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Posts Tagged ‘Vacation’

Your Vacation Photography Packing List

26 Jun

The post Your Vacation Photography Packing List appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Bond.

Andrew Neel

It’s summer, and for most people, that means a vacation somewhere nice and sunny! Now, of course, it’s nice to bring those holiday memories back home. That is why people bring nice cameras with them, and perhaps purchase new lenses to get the very best images. You’ve chosen an amazing exotic location, so this is a chance to photograph something that’s not from your regular day. The big question pre-trip is what to pack! Having read this article for your vacation photography, you’ll make the trip knowing you have the right equipment for your needs.

Going alone, or with family?

The group photo, how will you take yours?

Depending on your age and life circumstances, you will either be going alone or with a group. The equipment you bring for either of those situations will be different. If you’re with family, you won’t be able to spend the whole day out photographing somewhere, so the amount of equipment you’ll need is going to be less. This article is going to assume you are traveling with the family since if you’re traveling alone, that’s a different packing list more aimed at a travel photographer. That’s not to say you won’t get great travel photos on your trip. With the right equipment, you’ll hold your own against someone who perhaps has more time.

Landscape and portrait photos?

Landscapes and portraits are the two main areas that every photographer will focus on during a trip. There should be a balance of both of these photos. Then you’ll get a better sense of place from your album.

To get the best results, you’re going to need the following equipment.

This is a broad list which will be referenced when you think about your final packing list. The camera body and cleaning equipment are a given, so here you’ll see the other equipment needed.

  • Landscape – The items you’ll need here will vary depending on the landscape you’re going to photograph. It’s always a good idea to bring a tripod, remote shutter release (Cable or Infra-red), ND1000 filter, CPL filter, UV filter and Graduated ND filters. To capture the scale of the scene you’ll also want a good wide angle lens. The majority of these will be 16mm or 17mm wide on a full frame camera with an aperture of f2.8 or f4. Do you need a longer focal length? Some landscape photos require compression of the background to work, with main subjects too far into the distance. That means that, yes, you do need a longer focal length. A superzoom for travel photography is, therefore, a good option here.
  • Portrait – This isn’t photos of your fellow vacationers, we’ll come to that in a minute. This is about capturing the local life in the place you’re staying. The setup here is simpler. You’ll need a good prime lens. The 50mm f1.8 is a good choice here. Should you want the most striking photos, bringing strobes, radio triggers, and light modifiers will help. However, it’s unlikely you’ll need that for most vacation portraits.

Everyone enjoys seeing a good sunset on their trip abroad.

Vacation photography of friends and family

You’re going to spend the vast majority of your time on this trip with your family. They know you’re the photographer in the family, so the expectations are that you’ll take the family photos. The equipment you’ll need here is dependent on the photography type.

  • Group photo: If you wish to be in the photo yourself you have two options; find someone to take the photo for you, or use a tripod and self-timer. You’ll want a lens with a wide angle for this as well.
  • Posed photos: A good portrait lens like the 50mm will do the job here. They are nice for bokeh background and will work well into the evening when the light begins to fade.
  • Fun moments: The candid captures are best caught using a 50mm lens, or a telephoto lens so you can capture from a distance.
  • Eating together: Eating picnics on the beach, or evening meals at the restaurant? A 50mm lens or your wide angle will work here. Don’t forget to take some photos of the food as well! In the lower evening light, you’ll likely need the 50mm lens. Alternatively, pack a strobe, but be wary of disturbing other diners with your flash. If the situation allows using off-camera flash for food photography, you will really get better results.
  • Famous locations: One of the reasons you’ll have traveled to a place is the famous attractions. Whether it’s the Eiffel Tower, the Leaning Tower of Pisa or the Taj Mahal – you’ll want the photo. In terms of equipment, you’ll most likely want a wide-angle lens. That’s so you can position both your family and the famous landmark in the same photo. Look to get creative with your photos as well, go beyond the standard group of people standing in front of a famous building.

Candid photos of those you are on holiday with are always nice.

Special events

If you’re lucky, or better still you’ve planned it, a special event may coincide with your trip. This is a great chance to make your vacation photos stand out even more. This is likely to be something like a street carnival like Carnevale in Venice, or a street performance like the Chinese opera. To best capture these type of events during the day, you’ll want a super zoom lens, one that covers the focal range of 28-300mm. If the festival is at night, different lenses will be needed. At night look to bring a fast prime lens, so your 50mm f1.8 will work well.

Getting great portrait photos from your trips abroad will balance out your set of images.

Non-photography equipment

Much of the following are sensible items that you should travel with, whether you’re photographing or not. You may not even have to pack them. In some cases, you’ll be wearing these items.

So bring these items for your vacation photography. The list here could be very long, so items such as clothing, passports, and toiletries, I will assume are packed.

  • Footwear: A special mention for the correct footwear here. In hot countries, a strong pair of hiking sandals are a good investment for walking around towns. Anything more outdoors than this, and consider bringing hiking shoes.
  • Water: Getting good photos will mean a fair bit of walking (if you have the time away from your family that is). You can always schedule your time for the morning and meet your family later. If the country’s hot, bring water bottles and water bladders to keep hydrated while you photograph.
  • Smartphone: A smartphone is useful for many photographic reasons. It can act as a second camera, and there are numerous apps to download for your photography.
  • Weather protection Being prepared for the weather for your vacation photography is a good idea. It could rain, so bring a poncho and weather protection for your camera. You don’t want to burn, so pack the sunscreen, a hat and some sunglasses. If you happen to be going somewhere cold, you’ll need equipment for that as well. Specialized clothes for the cold include a hat, hot packs, and gloves.
  • Money belt: Keep your valuables somewhere it’s difficult for them to be stolen, so using a money belt is wise. Split up your money as well, so keep some on your belt, some in your pocket, and some in your camera bag.

At night you’ll need a fast prime lens, something like a 50mm f1.8.

The final packing list for vacation photography

As you’ll have noted, there is lots of potential for great photography on your vacation. You can’t pack absolutely everything, so here is a suggested packing list to make the best of your vacation photography.

  • Camera bag – This needs to fit all your camera gear into your hand luggage, assuming you’re going to fly somewhere. Never put expensive camera equipment into your checked luggage! The Manfrotto 3N1-35PL is a great bag for this. It’s a large bag so you can probably fit non-camera equipment in this as well.
  • Camera body – An entry-level Canon or Nikon dSLR is ideal. If you want to splurge and carry the extra weight look to a full frame dSLR or the Sony Alpha 3.
  • Lens – Take two lenses with you. A wide angle and a super zoom lens if you’re more into landscapes. Or a 50mm prime and a super zoom lens if you’re more into portraits and street photography. The super zoom should go from 28-300mm.
  • Tripod – This doesn’t need to be too heavy, but it needs to be sturdy. The Sirui T120-5X is all the tripod you’re going to need. Don’t fancy a full tripod? The gorilla pod is a good alternative.
  • Strobe – This is optional, but if you do bring one, look to pack a radio trigger as well so you can use the flash off camera.
  • Filters – Each lens should have a UV filter attached. Look to have a CPL filter, and ND1000 filter, and perhaps an ND4 filter to use with the 50mm prime lens in the midday sun.
  • Storage – Bring a laptop or tablet with you, depending on your way of storing images. A blue-tooth external hard drive is also a great idea.
  • Memory card – Enough for one day worth of photography. If you choose not to bring extra storage devices then enough memory cards for your entire trip.
  • Batteries – Two camera batteries and a charger.
  • Camera cleaning – A blower and cloth to clean your lens and camera when needed.

Try and get some photos of your family eating together.

