March 25, 2010 @ 5:56AM

Tips for Photographing New Places

By Damien Franco

Every year you make plans to go somewhere new and get some stellar photography out of your trip. Every year you leave wishing you had done more, gotten better images, or simply had more time.

Here are some tips to help ensure you get better pictures in new places.

Research – Research is probably your biggest key to getting better photography out of your next trip. Doing some quick and easy research on your photographic destination will help give you an idea of what that area has to offer.

Visit libraries and bookstores looking at travel guides and photo books of your destination.
The Internet is your friend. So is geo tagging. Use it. Just searching for your destination and clicking on images will help give you an idea of what other photographers have done in that area. Don’t forget to check out tourism sites for that location as well. They’re sure to have some great photographs and beautiful destinations for you to focus on.
At your destination it’s a good idea to look at postcards and brochures. You’ll find those at airports and hotels.

The idea of the research isn’t to copy what the other photographers have done. It’s about seeing how they captured that place and how you could do it better or differently. It’s about getting ideas.

Time is probably the most important investment you’ll make in getting good travel photographs. Use it wisely and you’ll find you have more of it.

When you get to your destination spend some time scouting the area. This could mean driving, hiking, or biking to different locations looking for great vantage points.

Always carry a compass. It’ll help you figure out where the sun is going to set and where it will rise. You’ll be able to imagine what the scene may look like in relation to light and shadow at different times of day.

Different lenses have different effects on travel or landscape photography. Are you looking to compress the scene with a long lens or get a wider shot? Use different lenses to get good variety.

Make a shooting schedule. Where will you be at sunrise and where will you end up near sunset to get the shots you desire?

Check the weather forecasts and have an alternative plan just in case the weather turns really lousy.

What are some other tips you have for getting better photographs at new places?

Photographs:

Santorini Sky by Samantha T.

Colorful boats: small boats on coast of Lake Nicaragua at sunset by Studio One-One

Rome – St Peter’s Basilica by Mina Y

sunset by learning101

Comments

Anonymous

1 year ago

Besides locations, find out if any events, festivals or other local gatherings will be taking place during a visit. I sometimes find that out first before booking a trip.

Anonymous

1 year ago

I like to head over to flickr and view a map with nearby photos overlaid. Sometimes it can help me to find the cool places, and other times it helps me avoid the overdone shots that everyone has already taken! Either way the knowledge can be very useful, and save a bunch of time before you are on the trip!

Anonymous

1 year ago

I practice making the most of whatever light I am given, and enjoying the moment. You can't anticipate EVERYTHING, let alone schedule to be EVERYWHERE on your trip during the "magic hours" (assuming the weather even cooperates). Traveling companions can also impact the "whens" and "wheres" of the trip.

For my trips, I do schedule a few key photographic interests in advance for sunrise/sunset (20%), and then I "take what I get" for the rest (80%); I usually stick with my "Plan A" subjects in all weather, because that's the way it was. If it is a sunny day, I look for interesting shadows and textures. If the sky is overcast, then I compose for black/white conversions with plans for dodging/burning a dramatic sky later. If it's raining, look for puddles and reflections... This is also important for the places you stop at along the way, as many times that will be your only stop there...

The photo sets of my trips on flickr have all been shot using this philosophy (my walkabout lens is usually my 16-105mm)... That said, I am always looking to improve my trip photography, and I begrudgingly accept that I need to schedule more shots during the hours I'd rather be 'sleeping in' or 'dining out'.

Anonymous

1 year ago

Not an expert, but a few thoughts:
Keep lens changes to a minimum. All that sand / dust can't be good.
Sun is likely to be very harsh. Use shaded areas, and try and diffuse the light.
Don't forget the cable release
Sometimes the land may be brighter than the sky (invert the ND filter)
Use fill-in flash for portraits etc.

Anonymous

1 year ago

Good advice. I always just try to plan my photo sessions around the best lighting for the destination. I do like the Flickr idea for sourcing good shoot sites before you travel.

Anonymous

1 year ago

Planning around the lighting is one of the top ways to get the best photographic experience out of your photo sessions. I do the same (or at least try to).