Traveling is one of the few actions that makes us free. It opens our minds, feeds our spirit and enriches our baggage of vital experiences. I could write an entire article about the advantages of traveling, but today’s objective is not that, but rather to be able to give you the best (express) tips to get the best photographs of your next trip. Following our series that you liked so much, we add to the portrait, the landscape, the black and white or the children, the trips. Here I leave you with 100 express tips for your next getaway. Take good note 😉, also of this mega guide where you can delve into photography and travel, with tips, tricks and loads of inspiration.
- Choose your destination taking into account the time and what you can find.
- And don’t forget to take into account the meteorology.
- Also the climatology. The light is different in different parts of the world and depending on the type of climate.
- Try to select the right equipment with whom you are going to travel.
- get a good one backpack for your cameracomfortable and light.
- That it is also waterproof if it is a place with chances of rain.
- Find out what the electric current is like. do you need any adapter to charge the camera battery?
- Carries memory cards spare.
- And if possible also a Replacement battery.
- Think about the security. Not all places are equally safe to travel with a camera around your neck.
- If you are going to photograph landscapes, do not forget the tripod. Better if it is light, but stable enough.
- Clean your equipment before embarking on the trip.
- Look for, before the trip, photographs of the place you are going to try to achieve something different.
- Do not focus only on the most touristic places, get away a bit and photograph the most authentic.
- try to tell a history. You can do it through a list like this.
- If your idea is to photograph landscapes, a filter will give them a lot of life.
- take one notebook and a pen to make notes.
- Select in advance which places you would like to photograph or which photos you would like to get.
- Go writing down, prior to the trip, all the photographic ideas that occur to you.
- anticipate at the moment. Choose the best light to photograph the places in which you are most interested.
- Choose the objective(s) well. If you lose weight you will regret it.
- If you can’t choose, make the most of what you have. Don’t let the team limit you.
- try to capture more moments and less mere postcards. Those will cost you much less to buy them ;).
- Don’t forget the importance of light.
- There is no ideal light, but the one that best suited to each place or situation.
- Use the lines to guide the gaze.
- Before taking a portrait, always smile.
- Remember to carry the rule of thirds in your suitcase.
- And the one on the horizon ;).
- Although, when you consider it necessary, give them a break ;).
- And the horizon, wherever you are, wherever you are right, please.
- If you can talk to the locals before shooting them much better, it will be easier for you to capture some of their personality.
- Do not forget to investigate before the trip the schedules, prices, rest days, etc. of the places you want to visit.
- Look for alternative routes and places that everyone photographs.
- Choose if it is better for you to photograph in RAW or in JPG. Because if you are going to shoot thousands of photos and then it is going to be difficult for you to process them, develop them… better shoot in JPG. But if you are used to RAW, you select the shots well, you plan to edit them, etc., better shoot in this format.
- Study the distances well and how long it can take to get from one place to another. The only means of transport may be the bicycle, keep that in mind when calculating ;).
- Look for repeating patterns and…
- break them! Take advantage of some element that alters the rhythm or introduce it yourself.
- Search different points of view when shooting. Don’t settle for the natural angle, drop to the ground if necessary. Everything is for a unique photograph.
- Take advantage of all that new inspiration to make compositions based on color.
- Shoot against the light to achieve the silhouettes of the monuments.
- also to create outlines.
- Find out how long the blue hour is approximately and where you want to be to make the most of it.
- And remember to take the tripod to photograph the blue hour.
- So that your photos are not boring, try Get attention of the viewer telling the story of your trip, try to add careful photographs of: luggage, transport, accommodation, landscape, people, gastronomy, typical places, architecture, monuments, customs, public transport, traditional shops, crafts, traditions or popular festivals…
- Check the histogram when shooting at sunrise or sunset.
- Or when there is a lot of light and your LCD screen does not display well.
- Use apps like The Photographer’s Ephemeris to plan your most desired photos. Please note the time and position.
- take advantage of the midday light, when the sun is higher, to capture images in brighter colors.
