I once heard travel photography described as one of the most important mediums of photographic communication. As the photographer, you are literally creating an entire culture for an audience of people who may never be able to visit that place. Of course, this privilege carries a heavy responsibility. You must be able to present a culture in a way that informs, educates, and entertains.

So, what do you look for? Here are seven tips that will guide you in your photographic travels…

1. Look for “the big picture”. Give your audience a bird’s eye view of the location you have traveled to – full of color and vibrancy. Here, I have taken this shot on one of the highest peaks of Quito, Ecuador to overlook the city.

2. Capture things that are “out of the ordinary”. What is distinctly different from your culture? These are things that your audience will find interesting.

3. Find shapes. Other cultures use shapes, curves, and lines in architecture very differently. Be constantly on the alert for buildings, fences, and paths that are unique to your culture.

4. Seek the light. Make any image stunning with some dynamic lighting. Inside cathedrals and churches facilitate beautiful lighting with stained glass windows and skylights. Wait until mid morning or afternoon to capture high sidelight that will pour through the windows and hit the floor.

5. Look for contrast. Whether contrast in light tones verses dark tones, or contrast as in textures and locations, this will keep your images varied.

6. Third world countries especially have extreme diversity of textures, colors, patterns, and content. As a photographer, you have to unify all the different elements to an image that will “make sense” visually.

7. Photograph that which captures your soul. A poor child? A destitute village? A tropical landscape? A busy city center? Take pictures of things that matter to you, and you will come away with visually gripping images no matter where your travels may take you.

Below are a few of my own tips (in two parts – ’settings’ and ‘the shoot’) – keep in mind that it reflects how I photograph children and by no means do I have a monopoly on the only way to do it – feel free to add your own tips in comments below.

Photograph by thejbird

Photographing Children – Settings:

Lets start by looking at some tips on how to set your camera up when photographing children.

• Aperture Priority Mode- I’d start by switching your camera into Aperture Priority mode. This will let you have some creative control over depth of field which can be an important factor in portraits. Learn more about Aperture Priority Mode. If your camera doesn’t have aperture priority mode – it might have a ‘portrait’ mode which can be worth shooting in to get those nice fuzzy backgrounds.
• Aperture – I’d set my aperture at f5.6 to start with (you can adjust it up and down as you start shooting). This will throw the background out of focus (unless your kids are right up against a wall) but will give you enough depth of field that their whole face will be in focus.
• ISO – Depending where you are shooting (inside or out) and what the light is like – set your ISO to 200 (lower is better if you have lots of light). If it is too dark and this makes your shutter speeds too long you can pump it up – but try to keep it under 800 or you’ll start getting lots of pixelation).
• Shutter Speed – Keep an eye on the shutter speed that your camera is choosing. Try to keep it 1/200th of a second or faster if you can (if your kids are running around – to up to 1/500th or more). Like I say – if it’s too dark you can increase your ISO or even push your Aperture up a little. If you’re not confident with shutter speeds and your photos are coming out blurry because your children are moving too fast – you might try setting your camera to ’sports mode’.
• Focus Mode – Set your Auto focus to single point focussing. You could leave it on the multipoint focusing mode but I find with kids that move around a lot that you want to know exactly where your camera is focusing quite precisely (this could just be me though).
• RAW – If you have time (and the ability) to do some post production work on your images later try shooting in RAW. This will give you more license to edit your shots later. If you’re under the pump for time and/or don’t have the ability to edit your work – JPEG will do.
• Flash/Lighting – I’m not sure if you have a flash unit or not that you can use but my preference is to limit the use of your camera’s built in flash. If you do have an external flash and you’re shooting inside – bounce it off a roof/wall (if they are white) or use a diffuser to give indirect light. Otherwise try to find situations that are well lit with natural light – this is my preferred situation – if you can do it in natural light you’re putting yourself in the position to not have to worry too much about your flash. If you’re shooting into the sun though – consider using your flash to give a little fill flash light.
• Lens – I like to take a couple of approaches when it comes to lenses. The main approach I take is to use a lens with some real zoom capability. I love to get my 70-200mm lens out which enables me to shoot from a distance and yet still fill the frame with the child I’m photographing (this lens also has the advantage of being fast (f2.8) and having image stabilization) – even my 24-105mm lens gives good range at the 105mm end. The other approach that can be fun is to shoot at the other end of the spectrum and shoot with a wide angle perspective. Getting in nice and close with a wide lens can give all kinds of fun distortion (which when used creatively can lead to some wonderful shots). If shooting indoors or in poor lighting you might also want to go with the fastest lens in your bag.

