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5 Ways To Improve A Travel Photo At Any Location

Any outdoor photographer will tell you that a successful photo will often require more than just turning up to a location that you have researched, setting up a camera and taking some photos. If you really want to capture great travel photos – whether that is to sell or to hang on a wall, then you need to actively think of ways to give your photo that little bit extra. So here are a few tips to help you improve your travel photos whatever location you are at.

Don’t take any photos

You are probably thinking that I have lost my mind so let me elaborate… Often one of the biggest mistakes that I see people make in my photography workshops is rushing to take photos when we get to a location. If you ever watch tourists when they arrive at say a landmark, they do exactly the same thing. They take a few quick photos and move on. So, my first advice to anyone wanting to improve their photos at any location is to just pause for a few minutes and look around.

Granted that there might be occasions that there is a fleeting moment or a beautiful light that won’t be around for long. In these situations snap away. But when you have finished don’t move on. Go back to the beginning and look. If you get into the habit of getting to a location and just waiting for the right moments, you will find that you are far more likely to capture great photos. Spend the time to visualise the shot in your mind and work out your settings. You may just find that you are surprised by the results you end up with.

Look for people

When I look at my travel photos, by far and away my most popular and best-selling shots have people in them. This is something that is often backed up by photo editors that I work with. They regularly tell me that the types of shots they are looking for are the “untouristy” photos. It is really difficult in this age of digital photography to capture anything unique enough that doesn’t look like a tourist photo.

Including people in your shots can really help do this as it’ll be very rare to have the same type of travel shot with the same person in. So naturally by including a person you are making that photo unique. But including a person in your composition doesn’t just mean head and shoulder portraits. It could be a slow exposure by someone walking across your shot. Or it could be someone in the distance. Next time you are at a location try to think of ways of including someone in your photo.

Look beyond “eye-level”

Every photographer is guilty of taking photos primarily at eye level. It’s the natural thing to do and I myself am probably as guilty of doing this more than I should. But if you can learn to take photos beyond this view you will be astonished by some of the results that you’ll get. All digital cameras these days have LCD screens with “live-view” mode. Some also have tilt screens that make it so much easier to take shots at different heights.

So, instead of just taking photos at eye level, set yourself a target of taking a high shot where you hold your camera above your head as high as you can and take a photo. Then do the same as low as you can close to the ground where it will automatically create a foreground in your shot. These types of angles are rarely seen and if you execute them well can look fantastic and very unique.

Go slower

Another really great way to take your photos to another level is to experiment with your shutter speed. Slower shutter speeds are only possible by using a tripod, but often what they offer is the ability to add movement to your photos. This can add things like light trails from cars, blurred movement of people, clouds, water or even structure like Ferris wheels. This movement can add colour but also it will make a photo feel much more dynamic and alive.

Another benefit of using slow exposure is that you can often make an image cleaner by blurring some of the people or cars in the shot. This is one of the main reasons that often landscape photographers use this method of photography to smooth out water in coastal scenes. The same can be done in places like cities where the long exposure can mean some people and cars don’t appear in the image.

Wait for the “bad” weather

Is there such a thing as bad weather for photography? Whilst conditions might not be ideal, I believe you can take photos anytime. You may just have to work harder to find interesting subjects and compositions to make up for the lack of good light. But often weather conditions such as storms, fog and mist can really help enhance a photo to something extraordinary. So, a great habit to get into as to be ready to go and shoot somewhere when these conditions arise. For obvious reasons, this is much easier to do in places that are near you. But if you do happen to be away and these kinds of weather condition occur, don’t despair, grab your camera and head outside.

For example, if there has been recent rainfall, look for reflections on the ground and water droplets on windows that can add a really great story to an image.

Capturing great travel photos requires some luck but also hard work. The research and planning prior to visiting anywhere are essential. But nothing beats getting somewhere in good time and spending a bit of time exploring and composing shots in your head. But even then be willing to try new things, whether it be interesting angles, techniques or exposures. You might just be surprised by the results.

8 Reasons Why Your Local Park Is A Great Place For Photography

Local parks are great places for anyone who wants to practice their photography. The reason being that there are so many different photo opportunities available without the need to travel too far away from your home. So here are 8 reasons why your local park is a great place to visit to improve your photography.

Easy and quick to get to

The first great thing about your local park is that it’ll be close to you and so it is easy and quick to get to. This in itself will ensure that you are more likely to actually get outside and take photos. Often one of the big barriers to anyone wanting to improve their photography is the effort that it takes to get somewhere to practice. If you have to get up in the middle of the night and walk for a few hours, it becomes a lot less motivating than driving somewhere even for a few hours in the afternoon to practice your photography.

You can photograph people

Photographing people is one of the things that amateur photographers often struggle with. Shyness prevents them from approaching people to take their photos. There will often be people in parks walking, exercising or even just on family days out. So this provides a great opportunity to practice photographing people. There are other advantages of photographing people in a park rather than in the street as well. For one, people might not be in as much of a rush in a park than say if they were going to work somewhere else. You will also have the added benefit of less clutter behind your subject than if you were photographing them in a street.

Just make sure you use some common sense and for example, you may not want to photograph someone sunbathing without asking permission.

Flowers, fauna and insects

For those who love photographing close-ups or are into macro photography, parks are great places. The array of flowers and plants mean there will be plenty to photograph. For those who want to capture macro shots of insects, again parks might be the best location for it. But the other great thing about parks is that the plants and scenes will change in different seasons. This will give you a great opportunity to visit at different times of the year and in different conditions.

Great for wildlife

While you may not exactly get the big 5, local parks will have some wildlife and birds that you can photograph. Again, this type of photography is tough to master. So if you want to maximise your chances of capturing great shots when say you are on a safari, get practising in your local park first. You can iron out the mistakes so that when you are somewhere more exotic you don’t miss out on a shot.

