Travel and Scenic Photography 101:
Taking Great Travel Pictures

A few minutes before writing this I downloaded a series of photographs of a trip to Lisbon. Half of them were sharp and colorful - the other half changed tints and were dark, gloomy and fuzzy.

What went wrong?

A very basic mistake on my part: the setting slipped off 'auto' and moved to 'party' without my realizing it. In other words, rather than automatically using flash when there wasn't enough light, the camera tried to use the available light - and there wasn't enough of it.

The equipment wasn't faulty - the photographer, yours truly, was careless.

That said, equipment can easily malfunction so making sure everything is in working order is essential to taking good travel pictures. Digital makes this much easier.

Before leaving for Lisbon I actually tested all my equipment - it was fine but once I was in the rush of the moment, I forgot to keep checking.

Travel and Scenic Photography 101: Do's

• Do put people in your pictures - not only will they bring your monuments alive but they'll give an idea of size too
• Move in close - don't be afraid. If you stay far away your subjects will look like distant little dots...
• Keep it simple - don't crowd your photo with too many extras
• Look around your subject's head - make sure nothing is 'sticking out' of it - a branch or leaf or other shape
• My favorite shots are those of women going about everyday business - shopping at the market, pounding cassava, feeding a child, ploughing her vegetable plot

Travel and scenic photography 101: Don'ts

Here's what not to do.

• Crooked horizons
• Too bright or too dark
• Feet or tops of heads cut off
• Washed out color
• Foreign objects (someone's arm or shoe in your picture)
• Too centered (the one-third rule is a good one so divide your photo into thirds: one-third sky, one-third action, one-third ground, or similar)
• Avoid high noon - it's the worst time for light; morning and evening are best for light
• Use flash in full sunlight when shooting closeups - otherwise you'll get what I call panda eyes (no expressions, big shadows)
• Make your subject face the sun - the sun should be behind you, not the person you're shooting (even if you do have your setting on AUTO)
• Don't skimp on pictures - take too many, not too few - and get rid of the ones you don't like (just by pressing a button if yours is a digital)

Travel and scenic photography 101: A word of caution

Not all cultures appreciate being snapped (possibly yours included - I know I certainly wouldn't appreciate getting my photo taken by a tourist without being asked!)

In some countries, you may be offending people deeply by taking a photograph. So always, always ask for permission.

I once ignored my own advice in a Nigerian marketplace - there were hundreds of people around - and ended up being chased by a large woman wielding a machete and screaming that I had stolen her spirit.

It's not a mistake I'm likely to make again.

That said, in most countries women are amenable to photography taken by other women. A good approach could be taking photographs of their children, or of their wares if they are selling something.

In some places, for example among the Kuna Indians of the Caribbean, photographs are a source of income and they will gladly let you take their picture, dressed in their traditional clothes. But you'll have to pay a dollar or so for each photo!

If that bothers you, decline politely. Just remember that in some endangered societies, photography may be their only livelihood.

When in doubt about photo etiquette, check. You'll probably read many guidebooks and articles before you go - these customs are well documented and you should have no problems if you simply apply rules of common courtesy.

And if you really don't know - simply ask. You don't need to speak the language - a camera is nearly universal and there are few corners of the world where one hasn't been seen before.

Travel and scenic photography 101: A few final thoughts

Cameras tend to be seen as expensive equipment, especially in countries where poverty is common.

So, be discreet with your equipment. Try to avoid an image that screams 'tourist' - large cameras around your neck, flashy camera straps promoting top range brands, aluminium cases, a photographer's vest with a lens in every pocket... I use black or silver gaffer tape to cover logos and generally make my equipment look a lot less desirable.

Perhaps most important: don't let your camera become a wall between you and the people whose lives you are so keenly trying to understand.