Taking beautiful photographs in exotic, far-flung locales is a surprisingly easy thing to do, once you’re there. But really showing a place—its ins and outs, its people and its surroundings—is a much more difficult pursuit.
It’s easy to become overwhelmed, to find yourself walking around wide-eyed, your camera still lost somewhere at the bottom of your bag; or, conversely, snapping off rapid fire shots of anything that moves (and many things that don’t), only to find when you return home that you haven’t captured anything meaningful or worthwhile from your journey.
A pretty landscape is one thing, but a collection of images that work well together and truly show a place will have people coming back to view them over and over again. Below are five things I try to do before, during and after any trip; I’ve found they help me get the most out of my photographs.
A pretty landscape is one thing, but a collection of images that work well together and truly show a place will have people coming back to view them over and over again. Below are five things I try to do before, during and after any trip; I’ve found they help me get the most out of my photographs.
1. Do some research
A pretty landscape is one thing, but a collection of images that work well together and truly show a place will have people coming back to view them over and over again.
First, do some research and learn about a place. We do it before we travel, so why not do it before we photograph? Find out about the history, the culture, the customs and the surrounding towns, regions and countries. This should inform not only what you photograph, but how you photograph.
Obviously, you’ll probably shoot a trip through Thailand’s southern islands or a resort in the Maldives slightly differently than you would a refugee camp in Uganda or displaced Burmese in the Irrawaddy Delta. I like to make lists of the things I want to photograph once I arrive in a place. I tend to forget them otherwise.
2. Take less equipment
Second, pare down on your equipment. I appreciate practicality and mobility above most things, and carrying backpacks filled with camera equipment just isn’t for me. In the end, most accessories hinder more than help when I’m photographing a place, especially if there’s a lot of moving around or a lot of ground to cover. Keep that in mind.
If you’re making your way across Rajasthan in two weeks, taking night trains and buses and generally hoofing it from one desert fort or palace to the next, you might want to be mindful of how much crap you’re lugging along. Bring one lens instead of four. Take off the battery pack. Leave the tripod at home. Learn to photograph efficiently.
I mostly work and travel these days with one full-frame camera, a 35mm lens and a few small off-camera flashes. I also keep a film rangefinder and some gaffer’s tape on hand in case of an emergency.
3. Get off the beaten path
Third, while you’re traveling, get off the beaten track. Spend a day or two just walking through the streets with your camera. Go down alleys. Get lost. Look through windows. Talk to people. Have lunch at a local eatery. Drink a beer by the side of the road.
If I’m traveling with my girlfriend, I always split away from her for a day or two. The photographs I take are much different when I’m alone. I’m more likely to put myself in awkward positions and to impose myself on people when I’m by myself. And this is usually when I get my best photographs. Which brings me to the fourth point.
4. Smile
Smile. Don’t forget that you’re a visitor. With a camera. A smile will get you everywhere. In all my travels, I’ve never met a person who enjoyed being intimidated or lied to. The best advice I can give, particularly when photographing people, is to be honest and open about your intentions.
I tend to walk slowly, with my camera in my hand, pausing often to at least look through the viewfinder, searching for shots. I smile whenever I make eye contact with someone. They almost always smile back. In this way I’ve been invited into homes, fed, given family histories and gotten drunk on local spirits on more than a few occasions. I’ve played volleyball and badminton for hours, been taken out on fishing boats and have even been given small gifts to take away with me.
Other times I’ve just sat there, on a stoop with some older man, watching the world walk by one body at a time. Not everyone will want their picture taken. Respect that and smile when they say no, then move along.
5. Edit your images
The final thing is to edit your images when you get back home. A great slideshow can say thousands of things about a place, but a bad one will have your viewers checking their watches, slurping their drinks or quickly clicking away from your blog. Try to pare what you have down to 20-25 images. Remember that less is more, and that sometimes you have to kill your favorites.
Try to show a good mix of people, landscapes, objects and quirky or interesting scenes that you’ve captured. Have the photographs tell a story. Your story. Leave people wanting more, not less. And then start preparing for your next trip.
About the author:
Aaron Santos moved to Hanoi, Vietnam in mid-2007, where he works as a photographer for a local magazine. His blog, From Swerve of Shore, is filled with beautiful photos captured in Hanoi and on his travels throughout the region.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Win a Trip from The Travel Channel
If you have ever wondered what it would be like to be a travel journalist, you'll want to enter to win The Travel Channels all-inclusive trip for 2 to their headquarters in Washington, DC.
Get Information from The Travel Channel on their Travel Bug Sweepstakes.
Traveling in Florida? Come to America's oldest city, St. Augustine. Come Stay With Friends and stay at the St. Augustine Hostel Casa Yallaha.
Get Information from The Travel Channel on their Travel Bug Sweepstakes.
Traveling in Florida? Come to America's oldest city, St. Augustine. Come Stay With Friends and stay at the St. Augustine Hostel Casa Yallaha.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
America's oldest city Celebrates its 444th Birthday
Starting September 3rd through September 5th, St. Augustine, Florida, our Nation's Oldest City, will celebrate its 444th Birthday.
