Travel Photography is a lot more about capturing the spirit of the place to give people a glimpse of how it might be to venture there. It’s like lending them your own eyes while looking at the place for them to be able to see and feel what you did.
And If you want to be able to do this, you should be passionate enough to practice regularly, read books and even watch online tutorials if possible.
You also have to understand that every destination has a different story – from culture, history, people, feelings, landscapes, and stories.
General Tips to Remember
- Don’t worry about getting a perfect shot too much. German photographer Daniel Ernst says “flaws in exposure, grain, or flare is what makes an image feel more real.” He also said that letting go made his photos better and more authentic.
- Get out there and get lost on purpose. In this way, you’d get into the rhythm of the place, figure out what to shoot and experience it. And as the saying goes, “Get up early, stay out late.” Doing this will allow you to have time to capture the beautiful sunrise and sunset. Also, this will give you the chance to wander off from the usual tour and discover the place for yourself.
- Talk with the locals and make them feel comfortable. Some travel photographers are having a hard time capturing photos of locals. The secret to get them to be your subject and to make it look so natural is to take time to talk with them. Ask for directions, buy a souvenir, ask about the place, and complement them. But most importantly, explain what you do and why you want to take a photo of them.
- Patience is what you need. Most of the time, you have to stay for a while and be in that moment to get that shot that you wanted. The one shot where you would be able to put in the qualities and feelings all at the same time.
Technical Tips in Travel Photography
- Know your camera. Camera is not what makes a great photographer. To improve your photography skills, it would require knowledge, practice and creativity.
- Learn How to use the Manual Mode. Using the Auto Mode will hinder you from capturing motion in a creative way or even manipulating lighting conditions to capture the shot that you want to. You have to learn how to use the Manual Mode and adjust settings like Shutter Speed, ISO and Aperture. You need to understand how the three work and correlate.
- It’s all about Creativity and Perspective. Play with angles. Make your photos different from the usual ones taken by tourists visiting the place. You can try to lie down and take an upward shot or go somewhere higher to take a full view of the place.
- Learn about composition. Learning about how to position your subject in the photo makes it different and award-winning compared to other ordinary photos. You can try using the rule of thirds and learn and explore some more from there on.
- Use a tripod. A tripod is an essential in travel photography. Being able to set-up your camera allows you to think how you want the composition to be. Also, with this set-up, you will be able to adjust settings to capture motion (e.g. waterfalls) by using slow shutter speed or take photos of stars or other low-light environment by manipulating ISO and aperture.
Know Your Voice and Continue Learning
Like musicians and writers, photographers find a particular style that fits them. You have to identify your own voice that will set you apart from others and your photos should reflect them.
Most importantly, know that learning doesn’t stop. Continue researching, watching tutorials, reading books, attending seminars and workshops and practice.
