Contributor: Roger B. Stillz

There are many keys points related to taking the best travel photos and many are very simple once you have a basic knowledge of photography.

 

1. Know your lighting

Normally the best times to shoot are at sunrise and sunsets (golden hours). Sometimes right before sunrise and right after sunset is also great.

It just depends on the mood you want to convey in your images. There are apps that will tell you exactly when the sun will set and rise and even tell you exactly where the sun will be in regards to your current location. If you’re travelling, chances are you may be on vacation and getting up early may not be a part of your plan but this is also a good way to beat the crowds and get those awesome shots. Sometimes if it’s a well-known landscape you may just have to
wait a little longer for breaks in the crowd to get that perfect shot. A suggestions is to invest in a tripod to shoot in low lighting.

 

2. Different angles

Don’t always go for the basic angles. Try low angles sometimes which may make your subject appear more powerful. High angle shots will make your subject appear inferior. Sometimes it’s all about angle and knowing where to stand or place your subject. For more exciting images, stand in front of more exciting subjects. If you have a drone this can be a great tool. Drone photography offer a different point of view and the outcomes are normally amazing. We don’t normally see things from this perspective so this is what makes it unique and for me I rarely go wrong with my drone shots.

 

3. Engage the Locals

When we travel we tend to mostly think about ourselves but try talking to the locals and photograph them if they give you permission. We are on their soil so learning about them and making friends will help you in the long run. On my trips, I still keep in touch with most of my tour guides and they are a great source of knowledge. They may know the best spots for you to see the city from above, they may know the best times to visit a spot when it’s not so crowded or they may know a not so touristy spot that’s perfect for capturing awesome images so get to know the locals.

What I do put on that zoom lens if you have one and take the pic from a far (lol). Candid shots are way more powerful than a posed shot. Candid shots show life like it really is and that’s what you want. You want to get a connection in your images, one that will speak to your audience without you having to say anything about the image.

 

4. Understand your “Equiptment”

Many of us will crave the latest gear available but I can take a great photo with a $5000 camera and I can take a great photo with just my phone. The photographer is just as important as the camera. They say the best camera is the one you got so knowing your equipment is vital to capturing great images. If you don’t know your camera well it’s hard to have it do what you want it to do. Learn your camera. Understand how ISO, Aperture and shutter speed all work together and how to use them to get your perfect shot.

 

5. Practice

Don’t wait until you’re on that perfect vacation to start taking images. Practice taking images in your home town or anywhere you are. Practice makes better and this is a great way to learn your camera so that when you’re on your trip of a lifetime you know what to do. Practice taking pics in different scenarios so that you’re prepared for anything that comes your way on your trip.

Don’t be afraid to fail. They say your first 10,000 are your worse so just get out there and shoot. Look at the work of other photographers that have similar interest to yours for inspiration not to copy them. The more great photos you look at the more it should inspire you to want to get out there and take your own awesome photos.

For more travel envy, visit: www.rogerbstillz.com