Sport photography

Any type of action photography or sports photography can be really difficult. For amateur photographers, it’s actually pretty hard to just practice this type of photography as you can’t just turn up to a sports stadium with your kit to practice. Most stadiums and arenas won’t even allow you to take your equipment in and of course, even then you will be sitting among the crowd and not pitchside. So a local park can present the best opportunity to photograph sports. It will allow you to experiment with settings and composition but also the tricky part of being able to nail your focus on moving subjects.

Even if sports photography isn’t your area of interest, it is still good practice and will help you, in the long run, to be able to capture moving subjects.

Dealing with contrasts

Depending on the kind of park that you have near you, there may be wooded areas where on a sunny day you get harsh shadows and contrasts. As the sun shines through the trees, it will mean there will be very dark areas and very bright areas. This can be tough to photograph and especially to expose for correctly. By getting your practice in when you are at a local park, it will mean that when you are at a location or even a shoot, you will have the knowledge and the skills to be able to take the shots that you need to take.

Try out your equipment

Even if you are an experienced photographer, when you get a new camera or accessory, it’s important to test it before actually needing it. This is not only so you know how to use it properly and get to know all the features of it, but to actually test how it performs. For example one of my tests, when I buy a new camera, is to check how it performs at high ISO settings. I need to know at what ISO there will be an acceptable level of noise. A park is great as there will often be low light areas. I simply take a load of photos at different ISOs keeping the shutter speed and aperture the same. When I check the images on a computer, I then get a good indication of how high I can set my ISO and still have an acceptable level of noise.

Experiment with different techniques

Let’s be honest, no photographer will want to risk trying something completely new when they are shooting something for a client or are at a great location. It can be daunting trying out an untested new technique when you have one attempt at taking the shots that you want. But your local park is a much better and easier place to practice this sort of thing. Because it’s somewhere you can get to easily, it means you won’t be as afraid of missing out on a shot. When you are happy that the new technique you are trying out works well, you can use it in other places with more confidence.

Local parks provide a lot of opportunities for photographers of all levels without the need to travel far. So why not head out to your local park and practice some of the things that you enjoy photographing. You never know, you might actually end up with some amazing photos.

5 Ways to Build Confidence As A Photographer

Taking your first steps into photography can be daunting, so let’s discuss the best ways to build a more confident version of yourself to help you become a better photographer. Before we get into any of this, it’s important to remember that everyone has the capability to become a good photographer. I firmly believe that most people have the talent to be good photographers but often lack confidence. So keep reading to understand the best ways to develop this confidence and in turn an improvement in your photos.

Constantly practice

As a photographer, it is essential to create new work to help you grow your craft continually. In every profession, it is crucial that you stay active to support your progression through your work. Photography is no different.

The more you practice the more confidence you will gain in different scenarios. This practice will also make you more confident because you will learn how to take photos in different scenarios.

But practising requires effort. So aim to take time out of each day at specific times to focus on learning the best way to take photos with your selected equipment or testing out newer pieces of equipment. You can also extend this strategy to areas that you may struggle in. For example, if you struggle with action photography, bird photography or even taking portraits, make these your focus.

Taking professional advice

It is also essential to consider that sometimes, to help develop your confidence in a particular industry, it is best to get advice from the professionals. Going onto websites, YouTube or even doing workshops or taking some photography classes from masters in their industry is undoubtedly the best possible way to help yourself build confidence by learning various new skills applicable to your work.

However, it is also a great idea to take advice from different people, such as family and friends, who are likely only to want to see you improve yourself. Not only are they are likely to give you some great points and care about you, but they will also be able to give an opinion from a completely different outlook than someone in the industry.

Consider your past

While the other two points are great for building confidence in the future, it is imperative to look at the past and compare it to where you are now. You will see a healthy growth pattern between the artist you used to be, and who you are now. I sometimes look at my early work as a photographer and I’m embarrassed by it. That’s OK because it tells me I’m a better photographer now than I was when I started.

Using your past as a focal point to work from can be a great way to consider areas you improve. You will feel more confident about your potential future in the industry, as you can pinpoint the best facets of your work that have been improved.

So just as you can be proud of your successes, also look at the areas that have not grown as much and focus on improving those as well. Over time this will make you a more rounded photographer with more skillsets.

Always be willing to learn

Further to this, it is vital that you consistently grow your mindset and expose yourself to new methods that could help you succeed. For example, you should use constructive criticism from others not as a negative thing, but as an avenue to help your potential success. By having the mindset that you will eventually reach your goals, it is crucial to consider other photographers’ alternative approaches to developing your craft.

Be confident as a photographer in your abilities and methods to produce the best work possible. Still, there is no harm in testing other people’s practices and incorporating these into your work to see if it improves your work.

Creating goals to work towards

It is essential that you have photography goals for the future. The points discussed above can be some great goals to consider. Or you can set specific achievements like winning a competition or selling your first photo.

Try to create short and long term goals with deadlines to work towards, such as hosting a bi-yearly exhibition of your photography. This gives you something to work towards, allowing you to look forward to potential future events with the aim of making it better each time. Photography is often a lonely hobby or profession. Having tangible goals can help ensure you have a purpose to work towards.

There you have it. Here are a variety of ways to develop your confidence as a photographer. It is important to continually practise your craft to help keep you focused on implementing new ideas. But also to help build your photographic skills and become a more confident artist. Just remember how far you have come as a photographer. Be proud of that and be confident that you can get even better.

4 Reasons That Your Travel Photos Could Be Letting You Down

Taking a great travel photo might seem straightforward. You turn up to a location take a few shots and that’s that. If only… Great travel photography is a bit more complicated and time-consuming than that. Often newbie travel photographers are astonished at some of the reasons why their photos might not be turning out the way they thought. So, to help you ensure you are not making these mistakes, here are 4 reasons that your travel photos might not be turning out the way that you wanted.

