Travel Photography: Making Your Adventures More Interesting Through Photographs
Going out and venturing to new places can give people a buzzing rush. But what makes the experience of traveling even more fun are the memories you make. You can look back on those moments in the back of your head, but sometimes those don’t last forever.
They, too, can fade along with time. But now, you can make your travel memories more permanent through photography, especially with the introduction of newer technology.
Why Take Photos When You Travel
Taking photos when you travel does not just give you something to look back on and remember fondly. It also gives other people the chance to see where you’ve been and what you’ve seen. When you tell them stories of your travels, you can create a better experience for them as they have a visual reference. Second, photography can make you more aware of your surroundings as you travel. You’ll actively seek out tall buildings, majestic views, and mouth-watering cuisines so that you can snap a picture.
That said, you’ll miss less of the wonderful things around you. And third, taking photos makes the traveling experience more fun. You get to flex your creativity muscles and find different ways to spice up a picture. Even posing for a picture can make the experience more fun and memorable, especially if and when you’re traveling with your family.
What Photography Gear Do You Need
With that being said, if you ever do decide to take on photography while you travel, there are some specific gear you need to ensure quality photos. Besides the camera being the obvious tool, it is also good to carry along a rechargeable battery and a rugged hard drive. Hard drives let you back-up your data to ensure you can take as many pictures as you want.
In addition, these hard drives are specifically made with travel photography in mind, being able to survive the process of traveling, as well as withstand high drops, high and low temperatures, and even being submerged in liquids. Prime lenses, most likely a kit of them, are another good thing to have on you as you travel. A whole kit allows you to zoom in with an 11-400 mm range, which comes in handy if you are a fan of nature photography since getting close to certain animals can be a bit tedious. Finally, it would be best if you had a tech pouch or even a simple backpack to store your gear and so you can travel with them with ease.
How to Create Better Travel Photos
But now that you have all the gear you need, how can you create better travel photos? You can start first by focusing on the unusual. If you see an animal you’ve never encountered before, or a weird-looking flower, or even a peculiar piece of jewelry sitting in a glass case, snap a photo of it. The out-of-the-ordinary tends to create better memories than things you encounter in your daily life.
If the photos you do take turn out looking a bit dull, don’t fret. That’s what photo editing is for! From Adobe Photoshop to VSCO, many programs have stylish filters, effects, and other features so you can alter your pictures any way you please. If you don’t know how to use these applications, there are also companies and people who specialize in the photo enhancement and retouching of jewelry, clothing, scenery, and more that can turn your photos into eye-catchers.
You can also create perspective in your shots – this is where your prime lenses can be put to use. You can go as close or as far and as high or as low as you want to create any certain amount of depth you’d like. Doing so not only helps create a better photo. The distance you give from a building, mountain, or scenery can help a viewer comprehend just how incredible a scene is.
Lastly, you can add a bit of pizzazz to your travel photos by simply saying hello to the locals and asking if you can snap a picture of or with them. Even if scenery can make for a great photo, nothing beats the genuine warmth and emotion of a photo taken with a human subject. You leave with a new photo, and possibly with a new friend.
All in all, travel photography does not just make your memories more permanent. It can add a bit more fun to your adventures, especially if you incorporate some of the techniques you’ve read just now. However, photography is more than simply doing what you’ve just read. It is about letting your creativity run wild, so you can find your own little ways to make your photos more interesting. Putting a part of yourself in each picture can make better photographs and memories.