OK – so we’ve talked camera settings – lets move on to the shoot itself.

Image by darkmatter

Photographing Children – The Shoot

Before I give some specific tips about the shoot, I think it’s worth saying that you want to get the children that you are photographing as comfortable with you and the camera as possible. Showing kids photos after you’ve taken them, letting the child look through the viewfinder and even take a few shots (if they’re old enough), spending time with the kids before taking shots – all of these things can help set the child at ease. The more relaxed they are the better.

Location – Where you shoot will depend a lot on your situation – but try to think of a 2-3 scenes/settings that you could go to before you start shooting. If you have a few hours – pick at least one outside (a park perhaps), one inside (in their bedroom or play room perhaps) and try to find a spot where you have a fairly simple background (something with color can be good) for a few posed shots. Choose places where your kids have fun, where you can show them in their natural playful environment. If you’ve got the time go to the zoo, beach or some other fun place.

Photo by Brian Hathcock

Candid Approach – I try to shoot candidly with kids as much as possible. Get them doing something that they enjoy and just start snapping. You might ask them to stop/pause what they are doing every now and again and to look at you (at the top of a slide for instance) but over time you’ll find lots of moments in the normal run of their ‘play’.

Image by Jeff Kubina

‘Posing’ – With older kids you might find that they respond better to ‘posing’ moments. I find with little kids that they don’t often have the attention span for this (and they tend to pull the cheesiest smiles they can).

Photography by Larryboi90

Get down on their level - You’ve got young children so unless they’re very unusual they’ll be half your height. Shooting from an adult’s perspective looking down on kids will leave you with average looking shots. Get on their level, make the camera level with their eyes (or even slightly below) – do this and you’ll get much more intimate shots.

Photograph by carf

Alter Your Perspective – Having said that – sometimes you can get a really great shot by breaking this ‘get on their level’ rule. Shooting from directly above or below can also give a great result!

Picture by bass nroll

Photography by ToniVC

Get close/Zoom – you’ve got a lens with reasonable focal length (I’d probably prefer something a little longer myself) but you’ll want to get in reasonably close in order to fill your frame with your kids. At times it’ll be good to zoom out or step back in order to get their context – but your parents want to see your kids faces – so make sure they dominate the shot rather than their environment.

Photograph by thejbird

Focus Upon the Eyes – Pay particular attention to your kids eyes. If you’ve got the single zone focusing switched on – choose eyes as the focus point. You can get away with other facial features a little fuzzy but the viewer of an image always is drawn to the eyes of the subject.

Photograph by Herve Kerneis

Backgrounds – pay a lot of attention to the backgrounds of your images. A background can give context to your shots but also can be a real distraction. Before you start shooting clean up any distracting items. Make at least one of your locations a place with a fairly undestracting background. I like to try to find a colorful wall or even to set up a sheet/background for a few more posed shots with the child just standing there in front of it. Alternatively light your subject in such a way that there is no background.

Photograph by carf

Get Abstract – mix your shots up with a few more abstract shots. For instance take a picture of their shoes, zoom right in on their hands or eye lashes, get them framed so only part of their head is in shot. These more playful shots can be a lot of fun and will add variety to the end results of your shoot.

Image by melinkita

Photograph by mpisti

Clothes – my motto with clothes is to choose some that the child feels comfortable in and that reflects their personality. If you put them in their Sunday best but they can’t move freely – your shots will look stilted. The only other advice on clothes is that sometimes bold, plain colors can work well. Perhaps have a couple of outfits on hand that you change them into between locations.

Photography by Wazari

Shoot in burst mode – for at least part of your shoot switch your camera into burst mode (where the camera shoots a lot of shots fast). I actually usually shoot a whole shoot in this mode – but particularly when shooting outside or at a park where your kids are on the move it can be very useful. Look for ’series’ of shots that might go together in a multiple image frame on a wall OR which you could put together into one image with photoshop (a child running, sliding down a slide, on a swing, doing a dance, riding a bike…) – these can be a lot of fun.

