12 Travel Photography Tips

One of the joys of traveling is encountering spectacular sceneries and interesting sights along the way. As photographers, we wanted to be able to capture these scenes as a reminder of our wonderful journey. However, taking great travel photos is not only about looking for the most beautiful sceneries and snapping them using the most expensive camera.

If you want your travel photos to be good and lasting, you should also capture the unique character and story behind them. For instance, the beautiful flower garden you snapped in spring should remind you of the wonderful smell of the flowers, and that photo you took of a lion up-close should remind you of the thrill and excitement you felt right at that moment. Here are some travel photography tips to help you achieve this.

1. Wake Up Early To Take Great Photos

Light is a very important ingredient for taking great photos, and you will usually get the best lighting early in the morning. So if you want your photos to look great, wake up early and get to the place as early as you can. Waking up early also means avoiding the crowds of tourists, which is often the case for world-famous tourist sites, such as the Taj Mahal and the Eiffel Tower.

2. Get to Know Your Camera

You do not need to invest in the most expensive camera to take great photos on your travel. Given the technological advancements in a smartphone, the cameras of our mobile phones are capable of capturing great photos that could compete with professional cameras. The point is that it does not matter what kind of camera you own, what matters is that you are familiar with the settings and you know the proper way to use it. So get to know your camera well before you head out to take photos.

3. Research the Places You Want to Visit

Get to know the places you want to visit on your trip and research locations where you can take great photos. Go online and read blog posts, articles, and forums about the location. Ask tips from fellow photographers who have been there. For instance, if you are going to a famous tourist site, find out what time of the day will there be less crowd so you can take unobstructed views of the site.

4. Don’t Forget to Ask Permission

Remember that foreign countries have different laws and regulations when it comes to taking photos of the local people and religious places. So in order not to get into trouble with the law, find out what the laws are when it comes to taking photographs in the country you intend to visit. If you need to get permission from the local authorities, do it before your trip. When taking photographs of locals in the street, try to ask for their permission.

5. Bring a Lightweight Travel Tripod

A tripod is one of the most useful tools that every travel photographer must own. It allows you to set your camera at a certain position and keep it there. Since your camera is fixed, it will be easier for you to arrange the perfect composition, adjust the exposure settings and focus points, allowing you to take the perfect photos in one snap.

6. Be Patient

The key to capturing unforgettable photos of famous sites and landmarks is to have patience. It can be challenging and somewhat frustrating to be crammed in with crowds of tourists who are taking up a lot of space in the area while they are busy taking selfies using their gigantic tablets. But wait for a couple of minutes and they will eventually leave. To avoid frustrations, do your research and find out what time of the day will the site be free from the tourist crowd.

7. Play with Different Angles

Get creative and play with different angles to make your photos look interesting. Sometimes, an unexpected perspective can make a good photo look even more remarkable. Along with trying different angles, try shooting at different distances too. Begin with a wide shot, then try the mid-range version, and finally, get up-close. Don’t just settle with your first idea. Experiment and play with your camera.

8. Choose the Right Lenses

Traveling will allow you to explore a wider scope of genres, but the type of lenses to take on your trip could make or break the experience. If you only have the budget for one glass, go for a fast zoom lens, such as the 18-200mm or 28-300m. Sometimes, you will find your focal point far in distance, but other times, it could be right under your nose. Thus, a variable focal length lens with a wide-angle is highly recommended.

9. Take Advantage of Editing Apps and Tools

While many thought that editing your photos with the help of apps or software is considered “cheating”, this is not necessarily the case. In fact, all professional photographers would edit their images with the help of some tools and software like Photoshop and Lightroom. Of course, not everyone does it. But if you want your travel photos to look great, learn how to process the raw images using the best editing software out there.

10. Give Human Element to your Photos

Most travel photos are focused on monuments, landmarks, and landscapes. But try to add a human element into your photos to give them some character. By adding a human element, your viewer can pretend that they are the person in the photo. This adds more emotion to the image and you will feel like you are in the location every time you look at the photo yourself.

11. Get Lost on Purpose

If you wanted to capture images that no other photographer has, then don’t be afraid to wander and get lost. Get lost on purpose and walk as far as you can. Be observant of the places you’ll pass by and make sure you have your camera handy. So when something interesting comes your way, you would be quick enough to capture it immediately.

12. Always Have a Backup

Every photographer is aware of the importance of having both physical and online backups of travel photos. One of the risks of traveling is getting your gadgets stolen. No matter how careful you are, the worst things could happen along the way so make sure you come prepared. So always have an external hard drive backup where you can store RAW camera files. Consider an online backup as well for some of your most important images.

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