#1 Rule of Travel Photography

[Scott Brady]

This is certainly my opinion, but it would be fun to pick a top five or top ten rules of travel/adventure photography.

Here is mine. . .

1. Have a camera with you at all times. This means you need a great point and shoot and a waterproof camera as well. I believe the number one mistake most amateur/prosumer photographers make is not having their camera at the ready, or even with them. You never know when that jaguar, etc. is going to step into view. I have captured some really great images with my little leica p&s.

2. Chase the light This is something Jack Dykinga says. Time your daily travels to put you in the most interesting places at the right time of day. Don't be afraid to wait for the light to develop.

3. Make sure your equipment is durable and protected. I wrecked a brand new lens in Nicaragua (in a bat cave of all places) because the lens cap was not on properly in the bag. I set another lens on top of the first, and it proceeded to scratch the front element to hell. That sucks. I have also seen fantastic images destroyed because of dust and hairs on the CCD. If you are on a moto, you likely only have one body and possibly a second lens. It needs to be accessible, but also well protected.

4. Don't shoot everything from the perspective of 6'1". Sinuhe taught me that. He said. "don't shoot everything from eye level" He is right. Get down low, climb up on a wall and shoot down, etc.

5. Take the camera off of green mode. Favor aperture priority and vary your depth of field to provide emphasis or remove distracting elements in the background. Find out what the sweet spot of your lens is. Most are somewhere around F8.

What are yours?

 

[DrMoab]

Shouldn't this be titled the Top five rules of travel photography?

Great points though.

 

[Lost Canadian]

1. Same as Scott's. Classic Jay Maisel thinking.

2. Interact with your subject, and respect their requests. If someone doesn't want their picture taken, say thank-you, turn, and walk away. You probably wouldn't want someone shoving a camera in your face, or your kids face for that matter, so don't suppose others do.

3. Shrink your gear. Less is certainly more when it comes to travel photography. When you limit your options of lenses and trinkets you're more likely to focus on taking good pictures.

4. Know your equipment. You don't want to miss the moment because you were fooling around trying to change the iso, shutter speed or or or. These things should be intuitive.

5. Anticipate. Travel photographers could learn a thing or two from good wedding photographers. It can be something as simple as waiting for the road side vendor to pour some piping hot chai tea, or checking the weather channel before you go to bed. You'll probably want to know if you should get up early or not, and if so, it helps to know what equipment you may want to take with you. For instance, if it's going to be clear but cold during the night into the morning I usually leave the wide lenses at home because I know I'll be focusing more on shooting tight dewy or frosty details.

 

[Michael Slade]

Here is my #1 rule of travel photography:

1. Don't wait until you're traveling to start taking good pictures. Learn and refine your craft BEFORE you go somewhere exotic. Like my friend that shoots for NG says, "Do you think Geographic is going to hire you to travel to far-flung and remote places around the world and photograph for them, when you can't even make your own backyard look great?"

Start practicing now. When you get to where you're going, you'll already know what to do.

 

[kcowyo]

My most productive rule which I faithfully follow - stolen from Mark "articulate" Stephens, who apparently stole it from someone else:

1. "When photographing a sunset... turn around."


I also like...

2. "Get closer."

.

 

[Michael Slade]

My most productive rule which I faithfully follow - stolen from Mark "articulate" Stephens, who apparently stole it from someone else:

1. "When photographing a sunset... turn around."

That happened to me last week actually.

I also like...

2. "Get closer."

.

That would actually be a quote from Robert Capa. It goes a little like this: "If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough."

 

[Lost Canadian]

"When photographing a sunset... turn around."

I believe it was Galen Rowell, although I could be wrong. It's solid advice though regardless of who first said it.

 

[Lost Canadian]

Here is my #1 rule of travel photography:

1. Don't wait until you're traveling to start taking good pictures. Learn and refine your craft BEFORE you go somewhere exotic. Like my friend that shoots for NG says, "Do you think Geographic is going to hire you to travel to far-flung and remote places around the world and photograph for them, when you can't even make your own backyard look great?"

Start practicing now. When you get to where you're going, you'll already know what to do.

So in layman's terms, know what the heck you're doing. I dig it.

 

[taco2go]

Thanks for the great tips! It's always valuable to learn from seasoned photographers.

Here's one I try to adhere to- despite it making me look like a complete dork while walking through a farmer's market.
For me, it's quickly becoming as important as Scott's #1 rule, so I'll add it on:

Have a camera,and a tripod/gorillapod with you at all times.
Even the little cameras can be snapped on real quick.

 

[taco2go]

1. "When photographing a sunset... turn around."


.

Made me pull out some books to track that quote by Galen Rowell.

However, he did coin "Let's Unset the Sunset !" - typical of his tendency to anticipate, travel light, so he could dash up or down a slope to hasten or delay the setting sun (ie change his vantage point)

ref- page 252 of Galen Rowell, A retrospective.

 

[Scott Brady]

3. Shrink your gear. Less is certainly more when it comes to travel photography. When you limit your options of lenses and trinkets you're more likely to focus on taking good pictures.

This is good.

I went through this process last year, when I went away from the big Canon body and attached grip and a ton of lenses. Instead, I purchased a 4/3 system and shrunk everything considerably. I know (mostly) just carry the E3 with a 12-60mm Zuiko lens. I do love the 50mm macro (which I determine is the best lens of the group) and sometimes carry that too, but attached to the even smaller body.

I am currently looking at the E-P2 to downsize even further for moto work and when walking in crowded places, around cities, markets/bazaars, etc.

 

[p1michaud]

Great advice

I'm in the process of feeding my interest in photography so your words of wisdom are appreciated. :sombrero:

 

[Scott Brady]

Remember to be respectful and ask permission to take photographs of others. It is also a kind gesture to show them the end result on the screen. We often print off copies of the pictures if we are in camp and have some time.

Tarahumara, Copper Canyon, Mexico

Navajo, Canyon de Chelly, Arizona

 

[articulate]

My most productive rule which I faithfully follow - stolen from Mark "articulate" Stephens, who apparently stole it from someone else...

Yes, Galen Rowell. I'm impressed others knew that one, and it's almost the same thing as the chase-the-light tip.

3. Shrink your gear. Less is certainly more when it comes to travel photography. When you limit your options of lenses and trinkets you're more likely to focus on taking good pictures.

Here here, Trevor!

I think what needs to be said has been said.

 

[Michael Slade]

I'm heading to Sweden this summer for 3 weeks. I will be taking my 4x10, about 4 lenses, meter, 6 boxes of film, carbon-fiber tripod, Canon G11 and a spare pair of undies.

Not really 'expedition' traveling, but I'm going with the expectation of making good photographs, so I am willing to skimp on the 'extras' and take whatever gear I deem necessary.

Notice the complete absence of any DSLR cameras in my gear bag.

I *might* take a Hasselblad 501c and two lenses...but I haven't decided yet. It would be fun to take portraits of my Swedish relatives with a Hassy, but the novelty would be lost on everyone but myself.