Travel photography has the potential to be one of the most exciting forms of picture-taking. It evokes thoughts and feelings of far-away, exotic lands with undiscovered beauties and untold stories.
So when approaching a new destination, it is best to leave your usual tricks behind to capture the true beauty of your location, creating images that can stand the test of time. With your trusty camera bag and some creative tips, you can become your own professional.
Capture Images at Night
Suppose you find yourself able to explore at night. In that case, this is the perfect opportunity to embrace what feels like an entirely different world, from the bustling nightlife illuminated by city streets or quiet roads lined with shining windows.
The combination of buildings and lights can create incredible contrasting photos that will make your city street images stand out. Remember to explore safely, stay in familiar areas, or travel with someone who knows their way around.
Photograph From the Rooftop
If you are getting started with your travel photography journey or looking for great places to practice, cities are the place to start. They offer so many variations of settings and lighting choices you will have plenty of options from which to choose.
To capture cities in their finest form, head to the roof. It will allow you to capture the city as a whole and offer a breathtaking perspective regardless of the time of day. It will also allow you to scout out your next location.
Panoramas
Panoramas are truly unique, as they allow you to capture all of the landscape in its picturesque beauty. Perfecting this photo technique is surprisingly easy and does not require fancy and expensive camera equipment. All you need is your smartphone.
Simply access your phone’s panorama photo mode, rotate as instructed, and enjoy the fruits of your minimal labor. To maintain the uniqueness of these pictures, reserve them for landscapes and views that go beyond the simple horizontal image.
Capture Unfamiliar Street Scenes
For those just beginning, it can be a daunting task trying to set up the perfect shot. To take away the stress of making it more complicated than it needs to be, choose an unfamiliar street scene to introduce yourself to the genre.
We often appreciate photos that hold the essence of our trips or the moments we decided to record our surroundings more than structured and planned pictures. So instead, look for eye-catching architecture, important landmarks, or quirky things you see along the way.
Shoot at Ground Level
While your rooftop photos will offer the best location for long, citywide shoots, sometimes it is best to stick to ground level and appreciate what the world has to offer. Ground-level photos provide a more intimate perspective of your destination and reflect a more realistic perspective of how most travelers see and experience the area you are in.
Do as the Locals Do
When you go on vacation and want to know the best restaurants to eat at or the most beautiful beaches to visit, you can always rely on the locals to steer you in the right direction. The same can be said when searching for the ideal spots to capture your holiday.
Speak to the locals about hidden gems, underrated locations, and places they enjoy visiting for the views. This is a great way to explore spaces you might not have considered. But, as always, do your exploring safely and sensibly.
Scout Out Hills
Suppose you are visiting an area that is more rural or geared towards nature. Seeking out the nearest rooftop is no longer an option. Instead, look for the highest summit of a hill that you can reach for a panoramic view of the scenic beauty that surrounds you.
Spend some time finding two or three different hills you can traverse to get a birds-eye perspective for unique travel photos. If you are using a drone, you can easily launch it from this spot and safely navigate around you.
Nature Walks
If you are traveling to a built-up city, the urban environment can become overwhelming and chaotic. While it may offer brilliant architecture and fascinating people to capture, these subjects can become repetitive.
To give yourself a moment to breathe and a change of scenery, head out on a nature-bound excursion. It will help you feel refreshed and inspired and allow you to see another side of the concrete jungle. From the unique flora and fauna of the country to the sprawling landscape, you won’t be short of chances to record the great outdoors.
Employ Simple Rules
Regardless of where you choose to take travel, it is vital to understand a few simple rules of photography to ensure your pictures reflect the incredible places you visit. First is one of the most basic rules of photo taking; the rule of thirds. It will help you create a more balanced composition.
Imagine breaking down an image into three horizontal and vertical stripes, creating nine squares. The goal is to place the important components of the photo into these squares in a balanced way that is pleasing to the eye.
Secondly, you can use composition to highlight certain features in an image you capture. For example, using different angles, standing closer or further away from your main subject, or adding a strong foreground to the shot can give a 3-dimensional feel while helping to convey the scale and drawing a viewer’s eye to certain parts.