Not enough time

Travel photography can be the ultimate contradiction. Sometimes you will face fleeting moments that will disappear in the blink of an eye. But more often, you will arrive at a location to find that it isn’t ideal for photography. This might be the light on offer or the weather conditions. It might be that someone or something is in your way. Or it could just be that the scene is missing a vital component to make the composition work (like for example a point of interest). This is where professional travel photographers often differ from newbies or hobbyist photographers. A professional photographer will wait or keep coming back to a location until they get the shot that they want. Whereas all too often I’ve seen some photographers turn up to a location, take a few shots and leave.

So my first bit of advice if you want to capture those awesome travel photos is to simply give yourself more time. I will sometimes just concentrate on two or three locations a day and spend hours waiting for the right moment to take the photo that I want. If you rely on a quick visit and hope to capture a stunning photo, you may be very disappointed. Give yourself as much time as you can at any location to maximise your shoot.

Didn’t research enough

I recently showed the attendees at one of my workshops my research from a previous two-week shoot in Scotland. They were astonished by the level of detail with one person commenting that it looked like an “encyclopedia”. I spend months researching any given shoot whether it’s a city, national park or country. I will make notes, create maps and mood boards. I will look on social media and contact local guides or businesses if I want access to shoot from their rooftops for example. I will read guidebooks, articles and even watch documentaries about the destination to get a better understanding of the destination. By the time I arrive at the location, I will have a folder full of clear and detailed maps and shot lists that include alternatives if for example my plans are ruined by the weather.

If you want to capture great travel photos you need to try to be the most informed tourist in town. Try to find out as much as possible and build a detailed shot list for your shoot.

The wrong time

Just because you’ve arrived at a location doesn’t mean it’s the best time for photography. Any outdoor photography relies as much on the conditions as the subject you are photographing. Even the most amazing vista will look dull and uninteresting in the wrong light. Whereas on the other hand even if your scene isn’t hugely interesting, a beautiful light can do wonders. So, the first element that you should always look for when you arrive at a location is the light. Ask yourself if this is the best time to be photographing this location? What is the direction of the light and is it enhancing the scene? You will generally find that early morning and late afternoon light is much better to photograph in than harsh midday sun.

Try to spend a bit of time when you are on location really studying and thinking about how the light is falling in the scene. If you find that you are there at the right time, then shoot away. But if not then be prepared to either wait for the right time or come back.

Wrong settings

Of course, once you have done all of the things above, it’s important to ensure that you capture the photo correctly. There is nothing more frustrating than looking at a great photo on a computer screen only to realise that it is blurred. But how do you know what setting to use for each scenario? Well, that comes from experience. But if you are photographing something for the first time spend some time reading online articles or watching tutorials so you have a rough idea of the settings that you will need.

These are by far the most common reasons that I have come across as to why people are often disappointed with their travel photos. The good thing is that all of these are pretty easy to fix and just require better planning, research or some learning. But the results will be great and could transform your photos.

What To Photograph In Different Weather Conditions

Any outdoor photography relies heavily on the weather. Which can sometimes be incredibly frustrating if you were planning to photograph something specific. But one of the biggest attributes you need to be a great photographer is to be able to adapt to different conditions and change your plans if needed. Whether it’s raining, sunny or foggy there are opportunities to take great photos at any time. To help you, here is a guide on what to photograph in different weather conditions.

Sunny

Bright blue skies and fluffy white clouds are perfect for any outdoor photography scenario. The only thing you need to be aware of is the direction of the light and its intensity. For example, avoid the period around midday when the light is far too harsh. Instead, aim for the morning and late afternoon for the main bulk of your photography.

Also, pay attention to the direction of the light as well. Try to avoid shooting straight into the sun which can mean blown out skies or dark areas such as shadows. Look to photograph with the sun either behind you or to the side. Not only will this light-up the scene better but also often give you a richer and bluer sky. One more thing, make sure you pay attention to where your shadow is falling.

Cloudy or overcast

Depending on the type of overcast sky that you get, anything like landscape photography might be off the cards. For example, a blanket white cloud will make the light flat and won’t give you much to work with for landscapes. But if you have different shades of greys in the clouds it can actually work to give you an interesting moody photo.

If you are faced with a bland overcast sky, spend your time focusing on things like portraits or even environmental portraits. Overcast skies act as a diffuser and help give you even light across a person’s face. This will help you avoid harsh shadows.

Another good subject to photograph in overcast conditions is food. Again the flat outdoor light is ideal in ensuring that the plate of food or ingredients don’t have harsh shadows on them.

Snow or icy conditions

Snow or ice is wonderful for any landscape photography. If it’s a little bit of dusting, it can be even better. This will give your photos a wonderful contrast and help them stand out. It’s not just wild landscapes that can look great with snow. Cities are also wonderful places to photograph when it is snowing or with snow in them.

If the forecast predicts icy or frosty conditions head out early in the morning to capture it before it melts. But you might also be lucky to get some mist appearing from the sun hitting the cold ground.

Mist or fog

Just like snow, ice and frost, mist or fog are also fantastic conditions to be out photographing in. If you can get up on the higher ground and look down, if there is low mist it can provide some of the best landscape photos you can imagine. Obviously, if it is very thick fog you may not be able to see much, but be patient as conditions can change very quickly.

You can just about photograph any landscape scene in these conditions. From cities to dramatic wilderness shots, they would all look great in these conditions.

Rain

No one likes being out in the rain, but rainy conditions can offer some nice alternative photos to the norm. For example, cities are good places to photograph in the rain as you’ll capture photos of reflection of lights on the ground. There is also often a nice contrast between the dark and moody scene and the bright umbrellas people carry.

Another good scenario to photograph during rain or immediately after it are forests and waterfalls. Forests will come alive after rain with foliage and fauna taking on an almost luminous green colour. These can pop against the darker surroundings of the rocks and mud. The rain can also help waterfalls become much more full and often colourful if some mud washes into the water.

But if you are photographing in the rain make sure that you keep your camera safe and dry. Wrap it in a plastic bag or even in a towel to make sure it stays dry.