Conclusion

You’re now all set to nail your vacation photography, with a camera bag that will suit your needs.

Do you agree with everything on this list? Is there anything you’d remove, or anything you’d add to this list?

What camera equipment do you take with you on a trip with your family?

At digital photography school, we’d love to see examples of the photos you’ve taken on your family trips. So please share any thoughts or photos in the comments section of this article.

your vacation photography packing list

The post Your Vacation Photography Packing List appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Simon Bond.


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Rugged compact, GoPro, or smartphone: Which should I take on vacation?

18 Jun
My family hikes, we camp, we fish, we snowboard. As a photographer, that leaves me with some choices to make if I want to take pictures or video of our adventures.

Vacations, particularly outdoor, active ones, can provide some of the most vivid family memories, but can also be some of the most difficult to photograph. Several different types of device try to fit the bill but which is best for you?

Your mirrorless camera may be pretty compact to travel with, but can it film your kid’s first trip down a waterslide? Your DSLR may claim to be weather sealed but are you willing to risk pulling your $ 3000 camera+lens combo out to take a ski chairlift photo? Even if you are willing to trust it, are you willing to carry that kit with you all day?

In 2018, there’s no reason to let that keep you from being able to record those moments in your life. There are more options than ever for water, shockproof / freezeproof cameras that can survive life’s more demanding adventures. I’m talking about cameras that can survive a rainstorm or a day at the beach or sledding hill. Something compact and easy to travel with that you don’t have to worry about (and won’t cost thousands to replace) if clumsy Uncle Fred drops it into the hotel pool. Let’s look at the options:

Action cameras

Small, tough and able to capture wide-angle video, Action cameras are especially good for capturing the spirit and experience of action activities.

Since the introduction of the GoPro HD in 2009, action cameras have become almost a required accessory for outdoor adventures. Once the sole domain of those who jumped off of cliffs or surfed on 20 foot waves, these days GoPros are used for everything from ‘Hot Wheels’ tracks in the backyard to Formula 1 races across the globe. From a child’s first wobbly bike ride to mountain bikers who throw themselves down cliffs. If you are on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, It’s highly likely that you see video from these cameras virtually every time you look at your feed.

While not expressly listed as shockproof or freezeproof, action cameras have a pretty proven track record.

It’s easy to see why action cameras have become so popular. They are tough, small, offer very good video quality, and can be mounted literally anywhere. Their super wide lenses give them a unique field-of-view that both suits, and has become de-rigueur for, recording ‘cool’ adventures. 4K video, image stabilization, and even Raw image shooting options are common. The newer camera designs from GoPro (Hero6, Hero5, Session) offer 10 meters / 33 feet of waterproofing while still offering clear audio out of the water and an optional external case extends this depth to 60m / 196ft.

These cameras are far better when mounted on a helmet, handlebar, or selfie stick than they are used handheld.

While not expressly listed as shockproof or freezeproof, action cameras have a pretty proven track record. Googling ‘GoPro survives fall’ or ‘GoPro Everest’ should give more than enough examples to convince most skeptics. Most offer Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity and many have apps that allow for remote control via smartphone. Finally, it is hard to deny just how much kids love these cameras. The days of youngsters being thrilled by the apparent magic of a smartphone or a digital camera are probably over. But for whatever reason, when you hand a kid a GoPro, they just go nuts with it. You’ll get some of the most fascinating and genuine footage of children you’ve ever seen. It is both unique and heartwarming.

There’s something unobtrusive about an action camera that can help candidly capture natural behavior.

However, it can be frustrating trying to use an action camera for still images. JPEG quality, color science, and even operational speed can feel like they lag behind dedicated still camera makers. Manual controls are near non-existent, and those that do exist are frequently hidden behind screen/button taps and menus. With no zoom or interchangeable lenses, your field-of-view is limited to super-wide or cropped ‘medium’ and ‘narrow’ options, limiting both flexibility and quality. And as cool as that super-wide view is, you probably won’t be surprised to hear how easy it is to get your fingers in the way if you are shooting handheld.

These cameras are far better when mounted on a helmet, handlebar, or selfie stick than they are used handheld, particularly given their size and lack of physical controls.

Waterproof P&S cameras

There are times when those ‘freezeproof’ ratings start to seem pertinent.

The waterproof point-and-shoot camera has been around for many years, as 1994’s film-based Canon Sure Shot A1 can attest. But as with most P&S cameras, the digital revolution brought a whole new level of usefulness to these tough little cameras. However, unlike most P&S cameras, the waterproof segment continues to thrive and evolve even in the age of smartphones.

Many of these cameras are not only waterproof, but are rated to be freeze, dust and shockproof. For example, typical specs might be waterproof to 15-30 meters / 50-100 ft, dustproof, crushproof to 100 kgf / 220 lbf, shockproof from 2.1 meters / 7 ft, and freezeproof to -10° / +14° F. While lenses in these cameras are the typical variable aperture midrange zoom that most P&S cameras have, the waterproof versions tend to be a bit faster on the wide end, apertures of F2 or F2.8 aren’t uncommon. And unlike action cameras or smartphones with their fixed lenses and digital zooms, these are true optical zooms that typically offer a 4x-6x range. RAW shooting, 4K video, optical image stabilization and Wi-Fi/bluetooth connectivity are showing up on recent models.

Even if you’re not shooting underwater, there are times it’s nice to know your camera will withstand a drop.

But perhaps most importantly, these cameras blow the other options out of the water in terms of ergonomics. While their physical controls, shutter buttons, and handgrips won’t win any awards when compared to DSLR or mirrorless cameras, they are miles ahead of a GoPro or iPhone. You can successfully use these cameras with gloves on, with wet hands, or in a location where a fumble would mean losing the camera. Along similar lines, these cameras all have one small feature that is difficult or impossible to find on action cameras or smartphones: a strap loop. While a full neckstrap may be a bit much for a camera like this, a small wrist strap is a worthwhile and compact safety measure. Buoyancy floats can even be attached if you do find yourself out on the water.

These cameras blow the other options out of the water in terms of ergonomics

While these cameras often have more physical controls than other options on this list, they still don’t tend to have very many of them compared to more serious cameras. Camera and shooting settings are still commonly accessed via pressing buttons to scroll through menus. On the other hand, this may not matter because there just aren’t that many manual control options on most point-and-shoot cameras, waterproof or otherwise. Shooting and ‘art’ modes of limited usefulness are far more likely than shutter or aperture priority options.

Autofocus is improved from the cheap P&S your parents might have had at one point, but it still is going to lag behind any DSLR or mirrorless you are used to. They are also absolutely an additional device to carry with you. Unlike a tiny GoPro or the smartphone that you probably ready have with you, a waterproof compact can feel bulky/heavy enough that you know you are having to carry it around.

Smartphones

But a dedicated camera isn’t necessarily your only option. What if there was a surprisingly powerful camera that you probably already owned and it was almost always in your pocket or purse? What if this camera also had powerful photo and video editing capabilities and could instantly upload the finished product to the internet and social media? As you’ve probably already guessed, this camera already exists and you probably already own one, a smartphone.

It is becoming more and more common for higher end smartphones to have some level of Ingress Protection rating

It is becoming more and more common for higher end smartphones to have at least some level of IP (Ingress Protection) rating. Typically, they are dustproof and water resistant for up to 30 minutes in water around 1 m / 3.3 ft deep. This means you shouldn’t go snorkeling with any of them, but they will survive dunkings and splashes easily, even without one of the great many ‘protector’ cases that are available for the flagship handsets. High-resolution 4k video, dual (or even triple) lens options, optical image stabilization, and front/back cameras are all regularly seen on expensive and budget smartphones alike.

