One reason I love to travel is that it affords the opportunity to take photos. I like photography of all kinds. But combining my favorite hobby with travel to interesting destinations, is simply … joy. I have compiled a few ways to approach travel photography that have been helpful to me over many wonderful trips and years.
Table of contents
Why Take Photos?
To begin considering how taking pictures and traveling fit together, it is helpful to consider the basic motivations for taking any photos. At the risk of over-simplifying, there are two fundamental reasons for snapping a shot: 1) to capture something interesting or beautiful (form of art) or 2) to create a record or memory of something. Of course, there are many times when both motivations for a photo are at play. For example, taking a photo of a sunset on a beach vacation is usually to capture the colors and to be able to later remember the evening.
On the other hand, I can’t think of many times that I was engaging in an artistic endeavor whilst taking shots of my kids’ birthday parties. Regardless of the motivation, I always want a “good” picture. Most trips we have taken have a mixture of both these types. Recognizing the primary motivations for photos as a trip unfolds helps me to switch gears and roll with the moment.
Balancing Photography in Travel
To get a truly good photo, light is important. On travel, this often means that time of day and weather are key for getting a great shot. Also, setting up for a series of photos requires time and care. But these issues generate a tension, both when planning a trip, and while on the trip. Maximizing sights and experiences typically conflicts with time for careful photography.
Travel requires balance in many areas (e.g., cost, time…). For serious photographers, balancing your photography time is yet another one of those areas. The balance I seek to strike varies depending on the destination. Of course, it is also influenced by the fact that I am not taking pictures to sell. I am not a professional photographer. I shouldn’t obsess over photo opportunities to the point where I make the trip less enjoyable for me and my companions.
Dedicated Travel Photo Sessions
I have found that photo opportunities can be divided into several categories that are helpful as I plan for travel, as well as during a trip.
First, there is the dedicated session for photos at a particular location or area. The way we typically travel, these sessions are few, and often early in the morning. For example, while camping in Yellowstone, I got up in the dark and slipped out of the tent. I drove to a spot where I expected Lower Yellowstone Falls to be illuminated by the sunrise with my camera and monopod at the ready. I got great shots of the falls shrouded in mist and popping with color.
(Click on the smaller photos to get a full-size view.)
What were the camera settings? I don’t remember. Probably auto everything. The primary technique was getting to the right place at the right time. I had probably read something about the falls at sunrise and had sized up a likely spot for photos the day before. Nonetheless, I had time to think and to concentrate on exposure bracketing and such. And a little quiet contemplation.
Given the choice between fauna or flora, I would choose fauna for a photography session. I like the challenge of wildlife photography. It is somewhat like the challenge of hunting. (See a shot of a moose in Glacier NP during a wildlife photo session.) But I do like flora as a subject and there are challenges getting good pictures of flowers and plants.
Photos on the Move
The second type of travel photo opportunity are those shots that are taken while sightseeing and/or on the move. For this category, one may anticipate the direction, the lighting, and the framing of the shots. If you are on a driving tour or a boat ride, your time to snap the shutter may be limited but you can be ready. On a walking tour, you will generally have more flexibility to adjust your frame and settings but still limited time. There are often other people to avoid getting in your pictures too.
In this second category, when flexibility is limited, I find that many shots fall into the category of a “record or reminder”, rather than “art.” But I have developed a knack and technique for getting good pictures, nonetheless. Slight movements of the camera angle, zooming in or out to get a good frame, and sliding a few steps to improve the light can make the difference between bad pictures and decent shots. Also, my DSLR camera (Nikon D750) has an articulating LED display that allows me to hold the camera over my head with the display angled down so I can see the frame. This allows me to get shots in a crowd without the backs of tourist’s heads.
Sometimes while sightseeing, there are opportunities to switch into a dedicated photo “mini-session.” For me, these mini-sessions often occur whilst Alice is shopping for souvenirs or grabbing us a coffee.
