There’s only one way to take better travel pictures and that’s practice. Having a fancy camera isn’t necessary but paying attention to a few little things can make a huge difference. Since we’ve been stuck at home, we started looking at old photo albums and I’ve noticed how much better my photos have gotten over the years. So, I thought, I would pass along some of what I’ve learned.
How to avoid taking bad pictures? Here’s a few tips to take better photographs:
1) Don’t stand in front of what you want to show in your picture. Move to the side or place your subject in the background.
2) Avoid taking your photo into the sun, as this would result in a washed-out picture. Change your angle or come back later or early in the morning if you can. The light will be softer, and your photo will be more pleasing to the eye. But sometimes, especially when we are traveling, coming back at another time isn’t possible. So, take the picture for your memories and you might just be surprised by the effect.
3) Don’t zoom in too much. It increases the risk of ending up with a blurry and unfocused picture or worse you might cut off part of what you wanted to highlight in your picture. If you need to zoom a lot, a tripod will help steady your camera and the result will be much nicer.
4) Be sure to keep the horizon straight unless you purposely want to take an angled photo. Personally, this isn’t something I find attractive, but to each his own.
5) Make sure that there is nothing unpleasing (garbage can, a person walking into your frame, a tower or stick sticking out from someone’s head, etc.) in your photo. This is easy to avoid. Change your angle or get closer to create a more pleasing photograph.
6) Be patient and wait for the right timing. The crowd will dissipate and create an opportunity for a better photo. The animal will look straight at you, the bird will spread its wings, just wait and be ready to take your shot.
7) If possible, try to take monument pictures from a distance to get the whole building in, or highlight only a section of it. I also like to place a person in the frame for perspective to get an idea of the actual size.
8) When you ask someone to take your picture be sure to check it after to avoid disappointing results. If I see someone with a nice camera that looks like they know what they are doing, I will ask them to take our picture. Then I will offer to return the favor.
Conclusion
I hope that these simple and easy to implement photo tips will help you take better travel pictures. Of course, these don’t replace years of practice or a good photography class, but they have helped me.
Sometimes, we get a bit crazy and have some fun. And we hope you got a few laughs reading this post.
I also enjoy underwater photography, please take a look at my Life on the Reef gallery.