OM-D E-M1 Mark II | M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm F2.8 PRO
We’ve all returned home from a trip, looked at our photos and realised it looked a whole lot better in person. While a number of factors contribute to creating a beautiful image, most can be planned ahead of time or as you’re capturing a scene so it’s important to know what to look for.
Travel photography is about fleeting moments, warm light glowing over a city or scenic vista and photographing images that depict a destination and give a sense of place.
Below are five tips to think about when photographing your travels. If you put them into practice I can almost guarantee the photos from your next trip will have a little more of that wow factor.
It’s just about thinking about what you want to capture then going about it with a little creativity and the right conditions in mind.
COMPOSTION
Creative composition can go a long way towards enhancing your image almost immediately. The rule of thirds is a great way to help you think about where to place your subject rather than just pointing and shooting straight ahead. You can use this method of composition in any type of photography whether it’s capturing a building, person or landscape, it’s just about thinking outside the box and changing the focal point of the image.
UNIQUE ANGLES
You know those photographers you see crouching down or clambering over crowds or cliffs to get ‘THE’ shot? Well…they aren’t as crazy as they appear. They’re no doubt trying to create a unique angle and it’s a great way to take better photos! While it may look a little odd, who cares if you can walk away with an angle that no one else has, as long as you’re safe about it! My favourite angle? Photographing from the water, it’s a lot less awkward to do the photographers stance underwater!
CREATE PERSPECTIVE
Draw viewers into your image and show them just how big and dramatic a landscape is by using something to compare it to. This is how to create perspective. If you’re photographing a mountain, try and find a subject that will help reveal just how tall and imposing it really is. By placing a person in the distance you give the mountain or landscape an actual size comparison to help the viewer judge just how incredible the scenery is.
LOOK FOR THE BEST LIGHT
If you’re tired of saying, ‘I wish I had my camera for that sunset!’ start planning! Researching the times for sunrise and sunset will help you plan your day around the best light for photography. The warm afternoon light is my favourite to work with. When I’m travelling I always suss out the best place to be about one hour before sunset to ensure I can capture the changing colours. Be sure to know where the sun rises and sets in the place you’re visiting and this will help you to decide where to be at the best times.
KEEP IT STEADY
Ensuring you stay nice and still whilst taking a photo will avoid the dreaded blur. You don’t need a tripod to keep your camera still; balance it on the pavement, a trash can, lean against a wall, table, your friend’s head…whatever keeps it steady is just as good as a tripod most of the time! The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II has a fantastic inbuilt stabilisation system so you can even ditch the things mentioned about and just click away capturing exposures up to around 4-5 seconds. If you’re into challenges, it can be fun to compete to see who can capture the longest exposure without any shake or blur in the image! Use the same settings and snap away to see who is the best human tripod.
You can share your images on social media using the hashtag #OlympusInspired #BreakFreeWithOlympus
Words Visionary Lisa Michele Burns
Images Ante Badzim
