When you are travelling to some of the most amazing places in the world, you will want to capture their unique beauty on film. In order to bring back great photos from your travels, there are a few helpful tips that you should know.
1. Get Up as Early As Possible
Taking photos in the early morning means that the tourist attractions and famous monuments will be less crowded, so you won’t have lots of people in the way of your shot. Also, the light is often the most beautiful and photogenic in the morning.
2. Travel Slowly
Take the time to really get to know the rhythm of the place you are visiting and stay for a while. You will start to notice things that you wouldn’t otherwise see.3. Research Your Location Before You Go
Learn about the culture and the landscape and find out what images other photographers have already captured. It will help you to see what stereotypes you might avoid and also give you new ideas.4. Respect the Local Customs
Always find out about the local traditions and customs of the destination before you visit, so that you don’t accidently offend people when taking photos. For example, some indigenous cultures believe that taking a photo of someone will steal their soul, so you could be committing great offense by taking a casual shot. It is always polite to ask someone before taking their photo.
5. Don’t be Afraid to Get Lost
Take the time to wander around a city aimlessly and see what you can discover. You might just find yourself in the midst of something amazing, like a local market, a street parade or a peaceful quiet hidden park.6. Don’t Spend the Whole Trip Looking Through the Camera Lens
Put the camera down for a while and just observe the scene around you. You will feel more in the moment and it will refresh your perspective.7. Look for Scenes that Tell a Story
Be observant and look to capture interesting interactions, such as the dog chasing birds in the village square, or the grandmother purchasing fresh lemons at the market stall. These pictures are more interesting than static shots of buildings and streets, because they tell a story.
8. Learn As Much About Your Camera as You Can
You don’t have to be a photography expert, but take the time to learn the basic functions of your camera and how to switch between them – it makes a huge difference!
9. Teach Yourself Some Editing Tricks Too
Knowing a little bit of digital photo editing means that you can fix a badly exposed photo, add a little more colour, crop something better or generally improve your photos.10. Try a New Perspective
If you simple point and shoot with your camera when taking pictures of a famous attraction, you will have the same photo that every other tourist has. Try getting a new perspective, whether it’s climbing up on something, getting down low or taking it from another vantage point – it will make for an interesting photo!