When you’re traveling, it’s sometimes hard not to get stuck in your schedule or itinerary and rush around trying to see and experience everything possible.
Naturally, rushing from one experience to the next doesn’t leave you much time to take photos. And even if you do stop to snap a few pictures, you might feel the pressure of time and only get the postcard shots of main attractions without looking around for other photo opportunities.
In a recent blog post, the fine folks at Handlepod offered up a few tips for making the most of your time when traveling that will help you create better pictures, every time. Here’s what they recommend…
Look Around
As noted above, in your travel rush you might spend all your time photographing the major scenes and not even think about looking around for other, less common photo opportunities. Photos of iconic places are a dime a dozen, so why not challenge yourself to take a photo of something that’s seldom seen? Even everyday subjects - street vendors or a couple holding hands as they walk down the street - can make for a stunning photo. By looking around, you’ll be able to have a more in-depth experience as you travel, and you’ll have great photos to supplement those postcard shots of iconic subjects.
Try Different Genres
At home, you might prefer to spend your time photographing landscapes or taking portraits, but when you’re traveling, there’s simply so much to see and photograph that you need to expand your horizons and try something new. As you move from one place to the next, challenge yourself to create portraits, abstracts, landscapes, street portraits, architectural photos, and so on. As mentioned earlier, the variety of shots you take will then help you create a more well-rounded collection of photos that reminds you of all aspects of your trip. No one wants to see an album full of nothing but old monuments anyway!
Nighttime is Where It’s At
Though a lot of your travels will be during the daytime, when you have a chance, head out with your camera in the evening to capture the magic of a sunset, and then stick around for some shots of city lights. Not only will the challenge of nighttime shooting help you keep those photography skills sharp, but you’ll see your travel destinations in a completely different way as well. Just be sure to have something to stabilize your camera, like the Handlepod (shown above), so that those slower shutter speeds don’t mess up your long exposure shots. Just drop your Handlepod in your camera bag (or just slide it in your pocket!), and you’ll have a device that gives your camera all the stability it needs for a clear, crisp shot.
The next time you take to the skies and travel to a far-off destination, take these suggestions to heart. Your pictures will be for the better, and when you show off your travels to your family and friends, they’ll be even more impressed with your photography prowess!