Video to Capture the Vibe
Videos, versus still shots, are naturally becoming more popular and seem to be a good way to record parts of an activity. On the other hand, while video seems like a good idea, I often wonder about the usefulness or enjoyment after the fact. Still shots in a frame, a slideshow, or a screensaver make sense. But videos, unless they are short, don’t fit these modalities well. Videos can give an expanded sense of “what it was like,” but I typically keep these to a limited length. I often think I should shoot more video… I would very much like to hear your thoughts – please leave a comment below.
On a Drive
On scenic drives, you can pull off and set up for shots. So, these drives are somewhat more like the first category. But we have also found it worthwhile to snap shots out the window, mostly to “record” the awesome experience and perhaps get the occasional good picture. (See our posts on scenic drives.)
The odds are slim of getting a photo, shot from a moving vehicle, that you would want to submit to a photo contest. Nevertheless, I am glad I got the picture of these cows in Australia, shown here. And that’s saying something since it was exposed on 35mm film… that’s right, actual film that you have to buy and then pay to get developed. You can see the glare from the car window in the shot but that’s okay for this one.
Serendipitous Travel Photography
Finally, the third type of travel photo chance is the serendipitous shot, the pictures that present themselves when you were not expecting it. These photos can be the best or most interesting. To get these shots, you have to first be paying attention. A trip that is well-planned can provide the space to look and see anew, rather than spending too much time staring at maps and guides. Also, it is good to have a mind that is open, even relaxed, to notice and capture what’s interesting.
Sometimes what is interesting may be beyond what you are expecting. Something rustic or old. An optical illusion. Something out of place. Colorful. When a photo that begs to be taken appears, mobile phones come in handy if a “serious” camera is not within reach. (Mobile phone cameras are really becoming serious technology these days.)
On some trips, we have been fortunate to unexpectantly come across an event, like a market day or a festival. In London, we ran across a street performance that extended around the town and included parade-like vehicles as part of the story. This made for a fun time following the crowds, enjoying the vibe, and also some interesting photos. The elephant you see here was also photographed passing Trafalgar Square. There was a vintage wooden spaceship crashed into an alley in Mayfair.
Family Outing or Photo Op?
I remember taking this picture at Disney World while I was rushing, by myself without any kids, to get the next timed-entrance tickets. As I hustled along, I noticed this perfectly framed sight and hurriedly snap the shutter. I wished that the polarizer had been on the lens, although it’s a good shot without it. Of course, I was planning to get pictures of the family at Disney World, but I was not really in the mode to take “good” photos.
A Mix of Opportunities
Of course, these three travel photo opportunity types can be mixed together during a day of travel or even during a session or tour. We had a tour of Antelope Canyon near Page, Arizona, led by a Navajo guide, exemplifying such a mix. I was doing my best to get what shots I could in the narrow slot-canyon, but the guide also made sure we had chances to get good photo opportunities and provided great suggestions. (Some of the best photos came from suggestions by the guide.) I took more than 350 pictures… many without part of someone’s head in the frame!
Taking Loads of Pictures
Regardless of the type of photo chance, there is little reason to hesitate in snapping lots of pictures. Memory is relatively inexpensive for cameras or for storage. One way to increase the numbers of good travel photos is to take plenty. Loads of shots also affords more opportunities to learn. Modes like auto-bracketing and high dynamic range give you more shots to choose after a session.
Summary of Implications for Travel Photos
To summarize, anticipating these different types of photo opportunities allows for preparation and can be factored into your travel itinerary. Thinking through what the likely chances will be allows me to decide what gear to pack, what the typical camera settings will be, and where I might be able to arrange for a dedicated photo session during a trip. One important consideration for me is often potential opportunity to capture wildlife. This impacts what I pack and carry (telephoto lenses are heavy and take up space).
Also, the types of opportunities I expect to encounter allows me to practice shooting and to generate a daily check list (e.g., default setting to start the day). Practicing taking pictures while hiking has helped me to settle on my gear for both long hikes and for photography for hikes and tours.
Perhaps the most important preparation is just having my head in a decent place for photography of different types, even when jet lagged.
This is a fantastic guide.
I found this article incredibly helpful. The practical tips you’ve shared are going to be very useful for my work. Keep up the great content!