Default camera apps are decent, but the real power is using some of the 3rd party apps that give you additional shooting modes, full manual control and the ability to shoot in Raw. Not only can you capture images, but editing programs give you the ability to crop, sharpen, adjust and enhance your photos/video right on your phone. Cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity allow instant uploading to social media or text / email to friends and family.

With an IP-rated smartphone, the selfies don’t have to stop when the conditions get more challenging.

Perhaps most importantly, you are almost assuredly going to have a smartphone with you anyway. Whether for communication, navigation, entertainment, and even emergencies, you’ll want your smartphone for all of them while traveling. There is a reason that these days, hardcore outdoor folks often call a mobile phone the ‘eleventh essential’ on the classic ‘ten essentials’ survival item list.

The convenience factor of using a smartphone as your vacation/adventure camera is high, but the drawbacks may be even higher. There is simply no getting around the fact that the ergonomics of these devices as cameras are simply awful. They are thin, slippery, and without any sort of handgrip or strap options. A shattered screen from a two foot drop on the pool deck or a tumble down a thousand foot cliff is just one small stumble away. Almost everyone you know has dropped their phone with dry hands, so how much worse is that likely to be with wet hands or gloves? And, as most of us know, using a touchscreen with gloves or wet hands can be impossible, which just exacerbates the ergonomics issue.

A lack of zoom may be a drawback but chances are you’ll have a smartphone with you at key moments.

Battery life is frequently a problem with phones, and constantly filming and photographing will only make this worse, which may leave you without communication or data capabilities at a crucial moment. Most important of all is the fact that if something happens to your phone, you are likely losing a lot more personal data than just a few images. Dropping and breaking your GoPro is a good way to have a bad day, but dropping and breaking your iPhone X could leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere if you were relying on its GPS to get you home. Not to mention the fact that you’d be out over $ 1000: that’s going to hurt no matter who you are.

If you are going the smartphone route, it might be worth looking into some of the extreme protection cases form companies such as LifeProof or OtterBox.

Conclusion

So, which to choose? That depends on what sort of vacation/adventure you see yourself taking.

If you are looking for still image capability, a waterproof point and shoot camera will probably prove the most versatile. With their optical zooms and physical controls, they easily best the other options for still images. 4k video and image stabilization means that they’re not slouches in the video department as well. Equally at home capturing everything from a flower in a tropical rainstorm to rock climbing in a national park, they really are a jack of all trades. I take mine anytime I want to shoot still images, might want the option for video, and require protection from water/drops/freezing/etc.

Rugged, waterproof cameras aren’t only useful for underwater shooting.

More action-orientated adventures are probably better suited to the video and perspective that action cams offer. Will you be skiing, sailing, paragliding, mountain biking or anything like that? For me, I’m mostly likely to pull out the GoPro when I’m snowboarding. A video with that wide field-of-view just does the best job of capturing that memory for me. Additionally, any trip that includes children is a strong point for these cameras as well. As you can see from the waterslide video above, even a day poolside with a GoPro can capture some pretty fun kid moments.

Finally, let’s face it, you’ll likely have your cell phone in your pocket no matter where you go. In 2018, most of us are so addicted to the connectivity that these devices offer, we’re unlikely to leave them home. But can they be a vacation camera for you? If you are going to be somewhere with good cell coverage and with a low level of risk, then yes. Seeing the Smithsonian, visiting the beach, taking a train across Europe or dropping into an oyster shack for lunch? The still and video options of today’s smartphones will serve you well. Pick up a model with a decent IP rating and you can even enjoy some protection from splashes and sand. Just make sure you don’t drop it and leave yourself stranded somewhere!

The Olympus Tough TG-5 is one of the few rugged cameras that lets you shoot Raw, which is useful for making the most of those images shot in difficult conditions.

But if I was only going to carry one on a vacation or adventure, I would still choose the waterproof P&S option (probably the Olympus Tough TG-5 in my case). It is the best of the bunch as far ease/quality of still photos, has the ability to shoot Raw, does a great job with video, offers a few physical controls, has a usable and reasonably fast zoom lens, is freeze/drop/waterproof, includes Wi-Fi connectivity, and can be found for under $ 400.

I’ve gone fishing, snowboarding, snorkeling, camping, traveling, and splashing at the local pool with mine. It’s survived, kids, grandfathers, drops, kicks, falls, bouncing across river rocks, careening down waterslides and generally being ridden hard and put away (literally) wet. It’s yet to let me down.

The Olympus Tough TG-5 is the camera we recommend as best camera in our Waterproof Camera buying guide.

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

14 Jun

In this article, I’ll show you how to photograph your family vacation starting with simple gear, creative photography tips, and the most important part – managing personalities and emotions.

“I tend to think of the act of photographing, generally speaking, as an adventure. My favorite thing is to go where I’ve never been.” – Diane Arbus

A grumpy moment on a family vacation. - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Not every photo has to have a great big smile in it. My little girl was pretty grumpy at this moment. But I found something humorous about her expression as well as something artistic about the colors and the distance between her and her shoes.

I was 9 years old on a family vacation when I first fell in love with photography. My parents let me snap some photos with their camera. From that moment on, all I could think about was photography!

In spite of how much I loved photography, I grew up taking terrible photos of our family trips, mainly because I didn’t know how to take good photos. But thanks to places like Digital Photography School, I’ve finally learned to take good photos of family adventures with my kids.

#1 – Itinerary and Gear

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin

Your family vacation has a destination; you’re not wandering aimlessly. Your trip has a goal; perhaps adventure or relaxation. So too, should you also have a goal for your photos.

Why is a goal so important? Many families come home from a trip discouraged that they don’t have better photos of their journey. It’s easy to be distracted, lazy, or burnt out and just forget to take photos. But having a goal will keep you on track.

First step of the road trip is to wash the windshield! - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

When my family took our first long road trip together I was determined to document the entire journey. This would also be my first big photography project.

Anticipation is one of the best parts of a trip. During the weeks of pre-trip excitement, consider what excites you most about your destination. Jot down some notes about things you’d like to photograph. Keep those notes in your camera bag and check them off as you travel.

Write the list when you feel most inspired and then it will guide you in the midst of vacation chaos when you are feeling rushed and less inspired.

Pack Lightly

Try to bring along as little photography gear as possible. Your kids will be asking you to hold their coats and hats, you’ll be carrying souvenirs, the last thing you want on top of that is a mountain of gear in an extra large camera bag.

Just a camera and rubber boots. - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

This was my main gear for a trip to the Canadian East Coast; a camera and rubber boots! I also had a tripod but almost never used it. It was a pain to carry around and set up. I’d rather be free to move and have fun with the kids than being loaded down with camera gear I won’t even use.

Here is a list of my favorite gear for traveling light on day trips and longer vacations.

  • Wide-angle lens
  • Telephoto lens
  • Underwater camera housing
  • Spare batteries
  • No tripod

The wide angle lens is perfect for landscapes, the telephoto lens for those far-off sights, and the underwater camera housing is perfect for beaches and oceans.

Remember, traveling light allows you to be free in the moment, instead of wrestling with gear. Some photographers constrain themselves to only one camera body with 1-2 lenses. This forces them to think more creatively about the scenes and moments in front of them rather than fussing over gear decisions.

Kids on a rock in the ocean. - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

This photo was taken with my underwater camera housing. The ocean was so cold I was numb from the waist down!

