Have you ever returned from an exciting trip and been disappointed with the photos you took? The pictures don't convey the excitement you felt while exploring all those places. Let's figure out what went wrong and what tips you can use to improve your travel photography.
Typical photos
All tourists' photos of any landmark look the same. Usually, groups of tourists take photos from the same place, and everyone ends up with similar photos. What can you do? If you are traveling with a group, break away from others and look for interesting places. Try to photograph buildings from unusual angles. Use unique frames from the surrounding architecture or trees.
Bad time for shooting
All tourist photos are taken at the worst possible time. Bad photos are taken in bright sunlight, closer to noon. The sun makes shadows as deep as possible, everything looks flat and uninteresting. What is the solution? Be original and don't be lazy. Look for the best lighting. Come to this place at sunset. Dawn can also be the best time in terms of lighting, when there are no crowds of tourists around.
In my opinion, the most interesting time for photographing a city is at night. At night, the city blossoms with bright lights or plunges into mysterious darkness. How to take pictures in the dark or at dusk, when it is difficult for the camera to focus and the exposure time increases, requiring a tripod. If you don't carry a tripod with you when you travel, there are other immovable objects: pedestals, railings, parapets, and even the ground. Just place the camera in a reliable place and set the shutter delay, and there will be no more camera movements.
Poor composition and lack of subject matter
It is enough to understand that a frame can be composed in different ways, and changing the composition will change the impression. How to photograph so that the picture conveys the right emotions? Horizontal lines create an impression of reliability and balance, while diagonal lines create an impression of dynamism. You can use the contrast between two objects in terms of size, color, or contrast. In general, you should learn composition in photography or painting.
There is a difference between stating a fact and a photograph with a plot. It's good when a photo tells the story of your journey even when you are silent. How can this be achieved? There is probably only one recipe. Think about what story your photos will tell and take photos with that in mind.
People in the frame
How to deal with hundreds of other tourists in the frame? For example, you can come at a different time. And if that's not possible, you can try to remove people during post-processing. Or you can use them in the photo. People in the frame can give the photo an original feel. The simplest thing is to contrast the size of a person with the size of a building. A colorful crowd of people in the square at a great distance will liven up the composition. The emotions on their faces can emphasize the festive atmosphere. And, by the way, it's not just people who can add life to your travel photos; animals and birds fit into the frame just as well.
Poor post-processing
Retouching travel photos is no less important than photography itself for achieving impressive results. Here are just a few of the most effective ways to use it:
- Removing unnecessary people and objects
- Improvement of lens distortion
- Color correction to create a series of photos in the same style
- Enhancement of poor exposure, and much more
By entrusting post-processing to a professional, you can elevate your photography to a more professional level and enjoy the shooting process, leaving the routine tasks to someone else.