dome
22nd October 2005, 01:33 AM
Digital cameras make great traveling companions. They never complain, and they love to visit the same places you do. And they capture photographic memories that will help you relive your trip for years to come.
Photography enriches your travel experience by forcing you to look more closely at your surroundings. We’ll give you ideas that will add power, impact, and inspiration to your digital travel photos, and show you techniques for capturing better shots.
Research and plan
Before you leave home, review all the travel information you can get your hands on, particularly items with glossy photographs. That way you can anticipate which shots you'd like to take and draw up a list ahead of time.
The right lighting is crucial to creating photos with impact. You'll want to consider the best time of day for your desired shot. For example, if you know that you must have a photo of the Eiffel Tower when you go to Paris, try to take the shot during the "magic hours" (just before sunset or shortly after sunrise). The light during this time gives everything a beautiful golden hue.
The value of research and planning is illustrated perfectly in this anecdote about travel photographer Andrew Hudson, founder of PhotoSecrets, a publisher of guidebooks specifically for photographers.
Before visiting India, Hudson found a photo book with a fascinating view of the Taj Mahal, taken from the Ganges River. When he got to the famed monument, no one knew how to access the river to get that particular shot, including the tourist information staff. Eventually a taxi driver recognized the view and agreed to take him there before dawn. They drove down a tiny alley and arrived at the riverbank, which was deserted except for a small house.
Just as the sun began to rise, a man appeared from the house for a morning smoke. After asking his permission, Hudson took a few photos of the man enjoying his cigarette at dawn. Taken on his last amateur trip, the shot is one of Hudson’s favorites and won him an honorable mention in a National Geographic Traveler photo contest.
Don't say cheese
Lots of us have taken uninspired travel photos of family members standing in the same clump in front of every noteworthy attraction. The family is often crabby and frowning because it's the hundredth photo they've posed for that day. "Smile for the birdie" indeed.
You do want some posed family photos. But also try to snap some spontaneous shots of your traveling companions as they're interacting and enjoying the moment. Remember why you're taking photos: to capture the experience. When you share your pictures with family and friends back home, the pictures should communicate what was unique and fascinating about your trip.
The bottom line: Take photos of your family and the landmarks, but capture what inspires you about both in a way that is uniquely yours.
Composition counts
Great photos are great photos. And all the composition rules apply to travel snapshots, too. You'll want your photos to have clean, bold composition, good lighting, and vibrant color. And, most importantly, you'll want your subject to fill the frame.
Explore more
When you get to a photo location, don't just click the shutter and move on. Scout the area to plan your approach. Maybe you've seen another photo you'd like to emulate, or you want to try something completely original. Either way, looking around a bit before you take the shot will bend your brain in the right direction.
Be unique
Try to get an unusual or interesting view of familiar sites. Stand on your head when you take a photo of the Sphinx. Give your photo real depth by surrounding the subject with windows, arches, or other framing devices. Or explore some more abstract views. Close-ups are a great way to create an appealing photo full of pattern and texture (and sometimes the little details are more interesting, anyway).
Include people
People give your photos personality. Photographer Peter Burian writes in PhotoPoint magazine that too many travel photos depict an uninhabited world. But how do you photograph the strangers you encounter as you travel?
Burian suggests getting closer to the person you want to photograph by establishing rapport: Chat with them or buy a small trinket from them. If you don't speak the language, try the universal symbol of smiling and raising your camera. Wait for a nod or other positive sign. If you get a scowl or a look of disapproval, move on and find a more willing subject.
Photograph everything
Your photos should tell a story. Eating, relaxing, and flying in the airplane are part of the adventure. So are leaning on street signs, standing in line, and browsing roadside fruit markets. And remember, you're using a digital camera, so snap away! You can check to see if a photo is a keeper and, if not, just delete it.
Get creative
Turn a trip into a voyage of discovery by keeping a travel diary: the perfect companion to your travel photos. Try to write something each day. Include descriptions of food, people, and scenery, and jot down comments made by both companions and strangers. Neighborhood maps and sketches of surroundings make nice additions, as do ticket stubs, posters, brochures, and other memorabilia.
When you get home and use your photos to create albums, travelogues, slide shows, web sites, and other fun projects, you can also incorporate thoughts and memories from your journal.
