Photography and Travel -Part 2 – How to Take your BEST Travel Shots.

April 8, 2015 by Angelika Schwarz 11 Comments

Yesterday I was leafing through some beautiful travel catalogues that Herbert and I picked up at a travel-caravanning show.  Wow, I thought, there isn’t really any need to take any scenic photos. It’s all been done, and in a quality that I could never compete with.

Nevertheless, I still take pictures. But I’ve been trying to take photos that are − different.  Pictures that don’t resemble the typical catalogue landscape but instead the little scenes that only my eyes have viewed in that  very moment and only my camera could capture it. I believe that’s how we amateur photographers can set us apart from mainstream photography, and maybe even stand out more, and possibly become quite interesting photographers.

So, you may ask… how and what kind of unique situations are there to photograph?

First of all, always have that camera handy and ready to shoot; the smaller the camera the more convenient. If you shoot in RAW, it will enable you to do some photo shopping on the image later – which may be needed, if it’s a spontaneous snapshot.  Also set your photos to at least 3000 pixels.

Who was it that said, we don’t make mistakes — we have happy accidents? After all, it’s our world when we look through our camera. Ah yes… the late painter, Bob Ross, said that; bless his heart.  It’s so liberating to be able to click away; creating crooked and cut off images…whatever.  It just might be that one of the pictures will catch that  particular fleeting moment in just the right way.

I love strolling away from the big tourist attractions to discover scenes in back roads and alleys. Go ahead, climb up a fire-escape to get another view.  And don’t forget to look up, I’ve often been surprised.

Lighting is what makes or breaks a photo. The most interesting photos I’ve taken were under stormy skies, or when the early morning mist rises, or a sunbeam shines through a sheer curtain.  If you can, try getting out of bed early, and catch the morning mood before the beaches get crowded. Oh, and the best lighting for photographs is late afternoon.

Okay, here are just a few things that I have figured out. I’ve never taken any photography courses, so these tips are all my own thoughts through my own trials and errors. I believe photography is simply about; what you see through your viewer is what you get – no more – no less.

I posted a few examples of photos I’ve taken − photos that I’ve never seen in a travel catalogues. Hmm… maybe one or the other does have that touristy look. Oh well, I’m working on it.

• My favorite photos of people are

• when they don’t know they are being photographed.

 Something small that might catch your eye – not just once, but twice;  something that makes you observe it, study it closer, maybe a doorknob,
or part of a statue, or an insect. That means it’s probably worth pulling out the camera and taking a close-up −click–.

 Panorama photos, if you have this option, I believe it make photos most interesting. Before starting,

I first check out the view, and decide where I want the photo to start and where it should end.  It’s like a little story.

 Too many colors can overload a photo. But then again you could always change your shot to a black and white photo.

What about you? 

I would love to read your suggestions.  

What was one of your most unique photos?

If you like, share your special photo here.