EQUIPMENT:
You don’t need an expensive camera – invest in a good Smartphone.
Modern Smartphones take awesome photos (Pixabay.com)
Today’s Smartphones are ideal for travel because they’re small and portable, plus they’re designed for easy social media uploading. More megapixels mean crisp and sharper images, especially when you need to zoom from afar. Don't forget to keep your lens clean and protected when not in use!
Get photo-editing software.
Pixabay.com
There are lots of free options for editing software for adjusting exposure, fixing red-eye, cropping, straightening and much more. Adobe Lightroom is the best choice for computer editing. For Smartphones, I recommend Photoshop Express.
A tripod (or monopod) will improve and expand your travel photography.
Pixabay.com
Otherwise, you can rest your camera on solid and level objects like a table for a similar effect. This equipment and method allow for sharp and steady pictures, perfect for nighttime photography when the photos are most prone to blurriness. And for those times when a selfie isn't enough, just set up the tripod and camera timer for a quick portrait of you and your favourite landmark!
TECHNIQUE:
Tell a story.
Pexels.com
Make sure the viewer knows what to look at. Find a subject – whether it’s the steak on your plate or a tree in the foreground - and make that the protagonist.
Use the rule of thirds.
Using the rule of thirds creates interest. (Commons.wikimedia.org)
Our eyes prefer photography when the subject is composed at the intersecting lines. Program your device to show a grid for a perfect composition every time. Using the rule of thirds is a quick and easy way to beautifully compose your photo and create interest.
Get Creative.
Get creative when composing your photos! (Flickr.com)
Don't be afraid to think outside of the box when composing and shooting your photos! Try close-ups, aerial views from above or even kneeling shots from below. Rather than taking a stereotypical photo of the Eiffel Tower that you can find online, be unconventional and capture something no one else has to make it your own.
Keep the sun behind you - or not.
Bright lighting highlights the subject of this photo (Pexels.com).
It's quite artistic to have light behind the subject (Pexels.com).
Unless you want an artsy picture, the sun should illuminate your subject. The picture of the girl is a great example with good, bright lighting coming from behind the photographer. It's more artistic, however challenging, to capture a photo like the one with the swimming pool when the light source is in front of the photographer. In a case where you just have to get the picture, but the sun is behind the subject, use the opportunity to let out your inner photographer who seizes any moment they can capture.
Quality vs. Quantity.
The buildings in Amsterdam aren't going anywhere - take your time setting up a shot (Commons.wikimedia.org)
Spend more time brainstorming ideas and adjusting the settings of your camera for the perfect shot rather than pressing the capture button multiple times with your fingers crossed. You’ll have less to edit in the future, better quality photos in general and ample storage in your phone to capture more amazing places!
---
And voila! With these quick tips in mind, your travel photography will be the envy of your friends and make perfect souvenirs to remember your adventure when you get home.
Share your own quick travel photography tips below!
Madeleine Lee