Provided By: HP, © 2004
Photography enriches your travel experience by forcing you to look more closely at your surroundings. We’ll give you ideas that will add power, impact, and inspiration to your digital travel photos, and show you techniques for capturing better shots.
Research and plan
Before you leave home, review all the travel information you can get your hands on, particularly items with glossy photographs. That way you can anticipate which shots you'd like to take and draw up a list ahead of time.
The right lighting is crucial to creating photos with impact. You'll want to consider the best time of day for your desired shot. For example, if you know that you must have a photo of the Eiffel Tower when you go to Paris, try to take the shot during the "magic hours" (just before sunset or shortly after sunrise). The light during this time gives everything a beautiful golden hue.
The value of research and planning is illustrated perfectly in this anecdote about travel photographer Andrew Hudson, founder of PhotoSecrets, a publisher of guidebooks specifically for photographers.
Before visiting India, Hudson found a photo book with a fascinating view of the Taj Mahal, taken from the Ganges River. When he got to the famed monument, no one knew how to access the river to get that particular shot, including the tourist information staff. Eventually a taxi driver recognized the view and agreed to take him there before dawn. They drove down a tiny alley and arrived at the riverbank, which was deserted except for a small house.
Just as the sun began to rise, a man appeared from the house for a morning smoke. After asking his permission, Hudson took a few photos of the man enjoying his cigarette at dawn. Taken on his last amateur trip, the shot is one of Hudson’s favorites and won him an honorable mention in a National Geographic Traveler photo contest.
Don't say cheese
Lots of us have taken uninspired travel photos of family members standing in the same clump in front of every noteworthy attraction. The family is often crabby and frowning because it's the hundredth photo they've posed for that day. "Smile for the birdie" indeed.
You do want some posed family photos. But also try to snap some spontaneous shots of your traveling companions as they're interacting and enjoying the moment. Remember why you're taking photos: to capture the experience. When you share your pictures with family and friends back home, the pictures should communicate what was unique and fascinating about your trip.
The bottom line: Take photos of your family and the landmarks, but capture what inspires you about both in a way that is uniquely yours.
Composition counts
Great photos are great photos. And all the composition rules apply to travel snapshots, too. You'll want your photos to have clean, bold composition, good lighting, and vibrant color. And, most importantly, you'll want your subject to fill the frame.
Explore more
When you get to a photo location, don't just click the shutter and move on. Scout the area to plan your approach. Maybe you've seen another photo you'd like to emulate, or you want to try something completely original. Either way, looking around a bit before you take the shot will bend your brain in the right direction.
Be unique
Try to get an unusual or interesting view of familiar sites. Stand on your head when you take a photo of the Sphinx. Give your photo real depth by surrounding the subject with windows, arches, or other framing devices. Or explore some more abstract views. Close-ups are a great way to create an appealing photo full of pattern and texture (and sometimes the little details are more interesting, anyway).
Include people
People give your photos personality. Photographer Peter Burian writes in PhotoPoint magazine that too many travel photos depict an uninhabited world. But how do you photograph the strangers you encounter as you travel?
Burian suggests getting closer to the person you want to photograph by establishing rapport: Chat with them or buy a small trinket from them. If you don't speak the language, try the universal symbol of smiling and raising your camera. Wait for a nod or other positive sign. If you get a scowl or a look of disapproval, move on and find a more willing subject.
Photograph everything
Your photos should tell a story. Eating, relaxing, and flying in the airplane are part of the adventure. So are leaning on street signs, standing in line, and browsing roadside fruit markets. And remember, you're using a digital camera, so snap away! You can check to see if a photo is a keeper and, if not, just delete it.
Get creative
Turn a trip into a voyage of discovery by keeping a travel diary: the perfect companion to your travel photos. Try to write something each day. Include descriptions of food, people, and scenery, and jot down comments made by both companions and strangers. Neighborhood maps and sketches of surroundings make nice additions, as do ticket stubs, posters, brochures, and other memorabilia.
When you get home and use your photos to create albums, travelogues, slide shows, web sites, and other fun projects, you can also incorporate thoughts and memories from your journal.
Provided By: HP, © 2004