Ansel Adams said, “A good photograph is knowing where to stand.” Being in the right place at the right time is one of the most important aspects to creating images with impact – even more so when it comes to travel photography.
In fact, photographers often see an image in their head before it happens. Here are my tips and tools to make sure you get the most out of your travel photos.
1. Do your research: Before my trip even starts, I look through photos to get ideas of where to shoot. A quick search on social media or Google is helpful for that.
2. Use the right apps to plan your shots: Leverage technology to help you get the most out of your trip. These are My 6 Essential Apps for Landscape Photographers.
3. Know where to go: Obviously, you’ll need a map. I hate paying for roaming fees when I travel. So I use a free offline app called Maps.me. It’s wicked. You can find tons of info like the closest wifi connection, a cafe, or drop a pin to help you find a way back to where you’re staying. It only works with phone with built-in GPS (almost all cell phones), so it usually won’t work with iPads or other tablets.
4. Hire a fixer: Many pro travel photographers use a fixer – someone who can help you do what you need to do in that location. They can be a friend, a translator, a guide or someone you pay to help you. Davide Patelli gives some great advice about getting a fixer. This is also one of Steve McCurry’s number one tips. As he says, a fixer can also keep you out of trouble.
5. Sleep in the right place: Try to find places to stay that help you get great images. For example, stay up high. Ask for a room on the top floor with a view. Then you only have to roll out of bed for that sunrise shot as well as cut down on your travel time to your destination.
Bonus Tip | Bring out the best in your photos: My go-to photo editing software is Adobe Lightroom CC. I use it to process all my images and manage my photo library. You have to pay for it but their app is free and works pretty well for mobile photography. Snapseed is great for phone photography editing too.
Also, if you’re not sure what gear to get, check out why my friend Roy Cruz’s Fujifilm Mirrorlesss Landscape and Travel Photography Kit.
Leave a Reply