Professional photographer Laurence Norah is back with the second part of his series on improving your travel photography. He believes that great photos are more than just pretty pictures; they’re memories. So, he’s here to help you capture those memories in the best way possible.
In his first post, Laurence discussed some fundamental rules of composition for better travel photos. If you’re new to this series, it’s a good idea to start there. Today, he’s going to tackle the challenge of dealing with difficult lighting conditions and introduce some advanced composition techniques. These include selective focusing and making objects appear closer together than they actually are.
Laurence starts by emphasizing the importance of light in photography. While a sunny day might seem ideal for taking photos, it’s actually the worst time due to harsh light and challenging shadows. Your photos won’t do justice to your subjects. The best times to shoot are during the golden hour, which is close to sunrise and sunset when the light is soft and warm.
However, you can’t always be in the right place at the right time, especially when traveling. So, Laurence shares some tips on how to get the best shot even in bad lighting situations.
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Be Aware of the Sun: The sun should ideally be behind you so that your subject is fully lit. If the sun is behind your subject, your image will be darker and poorly lit.
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Get Creative: Don’t stick to the same shot every time. Use the harsh light to create interesting images. Try shooting into the sun to create silhouettes or use a high aperture to create a starburst effect.
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Use the Weather: Think about how you can use the weather to your advantage. How can you capture a unique photo in a gray sky or a rainy landscape?
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Seek Shade: If you’re taking pictures of people, find somewhere shady. The light will be more even, with fewer harsh shadows on faces.
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Master Depth of Field: Depth of field is about controlling which parts of the shot are in focus. It’s a crucial concept in photography. Mastering depth of field will allow you to compose a variety of shots just by changing where your focus is.
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Utilize Street Scenes: Street photography is about capturing moments. Patience and politeness are key to successful street shots involving people.
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Learn to Photograph People: If you’re looking for portraits, your best bet is to make friends with people. Learn about them and their stories, then ask for that permission.
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Use Beaches: Beaches are one of the best spots to shoot sunsets. The water and the wet sand make for great reflection opportunities.
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Master Taking Pictures of Landscapes: Controlling depth of field is a key part of landscape photography. A tripod and a polarizing filter can greatly improve your landscape photography.
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Learn How to Use Low Light: Most cameras aren’t great when working with the amount of light that’s available at night. More expensive equipment can make a real difference for low-light photography.
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Get Action Shots: For better action photos, you have two options. One is to use a fast shutter speed to “freeze” the action. The other option is to show the motion by using a longer shutter speed.
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Take Pictures of Waterfalls: Waterfalls are a fantastic photography subject. My favorite way to shoot them is with a slow shutter speed, creating a soft and fluffy effect.
Laurence believes that taking better photos is a combination of three factors — being in the right place at the right time, knowing how your gear works, and knowing how to compose a great shot. When you master these, you will have much greater creative control over your photography.
For more helpful travel photography tips, be sure to check out the rest of Laurence’s series.
