THE 10 TOP RULES OF TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY

1. Know your equipment

Know your equipment so that you can focus on relating to your subjects. Your confidence in yourself will instill confidence in them. For me, simplicity is the key to success. I never bring new gear on an assignment or a trip, it's always tested at home first, and I bring backups on the real trip. Simple is always better. It's okay to use the latest and greatest technology, but know how to use it before you start your trip.

2. Use a tripod

Tripods give you the ability to shoot much slower shutter speeds (waterfalls, low-light, stars, etc) without worrying about hand-held camera shake. You can keep your ISO low (for less sensor noise) and use smaller apertures, so more of the image is in focus.

3. Read and learn

Read everything you can about the place you’ll be visiting, especially the amazing guide Lonely Planet, that can learn you all about costumes, religion, social rules, best photography sites of your destination.

4. Get up early and stay out late

Light is the strongest element in photography, almost a subject itself. Take a look at any travel magazine and you’ll notice that a high percentage of the photographs are taken either in the early morning and late afternoon lighting. That’s because the quality of light at these times is much more pleasing to the eye, because it’s warmer with deeper shades of red, orange, yellow. Shadows are also longer, adding a sense of depth to two-dimensional (height and width) pictures.

5. Be patient

You’ve thought about the shot you want, composed it, adjusted your camera, and bam … someone wanders into the frame.  As you can imagine, this is really common in travel photography, where you are often sharing your subject with hundreds or thousands of other people.  We often spend time waiting for the right conditions, whether it’s for people to disperse or better lighting.  Or perhaps you’ve shot your photo, but you’re not loving it.  Recompose, play with focal length, film speed, whatever, and try again.

6. Socialize, be authentic and sensitive

Photographing local people in a foreign country is tough for many photographers.The easiest way to make compelling, real photographs of people is by being authentic. Making candid images of people is not a trick. It’s a skill a photographer can develop, which requires respect for the subject and building a relationship in the time you have together. Successful pictures of people almost never happen from a distance. Put away the telephoto lens and become part of the moment. Always ask permission for close-ups too. Spend 15 minutes learning how to say “can I make a photograph” or “can I take your portrait” in the local language before you arrive. People really appreciate the effort, and it’s a great way to make a new friend. Some people will say no. Some will ask for money (I sometimes pay, but that’s up to you). It’s not the end of the world. Thank them for their time, smile, and move on to someone else and try again. Actually the more you get rejected, the easier it gets to ask!

7. Share your images

This simple, but often ignored process, can help create a bond between you and the subject. Someone who initially may be a bit unsure of your intent, may be coerced into giving you more time when seeing on the camera monitor what you are creating. 

8. Give back

Your subjects are giving of themselves. Don’t abuse their gift of sharing their lives. Don’t treat them like models. Send back some prints, cherish the moment, and treat them well. Don’t promise if you don’t intend to deliver. In this age where many people are digitally connected, it has become easier than ever to email a jpeg to an address for your subjects to share.

9. Get lost on purpose

Ok. You’ve visited all the popular photography sites, and captured your own version of a destination’s postcard photos. Now what? It’s time to go exploring, and get off the beaten tourist path. It’s time to get lost on purpose.

10. Always shoot in RAW if you can

When you shoot in RAW you record all of the data from the sensor. This gives the highest quality files. And when it comes to your awesome images, you want high quality.