smiles despite the meltdown in the car. Those photos are great but remember to document moments as they unfold. Showcase your children exploring a place for the first time or your partner gazing at the mountains around them. This is also a great way to document moving toddlers who do not want to be posed for a photo, and it can lead to more relaxed and natural expressions.
Get in the photo. This tip is more directed at moms who are often behind the camera documenting their family. Remember to take the time to get in the image; those are precious memories for your children and family to look back upon.
Our family after a hike in Bhutan, April 2024
Know the focus of your image. Do you want to showcase a person in the scene or the scene itself? What you keep in focus will draw the viewer’s eye in.
Below: The image on the left showcases my toddler, the image on the right showcases the castle
Photograph the locals (with permission) or animals native to the land. I love documenting street performers, especially in a city like Paris (don’t forget to tip them). Photographing the Highland cows and Icelandic horses is a must in countries like Scotland or Iceland.
So much goes into making compelling photos, and it can often get overwhelming. Most importantly, as with anything, keep it fun. The more you intentionally photograph and make subtle tweaks, the better your images will become.
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