Travel Photography Tips to Remember

Photography Tips  •  Travel Photography

Each place that you visit has its own peculiar ambiance. If you want your travel photographs to look exceptionally good, you should try to capture the unique character and features of that place. The snapshots should not only trigger your memories but should also easily communicate to others the captivating vim and vigor of the location.

Photo by – Adam Reeder –; ISO 400, f/6.3, 1/4000-second exposure.

With respect to travel photography, here are eight important tips that will help you capture outstanding photos.

1. Travel photography gear, be prepared

A DSLR or Mirrorless camera with a 50mm to 200mm lens (the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS is a great one) will set you up for travel success. Your camera bag should have memory cards, batteries, a battery charger, filters, external flash units, a lens hood, cleaning gear, power adapter and a tripod or monopod.

You don’t need any kind of special training in travel photography to take good shots. You just have to know the basics, like how to set the shutter speed or how to alter the aperture size. You should also learn about different camera modes, ISO, silhouettes, filter usage, and so forth.

2. Gather as much information about the destination as possible

If photography is the sole purpose of your trip, then before getting to the destination, gather as much information as possible. You should know about the best time to travel, chief modes of transportation, main attractions, events that shouldn’t be missed, and things that should be avoided. Once you have completed your research, prepare a list of photographic opportunities available.

3. Look beyond the main tourist attractions

Often, travel photographers become so obsessed with the main tourist attractions that they fail to notice other photo-worthy subjects. While traveling, keep your eyes wide open. At times, objects near the main attraction are more interesting and photogenic.

4. Natural light vs. artificial light

Artificial light sources usually make the photographs look unreal. For better shots, rely upon natural light. Make the most of sunlight, and don’t hesitate to use filters, reflectors, lens hoods, and fill flash whenever the sun becomes too overbearing. If the subject is not well-lit, then freely use flash. By utilizing flash diffusers, night mode, and fine-tuning the exposure settings of the camera, you can easily prevent instances of flash blow-outs.

5. Frame composition is crucial

Each frame that you capture should be top-class. Before you press the shutter button, meticulously examine and evaluate the scene. Apart from the subject, take a look at the background. Make sure that secondary focal points do not overshadow the subject. Everything you wish to include in the frame should be distinctly visible.

Photo by Jonathan E. Shaw; ISO 100, f/1.8, 1/200-second exposure.

6. Try to interact and connect with the people

For capturing candid portraits, you should openly interact with the people. Close interaction will help to generate trust, and it will become relatively easy for you to convince them to gaze through your lens.

7. Don’t count the pictures

Experienced travel photographers shoot the subject from all possible perspectives before moving to the next photographic opportunity. Hence, for shooting great travel photos, explore the scene from all angles, and take snapshots liberally.

Photo by azedkae; ISO 400, f/4.5, 1/50-second exposure.

8. Avoid traveling with a group

If you travel with a group, your creative freedom is be drastically curtailed. You won’t get a chance to pause, look around, and assess the different perspectives of the subject. Moreover, your pictures won’t be exclusive, as all the members of the group will be shooting the same buildings and people.

About the Author:
This article was written by Patrick Laundy. He managed an online photo album called OurPhotos. The idea was to keep things as simple and uncluttered as possible while providing a fully-functional photo sharing service.