A few photography tips for travelers
By: Jillian Scheeler
You've just arrived back home after a week long vacation with your family in Honolulu, Hawaii. As you flip through the photographs of your vacation, none of them seem to capture the beauty of the beaches, the faces of your children do not fully show how much fun they had and for some reason somebody's elbow always seems to be protruding into the side of your photograph.
Travel photos are meant to capture and archive your memories and nothing is more disappointing that a bad roll of film or even worse a half empty one because you forgot to take photographs. You do not have to be Ansel Adams to take great photographs. Here are a few basic photography tips for travelers to help you take better photographs on your next vacation.
Equipment
Before leaving make sure you have everything you will need to take photographs. If you are using a point-and-shoot camera or an SLR camera you will need film. There are two basic things that need to be considered when purchasing film. To keep it simple you have two basic choices. The first is the choice between black and white film and color film, depending on your preference. The second choice is the film speed. The speed you need depends on where the majority of your photographs will be taken. The higher the speed, the faster or more responsive the film is to light. For example, if you are taking outdoor, sunny photos you will want a low speed, such as an ISO 64, because it is slower to react to the light. If you will be taking photographs mainly indoors or in any other dim situations, 400 ISO film will be what you need. Also, make sure that you purchase an adequate amount of film because you don't want to run out of film mid-trip.
If you are using a digital camera make sure that you have enough room on your memory cards or you may want to purchase additional memory cards. You will also need to purchase plenty of batteries for your camera and make sure you purchase the right kind, especially for SLR cameras. Last, make sure you have a camera bag or another bag to carry and keep your camera safe in.
Preparing cameras for travel
Despite the rumors, the x-ray machines that scan your bags should not affect your film as it passes through, so no need to worry. Low levels of x-rays are not harmful; however, you do need to worry about packing your camera. Bags are not always handled carefully. I recommend placing your camera in your carry-on bag to keep it from getting damaged or stolen. If you do place the camera in your luggage, wrap it in a thick sweater or something else that will cushion it and place in the middle of your bag.
Taking photographs
Before you pick up your camera and start taking photographs, stop and examine the situation. There are two main things that need to be considered before taking a photograph: the lighting and composition.
Lighting
The best times for taking photographs are in mornings before the sun gets strong and in the early evening when the sun is slowly setting. At these times the sun won't overpower and wash out your photos. However, these are not the only time people take photographs. Before clicking the shutter, keep in mind where you are in relation to the sun. The sun should always be behind you when shooting your photographs. If you're taking photographs inside, make sure there is ample lighting, but nothing compares to the natural lighting of the sun.
Framing and Composition
Framing the photo
A common mistake many photographers make is that they just point and shoot, oftentimes centering the object of focus and leaving clutter around the edges. It is important to frame the photograph within the viewfinder. Is the area around the object important in relation to the center of focus? If it is you'll want to include it, if not crop it and zoom in.
Composition
The composition of the photograph can drastically improve any photograph and there a few photography tips that can be followed to improve the look of your photographs.
Rule of thirds
This photography tip is most commonly associated with landscape photographs, but can be used in any situation to make a photograph much more interesting. The rule of thirds simply put, is that the main focus, instead of being centrally placed and boring, should be placed on a line that intersects the photograph on a third. For example, if you are taking a photograph of a sunset, instead of centering the sun, place the horizon line one-third up from the bottom. If you follow the rule of thirds your photographs will become much more engaging, interesting and better.
Diagonals, lines and angles
When framing your travel photos, remain conscience of the lines that are or can be created with your photograph. Diagonal lines are especially engaging to the eye. This can be achieved by moving around or tilting the camera to get a good angle. Lines that lead in and/or out of your photo make it once again better and more interesting to look at.
The point of view
Another great way to improve your travel photographs is to try different angles. By simply standing on a chair or just angling the camera downward to take the photograph can create an interesting point of the view. The same thing can be done by kneeling and/or angling the camera upward. This is a great way to emphasize size.
Engage the subject and engage the viewer
Travel photos of vacations can often be a bore to look at, unless they are your own. If you are taking photographs of people, try not posing them. Take the photograph of them in action, moving or experiencing some aspect of your vacation. If you are taking a group shot, people always look pained and posed. Try to lighten the situation before you shoot, even if it means telling a lame joke. The photographs will turn out better if the subjects seem natural. Pictures of people are more interesting so try and include them in the photographs as much as possible.
Anybody can be creative and anybody can take great travel photos and this can be accomplished by following these photography tips. Your photographs should show how majestic the mountain really was and your kids should look like they were having fun, not just posing.
About the Author:
Jillian Scheeler is a spontaneous road-tripper and avid writer working on assignment for TravelPost.com - The Premier Source for Unbiased Hotel Reviews and Ratings. This article can be reprinted freely as long as all links remain active.