Five Tips to Improve Your Travel Photography

The world is an overwhelming sensory experience full of sound, sight, and scents that are designed to please every sense. What can you do to record that experience in an image? Most people don’t. Instead, they display their pictures with an apology and say, “You were there.” Your role as a travel photographer is to guide the viewer there with your photographs. So how can you be sure that you return home with a fantastic photo?

Read on to learn five tricks to uncover the secrets to capture great pictures.

1. Know Your Gear

If you’re having trouble operating your camera, you’re not giving all your attention to the composition. You must be familiar with how to use your camera. Do not bother using the different modes that might be available from your device. The issue with these naive modes is that the camera is the fool. It isn’t able to take a picture that is creative and just does averaging of everything. Don’t trust these options. Learn how to use ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed to determine your own exposure choices.

Different focal lengths can alter the way that your subject appears. Do some practice before the excursion. Choose a subject for the foreground and snap photos with different focal lengths. See how the subject changes when you alter the focal length. Be aware of the background as well.

2. Make a shot list

There are sure to be photos you’d like to capture when you reach your location. Prepare ahead. Make a list of the scenes you’d like to record. Imagine that you’re on your dream vacation to Paris. Many people would think that you will return home with a picture of the Eiffel Tower, but there’s a lot more to Paris. Take a look at the shops along the street and a bakery, dinner, a bottle of champagne, or a cup of coffee. Every place has its own marquee landmarks, but the heart is often hidden in small things.

Prioritize your list. It’s possible that you won’t have enough time to complete every item on your list. Which ones are “must be” shots?

3. Work on the Scene

If there’s a principle, you should be able to accept it’s this that you’re likely to make some poor shots.

Don’t worry. Everyone does. There’s no photographer on the planet that hasn’t had a bad composition. You must work through the photo until you come to a suitable composition.

Have a look around the subject
Try different angles
Make sure you are low to the ground.
Be over
Shoot from afar
Take a shot up close
Include a foreground element in your photograph
Adjust the depth of field

4. Stop Distractions

Have you come upon a beautiful landscape, captured a photograph but felt your photo didn’t capture the essence of what you were experiencing? Don’t be afraid to go with your gut.

It doesn’t mean you’ve chosen the wrong location. There was something that prompted you to take a second take closer look. It is your job to search until you come across a photograph that captures the spirit of the scene.

It could be that you have too much information in your picture, which can cause distraction. The scene is too busy, there’s something unattractive about the photo, or people are moving about. Begin looking for things to take away.

There are numerous methods to eliminate distracting elements and get right to the essence of your issue. Change your angle. Make your subject more precise to make sure you fill the frame. Adjust your depth of field to blurred backgrounds.

Photographers don’t simply snap a photograph and then walk away with a fantastic golden work of art. Consider what made the scene fascinating to you. Was it a particular shape or color contrast, or the way the light hits the subject? Pay attention to the element that inspires you to take notice of your subject, and then eliminate the things that you don’t want.

5: Stop! Don’t Be Late!

Okay, you’ve discovered an exciting location or subject. You’ve explored the area and realize you’ve captured a fascinating image. That’s great! It’s time to move on to the next, Isn’t it?

But not so quick. Spend some time looking at your photographs. Review what you’ve taken and reflect on what you’ve not seen. There’s a good chance that you won’t return anytime soon. Make sure you’ve captured all you want prior to leaving.

Do you think the exposure is correct? Take a look at the shots that you didn’t get. If you took a picture with a portrait lens, search for opportunities to shoot in landscape mode. If you took the entire scene, consider whether there are any detailed photos that can enhance it. Take a look at the area by comparing Grand up to Granular. The minor small details can be as powerful an impact as the great scene.

Make sure to take lots of photos. It will help you find new ways to look at your surroundings and leave with the perfect shot you could take.

I invite you to visit my blog to find more tips for photography and travel pictures. You can also download my free ebook on the photography experience on Walt Disney World at Suburbia Press.