Beginning Travel Photography
You are about to go on a dream vacation; a decent camera and a few beginning travel photography skills are needed. I know you work full time. All this planning and shopping has used up all your free time and you need to pay your bills and clean your house. I understand, this will be quick.
Travel Photography Equipment
You have several options for travel photography equipment. Many people use their phones to document their vacations. Waterproof your phone if you will be primarily using it for photos, it is better to be safe than sorry! You can purchase a tripod and clip lenses for the phone. There are many free apps for photo editing, start with Lightroom. I am often amazed by how great the iPhone-only Instagram feeds are.
You may choose a small point-and-shoot, mirrorless, or DSLR camera. I have the Nikon D5300 and the smaller Sony Alpha a6000 mirrorless digital camera. They are both great cameras. Consider the Go Pro if you will be shooting a video of adventure activities. Whatever you decide, be sure to purchase an extra battery, 64GB memory card, and a small tripod. I also recommend using a camera clip to attach the camera to your bag in order to have quick access. Click through to shop camera supplies on amazon.
Travel Photography Skills
Lighting is Everything
The noonday sun creates harsh light. Overexposure and deep shadows are common at this time of day. As a result, colors are washed out and detail is lost. Unfortunately, this can’t always be avoided due to vacation time constraints. Keep the sun to your back and step into the shade when taking photos in the middle of the day.
Golden hour refers to the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset. The sun creates a soft warm tone during the golden hour that is ideal for photos. Blue hour is the hour before sunrise or after sunset. The sky is a deep blue and city lights remain on. This is the ideal time for photos of a city skyline.
Look for light reflections in bodies of water, puddles on the ground, windows or glass buildings, and in beverages. Examples of this are photos of the reflection of a fishing village on water or a city skyline on a glass of wine.
Basic Photo Composition
It’s all about the focal point. Choose one focal point and eliminate background clutter. Too many subjects in a frame are overwhelming and the focal point is lost. Framing the focal point in a window or doorway adds interest. Move around and attempt to be at the same level as the focal point. Then crouch down for a low shot and or stand on a ladder to shoot from above.
Use the Rule of Thirds. Your camera has grid lines to help you create the perfect composition. Try to place the focal point at the intersection of the tic-tac-toe grid lines.
Symmetry creates powerful photos and is the exception to the Rule of Thirds. Center symmetrical objects within the middle grid and align the focal point or horizon with the top or bottom third.
Include a rock or plant in the foreground of the frame to give the image depth.
Use lines and curves to create interest and draw the eye to the focal point. Photos of the Great Wall of China, a road through the desert, or a path leading through the forest are good examples of how to use lines and curves to draw the eye.
Pay attention to everything in the camera’s frame. Do not cut off the sky or body parts.
City photos become distorted when a camera is tilted up. Hold your camera or smartphone perpendicular to the ground and back up until the shot is within your frame. Crop the photo to bring the focus back to the subject later.
Advanced Photography Skills
Photography 101 is a wonderful free online beginning travel photography tutorial. This course will demonstrate 9 steps to better photo composition. This class is for everyone and will be equally useful if you plan to use your phone, point-and-shoot camera, or a DSLR. You will learn about perspective, the position of the light, the rule of thirds, and leading lines. Horizontal vs. vertical, repetition and symmetry, depth of field, getting closer, and framing images are all covered. The course is a series of videos by topic that should take a little over an hour to watch. Simply click this link and select Photography 101. There are additional classes for a small fee if you have a DSLR camera and would like to learn how to use the manual settings. Click through for more top travel photography tips from travel bloggers.
Travel Photography Editing
You know those gorgeous photos you see on Instagram? They have been enhanced. Editing photos does not have to be difficult. Lightroom has a desktop version and an app for phones. It is possible to create or purchase presets for Lightroom that will automatically enhance your photos. Lightroom is a popular product with many free tutorials to help you learn the ins and outs. Photography 101 offers an introductory Lightroom class for a small fee.
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