Images by Diyosa

Photography by Glenn Loss-Austin

Include other People – one good way to help relax a child if they’re a little tense and to give an image a little more context/story is to add another person into the image. Whether it be a sibling, parent, friend – adding a second person into a shot adds another point of interest and introduces the idea of ‘relationship’ into your image. It can also distract the child from you and help them to be a little more relaxed.

Image by dlemieux

Speaking of fun – do your best to make the shoot as much fun as possible. Show the children some of the shots you take, ask them to do funny things, be funny yourself – all of this will bring energy to your shoot, help the child to relax and capture some of their spirit. The more fun they have the more genuine and engaging the shots will be.

Photo by Todd Baker

These are just some of my tips for Photographing Children – what would you add? Got some great kids portraits already? Share them with us in the Share Your Shots section of our forum.

3 Books for Further Reading on Photographing Children

1. Photographing Children Photo Workshop: Develop Your Digital Photography Talent
2. The Art of Children’s Portrait Photography
3. The Sandy Puc’ Guide to Children’s Portrait Photography (Sandy Puc Guide)

Overwhelmingly the most popular brand of lenses mentioned were Canon and Nikon. Of the 302 lenses mentioned 52% were Canon, 24% were Nikon, 12% were Sigma and the rest were a mixture of Pentax, Olympus, Tamron, Tokina, Minolta and a couple of others.

As a result of the makeup of these results he decided to give you some overall winners and then drill down a little further into three categories of Canon, Nikon and ‘Other’. He says could have drilled down into the ‘other’ section more but there were just not enough lenses for each manufacturer.

Overall Most Popular Lenses

1. Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens (pictured right)
2. Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens
3. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens
4. Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto Lens
5. Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens

I was quite surprised by the the first place winner because by no means is it a cheap lens but the result was extremely clear – 22 of the 302 lens mentions were for the 70-200mm f/2.8 IS lens. Of course following it up are the ‘nifty 50′ lenses which are always popular.

Of course the question of this reader survey was asking about favorite lenses – and the winner is a worthy one as it is fast, has image stabilization, has a great focal range for all kinds of applications and is superbly sharp.

Now lets drill down further and look at manufacturer specific lists.

Popular Canon Lenses

You’ve already seen the top 4 – so let me give you the top 10. I’ve included a few comments on each which I’ve taken from the comments left in the previous post as well as my own experience as a Canon user with many of these in my bag.

1. Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens – fast, great for portraits, weddings, sports, versatile focal length. Quite a heavy lens and not cheap.
2. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens – for its price perhaps the best value lens in terms of the quality of output.
3. Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM Standard & Medium Telephoto Lens – a step up from the f/1.8 in terms of build quality and results but more expensive.
4. Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM Standard Zoom Lens (pictured right) – a great walk around lens. Faster than the 24-105 but no image stabilization.
5. Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens – often compared with the 24-70mm this lens is not as fast but has image stabilization and an extra 35mm reach. A worthy contender for a great walk around lens.
6. Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM Telephoto Zoom Lens – not as fast as the 70-200mm f2.8 and without image stabilization but still a very sharp lens, a considerably cheaper option and lighter too. Note: between these two lenses is also a 70-200 f2.8 lens without image stabilization (this lens came in at #11).
7. Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens – another alternative for a walk around lens if you take wide angle shots. A fast lens and loved by many.
8. Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Telephoto Lens – a prime lens that gets great reviews. Also check out the f/1.2 version which is super fast but pricey.
9. Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens – I love this lens. It’s not as fast as some but has been great for landscapes.
10. Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens – another of my personal favorites. If you want to take Macro shots this is well worth considering. Interestingly it also takes great portraits.

Popular Nikon Lenses

I’m going to keep this list to a top 8 rather than a 10 – simply because there were less Nikon lenses mentioned and a few less clear favorites. Please excuse my comments on each lens – I’m not a Nikon user and so have relied upon the comments of others more.

