Digital Photography School released a helpful article with hot tips from the best photographers in the game describing how to capture even the most difficult of shots while traveling. We’ve condensed this into an easy-to-learn list for the amateur to professional travel photographer!
Wildlife
– Observe
– Enjoy being in the animal’s company
– Avoid eliciting a flight-or-fight response by keeping a safe distance
– Move slowly and non-threateningly
– Have patience, empathy, and appreciation
Movement
– For perpendicular, slow movement, keep shutters between 1/15th and 1/90th of a second
– For faster movement, set shutters between 1/60th to 1/125th of a second
– Focus just ahead of the object
– Start with higher shutter speed and work down
– Farther away objects require a lower shutter speed
Architecture
– Be aware of the highlights
– Play with speed to avoid over-exposure
– Frame the best composition for the building’s frame
– Wait for motion that captures the building to happen
– Find out if you need permission before publishing
Indigenous People
– Approach community without a camera and get to know them
– Ask permission before taking photos
– Use long zooms to catch candid moments
– Use a wide-angle held at waist level to create intimacy
– Avoid clearly aiming at someone unless they are comfortable
– Use medium-length zoom for direct portraits
Portraits
– Wait for the right moment
– For a group, the moment is an externalized emotion
– For an individual, the moment is the internalized moment when defenses drop
Low Light and Nights
– Add a fast prime lens
– Go with a sturdy but light lens
– For cities, shoot after sunset but before dark, when there is still color in the sky
– When there is a lack of bright lights in the shot, use longer shutter speeds to get color
– Use long exposure when cloudy or foggy
– Use smaller apertures for a starburst effect