#2 – Creative Ideas

“For me, the camera is a sketchbook, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson

There is a lot that can be photographed on your family vacation. Always keep your camera handy rather than having it packed away in a hard to reach spot. There will be so many little moments to capture and you’ll get pretty discouraged if you miss them because your camera is packed away.

These 5 creative tips will guide you as you photograph your family vacation.

1. Photograph from inside the vehicle or plane

Mugs of hot chocolate on the dashboard. - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

My wife and I journeyed to the south-west for one last trip before becoming parents. The desert was hot but the mountains were cold! We brought a tiny stove with us to make hot chocolate along the way.

Depending on the nature of your trip, you may spend a lot of time inside a vehicle. Don’t waste the chance for some unique photos.

A view from inside the vehicle adds a different perspective to your photos. If every photo is shot from the same perspective or angle they will be boring. You want your friends and family to be excited as they flip through your photo book.

Mountain road view from inside the car. - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Driving mountain roads is my favorite part of every trip. I’m always torn between being the driver or being the passenger and taking photos.

View of a storm on the plains from inside the car. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Storms can be a beautiful part of the journey. Especially when you’re nice and snug inside the car!

A view of houses from a plane. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

We had a friend who was training to be a pilot and took us to breakfast on a plane!

One dark cloud hangs over the road ahead. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Driving toward the Midwest United States, one black cloud hung over an otherwise cheerful sky. Maybe it was warning us that the next time we took a trip like this there would be two screaming toddlers in the back seat!

2. Locations and Landscapes

You’ll likely visit many beautiful landscapes during the day. But how would that same landscape look during beautiful evening light? Revisit some locations to take photos at different times of the day.

Monument Valley in Harsh Light - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

This is Monument Valley during the harsh light of midday.

This is Monument Valley during the beautiful evening light.

Hall’s Harbour in the evening light. - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

This is Hall’s Harbour in the evening light.

Hall’s Harbour in the harsh light of the day. - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

This is Hall’s Harbour in the harsh light of the day.

Many of us take pictures of family members simply standing beside landmarks or landscapes. But there has got to be a more creative way of documenting the places and things you see.

Try photographing candid or natural moments while working landmarks and landscapes into the background.

Family photo at Peggy's Cove - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Here we are as a family. Do you know where this is? It could be any body of water in the world. I’m glad we have this photo, but I had to get more creative with my backgrounds.

Colorful East Coast homes. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

I loved the charm of these colorful East Coast homes, but I didn’t want photos of random houses. So I made these homes part of the background instead of being the focal point of the photo. The bigger story is about my kids having a blast throwing rocks into the bay and the homes are part of the beautiful scenery.

Photographing Niagara Falls - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

I have many photos of my kids looking at the camera on vacation. But I wanted something more creative. How about a silhouette with interesting framing?

Here is a simple question that will help you take better photos of the places you visit. Ask yourself, what is the essence of that place? Why do you love it so much?

Skipping stones at Hall's Harbour - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

I had many beautiful (and not so beautiful) photos of Hall’s Harbour. I wasn’t satisfied with any of them and I wasn’t sure why. One evening I saw this couple come walking along and start skipping stones. That was it! That was the essence of this place; peace, solitude, skipping stones. This is a far more personal photograph to me.

Lighthouse at Summerside PEI - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

In Summerside, Prince Edward Island, the vastness of the ocean overwhelmed me. That was the essence of the place to me. No matter where you go on PEI, you are surrounded by the ocean. I composed this photo to portray that vastness. A tiny lone lighthouse in the distance.

When you’re among the massive rock formations in Utah, you feel very small and vulnerable.

Black and white photo of Niagara Falls - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Niagara Falls is one of the most nostalgic places on earth for me. It’s where I first came to love photography as a child. The viewfinder is an icon for travelers, and Niagara Falls is one of the most recognizable sights in the world. The slight misfocus, the grain, the black and white, all work toward capturing the essence of Niagara Falls for me; memories.

This is Monument Valley during the beautiful evening light.

Visit locations at different times of the day, think creatively rather than making your family stand beside things, and consider the essence of the place you’re in.

3. Moments

You’ll be busy photographing the obvious landscapes and big moments of your trip. But you will experience many little unexpected moments in those places. Photograph these odd moments too. You’ll find them to be very meaningful moments and love talking about them when you look back at your photos over the years.

Kids riding an escalator - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

My kids loved their first trip to Niagara Falls and I loved sharing that place with them. It was also their first time using an escalator (a moving set of stairs). They rode it over and over. I love this low angle perspective and how the main lines converge in the center of the photo.

A toddler making a mess of sunscreen. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

My two-year-old daughter was being so quiet in the backseat. But you know when a toddler is being quiet they might be up to no good! She had discovered the tube of sunscreen and applied it liberally! Needless to say, she did not get a sunburn that day. If this had happened earlier in the trip I would have freaked out. But by this point, I had learned to relax no matter what happened.

4. Food

Often you will experience new foods on your journey. Whether you like the food or not, photograph some of it. Viewing the photos of food will instantly trigger memories of the meals you shared.

A lobster on a plate. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

We tried lobster for the first time! The sun was shining directly on it, giving such deep color to the photo.

An empty plate of fish and chips.

Fish and chips is a must on the East Coast. The dinner was so good I forgot to take a picture until it was too late!

5. Hotels, campsites

Hotels and campsites are a blast for kids to explore! Make sure to capture some photos during downtime at the places you sleep.

A boy jumping across motel beds. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

After a 10 hour day on the road, my son discovered just how fun beds in a hotel room can be. He was just barely able to leap the chasm between the two beds. He may forget the boring scenery, but he’ll love this memory.

A little girl with her face pressed up to the window screen. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Bathed and changed into fresh jammies, my daughter sits at the window with her nose pressed against the screen.

Kids playing with their parents shoes. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Kids being crazy with our shoes while we pack for the next part of our journey.

At this point, if you’ve packed light (including your photo inspiration list) and taken note of some creative ideas, you’ll be set to take some great photos along the way.

But one thing threatens to ruin your photos and your trip – emotions.

#3 – Managing Personalities and Emotions

“Tears and sweat often bring out the best in us.” – Mister Rogers

Every family is different, but most families deal with a certain amount of drama on their trips. Learning how to deal with drama and negative emotions is critical for having a better time with your family and taking better photos.

Consider the fact that you won’t be in the mood to take photos if you are grumpy and your family won’t want to be in photos or do anything fun if they are grumpy. My family learned this lesson the hard way.

Little girl happy in the car. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Everything started out fine on our trip to the East Coast. Filled with the anticipation of the journey, we had books and snacks and things to do in the car.

Crying girl in car. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

But my goal of a family adventure and a beautiful photography project is quickly met with a reality check. Our kids are 2 and 4 years old and we’re crammed into a little car – more often than not, it feels like a disaster.

Two toddlers sleeping in the car. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

My wife and I thought that we could easily relive the adventurous trips we took before we had kids. But the reality was now very different. We had to plan for shorter days of driving, more motel stops, earlier bedtimes and lots of relaxed downtime.

A little girl with sand in her eyes. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

But no matter what we tried, the first half of our trip was just a disaster. Not even a relaxed day at the beach was any fun. The ocean winds blasted us with sand. We couldn’t enjoy ourselves for a moment. Even I couldn’t keep pretending to have fun. At one point our little girl ran into mama’s arms with eyes full of sand from the relentless ocean winds.

A mom and boy playing in the mud. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

The ocean tide was always leaving behind a shoreline of muck. Normally kids love mucking about in the mud. But not on our miserable road trip. You know you’re in trouble when nothing makes your kids happy anymore. By this point in the trip, I was sure I’d have nothing but tear-filled photos for my project.