1. Nikon 50mm f/1.8D AF Nikkor Lens - Nikons ‘nifty 50′ is a much loved lens and similar to the Canon version – for its price and quality it is a must have in your bag.
2. Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Lens - this lens makes a great option for everyday shooting with a fantastic focal range which gives both a reasonably wide angle and reach. The vibration reduction makes it particularly attractive and it is a reasonably affordable lens.
3. Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Zoom Nikkor Lens - this lens has had some great reviews and is renowned for being a high quality camera. Again it has vibration reduction, is relatively fast and is great for portraits, weddings, sports. It’s not cheap though.
4. Nikon 80-200mm f/2.8D ED AF Zoom Nikkor Lens - lenses in this focal range featured heavily in both the Canon and Nikon lens and it is no wonder – its a really handy focal range. This one is quite a bit cheaper than the previous 70-200 but you lose Vibration reduction. Those mentioning it in our survey raved about it.
5. Nikon 105mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor Lens - it is interesting that Macro lenses feature on both Nikon and Canon lists. This one however has vibration reduction making its fast aperture even more useful.
6. Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S DX Nikkor Zoom Lens - another fast zoom lens with wide angles yet a little length – making it a good choice for every day use if you don’t need lots of reach. On Amazon this lens has 52 reviews and only 3 of them didn’t give it a perfect score of 5 stars (and two of those gave it 4 stars). I guess it isn’t just DPS readers who love this lens.
7. Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8G ED AF-S Nikkor Wide Angle Zoom Lens - another zoom with a 2.8 aperture and a reasonable focal range. Those recommending it say its sharp, fast focusing and a joy to use.
8. Nikon 10.5mm f/2.8G ED AF DX Fisheye Nikkor Lens - rounding out the Nikon list is a fisheye lens which looks like being a lot of fun.

Other Popular Lenses

A few other lenses were mentioned multiple times and in while most of them (with the exception of one) were not as popular as the above lenses I thought I’d mention a few:

1. Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM Lens (Nikon) (also for Canon) – this lens was actually mentioned quite a few times – so many that it only just missed the overall winners list! It looks like a fun wide angle lens to have in your camera bag.
2. Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon – (also for Nikon) – this lens certainly has a wide focal range and is certainly on the more economical end of the spectrum of lenses in this category.
3. Pentax SMCP-FA 50mm f/1.4 Lens – again the 50mm lenses pop up.
4. Pentax-m 50mm 1:1.7″ (Asahi) – the Pentax nifty fifty.
5. Olympus 14-54mm f/2.8-3.5 Zuiko ED Digital SLR Lens – The winning Olympus lens with 3 people recommending it.

By no means are any of the above lenses complete. There were many other lenses mentioned – but these were the ones which kept coming up again and again in the comments left on the previous post. I hope you find them interesting and useful as you think about your next lens purchase.

Taking advantage of the differences with the innovative digital format is truly going to aid you. The truth is this stuff really isn′t rocket science.

Never be limited again

With the digital format we are now hardly limited at all when it comes to the number of photos we can take. This way, paying for the printing of all the images, whether or not they are good, has been eliminated. It is a good idea though to make sure you keep your photo collection tidy by removing or editing those photos that just don’t quite cut it or are too much the same. Otherwise, you may have a huge collection of mediocre shots.

Ways to best go about storing your digital photos

One of the great things about the digital format is its flexibility, you can easily resave digital images in lower resolutions and more. Lowering image resolution is a great way to save on storage space. Generally you will probably only need a really high end resolution with your photographs when intending to print them out in a very large size, say like a poster for instance. However if the images are destined to be viewed on screen then in virtually all cases a low resolution will be fine.

Your camera may be able to save images directly in lower resolutions. If your camera can do this the feature could be used to save space on your camera’s memory card and so give you access to a large number of photos on the same card.

You should increase your storage space because eventually, you will run out. There’s nothing worse than running out of space just when you were about to take one of your best shots.

Save on Battery Use

Healthy batteries for your camera is simply essential. Just like with running out of space running out of battery power can be a real nightmare.

The first and most obvious thing to do is to only use the camera’s built-in LCD when you 100% need it. Not using Flash will also help a lot.

Use rechargeable batteries and keep a couple charged batteries at hand just encase you notice your batteries going low before you can recharge them. No matter how much of an amateur you are, with a little education and practice you should have no problem in mastering your camera. There’s no reason why you can’t come up with photos you are proud of.

You may feel that you are very much a beginner in photography right now, but in the near future if you′re dedicated and determined you will find that with practice and trial and error you′ll be taking shots like the pros.