- The blue hour is a great time for architectural photography.
- Do not leave the camera resting at night, capture the night life of your destiny
- Take advantage of the adverse weather to achieve different photos.
- Take advantage of the diffused and magical light of foggy days.
- Search reflexes, on water, glass, mirrors or any other reflective surface.
- Look for games of shadows and lights.
- Use different formats for your photos, such as panoramic or square.
- shoot in vertical to vertical motifs, skyscrapers, waterfalls, etc…
- shoot in horizontal when you want to convey calm.
- try to include diagonal lines if you want to include tension or action in the scene.
- Test extreme Angles, such as nadir or zenith.
- Photographs always win with a human element.
- When it comes to showing the photos to your friends or sharing them on social networks, do not show them all, better make a careful selection.
- It appears in some photos, but not in all of them ;).
- try to catch some anecdote fun that captures the attention of your audience when showing them your photos.
- The selection you make to show, try to have a similar aesthetic (color or black and white, similar edition…).
- If your idea is to focus on street photography, your ideal lens will be a 35mm or 50mm.
- To achieve portraits with the background out of focus, use large apertures (small f/number).
- If you want to freeze an action shoot with a minimum speed of 1/250s.
- Use semi-manual mode Speed Priority (S or Tv) when you want to capture an action.
- If what matters to you is to focus only a part of the image to make it stand out from the rest, try the semi-manual mode Aperture Priority (A or VA).
- If you handle yourself with the Manual Mode, whenever you have time to make the adjustments, use it.
- Use the automatic only for emergencies. Better the automatic than losing a great moment.
- if you travel with children, better focus on photographing them in their relationship with the environment. Forget spending twenty minutes in front of a building studying its angles…
- You will not always be accompanied by someone with the same passion as you for photography, if you do not want the trip to end badly, do not expect them to understand why you want to wait half an hour until the right person passes in front of that door ;).
- If your fellow travelers do not share your hobby, try to have your little moments to enjoy the camera at your own pace.
- If a stranger asks you to delete the photo you just took, show it to him, tell him what you’re doing and if he still insists, delete it without questioning him.
- For photograph people go to major street intersections, markets, subway exits, or street performers, for example.
- For portraits, look for faces that you draw attentionexpressive faces or interesting people.
- Always focus on eyes.
- Include people in your landscapes.
- Contribute depth landscapes including elements from different planes.
- When you include a lot of sky in your landscape, try to make it with clouds, otherwise it will be boring.
- If the sky is very clear, better not give it more than a third of the image.
- unless you’re looking for one minimalist photo.
- If you are going to take long exposure photography, do not forget to take a neutral density filter.
- When you photograph architectural elements, use people to convey the scale.
- Lines in architecture are essential, make sure they are straight. Keep the camera perpendicular to the building and use the focus points to help keep the lines in place if necessary.
- Also remember to capture the small architectural details.
- Don’t expect to find the best scenery on the side of the road.
- Take advantage of harsh light to capture more dramatic portraits.
- because the hard light It also has its great possibilities, take advantage of them!
- Sometimes a photo with noise is better than not have a photo
- Meet the ground rules Wherever you go, in some countries it is forbidden to photograph certain subjects, in some even women. Pay close attention so as not to get into trouble.
- Documenting your trip and loading your suitcase with wonderful photos is great, but it’s even cooler Enjoy the trip. Don’t get obsessed, try to take your eyes off the viewer from time to time or you’ll miss out on great experiences and moments.
- Carries Comfortable shoes.
- Pay attention to the saying: “wherever you go, do what you see”.
- respect places of worship.
- Protect your equipment well from extreme temperatures.
- Open your mind, soak up the essence of the place, get inside your destination, and not just physically, soak up the culture, the customs, immerse yourself in the heart of the city (not the tourist one), try its gastronomy, go to common places, traditional shops. Only in this way will you be able to capture the essence.
- Have fun.
If you liked this article or found it useful, don’t forget to share it on your favorite social network, you’ll help a traveler on their way ;). Happy traveling and happy photography!