A sleeping girl. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

A week into the trip we were at our wit’s end. Finally, one Sunday, we collapsed in anger and exhaustion and slept the day away. We woke up to the realization that this trip was a disastrous idea. At this point, I didn’t even care if I got photos or not. I just wanted my family to survive without hating each other.

A family at a harbor. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Something happened when we let go of chasing new locations and perfect photos. We admitted defeat and just stayed in one place for a while. We actually fell in love with a nearby harbor tucked away from other tourists. Halls Harbor was our refuge from the crowds – and ourselves.

Slide at the playground. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

For the first time, I finally understood what it was really going to take to make our first family vacation a good one. We put the tourist life on hold and did the things that our kids really wanted to do – go to playgrounds and throw rocks in the water!

A boy playing in dirt. How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Frankly, when we gave up, that’s when everything changed. We even met up with friends who had also journeyed out east. We could talk and unload our weakness as parents, confess the disaster we had made of this trip, and hear words of encouragement from our friends.

Family vacations are rarely the times of rest and relaxation that we hope them to be. Between kids fighting in the backseat and parents getting more stressed every day – sometimes I wonder why we ever go on trips!

But we can turn these challenges into a chance to grow as people. I learned a lot about our kids and myself on our first family road trip together. There were sweaty, tear-filled moments but we learned to embrace them and grow as a family.

Editing Life

Long after your trip has ended, you can relive the moments – and the lessons learned along the way.

Don’t forget about your photos. Print them, hang them, let them bring you joy until your next family adventure.

I sat at the kitchen table late one night reliving our trip through all the photos I had taken. The tears in the car. The tears on the beach. The tears in the mud. I thought about how naive we had been about traveling with toddlers. How we tried everything and failed. But also how the trip had been redeemed.

A photobook and a camera - How to Photograph Your Family Vacation

Just a couple weeks after that I was unwrapping a brand new photo book I made of our trip – my first finished photography project.

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6 Ways to Improve Your Images and Take Better Vacation Photos

17 May

Have you ever been on a vacation only to return home disappointed with your images? Many people take pictures while on holiday but find they are unsatisfied with their results. You can improve your chances of capturing better vacation photos by learning the basics and applying a few simple techniques.

better vacation photos - trees in Namibia

1. Choose the right equipment

Firstly, you don’t need expensive equipment to achieve photos from your travels that are satisfying. If you’re looking to buy a camera, choose one that suits your needs and budget. Digital cameras now range from professional DSLRs to great compacts that can produce quality images. Even mobile phones can give you stunning results.

Generally, a camera with more megapixels will provide a better picture resolution and higher quality images when printed. Whichever camera you decide to use, choose a compact with a good quality lens and broad optical zoom or a digital SLR with a zoom or telephoto lens depending on the subjects and angle of view you want to capture.

For example, a wide zoom would help to photograph a wide sweeping landscape and a telephoto can be used to capture wildlife. Also consider the size and weight of your equipment and make sure you can carry your camera kit comfortably.

Lion's roar Ngorongoro Crater Tanzania - better vacation photos

2. Make mistakes

A common mistake people tend to make is to pick up a camera and shoot a scene without giving any thought to what they are actually photographing.

You can dramatically improve your images by learning from your mistakes and analyzing why an image may not look as good as the view that you saw when you took the image.

Appraise your work and think about how you could improve your images next time. It’s good to recognize your mistakes, such as poor camera technique and poor composition and improve on those things next time around.

Zhangjiajie China scene - better vacation photos

3. Improve your camera technique

A great photograph is rarely achieved without some initial technical knowledge and photographic skills. Learn the basics about your camera and how it works. Study your camera manual and read up on other technical areas such as depth of field.

Know the limits of your equipment and how to use it effectively to create the style of images you want to capture.

Handling your camera in advance of your trip can help familiarize yourself with the buttons and you will be more comfortable with how it works when you’re away. Time spent understanding your camera will help take your photography to the next level and make for a more enjoyable experience when on vacation.

town with mountains and a lake - Take Better Vacation Photos

4. Improve your composition

A thoughtless composition can let your image down. Too many different subjects can complicate a scene. Look for features, shapes and patterns that may work in harmony to strengthen your images. Take time to manufacture your shot, trust your instinct and aim for a composition that you like.

The image of trees and the towering sand dunes shows an example where the different subjects of the composition can work well together and strengthen an image.

Camel thorn trees Deadvlei Namibia - Take Better Vacation Photos

5. Focus on details

You can choose to photograph specific and interesting subjects to improve your holiday pictures. Focusing on details allows you to reduce the number of variables in the frame and concentrate on the different shapes and forms that can be found within your subject.

By shooting only a portion of a famous building or scene of nature, you can isolate an image to concentrate on the aspects that appeal to you. Try zooming in or moving closer to your subject to narrow your point of interest and make it stand out.

scenice view of a town with church steeple - Take Better Vacation Photos

6. Consider the time of day

The quality of light varies throughout the day and can have a huge impact on your final image. Most holiday snappers go on vacation for a break, rest in the mornings and go out and shoot during the middle of the day. However, bright sunlight at noon provides harsh shadows and flat lighting.

Try and shoot outside this time for better vacation photos and more dramatic light. Instead of sleeping in, set the alarm clock and get out early at least once when on vacation, or stay out late to capture the beautiful tones from the sun.

The light at this time of day can make a pleasing difference to your images. Be aware of the effects light can create and use it to capture better images. For example, look for shadows and highlights that may improve your images by providing contrasting shapes.

The Grand Canyon USA - better vacation photos

Conclusion

Taking photographs during a vacation is a wonderful way to improve your photography. By applying the tips above you can achieve better images while capturing lasting memories of the places you have visited that can give you immense pleasure for years to come.

Do you have any other vacation photography tips and photos? Please share them in the comments area below.

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8 Ideas of What To Do With Your Vacation Photos

29 Jan

Going on vacation is one of the best opportunities to practice travel photography. But the problem persists that more often than not, those boatloads of vacation photos that you snapped end up going nowhere other than maybe scattered about on Facebook.

Vacation photos

Sound familiar? You’re definitely not alone! If you’re looking for ways to actually use your vacation photos, here are 8 ideas to get you started.

1. Make a blog post

One of the best ways to recap your vacation is to make a blog post, combining photos with stories and words to give it more context. Don’t have a blog? No worries! It’s very easy to create a free blog on sites like WordPress. If making a blog sounds like too much, Adobe Spark offers a free, very intuitive format for quickly creating a travel blog of words and photos.

Vacation photos

Creating a quick, easy, and free “blog” on Adobe Spark. This is s snapshot from the one I created for our trip to Italy ad our wedding.

2. Create an online slideshow

If you’d rather not go through the hassle of putting a blog together, an online slideshow is another way to make a digital presentation of your photos. Simply upload your photos to an online slideshow maker such as Pholody, select background music, and share or download the slideshow.

Alternatively, you can also turn your favorite vacation photos into screensaver slideshows or desktop backgrounds for your laptop or cell phone. How to Create a Simple Slideshow in Lightroom is another way to do it.

3. Strategically post to social media for the most traction

This is probably the most obvious use of vacation photos that may not seem worthy of even being mentioned, but hear me out.

If you aspire to have your photos viewed by more than just your current followers, you’ll have to be more strategic in how you post your images. This means adding hashtags and tagging tourism-related businesses that relate to your photos. Think airlines, tourism boards, local Instagram communities…the list goes on.

Research hashtags and businesses ahead of time and keep a list handy in Evernote so you can easily copy and paste them into your Instagram posts.