Let’s take a peek at the details of the Nikon D60 first:Nikon D60 w/AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR -Exclusive Black Gold Special Edition. This camera has good value for it’s price, it is of high quality and pretty much does it all. 

What’s so fantastic about these small but powerful cameras is the user-friendly features. I′m very pleased to say that I′d recommend this camera to anyone looking for an affordable Digital SLR camera. With the Nikon ᫌ the date can be imprinted if you desire in the lower right hand corner of print as you shoot. Pretty much everything you would normally associate with the DSLR’s are there. You’ll find a super selection of choices for your manual modes, programmed modes, and even the automatic modes. 

I’d give the Nikon D60 a thumbs up for both the novice and semi pro’s. If you can find this digital camera on sale, that’s a nice bonus.
The next camera I’ve chosen for my review is the Nikon D40 DSlr. The details of this camera are as follows: Nikon D40 6.1MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor Lens

Just getting into digital photography. The Nikon D40 is easy to use, takes wonderful pictures in automatic mode and is quite an impressive digital camera. 

This digital camera is quite comfortable for the novice to use. It’s controls are simple, and the camera seems to be one with durability. It is also great for the casual hobbyist or someone becoming a little more serious in digital photography. A nice camera for scrap-booking, close up or full body portraits as well as scenery pictures. You are in full control for taking the perfect picture for your particular needs. 

Easy manual modes make this one of the better digital cameras on sale for the beginner. It may be a little bit larger than some prefer in a digital camera. You may want to hold it for a little while, get used to the feel and weight to see if it’s a little heavier than your comfort zone allows. 

These are not the cheapest digital cameras on sale, but they are some of the better buys for the somewhat serious beginner or the more casual digital photography hobbyist. 

You’ll find these particular digital cameras for sale this week at a variety of electronic outlets. I wouldn’t classify either of these cameras in the discount digital camera field, but discounted merchandise is sometimes along the lines of the, ‘you get what you pay for’ buyers plan.

Image by mbshane

One common mistake that people make with taking this shots is to put their camera’s lens right up against the glass of the plane window in the hope that it will help cut down on reflections and in the hope that it will steady their shot.

While it might help a little with reflections it generally does anything but steady the shot and will often usually increase camera shake’ due to the vibrations of the plane.

A better strategy, if you’re using a DSLR with a fitted lens, is to attach a lens hood to your lens and get in as close as you can to the window without actually touching it.

Alternatively, use your free hand to cup around the lens as much as you can to shield it from reflections.

Of course for high quality aerial shots you’ll want to shoot out an open window from an appropriate altitude – but then most of us are not in that league so the window seat on an airliner is our best option.

Photo by Tim Caynes

Here are five more tips that come to mind on photographing out a plane’s window:

1. Switch to Manual Focus

Quite often cameras get confused when shooting through glass (and on most planes its two or three scratched and marked sheets of glass). Switching to manual focussing mode and locking your focus on your main focal point can help a lot.

2. Shoot early in the Flight

Windows tend to ice up or get condensation on them once you’ve been flying for a longer period of time. Shoot early when you’re window is clearer and your shots will be better for it.

Photography by betta design

3. Be ready for the Plane Banking

It is difficult from an airliner to take shots of the ground (due to window size and the angles that are possible through them) but opportunities do present themselves for such shots on the few occasions that the plan banks before landing and after take off. The key is to be ready and to shoot fast as these moments don’t last long.

4. Turn off your Flash

For starters it’ll have no impact on your shot (its not strong enough to have an impact beyond a few meters) and secondly it’ll just cause reflections against the window.

Image by igorms

5. Look for points of Interest

Sometimes the scenes out of plane windows seem quite spectacular to the eye but when you look at your photos they can be a little empty and un-inspirational. Look for a point of interest to bring your shot to life. It might be the wing or engine of the plane, it could be a cloud formation, another plane, a coastline, a change in the landscape below or a setting sun etc. It could even be something inside the plane.

Photo by Bill Liao

Photography by Carlo Nicora

Here’s their headings an a few thoughts on each one from me:

1. Photography by Carlo Nicora

   Less is More – don’t take too much equipment and travel light. It’ll make you less obtrusive and you will be able to move around for the best shot quickly.

