Taking a trip? A guide to achieving the best shots

There’s something special about taking your own photos on holiday. Although picking up a postcard may give you the best close-up images of your favourite sight, there’s a reason many of us spend our time snapping away to get that perfect shot: we want to achieve it ourselves, knowing we’ve captured a particular moment of our lives to keep forever. Although the pros may have the edge, there are some simple ways you can ensure your travel pictures are not a disappointment.

Choosing your equipment

If you haven’t yet invested in your camera equipment for a big trip, there are certain things you need to consider before investing in the most high-tech kit.

Firstly, you might want to think about whether to go digital or stick to traditional film. This choice depends on lots of factors, such as your personal experience and preference, as well as the purpose of your photographs. Are you looking to create some bespoke pieces and work on developing them in your own way? Do you feel that film is the only ‘authentic’ form? On the other hand, you may be looking to take snaps as and when you like, or feel confident your camera’s digital abilities can live up to your expectations.

Also consider how you are going to be travelling and prioritise your kit accordingly. Compact SLR-type cameras are now available, and you may feel more comfortable carrying something of this size, rather than lugging your tripod and additional lenses around. Another good tip for digital users is to take several memory cards with a smaller capacity so that, if you lose one, you don’t lose all of your photos.

Picking the moment

When seeing new places, you will need to adapt your photography to a range of situations that you may not always see at home. Here are some top tips for different kinds of photographs:

Landscapes

Composition is important when it comes to landscapes. Rather than taking your shots in the midday sunshine, choose dusk, when the light is more interesting, or cloudy weather to add mystery. Cropping your photo in an unusual way will give you something a step beyond the average postcard. Also, don’t forget your focal point shouldn’t necessarily be in the centre – consider the rule of thirds.

Portraits

When you’re on holiday or travelling, it’s quite likely many of your photos will include people. To avoid unflattering photos, consider the following:

• Angle: Think about how you are placed in relation to your subject. Up the nose is never a nice view.
• Light: Natural light from a window (if indoors) or at a softer time of day (if outside) is best if you are looking for a natural effect.
• Background: To focus on the subject, a less busy background is best. You can bring the subject to the fore by reducing the depth of field, which can be done by selecting a shorter exposure time or more open aperture.

Action shots

At the Palio di Siena and your photos are nothing but a haze of hooves? Of course, that may be just the effect you’re looking for, but if it’s not, you can use a shorter exposure time to avoid blur.

Cultural sensitivities

You may want to take photos of local people, but don’t be rude: always ask permission before taking the photo and offer to send them a copy once you get home. Also consider whether taking photos is appropriate in spiritual places – it may be intrusive.

Upon your return home

When it comes to developing your digital photographs, you want every pixel to come out as accurately as it would with a barcode printer, so don’t scrimp on your printing equipment. If you’re using analogue film, you may want to consider organising your rolls. On your return home, you will find that whether you live in the north west or the south east labels telling you which rolls contain which shots will save you a lot of time.