Vacation photos

4. Print a photo book, scrapbook, or photo album

Some photos simply pop and look better when they’re physically printed in book form. Consider putting together your top vacation photos and getting them printed via a service.

I recently used Zno and was impressed with their high-quality printing and the fact that the images lay flat without the book gutter running through them. Another service called ChatBooks is a little more automated and can sync your Instagram or Facebook photos into a book design for printing. If you’re more DIY-inclined, you can also opt for making batch photo prints and sticking them in an album or scrapbook.

See also: How to Create a Simple Blurb Photo Book in Lightroom

Vacation photos

A Lay Flat photo book by Zno.

5. Make postcards or thank you cards

More often than not, your vacation will fall between occasions when you might receive gifts from friends or family. This is the perfect opportunity to create unique thank you cards using your own vacation photos. Also, consider creating fun postcards to send to friends and family as a recap of your trip.

If you’re a professional or aspiring photographer, you can even use these postcards as a form of a business card, handing them out to curious passersby who want to know where to find more of your work.

6. Create your own custom postage stamps

Before you send off that custom postcard or thank you card, make sure you include a custom postage stamp. You can use any of your own photos or use a pre-made design. These postage stamps are real and are licensed for use by the United States Postal Service.

Vacation photos

7. Transform your photos into wall art

It’s not unusual to capture some of your very best travel photos while on vacation. Whether it’s a great family photo or a stunning landscape, there’s almost always a photo or two in your albums that are print-worthy. So why not turn them into actual photo prints?

Making prints is incredibly easy to do via online ordering. You also have a plethora of print material options including traditional photo prints, canvas, metal prints, and even wood.

For more on printing, see these dPS articles:

  • Digital Photography – Is it the Death of Prints?
  • How to Size and Export Images from Lightroom for Facebook and Print
  • How to Prepare Your Images for Print and Display
  • 5 Steps to Creating a Printed Photo Collection as Wall Art
  • 5 Tips for Going from Pixels to Print Quality

Vacation photos

8. Print your photos on…just about anything!

Thanks to printing companies such as Zazzle, you can print your photos on a wide range of objects. T-shirts, magnets, and mugs might seem like traditional items on which you tend to find custom printed photos. But did you know that your photo can be printed on an iPhone case, blanket, pillow, bath mat, Zippo lighter, playing cards, and even a skateboard?

Vacation photos

Over to You

What are some creative ways that you have utilized your vacation photos? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below. And show us the photos!

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What to Photograph on Vacation When You’re Feeling Uninspired

28 Nov

Vacation is a great time not only to recharge and relax but also to practice your travel photography skills. Whether you’re a pro with lots of gear, or a hobbyist with your first camera, there are plenty of photo opportunities in a new place. In fact, there can be so many that you can easily get overwhelmed or uninspired to shoot anything at all.

If you hit a wall and don’t know what to photograph while traveling, here are some ways to fire up your creativity.

What to Photograph on Vacation When You're Feeling Uninspired

1. Shoot with a different lens

An easy way to literally change your perspective of the world is to use a lens you don’t normally shoot with. Trade your zoom lens for a prime and notice the way you view and capture the world from a fixed focal length.

If you usually shoot close-ups, try your hand at shooting wide, or vice-versa. If cost is an issue, invest in affordable or third-party lens options, or simply rent a lens.

2. Change up your camera

Similar to the point above, try your hand and shooting with a totally different camera. If you normally shoot with a DSLR, restrict yourself to shooting with a point and shoot or even your cell phone. Many small, compact cameras have improved greatly in image quality, and they might surprise you with their quailty.

By giving yourself a new technical challenge, you’ll open up room for creativity.

Mobile phone photography - What to Photograph on Vacation When You're Feeling Uninspired

3. Put yourself on assignment

One of the best ways to shoot more is to have an objective or project in mind. Even if you’re not on official assignment, you can invent a similar scenario. Think of the ideal photography project that you’d want to do for a client, such as luxury vacation photos of Mexico, and aim to make that photo portfolio.

These are the type of personal project that you could easily use later in your portfolio if you ever seek out paid, professional work.

4. Start a themed personal project

On the note of personal projects, here’s an easy one that you can do over the course of one trip or many. Pick out a theme or photography subject that interests you and capture versions of it in new places you travel.

As an example, you could photograph cultural foods unique to the region you’re in and put them in an album of “Ethnic Foods from Around the World.” Or focus on a topic such as unique doors of Italy, as I did on a recent trip.

Having a theme helps you focus and gives you something to look out for and photograph as you travel.

personal project photos - What to Photograph on Vacation When You're Feeling Uninspired

This photo came about by simply talking to a beekeeper about my personal project surrounding farms. Before I knew it, I was suited up and having close encounters with honeybees.

5. Take advantage of Golden and Blue Hour

There are certain times of day when just about everything looks photogenic thanks to the positioning of the sun. While sunset and sunrise are obvious times of day, also consider Golden and Blue Hour, those times of the day just before/after sunrise and sunset.

On most days, this is when the lighting gets the most dramatic and optimal for shooting in natural lighting.

6. Do some research

If you’re in a new part of the world and don’t know what to photograph, check out what others have shot before. Go online and check Instagram hashtags or do a Google image search for the town you’re in. Find the iconic shots that others have taken and visit those places yourself.

Not only does this put you on a fun discovery quest, but it also gives you a chance to put your own unique twist on famous places.

travel photography tips - What to Photograph on Vacation When You're Feeling Uninspired

This photo came about thanks to poking around Google Maps and Google Image search.

7. Find some meetups

Thanks to social media and the availability of quality camera gear, there are talented photographers in just about every corner of the world. And odds are, there are easy ways to meet them in person. Try to attend Insta Meets or Meet-Ups for photographers in new places that you visit.

Or if you follow and admire a certain photographer’s work on social media, shoot them a message and see if they would like to meet and shoot in person. These are great ways connect to locals and get inspired to shoot in a new place.

8. Just go shoot (or don’t)

If you’ve reached the end of this article and still feel overwhelmed, just pick up any camera you have and go out and shoot! Don’t worry about finding the perfect image; just snap away at whatever inspires you.

Or keep your camera in your bag and just enjoy the moment. Sometimes, a little break from photography is exactly what you need to inspire your creativity.

travel photography tips - What to Photograph on Vacation When You're Feeling Uninspired

Sometimes the perfect photo unfolds in front of you when you least expect it.

Over to You

What tips do you have for getting past a creative slump? Please let us know in the comments below!

mobile phone photography - What to Photograph on Vacation When You're Feeling Uninspired

Did you know that smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S8 can capture lightning? I gave it a shot on a pure whim and captured this image.

travel photography tips

Attending a cultural performance might inspire your creativity as well. Milan, Italy.

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How to Plan and Take Killer Sunset Photos on Your Next Vacation

31 Oct

Who doesn’t love a good sunset photo? There’s something about that colorful, ethereal time of day that strikes a cord with just about every person. But as appealing and ordinary as sunsets are, the ability to capture that magical time of day as a photo can be surprisingly difficult.

Sunset Photos

Photo by Martin Genev

Yes, gear and camera settings are important. However, the ability to be in the right place at the right time of day is arguably the most important factor to photographing a sunset. Below, I’ll highlight several tips for planning

Yes, gear and camera settings are important. However, the ability to be in the right place at the right time of day is arguably the most important factor to photographing a sunset. Below, I’ll highlight several tips for planning

Find the best sunset location

How to Plan and Take Killer Sunset Photos on Your Next Vacation

If you’re visiting a new town and searching for an ideal sunset spot, your best bet is to do some online searches. Do a Google image search for “[location] sunset” and see what pops up. Better yet, visit stock image sites and enter similar search queries.

