Travel Tips – Your Next Photo Travel Adventure

By Bill Lockhart

Here are some tips that might help you on your next photo travel adventure.

1.  Be prepared.  Know everything you can about where you are going.  For example, is it best to shoot your subject in the morning or the afternoon?  Which way does the light fall during different times of the day?  Here the photograph was captured just before sunrise when the light fell on the stack.

Before Sunrise at Second Beach

Click on Photograph for a larger version.

Go early.  Many popular places are nearly empty of tourists and people early in the morning.  Shots taken at sunrise or shortly thereafter also provide better chances of getting better exposures since the light isn’t as harsh as it might be at noon.

2.  Look for different perspectives.  Many places are always photographed from the same location.  Spend some time on the Internet looking at what others photographers have found at the spot you plan on visiting, then try to find a unique view of the same place that no one else has found.  In this example, I placed the camera very low to the ground.  Shooting while standing often results in photographs that lack interest.  Try getting as low as possible.

Lots of Rocks

Click on Photograph for a larger version.

In this example, I found a unique perspective of a crocodile while shooting from a bridge.

Croc Colors

Click on Photograph for a larger version.

3.  Pack light, think small.  Smaller cameras are less likely to garner attention.  Some museum guards, for example, might ban larger cameras they think you are a professional photographer.  A small point and shoot or 4/3 camera may get you past the guard and offer up some great shots.  Small cameras also work very well when doing street photography.  Large DSLRs grab attention immediately.  Quality images can be obtained with point and shoot cameras, as in this shot done with the Canon Powershot G9.  Thinking small may get you where you want to be without worry.

Boat House at Loch Stack

Click on Photograph for a larger version.

Thinking small has its advantages when one has to trek across four miles of heather to get to a special spot, it beats lugging around 20 pounds of DSLR gear!  Smaller gear is also easier to conceal when in public places.

And who knows, you might meet a nice lady in a market at Cuenca, Ecuador, who doesn’t mind if you take her photograph.

Lady at Market, Ecuador

Click on Photograph for a larger version.

Being prepared, looking at different perspectives, and using small light weight equipment can result in images that one will proudly show others.

Good luck on your next photographic holiday.