There’s nothing worse than coming home after a truly amazing holiday only to realise the photos you captured aren’t up to scratch. They’re either out of focus, a little boring, blurry, or dark, and don’t quite capture the moment. Trust me, we’ve all been there. To help you cherish your travel memories forever, we teamed up with pro-travel photographer and blogger Mister Weekender to show you how you can take better photos on your travels in 10 simple tips.
1. Chase the best light
It can be difficult to photograph landscapes in the middle of the day. The sun is harsh, it creates dark shadows above subjects, and it washes out colours. Good light happens when the sun is low in the sky because it creates warmth, depth, softer highlights, better texture and scale. I always talk about ‘magic hour’ being my favourite time of the day to photograph, which is at sunset and sunrise. The light and the way it adds colours to a landscape gets me every time. So my number one rule for taking better landscape photos is to chase the best light!
2. Look for storms
Some of my most popular photos on Instagram are when I happen to be in a great location when a storm rolls in, AKA #ihavethisthingwithstormchasing. The cloud breaks and the contrast in light creates very dramatic scenes in a photo. But you do need to be careful. If the storm is about to get intense or there is too much lightening around, I urge you to seek immediate safety and cover.
3. Stay for the rainbow
If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. After a storm passes, the clouds break up, and the sun begins to peek out, more often than not you’ll be rewarded with a rainbow. The clear air, the wet ground and the colourful light from the sun can change in an instant, so make sure you’re ready.
4. Scout for locations
When you’re out and about, always remember to scout for locations and start creating a list. When you get the time to photograph a beautiful location, remember to pack flashlights, extra layers of clothing and a warm drink to stay awake (and cosy) in the dark hours of the morning and night. Even if two or three hours of preparation gives me a short three-minute window of opportunity, it’s always worth it.
5. Have patience
My biggest piece of advice when photographing landscapes is to go alone or with a like-minded person. You might spend two hours in the dark of night hiking to find the best views of sunrise, only to find the light sucks. This is where patience kicks in, and you don’t want to have to leave because someone else is a little bit bored.
6. Look in your own backyard
You don’t have to travel halfway around the world for some fantastic photos. Sometimes, the best opportunities exist in our own backyards. Do your research; speak to friends, see where people are going on Instagram, read blogs and get friendly with Google Maps. And while we all know the area we live really well, you don’t know everything. Get in your car and go find those places you’ve researched.
7. Use apps to inform
I use a few different apps to plan a photography session. My favourites are Google Maps, Compass, Moon, Scope Nights and Star Walk 2. My best tip? Make sure you check these apps before you head into the wilderness where you possibly might not be in range to access mobile data. Screen grab as a safety net.
8. Don’t photograph the ordinary
Earlier this year I met my landscape photography idol, Chris Burkard. One of the most pivotal things he said to me was not to photograph the ordinary. When I want to photograph a landscape, or a subject in a landscape, he told me to walk above it, around it, through it, and over it. I need to hike in mud, cross rivers, trudge through wind – whatever it takes to get a different photo than everyone else. By changing my point of view, I’m able to change the composition and by doing this, I’m able to get an epic photo that will keep people engaged on my blog and Instagram. It’s all about getting out of your comfort zone, but also not doing anything too dangerous. In fact, more people this year have died taking selfie’s than being killed by sharks. Errr…
9. Think about your lens
I shoot with my iPhone, a wide lens and a longer focal length lens, and find these are the best for what I want to achieve. Remember, however, it’s very important to shoot in manual mode on an SLR so you have full control over the impact you are working to create.
10. Reality check
Landscape photography is not always as glamorous as the end result. It’s hard work and, at times, uncomfortable. I’m often freezing, hiking dangerous cliff edges, perched on rocks teetering over an ice cold lake, battling the elements and having endless conversations with myself. But if you’re anything like me and love a challenge, these moments blissfully fade away when I get that one truly magical shot.
A photo posted by Jaharn Giles (@misterweekender) on