Some people love collecting souvenirs when they travel, while others prefer to remember the places they have been to through beautiful imagery. If you identify yourself as the latter, having a trusty camera with you on your travels to freeze those moments will allow you to look back on and enjoy for years.
Learning the basics of beautifully capturing the places that you visit is a skill in itself that is worth picking up. Each city or destination has its own unique history, culture and people. Knowing the ‘how’ and ‘what’ when it comes to capturing those moments will make the difference between a good photo and a memorable one that gives your viewers a glimpse of what it might feel like to be there.
For example, being familiar with the most important element of photography; light, is the first step. Soft, warm tones in early morning light or during the late afternoon (just an hour before sunset) are the most flattering timings to take amazing images of landscapes. Plus, it also means that there will be lesser tourists and you’ll have pretty much the place to yourself!
Having said that, if you want to capture the true personality of a destination and its people, you’ll need to get away from the crowd and throngs of tourists turning up at popular spots. Grab your camera, and wander down the less travelled path. The best way is to do it by foot with a sense of adventure, without a destination and not knowing what’s in store for you round the corner. The point is to get lost on purpose, in order to get images that no one else has.
And last but not least, understanding one of the most basic and classic of photography tips, the ’Rule of Thirds’, will improve your shots and make your photos that much more effective! It is a simple rule: just imagine splitting an image into thirds (horizontally and vertically) so that it is split into sections. Then ask yourself: What are the main key things of interest in this shot? Where would I like to place this object of focus within the frame? The goal is to place important parts of a scene into those sections and eliminating what you deem is unnecessary or unimportant – framing the image in a way that pleases the eye.
These tips will go a long way to improving your photos when it comes to your travels. Of course, you’ll need to out and put them to practice on a regular basis. There are also plenty of online photography tutorials and tips available out there that you can always dive deeper into, and investing in a photography workshop is never a bad idea!