How to Take the Perfect Travel Photo
You’ve booked your holiday. You’re going to experience exotic cultures, meet extraordinary people and see some of the most breath-taking sights known to man. It’s an experience that you’ll want to stay with you forever… and why shouldn’t it?
With a travel photo you can relive your experience - so you’ll never have to forget the way the children smiled when you taught them their first words or how the sea sparkled as the sun set on your last day.
Here’s our fool-proof guide to taking travel pictures that will knock your socks off!
Think about your photo
Travelling abroad is an overwhelming experience. Whether you’re walking down the high street, or wandering through the wilderness, there’s little doubt that you’ll be constantly amazed and entertained. It’s easy to believe that this astounding beauty will be captured in each and every shot you take, and to a certain extent it will, but you could turn a good picture into an amazing picture if you just put a little thought into it.
Selecting your shot
You’ll need to select your subject carefully. You may be surrounded by beauty but you won’t be able to fit it all into your photo. A simple picture can be infinitely more striking than a cluttered one. If you’re taking a landscape shot be careful to eliminate any untidy elements – an unsightly telephone cable can spoil an otherwise perfect shot. Try experimenting with different angles; it’s amazing how a tiny movement can completely transform your picture.
Framing your shot
Framing your picture is important; it will draw the eye and capture the viewer’s attention. You’re picture should have a focal point. This could be anything from a totem pole to a grizzled old tree - whatever takes your fancy. Most people put this in the centre but it’ll be much more effective if you put it off to one side. The same goes for horizon lines. If the sky is particularly striking, place the horizon line in the lower third of the frame so it can dominate the shot. This can be particularly effective at sunrise and sunset.
Lighting your shot
Lighting is incredibly important if you want to take an amazing picture. Try to use natural lighting when you can and make sure the sun is low in the sky. Bright light can cause some particularly unattractive shadows so you’ll want to avoid it when you can. This won’t always be possible so you’ll have to be resourceful. If you don’t mind dragging yourself out of bed try to catch at least one sunrise. The effect can be stunning and you’ll be left with an enchanting image to hang on your wall when you get back.
Practice makes perfect
Yes it’s simple, but it’s also extremely effective. Cameras are becoming more and more complicated every day and if you’ve bought one especially for your trip you’re going to need to get used to it! If you have the time, test it out in a selection of locations and lighting conditions. Play around with the manual settings and see what works best – this knowledge will be vital when you start taking your travel photos. The trick here is to learn from your mistakes. If something doesn’t work, try to work out why and avoid it in the future.
Take lots of photos
If you have a manual camera then this might not be practical, but if you have a digital camera you can snap away to your heart's content before deciding what to keep and what to bin. Even if you’ve set up your shot perfectly it can still be ruined at the last minute. People have a nasty habit of walking into shots and aeroplanes are completely oblivious to the budding photographers below, so make sure you’re not caught out by taking a series of pictures of every subject.
Photographing people
Different countries are home to different cultures, different ethnic groups and different peoples, and there’s no doubt that you’ll want to photograph some of them. If you can’t take your photo without drawing attention make sure you ask permission. Don’t worry if you don’t speak the native tongue, you can usually get your message across with hand gestures. Pointing to your camera and then to your subject is probably the most effective way of doing this. Having said that, spouting a few freshly learned words or phrases can be a real icebreaker and can help you build a rapport with your subject.
Some people just won’t want to be photographed and you should respect their wishes. Others might ask for payment, or perhaps a copy of the photo. If you do agree to send them a copy make sure you do. Broken promises often lead to unaccommodating locals and it’s not fair to make another budding travel photographer pay for your mistakes.
Once you’ve secured your subject try to encourage them to look directly at the camera. This will make your picture all the more powerful. An animated subject makes for a unique shot so you’ll want your subject talking, smiling and giggling. Kids love silliness so don’t be afraid to make a fool of yourself. Silly faces and strange noises will get you some of your most unique and entertaining photos. Unfortunately, the same techniques aren’t always so effective with adults. You might have to tone down your encouragements to avoid offending them – one carelessly poked out tongue could lose you your subject and your picture.
Photographing animals
Animals can be tricky subjects and you’ll need to stay alert if you want to get the perfect shot. These delightful subjects are incredibly unpredictable so they could show up any time, any where! You’ll need to be patient and you’ll have to be prepared. Your camera will need to be turned on at all time and manual cameras will need to be wound on after every shot. It’s probably best to use the automatic setting on your camera – if you take time out to change the settings you might well miss your chance.
You might be tempted to snap away at a distant subject in the hopes you’ll get a good picture but try to resist. Unless you have a high intensity zoom lens it won’t be more than a dot on the horizon.
When taking portrait shots of animals try to make them fill the frame. Your subject will dominate the shot creating a forceful and captivating image. It’s also important to include at least one unobstructed eye within the shot. Our attention is drawn to the eye of an animal as it is to the eye of a person so this will help the viewer to connect with the image.
Restrictions and security
Some countries place restrictions on what you can and can’t take photos of. These restrictions are usually associated with the military or government but they can cover bridges, airports or anything else that’s susceptible to sabotage. Make sure you know what these are before you go else you may find yourself in a difficult situation.
Not everyone has an expensive camera, but if you do you’re going to want to protect it as best you can. Cover any brand marks with black masking tape to make it less attractive to thieves and make sure you avoid showy camera cases.
If you’re taking the trip of a lifetime you’re going to want your pictures to do it justice. There’s nothing worse than returning home to a set of disappointing shots that can’t live up to your memories. A travel photo should transport you back to the breath-taking sights and exotic cultures of your holiday destination, and with a little thought and a whole lot of practice it will do just that!
So what are you waiting for? Get out there are start taking some pictures!
- Enter our photography competition and become the 'Meaningful Travel Photographer of the Year'!