In most cases, you’ll see sunset photos taken from one or two popular locations. It might take some digging to find out exactly where those spots are, but once you have the answer, you’ll know where to shoot.

What time is the sunset?

A simple Google search will tell you exactly when sunset happens in the location of your choice. Keep in mind, however, that the hour or so before sunset is the ideal time of day for most photographers, so you’ll want to show up at your chosen sunset location closer to Golden Hour.

To really hone in the ideal times of day to shoot in a new location, the PhotoPills app is a handy tool. It’s packed full of information that can help you plan and execute outdoor photo shoots.

PhotoPills Sunset Planner - How to Plan and Take Killer Sunset Photos on Your Next Vacation

Image courtesy of PhotoPills

Camera settings for sunset photos

Your ideal camera settings for shooting a sunset depend on a variety of factors, but generally speaking, these are some rules to go by.

Shoot in RAW

When it comes to shooting the sunset, one of the biggest challenges is making sure your camera captures the same warmth and vibrancy that your eyes are seeing. You can typically make White Balance and Picture Style tweaks in camera (more on those below). But just in case, it’s also a good idea to shoot in RAW to give you greater creative control when you post-process the image.

Set White Balance

Leaving your camera White Balance set to Auto might suffice. However, if the color cast of your image is looking too cool or slightly off, try setting your White Balance to Daylight or Cloudy to warm up your shot.

Shoot in Aperture Priority

What shooting mode you should use is certainly debatable, but Aperture Priority will give you greater control over the depth of field. Shooting with a small aperture (f-step of f/16 or higher) will give you a large depth of field. This is ideal if you want more of your scene in focus.

How to Plan and Take Killer Sunset Photos on Your Next Vacation

Keep ISO Low

To avoid excessive noise in your image, maintain the lowest possible ISO for the amount of light you have available. If it happens to be a cloudy sunset or you’re shooting a scene with lots of shadows, you might have to increase your ISO unless you use a tripod.

Composition tips for unique sunset photos

After you’ve got your ideal sunset spot secured, it’s time to start thinking about what kind of sunset image you want to capture.

Keep this in mind: the way that most people photograph a sunset is to whip out their camera at hand, point it directly at the sunset and start snapping away. There’s nothing wrong with capturing the sunset this way, but it doesn’t always make for unique images.

If you’re trying to think outside of the box and get an interesting sunset photo, try some of these tips.

Zoom in

How to Plan and Take Killer Sunset Photos on Your Next Vacation

For most spontaneous sunset photographers, the camera at hand is their point and shoot or cell phone. These cameras are usually equipped with wide-angle lenses. Set yourself apart from the crowd by picking an interesting feature and zooming in.

Shoot away from the sun

Instead of shooting directly into the sun, consider pointing your lens in the opposite direction. The bright and often vibrant colors generated by the sunset can make the scene in the opposite direction equally alluring, without having to compensate for shooting directly into bright light.

Wait for Blue Hour

Every photographer has heard about Golden Hour, that magical time of day just before sunset. Lesser known is Blue Hour, that brief time of day that begins roughly 10 minutes after the sun has set (and before it has risen at dawn).

Blue Hour Photography - How to Plan and Take Killer Sunset Photos on Your Next Vacation

This image was taken just after sunset during Blue Hour.

The sky isn’t as obviously colorful during Blue Hour as it is during sunset or Golden Hour. However, Blue Hour still offers a window of time when it can be best to shoot cityscapes or landscapes with deep blue tones in the sky. You will almost certainly need a tripod to shoot during Blue Hour as it is significantly darker without the sun. But the lesson here is that many more photo opportunities exist even after sunset.

Over to You

Do you have any tips for shooting sunset photos? Share your photos and tips below!

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Bookshop B&B: Novel Vacation Loft Lets You Run Storefront Below

09 Dec

[ By WebUrbanist in Boutique & Art Hotels & Travel. ]

scotland bookworms dream

If you have ever wanted to fully experience life as a bookseller in a small town by the sea, this quirky combination home-and-bookstore holiday rental may be just be the page-turner you need.

bookstore b and b

Located in Wigmore, Scotland, The Open Book is an independent retailer that lets interested parties both rent the flat above the store and oversee its operations during their stay. Guests inclined toward working vacations get to double as volunteers, performing all the duties of the shop owners, including opening, closing, shelf restocking and display design.

scotland bnb flat

It may not be a fun novelty for every type of traveler, but presents an opportunity well-suited for those of us who are bookworms, like to stay busy, learn new things and meet locals on getaways.

scotland vacation book store

At less than $ 50 USD per night for up to two guests, the work effectively subsidizes the stay, not to mention giving a more complete experience of the place.

bookstore scotland rental manager

With small bookshops closing up around the country (and the world), the owners wanted to bring more attention to their store and ask their guests to blog about and share their time as a store manager. People are also asked to stay for a minimum of a week, giving them time to learn the ropes and greet a variety of store visitors, from locals to fellow travelers.

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The Fine Line Between Travel Photography and Having a family Vacation

15 Oct

A simple Google search for travel inspiration yields thousands of beautiful images and motivational quotes. Words like, “The Best University is to travel”, “We must take adventures in order to know where we truly belong” and “To travel is to live a full life” flash across your computer screen amidst jaw-dropping travel photography imagery. It brings forth such great feelings of wanderlust and longing to hit the road.

However, for those of us who travel with families and/or young kids there is a nagging voice somewhere in the back of our heads that speaks up and says, “Be practical, can you really make this journey with the kids?”. Then if you add to this mix, a parent who is very emotionally attached to his or her camera, you have just stirred up a pot full of trouble for yourself.

Landscape Image Near Bombay Memorable Jaunts for DPS

Being my family’s designated photographer, and having spent the past two months traveling across my home country of India, I experienced much of these same emotions on a day to day basis. India is a country like no other, where every part of the country has such a strong impact to the senses. It is big, busy, loud, and colorful – and is a photographer’s delight. The parent in me wanted to experience this magical journey with my family, and see my beautiful country through their eyes. Whereas the photographer in me was on a creative high and I wanted to document each and every thing I was seeing through my mind’s eye, and my camera’s viewfinder. I constantly struggled to find the right balance between being a mom, and being a professional photographer. 4000+ pictures later, I feel like I finally figured out what worked for me!

Memorable Jaunts Finding Balance as a photographer Article for DPS-1-2

A quick detour on our road trip led to an ancient temple where I was able to take some amazing and interesting pictures inside the inner sanctum.

Research locations for photo opportunities ahead of time

Just like kids, we adults too crave structure and routine, especially when it comes to photography assignments. Just like you would carry a shot list for a wedding photography gig or a commercial assignment, knowing what to expect with every place you visit gives you a certain peace of mind. This is particularly true if you are visiting famous locations and monuments. I found that often in such places photography was not allowed, or you needed special permission, or had to pay a fee.

Research your travel destination as much as you can. Look for information online, or even ask in photography forums specific to your needs. I learned early on in my trip, that most religious monuments and places of worship don’t allow any type of photography. Even cell phones are not permitted. So I would often leave my gear at home, or in the car, and just enjoy the location with my family.

