Check out these awesome 12 tips on how to take great holiday photos!
When you’re on holiday you will often see things that will make you think, ‘Wow that would make a great photograph – or even a better canvas print!’. But actually capturing a decent picture of what you see can be easier said than done. If you want to improve your travel photography and come back from your trip with better pictures, you’re in the right place!
1. Capture local elements
Most destinations around the world will have unique elements. Such as landmarks, unique vehicles, clothing, food, people, culture, and other interesting features. To capture a really good holiday photograph think about what makes your destination different and then try and include that in your picture. This might include framing your scene so that it includes some of these elements. For example, in London, you may want to include the changing of the guard, black cabs, or double-decker buses in the foreground of your pictures and then a landmark in the back.
2. Shoot in a different light
Lighting can have a massive impact on how nice an image will turn out. Taking pictures around sunrise or sunset might result in a photograph with beautiful and colourful light. If you share your images on social media you may find pictures that have this kind of lighting tend to do really well. You could also capture silhouettes – this is where the light parts of the image are exposed whilst the darks are not.
3. Capture the main attractions
Everyone likes to take pictures of the main attractions when travelling, such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Tower Bridge in London, and the Colosseum in Rome. These are often the killer shots that will also make for great engagement on social media. To capture better images of these think about your composition and framing – and as a bonus tip, consider taking pictures at night when the building may be lit.
4. Photograph the lesser-known attractions
The main attractions are great, but capturing some of the less obvious ones can turn out beautifully as well. These may be smaller buildings, interesting bridges, markets, secret spots, and other things you discover along your journey.
As you explore you may find interesting things to shoot or instead do your research in advance. This could mean looking online at articles on what to see and do, asking your hotel and locals, or even friends and family who may have previously visited the destination. For popular places, you may find articles that tell you where all the best photography spots are or just search “best photography spots in [destination]” on Google or another search engine.
5. Take pictures of details
Some destinations have incredible details that really help identify that destination or make it extra special. These may be things such as carvings, monuments, building facades, or interesting shops. For example, in some middle eastern countries, they often have beautiful shops selling colourful lamps, rugs, and other special items, whilst in Vienna, you’ll find impressive statues and monuments.
6. Use reflections and puddles
Not many people want to travel and have a wet and rainy day you can actually get some of the coolest images during these types of conditions. Using puddles and reflections in your pictures can aid your composition and create a really interesting shot. You can also take pictures with colourful umbrellas which can make for a cool image.
7. Take pictures at night
When taking pictures at night, use a tripod and a low ISO setting (if possible). This will ensure your picture isn’t grainy and is much higher quality. If you don’t really want to take tripod shots, then try investing in a camera that can capture good low-light photographs, such as the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II. Some phones are also good at capturing low-light photographs without the image quality being degraded too much. To try and avoid blur and handshake when not using a tripod, put your phone or camera on a hard surface. You’ll probably find the camera will need to take a slightly longer exposure in low light but that is expected.
8. Show crowds and atmosphere
Taking pictures in crowded places can be a nightmare. However, this can be used to your advantage when capturing travel images. This will allow you to show the atmosphere and the mood of the destination. If you don’t want lots of people in your image then arrive early in the morning or try and be patient and wait for a good opening/quiet moment to take your photo. Another option is to use a strong ND (neutral density) filter and a tripod to blur the scene, this gives a nice sense of motion too.
9. Take photos of food
One of the best things about travelling is some of the delicious food you’ll get to try. A lot of which you may only be able to get in the particular destination you’re visiting. To take photographs of your food use a wide aperture or “portrait mode” on your camera. This will help isolate your food with a blurred background. Another option is to take the image from above looking down. Finally, consider getting a table outside or near a window in natural (but shaded light) which will help you capture a much nicer image without horrible and harsh shadows.
10. Capture events
Many large cities will have interesting events and festivals throughout the year. These may provide the perfect opportunity to capture the culture of the destination. Such as Holi in India, Notting Hill Carnival in London, and Carnival in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. When taking pictures of festivals consider taking pictures from high perspectives to really capture the crowds and wide shots, but also experiment with closeups of the people and entertainment!
If your event is in the evening then either use a flash (if possible) or set your iso higher (or to auto). A high ISO may introduce grain to your image but should still allow you to capture the moment which is sometimes better than no shot at all.
11. Put yourself in the photograph
Putting yourself in a travel photograph can be a great memory. Plus, it’s also nice to share with your friends and family. The best way to capture such images is to find a nice frame and use either a tripod or ask a friend to capture the picture for you.
12. Photograph from high viewpoints
High viewpoints can provide some of the best perspectives of a destination and will allow you to capture fantastic photos. Many destinations have caught onto the fact that many people want to see a place from up high and as a result have created observation decks all over the city. So, when travelling do a little research to find out what kind of viewpoints your destination offers and make sure you don’t miss out.
Summary
Once you’ve finished capturing your travel photos you may also want to edit them so as to bring out the colours, add effects, or fix problems such as the image being a bit wonky or not looking right! We suggest using Lightroom for editing due to how easy it is to get to grips with the software. We can also assist you with the editing of your images before printing them onto beautiful canvas frames!
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Written by: Mike Clegg
Mike is a traveller, photographer, WordPress developer and creator of TravelAndDestinations.com. He started this website to share his experiences and tips with travellers. He is from the UK and has travelled to many places around the world. He loves to share his pictures and stories through Instagram and this website!
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