I’m not exactly a pro when it comes to travel photography. I snap all my photos on an iPhone, and unless they make it to my blog, they mostly just gather digital dust on my hard drive. But just like learning a language, getting better at photography takes time. And the good news is, anyone can do it!
Travel photos are more than just images. They’re memories. A single picture can transport you back to a place you’ve forgotten, stirring up the thoughts, feelings, and even smells you experienced there. That’s why I believe we should all invest a bit of time in improving our photography skills.
Today, I’m excited to introduce Laurence Norah, a professional photographer from Finding the Universe. He’s kicking off a five-part series on how to take better travel photos and generally up your photography game. Laurence is going to share his top tips to help you hone your skills and take amazing photos.
Laurence’s story begins in 2009 when he quit his IT job to travel the world. His first stop was Australia, a breathtaking country where he was eager to document his adventures. He’d been taking photos since he was 13, but it was during this trip that he truly began to appreciate the art of photography and realized it was something he was genuinely passionate about.
Laurence quickly discovered that photography is a skill that requires time, effort, and practice to master. And it’s not all about the gear – great travel photography is really about the photographer.
In this post, Laurence will share eight simple travel photography tips that will help you take better pictures right away. If you follow these rules, you can’t go wrong!
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Composition: This is all about understanding patterns and what pleases the human brain. Make sure your camera is level and try to stay as still as possible when shooting to avoid blurry images.
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The Rule of Thirds: This rule involves breaking an image into three equal parts either vertically, horizontally, or both. The goal is to place key compositional elements into those thirds.
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Leading Lines: Use natural geography or other features that the viewer will naturally look at first and that will lead their eyes to the main subject.
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Foreground, Midground, and Background: When composing a shot, think about the different elements in the foreground, midground, and background of the shot.
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Framing: This technique involves using what’s around you to “frame” the subject you are trying to capture.
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Focal Points: One way to ensure that people look at the part of the image you want them to look at is to have only that part sharp and in focus and the rest blurry.
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Use of Color: Color is really important in photography, particularly how different colors work well together.
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Storytelling: Remember that when you are taking a picture, you have all the background and surrounding knowledge of your trip in your mind. It’s your job to bring all that lost context to life.
Remember, practice makes perfect – and travel photography is no different! The more photos you take, the more you will learn how to compose and capture great shots. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start taking some photos!
Laurence started his journey in June 2009 after quitting the corporate life and looking for a change of scenery. His blog, Finding the Universe, catalogs his experiences and is a wonderful resource for photography advice!