If it’s heavy rainfall and you don’t want to get wet, look to photograph indoor scenarios such as museums and galleries (only if photography is allowed of course). You can also find covered markets where you can photograph food and the market vendors.

Extreme weather conditions

Anything from storms to lightning can also provide a great backdrop in any sort of landscape, cityscape or coastal photography. Whilst they may not give you those postcard type shots, they will often be far more dramatic and striking. But make sure you are keeping yourself and equipment safe. For example, be aware of things like lightning or even strong winds which can easily knock over your camera equipment.

Being able to photograph in different conditions is a must for any outdoor photographer. Most of the time you will find yourself without the perfect conditions for photos, so it is imperative to be able to adapt. Always remember that there is a perfect time and conditions to photograph everything. So if the conditions are not right for what you are photographing, find something that would be perfect for it.

6 Great Reasons Why You Should Take Up Photography

We live in a digital age where everyone has the capabilities of capturing photos straight from their smartphones. Whilst this genre of photography is certainly on the rise with plenty of acclaimed photographers already out there, there are some benefits from actually picking up a DSLR or Mirrorless camera. So here are 6 reasons why you should take up photography.

1. It will make you have to learn something new

Smartphones are great in being able to capture moments where you may not have a camera with you. But the big problem with smartphones is that most people just use them with all auto settings that are already set up. So even if you take nice photos, you are not actually understanding the process and the setting you are using. By using a digital camera you will b forced to actually have to learn how to take photos rather than just relying on auto modes. If nothing else it’s never a bad thing to learn something new as it can get your brain working on something other than what you are used to. This will help keep your brain working and learning new things.

2. You will be outside more

Taking up photography will force you to go outside more often. Because even if you decide that your interest is in interior photography, you won’t be able to spend forever more photographing your home. At some point, you will have to get outside and photograph other houses. Interior photography is an extreme example as in for the vast majority of photography genres you will have to be outside anyway. For example landscape photography, street photography, wedding photography, travel photography and even sport photography will require you to be somewhere other than your house. Let’s be honest all of us can probably benefit from being outdoors more these days. So taking up photography could actually also have a beneficial impact on your health.

3. Help your confidence

If you are the sort of person who suffers from shyness or low confidence, you may find that photography can help you. Being a photographer seems to always invite conversation with strangers and also forces you to interact with other people. But also if you are able to hone your skills and take good photos, you will undoubtedly receive compliments from other people on social media or even directly. This can be a real boost to your self-esteem. Even if you are the shyest person in the world, you may find that photography helps you come out of your shell.

4. Gives you a goal

Ask any professional photographer if they have a set of shots in their head that they would love to take and the answer will usually be yes. But even as an amateur you will begin to set yourself goals that you would like to achieve. At first, it might be just being able to master all the controls of your camera. Then might come specific shots that you have in mind that you want to take. This could be photographing your local town or city in a unique light. So you have to wait months and sometimes years for it to occur. Later it might be that you just want to be able to have a photo appear in a magazine or newspaper or even to win a competition. Your goals will change throughout your photography journey but make no mistake they will be there in the back of your mind.

5. Make some extra money

Whilst it isn’t going to make you rich, you can use your photographs (or photography) to make some extra money. You may choose to sell your photos through stock sites. Or even try to sell them directly to clients. If you have great photos you may find that you have a following who are willing to buy them as prints. There is also, of course, the opportunity to actually photograph part-time or at weekends for some extra cash. But don’t rush out and quit your job straight away. Unfortunately, the photography industry has taken a big hit over the last 10 years and is suffering from oversupply. So think of it as extra money rather than vast sums that will change your life.

6. Sense of achievement

Even if nothing else comes of your photography or your photos, I guarantee you that you will have a sense of achievement when you capture that amazing shot that you worked so hard for. It will take pride of place in your collection and you will always remember it. But you will also have a sense of achievement in just starting and learning something new. The great thing is that you would have done it all by yourself.

Photography can be addictive. You can get addicted to that feeling of joy when you capture a great photo. But you will also find that the more you learn it will drive you to learn even more. It becomes a challenge to be able to better your photography every time you pick up a camera. Not only can this help you to focus on something different and creative but also keep you active and busy. You may just look back at the moment you decided to take up photography as one of the best decisions in your life.

Ideas On How To Improve Your Photography At Home

What more enjoyable way to spend your free time than putting effort into improving your craft? There are plenty of ways to work on your photography skills at home, so read on for some tips! One common misconception about photography is that you must be somewhere spectacular to get a good picture. While an incredible landscape or city can create some strong visuals, what makes a great photo is a blend of your subject matter and your ‘eye’ for photography. The good thing is, you can continually improve on the latter by learning new creative techniques or developing new ideas and photoshoot concepts. Here’s how:

Critique yourself

We can’t get any better at anything if we don’t take a second to assess our strengths and weaknesses. No matter what level you’re at with regards to your photography skills, you can always improve on something. Pull up a recent batch of photos that you’ve taken, and try to look at them from the perspective of a critic, and not yourself as the photographer. Dig deep and ask yourself:

What was I trying to portray with this photograph?
Could the composition be improved?
Is the intended main subject translating as such?
Is there any blurriness, noise, or incorrect use of exposure?
Is my use of framing helping or hindering my image?
Could the composition have been improved?

Split these into two categories: one that you’re entirely pleased with, and one for those that need work. Jot down some areas of improvement, and start working on improving them!

Study your composition

With those photos that you weren’t completely sold on, were you perhaps displeased with the composition? An excellent way to play around with this is to pull up the old photos into your favourite photo editing system and spend some time moving the image around, changing the settings about, and cropping the photo. This manipulating of the image helps you to visualize different ways you could have taken the picture and trains your eye to seek out proper framing for objects that you’re photographing. By doing this, the next time you’re out in the field and need to get the perfect shot because the lighting is just right or the crowds have finally dispersed, you’ll have less about which to worry!

