Tips to Getting The Ideal Travel Photography Shot

Going on a holiday, but thinking what gadget you should get to capture the prefect holiday moment? How you should maximize your camera value to take good photos which can give you indelible memories of your experience. Here’s some tips from me (Not the pro camera expert) but written from an amateur traveller point of view.

Tip #1: Should you get a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex : pro-camera) or a light weight compact camera?

Image Credit: Canon 

Both camera has its fair share of pro and cons in any cases. It is a weighting of which is more important to you, the quality of photos you are expecting in general.

Certainly, it goes without saying DSLR cost much more to purchase but one can still purchase it if you are into photography or aspire to capture that very shot that hopes to make it on the National Geography Magazine. DSLR offers better image quality due to its large sensor. The availability of wide lenses on DSLR (usually sold separately) and offers more control over settings such as the shutter speed and ISO. It is likely to be able to zoom more as well.

However, taking into consideration of an amateur traveller, the use of compact camera makes it lighter and lesser equipment to carry during a backpacking trip. It is easier to use in general with lesser settings available. The pictures taken by a compact camera may be good enough for its resolution if you would want to have the pictures printed out or make into a photo album. Below is an example of my pictures taken and make into an album.

My personal take would be using the compact camera given its affordability,  easy usage and lightweight compare to DSLR.

Tip #2: Know Your Camera Well 

The first thing you got to do when you purchased a camera would be to know what is the strength and weakness of this gadget. Play it to its strength and try to overcome its weakness. Sounds like a football strategy? Here’s what I mean in a nutshell. Let’s say your compact camera have some nice effects that can be switch on before taking a picture. For instance, the camera may allow you to set higher light intensity when the surrounding area is dark. Set it and you may see a better quality image when you capture it. Play with your camera settings  to take more interesting pictures.

Image Credit: PC Magazines 

Most camera settings save images under the file “JPEG”. However, if you would like to further edit your pictures, you should save the images in the “RAW” format. Set your camera to shoot in “RAW” instead of JPEG format. “RAW” format allows one to adjust colours, lightning and saturation better than JPEG files.

Tip #3: Focus on the “Softer Side” instead of the hardware as photo subjects

What do it mean? When travelling, there is bound to be some must see attractions in a city. For example, the Great Wall of China is the must go tourist attraction. Many will take the Great Wall of China as its background and proof that one have step on this marvelous man-made iconic structure. However, the best photo of the trip might come when you stroll in the park with the children playing happily, capturing the true human essence of pure joy.

In short, seek out objects that have a deeper meaning to life. Something that a photo can be able to tell a story behind it rather than what everyone else is taking. It gives viewers a more intimate understanding of the environment.

Search for off beat tracks, take the road less travelled by tourists only then you will be amaze of the endless possibilities of taking even meaningful photos.  A picture taken during the early morning hours walkabout in the village back in Myanmar.

Tip #4: Bring Enough Camera Accessories 

The worst fear of going aboard is realizing your camera run out of batteries and not enough memory to consume more photos. One should always know the number of photos your battery can take when fully charged. Usually, looking at normal form of camera usage, a compact camera battery can last 300 photos clicks which maybe just enough for a day out. It varies with the usage of one taking photos.

Always bring extra fully charge battery on the road and ensure you saved the pictures each night in the hotel room before embarking on the next day adventures.

By the way, you might be interested to take a look at some of photos taken during my travel, found on Instagram. Search under the Tags “Theguytravel”. Happy snapping beautiful photos!

Categories: Travel Tips