Travel Photography for Travel Writers

Travel Photography Advice

When you are checking out a travel related web site or a travel related publication then what generally catched your eye?

What you are trying to do in your your quest to become published is to catch the eye of the readers and more importantly the editor.

A well taken picture can mean the difference between getting paid or not. For this reason alone you must learn the craft of being behind the camera lense.

The basics of travel photography - the camera equipment

There are basically two schools of thought on which type of camera to use. Many traditionalists would go with the old style camera with film. The other side of the coin is to go digital.

Why go digital?

Digital cameras where once considered far less superior compared to the traditional camera and film but things are changing rapidly. The quality of digital cameras is now much improved and costs have fallen dramatically.

The most important factor we believe is the ability to shoot lots of pictures at very little cost or inconvenience. As little as 1 in 15 pictures taken can be of the required quality needed for a publication so it really is a numbers game.

The other consideration is as a traveller you will have to carry any equipment with you. Digital cameras and the peripheral equipment will make your load a lot less.

Taking good pictures with your digital camera

Remember that any pictures that you submit really have to complement your travel article. You should be looking at capturing a living scene. For instance try and capture locals going about their everyday work naturally. Simple shots of folk at work tend to be very effective.

You should focus on getting people into your shots as they literally bring to life a scene. If there are no people about then choose animals as an alternative. If possible get people and animals in the shot.

When you have a subject then always try and take a vertical and horizontal shot. Some travel publications may insist on capturing both aspects.

Always leave room around your subject for a travel editor to crop resize. Allow the editor the choice.

Don't take a shot with your subject dead centre. Always move them to the left or right of centre depending on the scene behind them.

Seeking out unusual angles can also be an effective way of catching an editor's eye. If you are taking a picture of a church or mosque then get right down low looking up at the subject. Similarly seek a high vantage point as if you are looking over your subject. You may get some odd looks if you are lying on your back in front of a building but this could fruit a winning picture.

In the Travel Writing Guide's next photography article we will be investigating how to submit your travel photography.