Treat your home like a new place to explore

Indeed, your home is not foreign territory to you. You’ve been everywhere in your home – theoretically – and you know where the cutlery is, where the best spot to relax is and how the alarm system works. Take off your man-or-woman-of-the-house hat, and put on your photographer hat. Explore your house as if you were exploring a new city or a new photographic location. Ask yourself things like:

Where does the best light fall throughout the day?
What are the best vantage points?
What unique angles or elements are around on which I could focus?

By looking for possibilities in a place where you have been so programmed to use for a different purpose, you’re training your eye to see through a photographer’s lens, no matter where you are. This fresh perspective will translate into practice in your daily life outside your home.

Explore your backyard, your bathroom, or pick up a plant and use it as your primary focus or an element to frame. Get creative! Think outside of the box, and push the boundaries of where your mind would usually go. No one will likely be seeing these photos, making it the perfect opportunity to practice. Play around with foreground focus, work with aperture, and gain a deep understanding of the depth of field and light.

Moreover, discover where the light shines and how to use things like shadows, sunlight, and reflections to your advantage, and understand what sort of effect they bring. And don’t be limited just by daylight or moonlight—play around with torches, candles, lamps, light fixtures—the possibilities are endless. Learn how to shoot in different light conditions and how to set the mood for particular types of photography.

Step outside of your comfort zone

If you want to improve different areas of your photography, choose one of your weaker ones, or perhaps one category that you don’t enjoy as much. As a photographer, especially if you’re just starting out, having a wide range of skills in your portfolio can be a great thing, as you are more likely to get hired to work on different sets of projects, which as a freelancer, means you’re making more money. Therefore, if you aren’t, for example, highly skilled in portraits, get your partner, family member, or child to pose for you, and work on your portrait photography skills. Take some shots, study your weaknesses, pull up the work of a photographer you admire and see what they do, and compare. Practice makes perfect, so get practising.

Another good reason for stepping out of your comfort zone and shooting things you don’t usually shoot is to help you come up with ideas for something you do like to shoot. Do you perhaps prefer portraits to landscapes because you can’t tell a landscape to move? Maybe you realized that you struggle with creating depth or altering your shutter speed for the scene. If you worked on those skills, would you start to love photographing landscapes? At the very least, you’ll also develop a deeper understanding of your camera and a personal knowledge of your strengths and weaknesses.

Join an online photography club

What better way to improve your craft than by networking with other photographers? These days technology means that there are plenty of resources online to help you meet people without having to leave your home. If you join a photography club on Meetup, you can share shots you’ve taken outside or in your home and get other photographer’s opinions on it. Alternatively, you can also share and receive tips on improving specific areas of your craft, so it’s truly a win-win.

Whether you’re out in the field or at home, there are plenty of ways to improve your photography skills. Often you’ll find it easier to practice your photography at home as it means there isn’t any effort in having to go out. So take advantage of your home and use it to improve your photography.

How To Get Vibrant Colours In Your Photos

Every single one of us has looked at a photo on a screen or printed and been astonished by the explosion of colour that is jumping out at us. The deep blues, striking reds and beautiful greens and everything else in between have the power to transform an image into something spectacular. That’s not to say that is the only way your photos should look. In fact, a lot of great photographers have developed a more muted style in their photos. It comes down to personal preference. But if you do want those striking colours in your photos, here are 4 tips to help you achieve it.

You need good light

Photography purists might often criticise those who manipulate their images in editing software as not being “real photography”. Sure, if you are replacing elements in a photo like for example the sky, then these arguments certainly have merit. But the reality is that you need the right elements in a photo and post-processing should be used to enhance those features. For example, without some striking clouds and colour in the sky to start with you won’t get those amazing colours. So the basis of getting those amazingly colourful photos is to ensure that the conditions are right. Of course, you need colours to be there so that they can be enhanced. But you also need great light. Without it, your image will look flat and the colours will be muted. So always ensure that you are searching and utilising the best light that you can. It is the basis of a good photo.

Experiment with your white balance

I’m sure every one of you has been told at some point in your photography journey to “get your white balance correct”. For example, you may need to add more warmth to an image taken in bright sunshine. But what many people may not realise is that your white balance can also be used to enhance colours in your photos. Most cameras have multiple preset white balance modes. Things like “Cloudy, Shade, Incandescent” and so on appear on most people’s cameras but many don’t know why or when to use them. If you shoot in RAW then you can easily experiment with these settings to see the effect it has on your photos. For example, using a “Cloudy” or “Shade” setting gives the image more warmth. So if you are taking a photo in the late afternoon, then selecting these will make your oranges, yellows and red much more vibrant. Next time you are taking photos experiment with your white balance settings. You can always change them in post-processing as long as you shoot in RAW.

Use filters

The advancement of editing software has certainly given people the opportunity to forego using filters at the time of taking photos and simulate the effect in post-processing software such as Photoshop or Lightroom. Whilst there is nothing wrong with doing that, learning and using filters out in the field will not only make you a better photographer but it will also allow you to make changes and tweak your photos when taking them. So I would always encourage people to use filters. The most commonly used one for enhancing colours in your photos is the polarizing filter. Not only can these filters stop unwanted reflections, but they can also boost the colours in blues and greens. So for example, if you are taking photos of a waterfall, the greens of the foliage and the blues of the sky or water will become much more saturated.

Saturation and vibrancy

Once you have got your photos into an editing software, the easiest way to boost the colours is to use saturation and/or vibrancy function. Saturation enhances the colour intensity of all the colours in your photo. In some circumstances, this might not have the desired effect as it might mean certain colours are far too saturated and look unrealistic. So you can also selectively saturate and de-saturate colours. For example, if a certain colour is too saturated you can just reduce the saturation in that colour whilst the other colours are still keeping their saturation.

Vibrancy is slightly different in that it only changes the intensity of the dull colours in the image. So again if you find that there is already striking colours in your image the vibrancy adjustment might work better. You can, of course, use both in conjunction with each other. But just be aware of over saturating the image. Too much saturation and the image will look fake and too posterized. Like any sort of post-processing, subtlety is the key. Slowly tweak your images until you get the desired look.

