5 Great Tips On How To Take The Best Travel Photos

Travelling is awesome in numerous ways such as meeting different people, experiencing different cultures, delicious foods and wonderful sceneries. On the other hand, photography is a great tool for creating awareness across communities, cultures and countries. Besides capturing beautiful images that you can always cherish, photography also allows you to tell powerful stories through photos. Here are some travel photography tips to help you capture beautiful and powerful images along the way. 

1. Do ample research ahead of time

The most important thing for travel photography is preparation by researching and reading everything about the places you plan to visit especially social media and local newspapers. Although local stories may not reach large international papers, they may help you understand exactly what is happening in the place. In between trips, you can contact locals for insider information, do Google Image searches and read guide books in order to discover the best vantage spots for shooting and make a great picture story. 

Image from TheCanvasFactory.com.au

2. Be prepared

In order to take great photos, you must have a good camera with you and always ready to shoot. This includes having extra batteries and fast memory cards with plenty of free space on them. Remember, unplanned, unexpected, spontaneous moments make the best shots. Learning and adhering to the norms of where you are goes a long way to blending in and being accepted. For instance, female photographers may want to wear scarves to cover their heads in some cultures. 

Image from http://www.heraldsun.com.au

3. Avoid distracting elements

Photographers usually have to deal with all the elements that are already in the environment. However, you can ensure that the subject stands out because of its position in the frame of size compared to other elements in the background. For instance, you may want to move closer to the subject matter or simply zoom in on your subject to make them larger in the picture frame. It is also essential to ensure that there are no distracting elements in the background. For distracting backgrounds, you can shoot using a larger aperture such as f/4 or f/2.8 to keep your subject in focus while blurring the background. You can also try shooting in manual or aperture priority mode.

4. Be sensitive and authentic

Being authentic is the easiest way to make candid photos of people. This is a trick that requires building a relationship with the subject and becoming part of the moment. The best pictures of people never happen from far away. Therefore, it’s always important to walk up and talk to the subject you want to photograph, consent is important. Whether it’s an explanation of what you are doing, a greeting or simply a nod of consent, it’s vital to connect with the person you want to photograph. Focus on the aspects that bind us in the world we share rather than looking at people as exotic or different. 

5. Watch out for changes in the weather

Although the weather can be quite unpredictable, sometimes poor weather may cause mist or dramatic lighting that adds mood and mystery to your images. Bring along your camera even when the weather is gloomy and bring along something that can protect your camera from moisture or rain. You can use a clear plastic bag and simply cut out a hole or the lens or buy a dedicated rain cover. 

Getting great pictures is important, however, it’s also vital to relax and enjoy the moment. In fact, the stories and pictures are better when you are fully involved and caught up in the moment.