We live in an era where travel loses its meaning if you don’t take loads of pictures. And it doesn’t end with merely clicking them, one has to post them religiously on all the social media platforms one is part of. But if you don’t get a lot of likes and admiring comments, trust us, you haven’t done something right. So how do you get the ‘awwws’ and the ‘wows’ on your travel photographs? Read on to know more.
A little research can go a long way
Before your reach your holiday destination, read a little bit about the place. Refer a few travel books, look up on the internet and talk to people who have already travelled there. Once you get some trivia about the destination, you will be able to capture the essence of the place.
Get creative and forget the cliché shots
It’s alright to take one or two cliché shots, but overdoing it is not going to win you many admirers. They are called as clichéd photos for a reason. For starters, begin with avoiding the vantage points like a plague. You not only don’t have to line up, you also end up getting a different angle.
Mid-day shoots are not very flattering
Around noon, the sunlight gets too bright, hence it’s not a great time to take photographs. We recommend that you bring out your fancy cameras or mobile phones during sunrise or sunset. Any place looks pretty when the golden hues take over.
Make friends with the locals
People often make the most interesting subjects for photography. But we understand that it’s not easy to click pictures of strangers in a foreign country. So it helps to make conversations with the locals and breaking the ice. Once you get comfortable with them, you can politely request them to pose for a photograph. Start with a hello. So when you plan a holiday, learning up few foreign words help.
Rule of thirds
Being aware of the rule of thirds is very crucial for taking a good photograph. You do this by imagining that the picture is broken down into nine parts by visualising two horizontal lines and two vertical lines. This is done with the intention of placing essential parts of the photos into those sessions, and getting a picture that is aesthetically appealing.
Create your own style
Just like any other creative pursuit, photography is also fairly flexible. There is no one right way of clicking pictures. In fact, we recommend that you create your own unique style. But sure, you can take inspiration from any one.
Capture the moment
Once a click-worthy moment is gone, it’s gone. You can’t recreate the same again. So when a great moment unfolds before you – be it a certain expression on your subject’s face, a miracle of nature or surreal beauty – capture it instantly without worrying about your tripod or settings.
Do away with the UV filter
The UV filter goes a long way in protecting your camera lens, but it does very little optically. In fact, it adds another layer to your digital camera and makes it difficult for the light to pass through. We suggest that you opt for a lens hood instead.
By Neetu George