If you want to have those vibrant and striking colours in your photos, the good news is that it isn’t difficult. If you capture photos in good light and use filters and post-processing to enhance them you should easily be able to add lots of colour into your photos. Like anything in photography, it will come down to your personal preference on how much vibrancy you want in your images. Using the tips above will give you the basis of being able to choose.

Train Yourself To Think Like This For Better Travel Photos

One of the questions that I often get asked by amateur photographers is how they can become better at seeing photographic opportunities. Unfortunately, there is no magic formula that can instantly help. To be able to see the opportunities, you need to train yourself and especially your mind to be able to do so. Over time and with practice you will become better at spotting these photography opportunities. For example, right now you may find that from 100 photos there are 5 that you really like. But in time, with practice and experience, you may find that you like 50 of your 100 shots taken. To help you get started, here are 5 “things” that you should look to train your mind to do for better travel photos.

Always be aware of the light

A great photo requires multiple elements to come together. One of these elements is light. Think of the light available as your paint. This is what brings to life the subject you are photographing. Whether it is a portrait of someone or a beautiful cityscape, without good light the photo isn’t going to impress much. Most people might already realise this. But are you subconsciously thinking about the light in a scene when you are walking around? You need to train your mind to instantly be able to assess the light in a scene and determine the best angle or position to shoot from to maximise the light available. If you can train yourself to be aware of this subconsciously, you will also begin to see opportunities the other way around. For example, rather than seeing a moment to photograph, you’ll see the scene with the great light and wait for the right subject.

Block out the noise

As a photographer, you are constantly bombarded with visual information in any given scene. This can be incredibly distracting and so often will mean that you won’t see the potential photo opportunity. You need to train yourself to be able to block out all of this noise to be able to just see that photographic opportunity. This won’t be easy but if you can do this you will begin to notice compositions that you may not have known existed. A good way to practice is to go to a busy place and try to capture isolated moments. Shots that make the viewer feel like your subject was the only thing happening. At first, this will be tough but over time you will begin to get better at blocking out everything that is irrelevant to just concentrate on the main story.

Take the photo in your head

This is often referred to as pre-visualization. It’s the art of being able to see what the photo will look like in your head before you have even taken the shot. It will happen so quickly in your mind that it feels subconscious. Sometimes it translates itself to simply knowing that “it will be a good shot”. But to start with you need to train your brain to be able to do this. The best way to do this is to train by going to a location and evaluating the scene. Then try to picture the photo that you would like to take. You can even make a rough sketch of it on a piece of paper. Then spend whatever time you have just trying to capture that one shot. It might mean waiting around for hours or even coming back. If you do this exercise enough times you will begin to get quicker at pre-visualizing. Eventually, you will instantly see this in your mind in any scene even if it’s a fleeting moment.

See the end result

This is a little different to pre-visualization in that it’s about being able to imagine where the photo you are taking will end up. Even if you are just taking photos for yourself as a hobby, it is still worth imagining this. Will it be in a magazine? If so, is it going to be in a portrait or horizontal format? Would it be to illustrate a story, or could it be the “wow” shot for the front cover or opening spread? Could it work as a print on a wall? By imagining where a photo will end up you can begin to compose it better. For example, if it is going to be a double-page spread you will be forced to place the point of interest on the left or right-hand side to avoid it falling in the centre (known as the gutter). By placing it on the right- or left-hand side you are naturally more likely to adhere to the rule of thirds, even if it is unintentional. So even if you hadn’t remembered to do so by thinking about the end result of the photo you would have improved your composition.

Know what story you are telling

So far, I have talked about visualizing the shot that you want to take. But it’s also important to know what story you are trying to tell the viewer. For example, a clean landscape shot with no people tells a completely different story to the same photo with someone hiking. So, it’s important that you know in your mind what story you want to tell when you are taking the photo. Because then you can ensure that your photo reflects just that story and the viewer isn’t distracted by other elements in the composition. As per all of the points above, it will take practice, so try this as an exercise. Before you take a photo, say to yourself what the story is. Then once you have taken the shot look at your photo to determine if it tells the story that you said.

The same image, but on the right the photographer has been removed and so the image tells a completely different story.

These traits will often happen with practice and experience. If you can master them, you will begin to see many more photographic opportunities around you.

5 Tips To Help Your Timing For Taking Travel Photos

How often have you looked at a fleeting moment, lifted your camera only to find that you have missed the shot? The first thing is that you shouldn’t beat yourself up about it as it can happen to anyone. But there are ways that you can ensure you nail the shot more often than not. So, here are 5 tips to help you get your timing right when taking photos.

Know what you are likely to encounter

Not even professional photographers will be able to change all of their settings quickly enough sometimes to capture a fleeting moment. The big difference is that they often already have settings as close to what they need already selected. No, it’s not a crystal ball. It is simply trying to predict what you are likely to photograph. For example, if you are walking along a road where there isn’t much light, you will need to raise your ISO to be able to have a fast-enough shutter speed to capture the action. You may also need to have a wider aperture. So, don’t wait for something to happen before you make the change, get into the habit of adjusting your settings as you move from one environment to another. At least this way you will have a chance of capturing the photos when they arise.

Greater depth of field

There will be times where you won’t have the option of having a greater depth of field by selecting a bigger f-stop number. For example, low light might mean you are forced to select a wide aperture. But if you have some room to manoeuvre, go for a greater depth of field. For example, if you select f/1.8, your focus plain is going to be fairly shallow. That means you are only going to have a very small amount of detail sharp. So, where you are focusing becomes incredibly vital. But if you select f/8, then if make an error in your focus, you may get away with it because of the greater depth of field.