2. Off the Beaten Track – don’t just go to all the touristy shots – try to get ‘behind the scenes’ and ‘real life’ scenes.
3. Stolen Moments – anticipate moments between people before they happen.
4. True Colours – black and white is often where it’s at with street photography but at times colourful situations arise and can really make a shot – be on the look out for these.
5. In the Background – what’s goign on behind your subject can actually ‘make’ the shot. Billboards, signs, graffiti and other visual elements can really make a statement in a shot.
6. Dare to Go Diagonal – don’t just hold your camera horizontally – experiment with angles. Street photography is a less formal medium – make the most of it.
7. Opposites Attract – shots which challenge the ‘norm’ in terms of composition and story/subject matter can be powerful. Look out for ’surprising’ subject matter and composition.
8. What a Performance – street performers, parades and other street entertainment can be great subject matter on the street.
9. Off the Streets – other places where people gather in number can lead to great shots in this genre – zoos, fairs, shows, parks, sporting events etc all can be worth trying.
10. New Angle – find ways to get up high or down low – these new perspectives on subjects that are familiar can lead to eye catching shots.
11. Practice makes Perfect – over time and with practice your photography will improve. You’ll not only get better at technique but also spotting the things to focus upon on the street.
12. Fortune Favors the Brave – sometimes the best thing you can do is to get close to your subject – this can be a little confronting but will produce powerful images
13. Fun in the Sun – often we try to avoid shooting into the sun and the shadows that direct sunlight can produce – in street photography breaking these ‘rules’ can lead to great shots.
14. Ready to Pounce – have your camera out and ready to shoot at all times. Things can move quickly on the street so if you’re not ready you’ll miss lots of opportunities.
15. Revise the Revisit – street photography is not all about spontaneity – if you see a scene with potential don’t be afraid to keep coming back to it until you get the shot.
16. Frozen Motion – the street is a place of movement – to capture it and still get sharp shots make sure your shutter speed is fast enough. 1/125 or more with an ISO of 400 is what this article recommended as a base. I also think it can be fun to experiment with slower shutter speeds on the street – capture the movement as blur.
17. Street Wallpaper – blend in with the scene – shoot unobtrusively and unnoticed.
18. Life Through a Lens – ‘exaggerating perspective will help set your subject in context and provide a more forgiving depth of field’ – use a wide angle lens (or even a fisheye).
19. Expect the Expected – people can be suspicious of street photographers so shoot in places where people expect to see people doing photography. Smile, be polite and be willing to delete images if people protest.
20. Location, Location, Location – really this is what it is all about. Choose places where people interact with one another and times when they are present.

What would you add (or subtract) from this list of Street Photography Tips?

Photogrpahy by Gabba Gabba Hey!

Photography by Sukanto Debnath

Whatever your motives, photography and travel go together like ice cream and hot apple pie. And for those of us who like to travel abroad, those faraway places with exotic landscapes and colorful people begin just outside the airplanes door.

At an recent slide show I presented on travel photography, a person asked, “I’ve been to some of the same places as you and have and own some of the same equipment as you do too, but my photographs aren’t as good as yours. Why?”

The only difference I’ve come across between professionals and amateurs are that the professionals think when they photograph. A scene I’ve witnessed more than once depicts the difference: a hurried, harried camera toting tourists with his family, spots a scene worth shooting. He momentarily breaks loose from, throws his camera to his eye, fires off a couple of frames and then dashes off to rejoin the shouting throng.

The difference? A professional photographer will always leave his family at home when he’s out working. Only kidding, I’ve taken my wife and family on vacations from the Grand Canyon, to Hawaii, to Tokyo and Hokkaido Ice and Snow Festival to bullfights in Portugal And they’ve got to be the most patience family in the world when it comes to taking pictures besides It helps to find a hotel with a swimming pool and hot tub.

She’s says I’m interesting to watch while I work. Why? Because, I’ll survey the scene for several minutes or longer, either taking mental notes or writing them down in a notebook, taking time to walk here or there, climbing high or stooping low to find a choice angle and location from which to shoot from before even shooting a single picture and then deciding to return later for the beautiful colors of early evening lighting.

Here’s some tips I’ve prepared by learning the hard way, from experience making “mistakes” in the field.

