Be Prepared!

The age-old rule stands firm - you can never be too prepared…

Research your destination

There's nothing more frustrating than showing up in-country just days after a local festival or that little bit too late for the egg-laying season of the leatherback turtle, so it's essential that you do your research in advance. Find out what you're going to be doing, where you're going to be going and what's going on there, then make a list of the things you want to take pictures of and remember to pack it in your suitcase!

The internet is a great source of information but you should also consider travel magazines, guidebooks and, of course, the weekly travel supplement from your Sunday paper. Getting in touch with people who have travelled to your chosen destination is a great way to find out about those hidden treasures and could lead to some really unique pictures. If you don't know anyone who's been there simply post a message on the i-to-i forums and let them come to you. 

If you're planning to buy specialist equipment, researching your destination will help you decide what you want to get. The camera you'd buy to use in a desert will be very different from one that you can use underwater, so it really does matter. Things to consider include where you will be taking your pictures (in the water, at the beach, in snowy landscapes etc), what you will be photographing (people, animals, landscapes etc), how much you can afford to spend and how much you will be able to carry.

Get some practice

Knowing your equipment, the way it works and the effects that different settings create is essential to taking a good photograph. If you have a digital camera you'll probably have access to a whole array of options and settings and each will have it's own unique function. Don't simply turn your camera onto the "auto" function, experiment with different settings and find out what works best when.

The temptation is to do this while you're on holiday, especially if you have an expensive camera with even more expensive film, but this is a mistake. When you're travelling the world every moment is precious and there no guarantee that you'll ever see the same thing twice. You won't just be missing out on an opportunity, you'll be risking the disappointment of discovering that what you thought was the perfect photo is actually pretty poor.

Make sure you have everything you need

There’s nothing worse than getting half way through your travels and running our of batteries, camera film or digital storage space. In many of the places you will be travelling to there won't be anywhere to buy these things and you could miss out on some incredible shots simply because you didn’t have the equipment.

When it comes to camera film always bring twice as much as you think you'll need. You can never be too careful and it really does have the potential to ruin your time away if you don’t have enough. The same rule applies to digital storage. If you’re bring a laptop or anything else that you can download your images onto remember that there will not always be plug sockets for you to power them with. Nor will there always be photo shops where you can get your images burned to CD.

Batteries are even more complicated. Where possible opt for the longlife or lithium variety but even these will run out relatively quickly if your taking lots of pictures. Test your camera before you go to find out how long your batteries will last and go from there. Again, there’s no harm in taking more than you need.

Customs

When planning what to bring you need to bear in mind the custom regulations of your chosen country. In most cases you won’t encounter any problems but some countries limit the amount of film and photo equipment that you can bring in. If your camera or equipment is new you might want to consider bringing your receipt with you to prove that it was not purchased in-country.

Travelling with your camera

There are a couple of things that you need to bear in mind when travelling with your camera. Firstly, you should always keep it in your hand luggage. It doesn’t matter if it’s a cheap digital camera or an expensive automatic, you don’t want to risk it being broken when your backpack is chucked onto the plane or thrown onto the conveyer belt.

Secondly, never pass your film through the x-ray machines in developing countries unless you have no choice. You risk destroying your film before you have even had the chance to take a picture. Instead, place it in a clear plastic bag and ask for it to be inspected by hand. Most airport staff are willing to do this if you are patient but you may find that if you catch them on a bad day they'll refuse point blank. If it looks like it is going to turn into a awkward situation then it is better to give in, but when possible avoid it at all costs.

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