When we travel to special places, we make sure that we take photos of the awe-inspiring spots that we come across. Whether it’s a Himalayan mountain range or a pastoral glen in northern Europe, we just love to capture such a majestic sight with our cameras.
The reason why we do this varies. Some people like taking photos because they want to become more aware of our surroundings, which allows us to determine if we have missed something. On the other hand, some people do it because those pictures remind them of the places that they’ve been to. Also, it helps people in reliving all those wonderful experiences.
Taking Pictures: Pro or Amateur?
You will be wise to take into account that you take photos not just for the sake of it, but because you also appreciate the aesthetic element discerned in a picture. Keep doing this whenever you take photos and you will be surprised at how this can help you improve your photography skills.
How Can You Improve Your Travel Photos?
One of the best things you can do while traveling is taking pictures of the places that you visit. This is why it is ideal that you bring your trusty camera or smartphone with you while you travel. Needless to say, you just don’t take photos just for the fun of it. Set aside amateur hour and bring out the auteur in you. Here are the ways on how you can make it possible:
Using the Rule of Thirds
In case you didn’t know, there’s this photography technique called the ‘rule of thirds.’ This method uses an imaginary grid that divides an image into nine squares. There should be three at the top, another three at the center, and three more at the bottom. For a simpler explanation, think of the boxes in a game of tic-tac-toe and superimpose that over a picture.
The idea behind this is to use the grid as a guideline that will add balance to your photos. The rule of thirds will make your pictures more aesthetically and visually appealing. Technology has made this practice easier for the photographer because digital cameras and smartphones have this feature. It’s called the camera grid.
Adding Perspective
Perspective is one of the excellent and popular ways to create breathtaking photos. This technique makes use of the spatial relationship between the objects seen inside the camera’s field of view. This adds depth to the picture because perspective makes a three-dimensional image two-dimensional. This is the reason why it is widely used by photographers, both professional and amateurs alike.
Experimenting With Photo Composition
There is nothing wrong with studying something that’s in line with your love of taking pictures, especially if it can refine your preexisting skill in photography. For that matter, it’s important to know the different compositional techniques if you want to have quality pictures.
Taking different shots at different angles is one way of trying out different compositions on your photographs. You may either move back to get a wider shot of your subject or get close enough to emphasize the message you’re trying to convey.
Throw in some spatial elements in the image as well. In this case, that’s the foreground, midground, and background. If you’re taking a picture of an empty street, use something for your foreground, like the pedestrian crossing, for instance. For your midground, you can also use a solitary passerby or a passing vehicle, while a row of towering buildings at the distance for your background.
Creating a Strong Message for Your Photos
Most professional photographers don’t just take photos for the sake of it. They take photos because they want to convey a message, and they make that message clear through composition.
Let’s say you traveled to someplace in Southeast Asia and you took a picture of an old man with gnarly, arthritic hands, rowing an old, rickety boat. What do you think are you trying to communicate with that image?
It’s best to keep in mind that you are telling a story with the photos that you take. Those images serve as a vehicle to the meanings that you want to communicate with the viewers. Additionally, that message helps catch the viewers’ attention and dictate the mood and emotion that you want to imply.
Using the Sun to Your Advantage
Cameras work because of light and the sun is your natural source of light. So you should always take note of the position of the sun whenever you’re taking a picture. This will create the ideal effect that you want for your picture.
Making your subject or model face the sun will make it appear shinier or brighter. Also, keep the sun behind your model, and use the sun’s rays for an added natural effect to the image.
Additionally, it is significant that you consider the sun’s position in the sky. Remember that the common yet breathtaking sights appear either during sunrise or sunset. Keep this in mind and you won’t have any difficulties taking photos at this time of the day.
Knowing the Different Settings on Your Camera
Study the features in your camera or smartphone so you can get the most out of your images. Though this may sound pretty obvious, it’s not uncommon for most people to neglect this important rule.
Here’s one example. If you love taking photos of the sun’s rays, know which features need to be adjusted to make the flares appear distinct. Also, familiarizing yourself with the filters in your camera can give you the effect that you want for your flares.
The Final Say
There are a lot of ways on how you can improve your photography skills and produce captivating travel photos. All you need to do is explore and learn the creative or technical avenues that are available for you.
Always research for tips or ask fellow photographers, particularly professionals or the experienced ones. This will help you identify what techniques work well and why. In the end, all that matters is your ability to improve yourself and remain perceptive to new ideas.
You can print all your amazing travel photos on our new online eShop. FotoHub has been established since 1987 from just one photo print shop to now 9 retail store locations across Singapore. We take great pride in delivering quality products and providing professional services.
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