It's very tempting in this age of 'ease of use' technology, to simply point a digital camera at the subject and shoot, letting the camera do all the work. Approaching an overseas holiday with this attitude can lead to disappointment when returning home and seeing photograph after photograph of a blurred Eiffel Tower or a dark and gloomy Big Ben.
It's impossible to control light and atmospheric conditions when travelling, and not everyone want to be an award winning photographer - yet some basic knowledge of cameras and composition can help turn average photographs into great photographs, helping to make a holiday memorable and to bring a Travel Blog to life, rather than simply proving attendance.
Get Moving to Get the Best Angle
When visiting a sight such as the Eiffel Tower, it can be easy to simply stand at a distance while reeling off a number of basic shots of the tower from front on, filling the frame. Don't forget though: everyone’s seen that angle before. Move around and get as many different perspectives as possible; make sure to get close up and get the "nuts and bolts" of the attraction, maybe try a low angle or high up if the surroundings suit.
The greater variety of angles and positions that an object, sight or landscape is captured from, the greater chance that a new and more interesting perspective will be revealed, and thus a more interesting photograph taken.
Tips for Lighting and Using a Flash
A camera flash will only light up objects and subjects within an area a few metres in front of the camera, so using a flash outdoors to light up an object at a distance will usually prove fruitless. In darkened exterior lighting conditions, it's best to put the camera on a low-light setting - read the camera's manual in order to ascertain how to do this.
Also, when taking photographs through a tour bus window, the flash will often reflect off the glass, ruining the shot – it's a good idea to push the lens right up against the glass so it doesn't capture the reflection in the shot - alternatively, don't use a flash at all. Finally, when shooting people in front of a well-lit background, use the flash to highlight the person in the foreground, otherwise they will often appear more darkened or shadowed.
Always Take Lots of Photographs
Quantity can sometimes equal quality; in other words, the more photos taken, the more likely one or more will turn out to be a gem. Taking the same shot, in the same way, in repetition is obviously not going to help, but any good photographer will tell you that they only show their best photographs off - and chances are they took dozens or hundreds to get that one perfect shot. So, don't settle at one good shot of that landscape; take it from multiple angles, many times - just make sure to filter out the bad one's later.
Capture the Atmosphere
People have seen the Taj Mahal hundreds of times - even if they've never been there. It's all over the media and in books and movies, so while a few obligatory shots of a famous attraction is a must, it's a good idea to give that place life by capturing the surrounding atmosphere. Take photographs of interesting signs, plant life, shops, markets and most importantly: people.
People represent the life and energy of any unique place, so capturing people going about their daily lives is ideal. It's important, when shooting someone blatantly and directly to ask their permission - not just because there may be cultural sanctimony to consider, but also because most people are shy and it's just polite.
People Make Photographs More Interesting
Landscapes are almost always more appealing when viewed in person - photo's rarely do the expansive beauty of nature justice. Putting a person or group of people in the foreground of a landscape shot will almost always make it look more interesting to someone who hasn't been there. The best way to capture both people and landscape in the same shot is to do a bit of simple "focus manipulation".
Point the camera at the people in the foreground, half-press the button to take the photo and, once the photo has focussed, move the camera into the correct position desired for the shot (without releasing the button). Then take the photo. This will keep the focus on the people in the shot, while allowing the reframing of the shot as desired.