Select the correct focus mode

One of the biggest challenges of getting shots of fleeting moments is focusing correctly. It is much easier to photograph something that is permanent like a building than a person moving. But if you have already selected the best focus mode for that scenario, you’ll have a better chance of capturing the photo. There are generally two main focus modes that you need to use. The first is the Automatic Focus (i.e. AI Focus on Canon cameras). This works by focusing on a point and holding that focus for as long as you hold down the back-focus button or the shutter button halfway. The other main focus mode is continuous focus. This is ideal for scenarios where your subject is moving, and you need the camera to continuously focus on the moving subject. So, for example, a car that is driving towards you. By anticipating what focus mode you need, you’ll have a better chance of capturing that fleeting moment.

Be pro-active rather than reactive

If you have more time to compose your shot and select the right settings, you are more likely to be able to capture it. Seems pretty obvious, right? The thing is that sometimes you can actually do this. It’s like setting a photography trap. Find the right composition and select your settings, and then wait for the right subject to come into the frame. This technique works well in things like street photography where for example you find a good background and can wait for the right person to walk across your shot. Because you already have everything ready in your camera you are more likely to get your timing right.

Shoot in high-speed burst mode

Trying to capture the perfect moment in a photo with one shot will require incredible skill but also luck. By shooting in burst mode you can increase your chances of capturing the perfect moment dramatically. For example, if you are photographing any scene that involves people, how can you be sure your subject has their eyes open? By shooting in burst mode you can select the best moment from the set of photos that you have.

Being able to perfect your timing, is a skill that you will develop over time. The more you shoot the more you will come to realise how to capture those fleeting moments with perfect timing. But as I said at the start, sometimes even the pros miss the shot when something happens too quickly. Live with the knowledge that there will be more opportunities. In the meantime, these tips should help you on your way to improving your timing of photos.

10 Golden Rules For Better Travel Photography

One of the most common questions I get asked is how do I take better travel photos? Whilst there isn’t just one rule that you can apply that will automatically get you amazing results, over the years I have learnt that these 10 simple rules will dramatically improve most people’s photos. But you should view these as a starting point and continuously learn, experiment and practice to improve your photography. So here are 10 Golden rules for better travel photography to help you get started.

Know what you are doing

If you want to capture great photos you have to be willing to put some time into learning the basics. This is the technical stuff that often people forego in favour of the automatic or program settings on the camera. No one is saying that you should never use automatic mode. But if you know what those settings are and how they work, it will give you more options and more creative control over the picture-taking process. You need to understand the exposure triangle which is ISO, shutter speed and aperture and how they affect and interact with each other.

Beyond photography theory, you should also learn how to use your photography equipment. For example, how do you mount your camera on your tripod correctly and safely? Or which lenses to use when and how do you change them quickly? If you have a flash, what is the best way to use it to avoid your scene looking flat? Once you know the technical and practical parts of photography you can actually concentrate on capturing better photos and worrying less about how to do it.

Learn how light transforms a scene

Light is one of the most important elements in any photo. Even the most amazing scene will look dull and uninteresting If you haven’t got great light to work with. Often what transforms an ordinary photo to an extraordinary one is the right light. You need to learn how light differs at different times of the day. Things like intensity, direction and even colour can all make a huge difference to a photo. It’s no secret that the best light is in the early morning and late afternoon. This is when the soft warm light can enhance shadows, textures and shapes. Always remind yourself that there is a best time to photograph anything. So be prepared to wait or even come back for that best light.

Don’t shoot in anything other than RAW files

If your camera has the function to shoot RAW files, then you shouldn’t use in any other file format. RAW files are not processed by the camera’s software which often compresses data and will make permanent adjustments which are embedded in the photo. A RAW file is essentially what the camera captures with nothing else added to it. Any adjustments such as white balance, exposure, contrast, saturation and even sharpness can be added by the photographer subsequently on a post-processing software. This allows for greater control on an image by image basis. Simply put if you want the very best file format to work with for your photos you should shoot in RAW.

Know how to use editing software

Often one of the excuses people use to justify not using editing software is that they don’t believe photos should be edited. The thing is that if you are shooting in RAW files your photos will have to be post-processed in some way to be able to use day to day. Even if you simply convert them to JPEGs you are still adding a layer of post-processing to the photo. RAW files are fantastic but they are just that, RAW files. So to bring them to life and actually give them the best possible look and feel you have to add some adjustments to the photo. That could be as little as simply adjusting contrast and brightness. Or vibrancy and saturation. At the very least you should ensure that your photos are straight, cropped well and the white balance is corrected. But don’t be afraid to use post-processing to enhance your photos. It’s not cheating.

Be the most informed tourist in town

Research and planning are vital if you want to capture the very best photos. You have to know where to be at the best time of the day. the more you plan and research any destination the better your chances will be of capturing fantastic photos. Always remember that a photographer will need more time at a location then your average tourist. So don’t try and cram in too much into your shot list. It’s always best to allow more time than to find yourself rushing around. For example, you might get to a location and find that the sun has gone in behind clouds. Or there might be someone or something in your way like a van parked in your composition. Give yourself enough time and it shouldn’t be an issue. The reality is that most times when you get to a location you will have to wait to capture the photo you want.

Practice as much as you can

Photography is like any other skill or hobby. The more you practice the better you will become. So once you have the technical stuff sorted out and understand some of the theory, get out there and actually shoot as much as you can. Nothing will make you learn and practice what you have learnt better than actually doing it. You will make mistakes along the way or you might experience scenarios that you’re not prepared for, but this is part of the learning process. You will learn from your mistakes and you will become a better photographer because of it.

Commit to the image

Often one of the main reasons that professional travel photographers capture the fantastic images that you see in magazines and newspapers is because they have waited for the perfect moment. In other words, they committed to capturing that image as long as it took. Once you have got to a location and you have your settings and your composition sorted, set yourself the task to not leave until you have captured the very best photo. If you can’t capture the photo that you want then be prepared to come back. Of course, there will be times when this won’t be possible because of limited time. But if you have the option of giving up or persisting in order to capture a photo, there shouldn’t really be a decision for you to make.