There will be a Free concert in the town square on the 3rd followed by Free Cake for everyone in attendance.
Plus, there will be re-enactments, cooking contests and a variety of activities to celebrate the event.
It will be a wonderful place to be for very little cost.
Planning to attend, stay with friends at The St. Augustine Hostel, Casa Yallaha.
There will be a Free concert in the town square on the 3rd followed by Free Cake for everyone in attendance.
Plus, there will be re-enactments, cooking contests and a variety of activities to celebrate the event.
It will be a wonderful place to be for very little cost.
Planning to attend, stay with friends at The St. Augustine Hostel, Casa Yallaha.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Resale Timeshares for Travel at Bargain Prices
Timeshares can be one of the most valuable resources for the budget traveler, but they are also one of the most frequently regretted purchases. Many people get roped into buying overpriced timeshare units through high pressure sales tactics, or they are lured into expensive properties by the promise of a “free” vacation.
No matter what the reason, there are a great many unwanted timeshares on the market at any given time. What that means for the budget travel is the opportunity to pick up some great timeshare properties at prices that are a fraction of the original price.
There are a number of places to look for resale timeshares, including real estate agents, bulletin boards, newspaper classified and even online auctions. Any of these places can be a great place to pick up a quality timeshare at a budget price, but it is important to shop around, and to understand exactly what you are getting before making your purchase.
One of the keys to buying a quality time share at a good price is to buy only in high demand areas, or in areas that are growing in popularity. Remember that a timeshare is primarily a piece of real estate, and we all know that the three most important factors for real estate are location, location and location.
Examples of areas in high demand include places like Hawaii, the California coastline, the coast of Florida, Orlando, Cancun, Myrtle Beach, and the Caribbean.
It is also important to know the maintenance fees of the properties you are considering. The maintenance fees are a large part of any timeshare ownership, and one of the primary reasons that current owners decide to dump their properties. It is important to avoid properties that have very high maintenance fees unless you can buy it at an unbeatable price.
It is always important to get the best price on any timeshare property you buy. It is also important to read any timeshare resale contracts carefully, and perhaps even have a qualified lawyer review the paperwork, before you buy. Remember that a timeshare is a real estate transaction, whether you are buying a brand new unit or a resale.
Of course, it is also vital to make sure that buying a timeshare is the right move for you. A timeshare can be an excellent deal for the budget minded traveler, but it is not right for every traveler. Timeshares are generally suited to those who wish to travel to the same location every year. Even though many people emphasize the exchangeability of timeshare resorts, the fact is that most timeshare owners spend the majority of their time at their home resort.
Of course, the exchangeability of the timeshare property will be enhanced if you take the advice of buying a unit in a high demand area. For instance, a time share unit in a property next door to Disneyland will obviously be easier to exchange than one a hundred miles away.
No matter what the reason, there are a great many unwanted timeshares on the market at any given time. What that means for the budget travel is the opportunity to pick up some great timeshare properties at prices that are a fraction of the original price.
There are a number of places to look for resale timeshares, including real estate agents, bulletin boards, newspaper classified and even online auctions. Any of these places can be a great place to pick up a quality timeshare at a budget price, but it is important to shop around, and to understand exactly what you are getting before making your purchase.
One of the keys to buying a quality time share at a good price is to buy only in high demand areas, or in areas that are growing in popularity. Remember that a timeshare is primarily a piece of real estate, and we all know that the three most important factors for real estate are location, location and location.
Examples of areas in high demand include places like Hawaii, the California coastline, the coast of Florida, Orlando, Cancun, Myrtle Beach, and the Caribbean.
It is also important to know the maintenance fees of the properties you are considering. The maintenance fees are a large part of any timeshare ownership, and one of the primary reasons that current owners decide to dump their properties. It is important to avoid properties that have very high maintenance fees unless you can buy it at an unbeatable price.
It is always important to get the best price on any timeshare property you buy. It is also important to read any timeshare resale contracts carefully, and perhaps even have a qualified lawyer review the paperwork, before you buy. Remember that a timeshare is a real estate transaction, whether you are buying a brand new unit or a resale.
Of course, it is also vital to make sure that buying a timeshare is the right move for you. A timeshare can be an excellent deal for the budget minded traveler, but it is not right for every traveler. Timeshares are generally suited to those who wish to travel to the same location every year. Even though many people emphasize the exchangeability of timeshare resorts, the fact is that most timeshare owners spend the majority of their time at their home resort.
Of course, the exchangeability of the timeshare property will be enhanced if you take the advice of buying a unit in a high demand area. For instance, a time share unit in a property next door to Disneyland will obviously be easier to exchange than one a hundred miles away.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
How to Make Traveling with Kids Easier
You can make traveling with kids enjoyable if you include some of these time tested techniques that keep kids from getting bored.
- Make sure to bring games, small fun toys and books
- Pack food and snacks
- Stop often at rest areas and parks where kids can run and play
- Visit fun places along the way
Here's something that worked for us.
