Not everyone who loves to travel comes home with a suitcase full of souvenirs. Some people prefer to capture memories of faraway places that will one day remind them of happy experiences in foreign destinations. For them, travel photo albums are absolutely essential. These treasured possessions are filled with stunning photographs that highlight different landscapes, people, history and culture.
If you’d like to learn how to convey the true spirit of a place that you have visited on your travels, here are 7 great tips to inspire you to take fabulous photos…
- Do Some Research
If you’re about to jet off on the holiday of a lifetime, don’t leave your photography planning up to chance. Do some research before arriving at your destination. Read travel guidebooks, search online, and check out the work of other professional and amateur photographers that have visited before you.
Becoming knowledgeable about the location ensures that you don’t waste valuable photography time on sights and attractions that lack the wow factor that you’re after.
2.Be An Early Bird
One of the most important factors in photography is natural lighting. To take a great photo, while you’re holidaying in an exotic or iconic location, it’s crucial that you set your alarm so that you can rise like the early bird that gets the worm.
The soft, warm and inviting morning light of the ‘golden hour’ (the hours after sunrise and before sunset) will help you create awesome images. As there’s also likely to be fewer people awake, and out and about, you’ll increase your chances of snapping the perfect shot without having to worry about photo bombing.
If you want to capture an epic picture postcard shot of a famous landmark or sightseeing attraction, it’s wise to rise early and get there before everyone else. Making the effort could also mean that you end up with plenty of Insta-worthy snaps to show off in your travel photo albums.
- Avoid Sunny Afternoon Shoots
While the first light of the morning is conducive for taking good photos, shooting at noon on a bright sunny day is best avoided. Radiant sunlight is just too dazzling and harsh to be able to capture breathtaking snaps.
Instead, take a nap in the middle of the day so that you can replenish your energy for evening and late night photography. The ‘golden hour’ before sunset is an excellent time to snap a stunning panoramic shot, as the light is still soft and warm. The hour after sunset (and before sunrise) is known as the ‘blue hour’ due to the overall colour tone in the atmosphere.
- Apply The Rule Of Thirds
Professional photographers use a technique called the Rule of Thirds. By dividing the image that you view through the lens into thirds, horizontally and vertically, you instantly create a composition that is more balanced and aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
Aim to view and position the most important elements in the image within the three sections. When shooting a person or a landmark, place them in the section to the left or right, instead of slap bang in the middle. Your camera’s grid feature can help you find the perfect alignment with ease.
- Consider The Armchair Traveller
The best travel photo albums not only show off your photography skills and talents, but they also provide a glimpse of what it might be like to venture to the destination that’s been snapped and preserved. Before pointing your camera and shooting, it’s important to pause and consider what you want to photograph, and how you can ensure that you get the best results.
Thinking about the scenery prior to photographing it gives you time to apply the Rule of Thirds in a considered way. Experimenting with different angles, heights, and distances will also help you improve your photography skills over time. Try out a wide, mid-range and up-close shots of the same image to create a 3-dimensional look and feel. Including contrast of scale will draw the armchair traveller’s eye, and encourage them to fully examine and admire your travel photos.
- Pack A Travel Tripod
To shoot travel photos like a pro, it’s worth investing in a compact and lightweight travel tripod that you can pack and take wherever you go. A tripod allows you to set your camera up in a prime position, and to keep it there for as long as you want or need to. This is particularly useful if you’re snapping nature at its best, or slow moving action like a cascading waterfall, a multicoloured sunset, or unique cloud formations.
As you don’t have to hold the camera steady and still, you’re free to use your hands to make any lens or exposure setting adjustments.
- Be Patient
To master the art of photography, you must learn to be patient. While there will undoubtedly be times when you take an instant shot and get lucky with a good photo, oftentimes you’ll need to wait for the perfect moment to capture a unique and unforgettable great image. If you want your travel photo albums to have an enviable travelogue quality, patience really is the key.
Take your time before pressing the shutter and capturing the image that you’ve seen with the naked eye. Sometimes you might just get a better shot, if you pause for a minute or two. With practice you will learn to trust what your photographer instinct is telling you about every photo opportunity that presents itself on your travels.
