What better way to celebrate the art and beauty of photography than on World Photography Day?
August 19th is World Photography Day, which was created in order to celebrate the art and craft that we love. It is a day that we commemorate the history of the hobby. The day was first globally celebrated in 2010 and has grown ever since. August 19th is a day to capture the world around us and share photos!
When you’re on holiday you will often see things that will make you think, wow that would take a great photograph. But actually, capturing a decent picture of what you see can be easier said than done. If you want to improve your travel photography and come back from your trip with better pictures, then keep reading. Here are 10 tips on how to take great travel photographs when on holiday.
1. Capture local elements
Most destinations around the world will have unique elements. Such as landmarks, unique vehicles, clothing, food, people, culture, and other interesting features. To capture a really good holiday photograph then think about what makes your destination different, and then try and include that in your picture. This might include framing your scene so that it includes some of these elements. For example, in Puerto Vallarta, you can spot the famous Caballito, a statue of a sea horse; colorful beach houses in the Dominican Republic; El Arco in Cabo San Lucas, a very attractive rock formation.
2. Shoot in a different light
Lighting can have a massive impact on how nice an image will be. Such as taking pictures around sunrise or sunset might result in a photograph with beautiful and colorful light. If you share your images on social media, you may find pictures that have this kind of lighting tend to do really well.
3. Capture the main attractions
Everyone likes to take pictures of the main attractions when traveling. These are often the killer shots that will also make for great engagement on social media. To capture better images of these think about your composition, and framing, and also consider taking pictures at night when the building may be lit.
4. Photograph the lesser-known attractions
As well as the main attractions, try and capture some of the less obvious ones too. These may be smaller buildings, interesting bridges, markets, secret spots, and other things.
As you explore you may find interesting things to shoot, or instead do your research in advance. Such as looking online at articles on what to see and do, asking your hotel and locals, or even friends and family who may have previously visited the destination. For popular places, you may find articles that tell you where all the best photography spots are or just search “best photography spots in [destination] on Google or another search engine.
5. Take pictures of details
Some destinations have incredible details that really help identify that destination or make it extra special. These may be things such as carvings, monuments, building facades, or interesting shops. For example, the pyramids in Chichen Itza have very interesting carvings.
6. Use reflections and puddles
Not many people want to travel and have a wet and rainy day, but actually, you can get some of the coolest images during these types of conditions. Using puddles and reflections in your pictures can aid your composition and create a really interesting shot. You can also take pictures with colorful umbrellas which can make a cool image.
7. Take Pictures at night
When taking pictures at night, use a tripod and a low ISO setting (if possible). This will ensure your picture isn’t grainy and is much higher quality. If you don’t really want to take tripod shots, then try investing in a camera that can capture good low-light photographs. Some phones are also good at capturing low-light photographs without the image quality being degraded too much. To try and avoid blur and handshake when not using a tripod then put your phone or camera on a hard surface. You’ll probably find the camera will need to take a slightly longer exposure in low light but that is expected.
8. Show crowds and atmosphere
Taking pictures in crowded places can be a nightmare. But even this you can sometimes use to your advantage when capturing travel images. It can help as you can show the atmosphere and the mood of the destination. If you don’t want lots of people in your image, then arrive early in the morning or try and be patient and wait for a good opening/quiet moment to take your photo. Another option is to use a strong ND (neutral density) filter and a tripod to blur the scene, this gives a nice sense of motion too.
9. Unique Angles
You know those photographers you see crouching down or climbing a wall to get THE shot? Or the ones lying on the ground when wondering what on earth they are seeing that you aren´t? Well, give it a go. Without a doubt, they are trying to create a unique angle and it’s a great way to take better photos! For example, try photographing from the water.
10. Put yourself in the photograph
Putting yourself in a travel photograph can be a great memory, and also nice to share with your friends and family. The best way to capture such images is to find a nice frame and either use a tripod or a friend to capture the picture for you.
We hope you find these tips interesting and put them into practice on your next travel. Do not forget to share your photos by tagging Amstar on Social Media!
