One of the most important items to take with you on your travels is your digital camera. Taking photos of your journey, looking at the various sights of your chosen destination is a great way to capture interesting or significant places, monuments, surroundings and landscapes. Instead just the quick candid snaps, here’s how to take great photos while on vacation.
Quick happy clicks are fine for a basic story about your trip but if you would like to take some interesting photos of your time away, then there are some basic rules you should know about before taking your photos, instead of the basic tourist shots.
First and foremost you should get to know your camera very well before going on vacation. Often cameras are new to us and we don’t take the time to learn about all they can do. Knowing your camera well and the options it has will allow you to take better pictures then if you are trying to use it for the first time in a new environment.
When taking photos outside, the optimal time of day is either morning or late afternoon, when the sun is low. Having an overcast day with a few clouds is also a good time to take great photos as full sunlight tends to saturate the picture taken. If you need to take a photo during the middle of the day, make sure the sun is behind the camera and use a flash or filter to soften the harsh sun and remove shadows around the face. On the other hand should you be around lots of buildings or in the city, the midday sun can create stark contrasts that could give you an interesting result
Take shots from different angles. If the subject is low, get down onto the floor, it’s better than taking the photo from above. Use the macro function on your camera for great close up photos, capturing the finer details of your subject. These are great photos to take while on vacation, it creates intrigue to the viewer of your photos later, and tells a better story. If you are taking a picture of a large landmark or building with a person in the photo, have the person stand closer to the camera. This way they will appear larger in comparison to the structure. This makes for better photos, because you can see both the building and person.
The law of 3’s is one rule not many people know about. By dividing your camera view of the picture you’d like to take into 3’s across and down so you end up with 9 squares through your view finder. Place the subject you wish to take a photo of covering 1/3 or 2/3 of your view. Don’t always look for symmetrical shots. You can create a more interesting photo if your subject or main focus is off to the side. When taking landscape shots use the law of 3’s going horizontally through the view finder. Have 1/3 foreground 2/3 background. Remembering this simple rule you’ll have great travel photos that are captivating.
Make use of the timer function on your camera if it has one. That way you don’t have to miss out on being in your photos.
Remember the main things when taking photos while on vacation, adequate lighting, use different angles and the rule of 3’s, that way your travel photos will be a memorable story your friends and family can see.
