Exotic Photography

Travel snaps in exotic locations have always been a favorite among photographers. Particularly in the early days of cameras, before TV was around, photographs of distant locations were the only way for the more home-bound members of the population to see what far-off countries were like. Today, of course, we’re all exposed to images (both still and moving) of far-off locations from a very young age. Indeed, the world’s most famous cities and landmarks may seem so familiar to us that when we finally see them we’re disappointed because they ‘looked better in the photos’.

Despite this familiarity, exotic travel photography has lost none of its popularity, and the ease and low cost with which it is possible to travel today has given more people than ever before the chance to try it. Travel photography is one of the most demanding subcategories of photography, because it incorporates a lot of other subcategories. A good travel photographer is a good people photographer, a good landscape photography, a good music photographer, and so on. Here are some tips to help you get the best travel shots:

#1: Try to shoot the best sights in the best light. The best light is in the early morning just after sunrise, and in the late afternoon. If you find a really spectacular site on your travels but it’s midday, make arrangements to come back later or the next morning to capture it at its best.

#2: If you’re shy shooting people, try using a wide angle lens and shooting from up close. While you’ll be closer to them, you won’t be pointing the camera directly at them, so they probably won’t think they’re in the photo at all.

#3: Carry your camera with you as often as you can, and especially just after you’ve arrived, as this is when you’ll notice what’s really interesting about where you’ve ended up.

#4: Carry a miniature tripod capable of supporting your camera with you at all times. They’re particularly useful for shooting indoors.

#5: The light is usually poor during the middle part of the day, so use this time for travelling, resting, and seeing indoor sights such as museums.