How to Take Much Better Travel Photos

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By brianlewis
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Take Much Better Travel Photos

Have you ever come back from vacation and been disappointed when you go thru your snapshots and they fail to jump out at you, the way you remember the subjects did when you took them? Anyone can take mediocre snapshots when on vacation, but with a little thought and a few tricks, the average person armed with even the most modest of today's digital and film cameras, can create images that will rival the best postcard images you have ever seen. Read on to find out how...

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

A camera - film or digital
An upcoming long weekend where you will be traveling, or a vacation that involves travel
The desire to considerably improve your travel snapshots

Step 1

The Blacksmith, Gretna Green, Scotland

Frame Domination - Get up close and personal. The effect of the photo being completely dominated by one object or person has a big impact on the viewer.
Step 2

Edinburgh Castle, Scotland

Bright and Intense Colors - Nothing like a stunning color dominating a photo to get the viewer's attention.
Step 3

Zebra, Cork, Ireland

Lights, Camera...Action! - Regardless if it is people or animals, catch them in the act of doing something, even if it is not exciting action, it conveys more meaning about the subject to the viewer.
Step 4

Brigadoon, Scotland

Vistas Need a Focal Point - If you are taking a wider photo of a really pretty place, try and find a natural focal point for the center of your photo, and something that will guide the viewer's eye to that point.
Step 5

Swans, Kinsale, Ireland

Natural Patterns - Be on the lookout for repetition in the scene you are going to photograph. Any repetition can reinforce what the viewer sees. It can be repetition of subject matter, or repetition of movement, or both.
Step 6

Thoor Ballylee, Ireland

Sunlight and Shadows - Be on the lookout for how the sun plays wherever you are. It can produce some effects that are just naturals waiting to be photographed. Sometimes the sun and luck combine in the most unlikely places. All you have to do is keep you eyes open and be aware to catch some of these great shots.
Step 7

Church, Cork, Ireland

Cut out Distractions - Don't clutter up your photo. If you are taking a photo of a church for instance, make the church the central theme, to the exclusion of all else. You might even have to come in tighter and just get the most important part of the architecture, because you can't step back far enough to fit the entire building with your widest angle lens. Take advantage of dramatic angles and a little bit of converging verticals. Even if the shot is otherwise very plain, this kind of focus on the subject helps the photo go a long way further than the dull and cluttered alternative.
Step 8

Dunguaire Castle, Kinvarra Bay, Western Ireland

Reflections in Water - Anytime you are around water, you can greatly enhance a photo with a good reflection in the water. Try and find a building that is imposing and then make sure its reflection is included in the photo as well.
Step 9

There you have it. I hope these tricks and tips will be enough to start you looking at your travel photography a lot differently. Good luck. Thanks for taking the time to read my article. If you liked the article, please scroll back up to the beginning and click on one of the stars to indicate how helpful the article was. You can also send the article to a friend with the built in tools near the start of the article.

How to Take Much Better Travel Photos

Things You'll Need:

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