Walk as much as you can

One of the best ways to capture great photos is to experience a destination in the same way as locals do. For example, if you get a taxi everywhere you go then you’re going to miss so much of a city. Instead of getting taxis or private transfers, if it’s safe to do so walk around. If you have to get transport from one place to another try to get buses or metros. This will give you much more of an insight into a destination and can present you with far more photo opportunities.

Be your own critic

It is often difficult to critique your own work. You tend to have a sense of nostalgia. You might select photos that may not be as good as you think simply because of the effort it took to capture them. But if you really want to have great photos in your portfolio, you have to be willing to put all feelings aside and judge your work on its merits, not sentiment. One good trick is to scroll through your photos and the ones that make you pause for a moment or two are possibly worth keeping in your portfolio. It’s always great to also get a second opinion. So ask someone else what they think. Do they agree with your choices? Treat this period as assessment and reflection on your work. Could you have done anything better? Did you make mistakes? Often you will learn much more from your mistakes then you will learn from your successes.

Find your own style

Over time most photographers will develop their own style. By that, I mean that if you looked at the collection of their work it all looks like it’s come from the same person. The subject may be different the destinations will vary and some photos will look different. But as an overall set of work, you can tell they belong together. There is no right or wrong here it’s just what works for you and the sort of composition, lighting, colours and styles that catch your eye. So try to develop your own style over time. Once in a while put out some of your work in front of you. Does it all look like it’s comes from the same person? You can, of course, look at other people’s work and be inspired. The key is not to copy but rather be inspired to find your own style.

Travel photography is a wonderful profession or hobby to have. To capture great photos you have to be willing to put the time and effort in. By using the tips above you will be on your way to capturing great travel photos.

6 Elements That You Need To Nail For Great Photos

Back in my early days of photography, I was told by an experienced photographer that photography is the most “complicated but uncomplicated skill”. You can’t get much more of a contradiction than that. At the time I wasn’t too sure what this meant and even after being told the meaning I didn’t fully grasp the concept. It wasn’t until years later that I began to understand what he meant. In theory, capturing a great photo is easy. All you need is an interesting subject framed well with good lighting and the correct settings. But the reality is that it’s a little more complicated than that. In this article, we will delve into the anatomy of a great photo. So here are 6 elements that if you can get right will give you a great photo.

A great photo needs a great subject

The first part of any great photo is something interesting to actually photograph. Your subject or your story is an integral part of any great photo. You might be able to capture a great photo if it isn’t technically perfect. But you would rarely be able to capture a great photo without an interesting subject. This is the part of the photo that will capture the viewer’s attention. So you need to train yourself to be able to see those photographic opportunities. Sometimes they will be fleeting moments that will disappear quickly. At other times you may have to set up a scenario like in a studio. The more you get out there to take photos the better and more efficient you will become at seeing interesting subjects.

Good lighting is key

Usually, the biggest feedback that I give to amateur photographers when asked to view their images, is on lighting. If they simply took the same photo at a different time of the day they would see a vast improvement. For example, even the most stunning landscape scene will look dull and uninteresting in poor light. If you could improve just this area of your skillset, you will see a huge improvement in your work. This also extends to indoor lighting as well. A poorly lit subject in a studio will not have the same impact as one that is lit well. To utilise light effectivly you should dedicate some time learning about it. For example, natural light will look completely different throughout the day. You need to understand how to use this and the direction of the light to your advantage. Or in a studio, you need to learn how to use a flash or things like reflectors to manipulate the photo.

Consider the composition carefully

How you compose or frame your photo can have a huge impact on your final result. For example, leave too much dead space and your subject might be lost. Alternatively, don’t leave enough space and the image will look too busy and unbalanced. The key to capturing a great photo is to take your time when possible to compose your image. Of course, sometimes you will not have the time. But in a studio or for example for landscape photography, take a few minutes to work out the best composition before shooting. Once you have captured the shot ask yourself if it is the best it can be. If not try again with a different composition. Don’t forget that you can also crop your images in post-production. So for example, if there are distracting elements around your main subject, crop them out.

Your settings

If you have a great subject that is beautifully lit and composed, the last thing you want is to find that your photo isn’t sharp. So there is no way around it, you will have to at some point in your photography journey learn how to use the correct settings in different scenarios. This is arguably the hardest part for amateur photographers to master. Whatever your genre of photography is, you need to know what shutter speed, aperture, ISO, white balance and so on to use at what times. The more you know your settings and your camera inside out, the more control you will have over the final outcome. For example, using slower shutter speeds to capture some motion blur. Or a shallower depth of field to blur the background when taking a portrait. These can help give you more creativity for your photos. Unfortunately, there is no shortcut. You need to spend time learning and practising until it becomes second nature to you.

Can you capture something unique?

How many times have you seen a photo of a famous landmark and just moved on without a second look? With photography so mainstream these days, that is one of the biggest challenges photographers face. to really ‘wow’ people with photos you need to show them something unique and different from what they have already seen. This could be everything from lighting or composition to actually showing a different perspective of something people have seen before. So don’t be afraid to take risks with your photos, because that is the only way that you may end up with that unique shot that is different from what already exists.

How to use editing software

There is no denying it. Every photo will benefit from some level of editing in post-production. Sometimes these will be as simple as just straightening and adjusting the white balance. At other times the editing might need to be more extensive with boosting of contrasts, brightness or even saturation. This is the final step in ensuring your photos are the best that they can be. If your camera allows it, always shoot in RAW format as it will give you the most options when it comes to editing not to mention photo quality. But whatever format you do shoot in, make sure you spend the time that is required to make your photos the best that they can be.

So there you have it. Easy, right? As mentioned at the start a great photo, in theory, is easy to achieve but in reality, it takes time and practice. The more you take photos the better you will become. Until eventually all of these points above become second nature to you. So use the tips above and you’ll be capturing amazing photos in no time.