When my son was young we bought him a variety of games and toys specifically made smaller for travel. We had him pack these into a special travel bucket he was only allowed to play with on trips. We added new items to the bucket each year. After a few years he had quite a collection.
He loved his special bucket and really looked forward to discovering new things to play with as well as rediscovering old favorites from previous years. He would be entertained for hours.
When stopping for the night, try staying at a Hostel. Hostels are terrific as a place to stay when traveling with kids. They usually have private rooms with shared living areas where kids can play games and watch movies. Hostels give them much more to do and much more room to move around.
In St. Augustine, FL you can stay at the kid friendly hostel, The St. Augustine Hostel Casa Yallaha
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Lifehacker's Brilliant Travel Kit
Lifehacker's brilliant travel kit Bad Astronomy Discover Magazine
The folks at Lifehacker sure know what to bring along when they travel.I'm not so sure about The Elements of Style though. And if this were a survival kit I could recommend a different astronomy book
European River travel: The Basics Explained
by Samson Mandez
If you are thinking about river travel, you should spend a moment to consider a European cruise. These kinds of waterborne trips are great to explore the interior of a country, and especially so on the European continent, with its tightly packed and diverse cultures and nationalities.
There are probably few ways to visit a country which are as cool and pleasant as river travel, and whether you will be traveling alone, with friends, or together with your spouse and kids, it will probably be a trip to remember.
On a river trip you have access to inland areas of countries that big ships just can’t get to, and you get to sail along serene waterways, rather than drive along congested highways. Your comfortable hotel travels with you and you usually moor very centrally in most towns that you will visit.
Also, don’t think that riverboats are devoid of comfort just because they are smaller than seagoing vessels. You will find that the rooms are functional but spacious, and that your cruise boat will also feature comfortable common areas such as eating and lounging spaces, as well as viewing spaces to soak in the scenery, of course.
For the preparation, before looking at the specific trip, you should determine the length of the voyage, the area you want to see and also the general level of comfort that you would expect.
Concerning the length, one or two weeks is standard but there are also short break offers for a weekend, and on the other end of the scale, six week Rhine-to-Danube extravaganzas for people with a lot of leisure time.
There are several great locations that you can choose from. Major countries for European river travel are Austria-Hungary-Romania (Danube river), Germany (Rhine, Elbe, and their tributaries), Holland (Rhine delta), France (Seine and Rhone), Spain-Portugal (Douro), Italy (Po and the Venice laguna) and Russia (Volga and the lakes around Petrograd)
Another crucial thing to consider is the season of the trip. The south of France or the flower-growing areas of Holland are great for a late spring or summer trip, for instance.
Trips in Germany are great in the winter months, especially if you like a traditional Christmas atmosphere and home cooking and baking.
Concerning the level of comfort, you will find that there are a great number of alternatives, from Spartan drive-your-own houseboat hires to luxury cruse ships that have a lot in common with high-end hotels, but that retain an individual character.
About the Author:
Check out EuroRiverTravel.com for comprehensive resources on how to organize European cruise. You will find all the information that you may want about European river travel at your fingertips.
There are probably few ways to visit a country which are as cool and pleasant as river travel, and whether you will be traveling alone, with friends, or together with your spouse and kids, it will probably be a trip to remember.
On a river trip you have access to inland areas of countries that big ships just can’t get to, and you get to sail along serene waterways, rather than drive along congested highways. Your comfortable hotel travels with you and you usually moor very centrally in most towns that you will visit.
Also, don’t think that riverboats are devoid of comfort just because they are smaller than seagoing vessels. You will find that the rooms are functional but spacious, and that your cruise boat will also feature comfortable common areas such as eating and lounging spaces, as well as viewing spaces to soak in the scenery, of course.
For the preparation, before looking at the specific trip, you should determine the length of the voyage, the area you want to see and also the general level of comfort that you would expect.
Concerning the length, one or two weeks is standard but there are also short break offers for a weekend, and on the other end of the scale, six week Rhine-to-Danube extravaganzas for people with a lot of leisure time.
There are several great locations that you can choose from. Major countries for European river travel are Austria-Hungary-Romania (Danube river), Germany (Rhine, Elbe, and their tributaries), Holland (Rhine delta), France (Seine and Rhone), Spain-Portugal (Douro), Italy (Po and the Venice laguna) and Russia (Volga and the lakes around Petrograd)
Another crucial thing to consider is the season of the trip. The south of France or the flower-growing areas of Holland are great for a late spring or summer trip, for instance.
Trips in Germany are great in the winter months, especially if you like a traditional Christmas atmosphere and home cooking and baking.
Concerning the level of comfort, you will find that there are a great number of alternatives, from Spartan drive-your-own houseboat hires to luxury cruse ships that have a lot in common with high-end hotels, but that retain an individual character.
About the Author:
Check out EuroRiverTravel.com for comprehensive resources on how to organize European cruise. You will find all the information that you may want about European river travel at your fingertips.
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