READ ALL ABOUT IT. Well in advance of your departure date, spend time at your local library or on the Internet and research about your destination. Look for information on cultures, customs, weather, history, politics, wildlife, and festivals. You’ll get an idea on what types of photographs you make be able to take, what gear you’ll need as well as what clothes to wear and how to get around.

GET UP EARLY AND STAY OUT LATE. Light is the strongest element in photography, almost a subject itself. Take a look at any travel magazine and you’ll notice that a high percentage of the photographs are taken either in the early morning and late afternoon lighting. That’s because the quality of light at these times is much more pleasing to the eye, because it’s warmer with deeper shades of red, orange, yellow. Shadows are also longer, adding a sense of depth to two-dimensional (height and width) pictures.

Photography by ~FreeBirD®~

TELL THE STORY. Try to envision slide show or a photo album that will tell the whole story of your travel destination. This means packing your wide-angle and telephoto lenses as well as a macro if you have one. Photograph people, landscapes, wildlife, flowers, markets and buildings. Shoot indoor and outdoor. Photograph everything! Be sure to pack medium and fast speed films so you are ready to shoot in any lighting conditions.

Ask yourself what’s unique about this place. Editors and art directors often look for establishing shots, the trademark that “says Holland, Japan, China or Britain in visual terms. Go to a local card shop and look at picture postcards that highlight the area’s landmarks.

Great pictures are most often specific. A photographer looks at the scene and chooses the elements/subjects to crop out of the scene. Don’t be afraid to crop in your viewfinder, defining your real subject and capturing that only. It’s very tempting to include too many elements (trees, mountains, rivers, lakes) in a picture because they are overwhelmed by the beauty of a scene. Being selective often makes for a more dramatic image. Think about making a picture rather than taking a picture.

Look for different angles in your shooting. There’s no rule that state that all photographs must be shot from eye level, so shoot some from low angles, even ground level if you’re willing to get down on your hands and knees.

Place colorful flowers in the foreground. Check the view from building tops and shoot from your hotel window. Along with changing photo angles and switching lenses will change your photographic view as well.

Photography by Stuck in Customs

KEEP THEM TALKING. Your travel photos most likely will be of people. You’ll find that people make the most descriptive photos and you need to communicate with them. Silence is deadly. I’ve found a good practice to carry a foreign language dictionary for each country I visit and they come in handy when you want to photograph someone. Speaking a few words of the local language gives the subject a chance to warm up to you.

BREAK THE RULE AND DARE TO BE DIFFERENT. “The so called rules of photographic composition are, in my opinion, invalid and immaterial.” Break all the rules and be creative. Shoot your pictures from the heart! Have fun and enjoy the process.

A tutorial on the topic of travel photography written by photographer Jim Bryant.

Engaged couples have more options now than ever before regarding styles of wedding photography. Photojournalistic wedding photography is a highly popular choice for today’s weddings, offering a much less stilted wedding album than the old formally posed shots. Black and white wedding photography is also very popular, adding an old-time romance to your wedding photos.

Contemporary wedding photography allows couples to customize their wedding photographs freely to match the feel of the wedding ceremony. The traditional posed wedding portrait is quite appropriate to the old-fashioned formal wedding. However, this is only one of a myriad of wedding styles from which couples now may choose. From jumping out of an airplane or exchanging vows on a roller coaster to highly themed custom ceremonies, weddings in general are much less standardized. It is only fitting that wedding photography should also change with the times.

Many couples feel that they won’t be able to get both affordable wedding photography and the style they want in an cost-conscious package. Wedding photography professionals are more aware of the financial dilemma than you might think. They want to please their customers, and only those photographers who offer the best packages at an affordable price can make their studio a success to rise above the rest of the competition.

One of the first decisions that couples must make regarding wedding photography is whether to go with traditional film photography or the newer and increasingly popular digital wedding photography. Both styles have distinct pros and cons. If your wedding will be of a more traditional style, you may wish to follow tradition and select film photography. Film also provides a softer feel for certain styles of photography. The major disadvantage to film is the inability to preview the photographs immediately. While any professional photographer will be able to take excellent photos without the immediate feedback, couples whose wedding photography includes difficult action shots may feel more secure knowing that the photographer is able to preview and re-shoot photos as necessary.

