Taking Better Travel Photos
Intro
We’ve all been there. You’re scrolling through Instagram and see stunning travel photos and think – “Why don’t my photos ever look like this?” Maybe you think it’s because you don’t have the right camera or don’t know what “f-stop” and “shutter speed” mean – you wouldn't be completely incorrect. While those are important elements of photography, they are only pieces to the puzzle. I believe there are three important elements of travel photography. Once you have an understanding how these elements work together, you’ll be able to transform your photography.
Part 1: Getting Started
Rule of Thirds Example
Exposure Triangle: One of the most valuable things you can do to get better photographs is learn about something called the “exposure triangle.” It’s comprised of three things: f-stop, shutter speed and ISO. Learning how to use these things to be able to shoot on manual mode will dramatically improve your photos. I won’t get into it all here (I’ll write another blog to cover this). In the meantime, there are TONS of great resources on YouTube when you search for “exposure triangle.”
Composition: In the world of photography, there’s something we call the “Rule of Thirds.” This is simply a rule of thumb and definitely can and should be broken at times, but it’s a great guideline when you’re starting out. The basic principle of the “Rule of Thirds” is to imagine a grid of 2 horizontal lines and 2 vertical lines over your image which divides the composition into 9 rectangular boxes (see the image). You then would align your subject (whatever you’re taking a photo of) right in the crosshairs of those gridlines. This will create a balanced photograph and an interesting composition.
Planning: A huge key to better photography is having a plan. It’s a little naive (I’m raising my hand on this one because I’ve done this) to go somewhere and expect a magical, incredible shot to appear. We have found that scrolling Instagram beforehand or looking online for photos of the locations we’re going can help us get ideas. This way, we can plan the time of day we want to go (what kind of lighting we want) and the best places around the location to shoot. Lindsay and I will actually start a saved folder on Instagram of shots of the places we’re going to help us get an idea of the pictures that are possible. This has dramatically improved the shots we’ve gotten – mainly because we put forethought into them now!
Priority: An underrated tip for better photography – make taking pictures a priority on your trips. This goes hand in hand with planning. If you start with a plan, you have to have the follow through and patience in the moment to setup the shot and potentially wait for the correct environment (lighting, etc.) to get the best one. A great photograph many times takes a lot of patience – which means you have to be traveling with people who are making it a priority as well and are not yelling at you to hurry up.
Equipment: This is probably the least important component, but nonetheless, it makes a difference. I’ve always heard it said, “The best camera is the one you have with you.” Some incredible photos have been taken with an iPhone – so don’t let equipment hold you back. Read my post about photography equipment here.
Part 2: Taking the Shot
Lighting: I think this is the most important aspect of photography. Your lighting will make or break your shot. This is why, like I mentioned above, planning is so key. Shooting at sunrise or sunset always make for dramatic, interesting light. I almost always shoot in natural sunlight. It makes for a better photo in my opinion. Of course there are incredible photographers who use flashes, external lighting, etc., but I love the look of natural light, so I’m sticking to it! Try not to use a built in, on-board flash on your camera if it has one. It’s rare that an image will turn out like you want it.
Extreme: The reason many of your photos might be looking kind of ‘meh” is probably because you’re taking them standing up at regular height level – so your image looks exactly like what everyone sees when walking around. The trick to compelling photos is taking them from an angle not usually seen. Be creative and be extreme – get really close up or really far away. Get down low or high up. Show a different perspective!
Depth: A common mistake for people when taking a photograph of someone is the subject will stand directly in front of the wall. If you want the beautiful blur that happens in the background of photos called “bokeh” – step away from the background. Create depth in your photos by using a wide open aperture (another term to study up on.)
RAW: Even an iPhone has the capability to shoot files that are “RAW.” Make sure that setting on your device is turned on. It’ll give you more flexibility later on to edit.
Part 3: Editing
Apps: There are a ton of great editing software out there. I use Adobe’s Lightroom CC and Lightroom CC Mobile (on my iPhone and iPad). They sync between each other and to the cloud which makes my workflow between devices seamless and I can sleep easy at night knowing my photos are backed up as well. There are a ton of other great apps as well. For more intense editing, I’ll use Adobe Photoshop on my computer. I’ll also use VSCO occasionally on my iPhone.
Styles: As you see on Instagram, there are a million different styles of editing and it’s a little overwhelming trying to decide what your style will be. I’m still getting a solid grasp on what mine is – and honestly, different trips and images in my mind call for different approaches. I also give myself a little grace when all our images don’t look exactly the same. I also think it gets a little boring when you approach every single photo the same. So loosen up and try some new ways of approaching your edits! A great way to start is find images you like and try emulating the color and feel of the photo. Also educate yourself by watching resources on YouTube. If enough of you comment below, I’ll upload a video screen recording of editing photos to show you my process!
Presets: A feature I love about Lightroom is the ability to use presets. If you find yourself editing a certain direction each time you approach a photo – you can save it! Then it’s just a click of a button to get a foundation of edits and work from there. They save you TONS of time. Also, if you’re just starting out, there are a ton of people online who sell their Lightroom Presets that you can use. Remember – anytime you use a preset, it is not just a one click and done “fix all” for editing. Presets are a starting place that require a lot of adjusting after the initial application.
That’s It!
Hopefully these are helpful tools and tricks to take your travel photography to the next level! Always try and experiment with a lot of different approaches and find what works for you. Follow the rules for awhile and learn from them, then break them! Happy photographing!