Minimum gear for maximum effect

Packing for months on the road is never easy, especially when you have a ton of equipment, and suffer from an acute case of separation anxiety with your gear. Once you have researched your travel destination and know what types of imagery to expect, only pack the appropriate gear. Maybe even challenge yourself to only use certain types of lenses and cameras. The more practical you are about your gear, the less frustrated you will be for taking stuff you don’t end up using. My goto setup was my Canon EOS 5D MK III and Canon 24-70mmL lens. I used that combination 75% of the time when I was traveling. I found that I could switch easily from photographing wide angle landscape shots, to narrowing in on my kids playing effortlessly with my zoom lens. I also carried my Canon 70-200mmL lens, but found it was very impractical in terms of its weight. Additionally, professional DSLRs and multitude of lenses tend to get heavy and uncomfortable to lug around for a 20 day road trip, and several flight journeys. If you are going off the grid, or visiting remote places, err on the side of caution, and perhaps travel with minimal gear like a small point and shoot camera.

Set aside some “me” time with just with your camera

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During a ‘me’ time photowalk close to my home in Chennai, I spent 30 minutes photographing these birds without any interruptions or disruptions!

The deal I stuck with my family is that at every new place we visited, I would get one hour just to be with my camera. Any photography assignment specific pictures would be taken at that time. The rest of the day was time spent with my family, and capturing those moments on camera sparingly. There were times when the camera was completely banned because I really wanted to treasure the moments, and not just focus on documenting the experience. And guess what, I found I was a much happier, and nicer person, at the end of the day!

Engage your family in your photo trips

Do you have old outdated gear sitting in your gear cabinet? You know those old first generation DSLRs that you will probably have to pay someone to take off your hands? Use them to get your family engaged in photography. My kids share my old DSLR with a kit lens, and they love it. They love playing photographer, and some of the images they capture are so adorable. I always make it a big deal to praise their budding photography skills, and in turn, they are generally more tolerant when mom wants to spend an extra 10 minutes photographing the waves crashing against the rocks at sunset (because it is the most magical sunset ever!)

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A rare image of me as taken by my daughter! – this was during a four day hike in the mountains, and it’s the only picture I have to prove that I was there too!

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But 10 days later, this was the best I could get of them! – No amount of negotiation could get them to turn around and face me.

Make memories and not pictures

Give yourself permission to not take any pictures occasionally. Put the camera away and just enjoy the experience of being on vacation. After all, you have probably spent a lot of money, and precious time, to get to your destination. Soak in the essence of the space and place, and make memories that will last a lifetime.

After my long summer break, I still felt that I never really had any time off. To me, every minute was a working one, whether was I being a full-time mom, or a travel photographer. While I did walk away with some amazing imagery, a part of me regretted not spending more time with my family. What are some of your strategies for finding a good balance?

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How to Make the Most of Your Hard-Earned Vacation Time Photography Wise

20 Nov

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You are looking forward to that vacation you have wanted so much? You are not the only one. Amidst our work, family and everything else, we all need a little getaway at times. I travel extensively throughout the United States and based on my experience, I am going give you some tips to make the most of your hard-earned vacation time. Please be advised that I speak from a photographer’s perspective but most of what I say applies to any kind of vacation, not just a photo trip.

Plan, Plan and Plan

I cannot overstate this. Whether you are traveling across the ocean or a place only a few hours from home, the better you plan, the more time you will have on your hands when you arrive. Plan for the time of the year and time of the day.

Allow for more time during peak tourist seasons and in the middle of the day. Most people sightsee between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Photographically, that time generally doesn’t yield good light (do not give up, read on) so if you are wondering why the fall colors do not look awesome in your pictures, that is why.

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You could use midday for visiting indoor attractions like museums, cathedrals, barns, checking out the downtown or perhaps do some street photography. I should clarify – I do not mean to say that street photography does not benefit from great light – however, you can often pull off a shot in diffused light or just based on the emotion of the people involved.

If you are into Infra-Red (IR) photography, you have a great advantage over those who are not. IR can be shot in strong daylight, often requiring long exposures even in the sun.

We live in an age where you can find more information about a place with a few clicks, than was possible by visiting that place twenty years ago. Put Google maps to work for you. Check out sites like Trip Advisor for first hand information from other travellers. Ask questions in forums. If the place you are traveling to offers tourist guides and maps, order those ahead of time and use them in your planning. If you are planning to shoot a famous landmark, check out sun and moon positions for best light. One app I use for that is The Photographer’s Ephemeris (TPE). Look at other photographers’ images made at these locations. I am not suggesting that you plagiarize, but there is nothing wrong in drawing inspiration from well-acclaimed work.

Keep an Eye, or Two, on the Weather

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Weather plays a crucial role in any outdoor photography, especially landscape. Human beings have yet to invent a softbox that could light a mountain or a diffuser that could soften the harsh light on a forest.

Weather also dictates the choice of subjects. On overcast days, you are better off shooting intimate forest scenes and waterfalls than, say, rocky shorelines. The greenery in the forest can literally glow on overcast days. Break open a polarizer and you have a winner.

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Moving water can be shot with slow shutter speed (long exposure) to get that milky effect. Depending on the available light, you may have to use a neutral density filter to achieve a slower shutter speed.

Bad weather can make for some very compelling images where the ominous clouds, play of light and shadows create a mood and drama that are not found under clear sky.

Even if it is raining, you do not need to give up. Unless it is pouring cats and dogs, you could add some macro shots to your portfolio. Colorful storefronts also make great rainy day subjects where you could literally shoot from inside the car letting those raindrops on the windows add drama to the scene.

Be Prepared to Adjust the Plan

Perhaps this is a continuation of what I said earlier about planning, but it is so important that it deserves separate mention. It’s all good if you have a great plan but you cannot control Mother Nature. She may decide to throw a curved ball at you and if you are not ready, it could cause big disappointments. Roads may close unexpectedly, rain could kick in suddenly, and sites could be closed due to increased wildlife activity. Things could happen that are beyond your control. Be open to shuffling your itinerary, adding things that you thought you would not be able to do or see, and giving away on some others. The point is, being flexible is key when you are traveling.

Know Yourself

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This may sound a little odd, allow me to explain. To be able to fully enjoy your time off, you should be very clear about the things that you like to do and those that you do not. If the word “vacation” means to you sleeping in, relaxing by the fire with a drink or taking a boat ride, you may not be happy to pack seven mile hike, rock climbing, or canoeing into your schedule. On the other hand, if you are an outdoor buff, staying indoors could seem like a terrible waste of time. When traveling with family, it is important to know everyone’s preferences, then if they are different, strike a balance amongst them all.

When traveling with a companion, it is a great advantage to have similar likings. That does not only mean way of living. Meal habits are very important too. Perhaps you are one who does not like to spend a lot of time looking for an Italian restaurant in an unknown place. Your companion, on the other hand, could be a strict vegetarian and very picky about where they eat. Unless you are conscious about those differences, you could be spending time resolving conflicts instead of doing what you are there for.

Have Extra Cash Available

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When you are traveling, being a Scrooge is often not the best way to go. I am not suggesting that you splurge but most vacation spots make their money from seasonal tourism. Thus, everything will be more expensive than usually justified, and that means everything from food, to room rent, to souvenirs. If you are constantly counting pennies, it will occupy your mind, rather than important things. Keep some budget for unforeseen expenses and when those happen, do not sweat it. Enjoying your time matters more than money.

Do not Take it too Hard

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Sometimes unfortunate things happen even after the best of planning. You cannot do anything about that. I hope not, but should you run into any such situation, just take it in strides. During my trip to the Acadia National Park, I took a fall, twice. I got several deep cuts, hurt a finger so bad that I was afraid that I might have broken it (luckily not), worst of all my camera gear was damaged. I did not lose heart or cancel my vacation. I just dealt with it; got the injuries checked out at an urgent care, did first aid, took painkillers and did what I was there to do – photography. The point is, bad things happen; it’s not the end of life but rather, part of it. Have fun!

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