Digital photography is the wave of the future. More and more photographers are starting to turn to digital photography as their preferred medium. Digital photography allows the photographer the freedom to experiment with tricky shots, as he or she will know immediately whether the shot was a success. It also allows the photographer to snap virtually limitless numbers of photos rather than being tied to a certain number of rolls for budgetary purposes.

There are many decisions to make when selecting your wedding photography. No longer is it simply a matter of choosing a photographer and leaving the decisions in the hands of the expert. Now couples are designing their own wedding photography as part of the full package of wedding customization. Try to research local photographers to find one whose style meshes with your own and then work together to create wedding photographs that truly make you happy.

One of the most challenging tasks a person can undertake is planning a wedding. What with time restraints as well as budget concerns, there are some couples choose to leave a few of the of the more chief aspects completely out of their wedding completely. One of those aspects should not be Photography. In this article, we will cover some fundamental matters on wedding photography that every couple ought to know while planning their special day.

When I book a photographer how soon in advance should I do this?

Many photographers recommend booking a photographer as soon as you become engaged, or at least until you recognize when the wedding date is. It is advised that the couple who is engaged book at least 8-12 months in up front because many studios book wedding dates promptly. Weddings are more numerous from months of May all the way to October when the weather is most favorable. If you choose to hold your wedding during this period of time, the photographer you choose will likely require a non-returnable deposit or retainer fee to book the date of your wedding. This ensures when the your wedding arrives you will have this photographer or studio ready for you, and guaranteeing a contracted job for your photographer. The quicker you book your photographer, the more likely you are able to have a solid working relationship with your first choice.

What are some of the benefits of hiring a professional?

The main benefit to hiring a professional wedding photographer is experience. The majority of wedding photographers have experience dealing with numerous various individuals and troublesome personalities.  They have confronted deplorable weather conditions, and faced technical problems. Because they specialize in photography, they are well equipped to manage numerous sizes of the weddings or for the different demands for photos. Unlike a friend or relative of the couple, a professional photographer’s main goal is capturing candid moments on film. Being conscious of they are depended on delivering superior photos that will be cherished for numerous years to come, they are less apt to be carried away by aspects of the ceremony. With an event that allows no second chances, hiring a professional is a good investment that will help keep your memories of your special day around for years.

What are the most utilized kinds of cameras for wedding photography?

There are three primary types of cameras that are used in wedding photography. They are digital cameras, 35mm cameras, as well as medium format types of cameras. In this digital age, 35mm is still a widely used camera when it comes to wedding photography. These are utilized chiefly for wdding snapshots that are of a fast action nature. They are valued for their durability, small size, as well as their simplicity in terms of use. Digital cameras have become much more popular, even preferred when it comes to wedding photography. The quality of photos is just as superior as film, also there is no time needed for processing, no risk of having the negatives damaged, and photos can rapidly be adjusted for a better outcome. Medium Format cameras produce a negative that is up to three times larger than one from a 35mm camera, without a significant loss of detail. Nevertheless, Medium Format cameras are much larger than 35mm’s and digital cameras. A fourth kind of camera that might be utilized inside of a studio for a pre-wedding shot is a Large Format camera. These types of cameras are stationary due to their weight as well as size. They are primarily used for commercial studio photography. Although these types of cameras hold an first-class lens, the costs for photos that are taken with this type of camera can be quite high-priced.

What kind of photo styles do photographers usually use at weddings?

Photographers use two principal styles at weddings. The first one is traditional or portrait style, the formal poses of the bridal party, family, as well as friends of the couple. There are little to no candid photographs with this type of style. The other method that is employed is style of phtojournalism. This is a more contemporary and modern. It is about shooting up various photos of unprompted moments, as well as genuine emotion. It is taken with very little to no direction from the photographer. There are two additional types of styles that are not as ordinarily used as Traditional and photojournalistic, and they are illustrative and creative photography. Illustrative photography is typically set up like a commercial photo shoot. The kinds of photos captured in this style are similar to those seen in magazines as well as even billboards. With creative photography, photographers have the ability and freedom, using assorted lighting and different angles, to create their own aesthetic interpretation of your wedding day.

Can I keep my wedding picture negatives?

Legally, the right of first publications to photos that are taken on your wedding day belong to the photographer when they are created. It is illegal to replicate or multiply proprietary material while not having the sanction from the proprietor of the right of first publication. Numerous photographers choose to keep the proofs or negatives since they want to maintain their control of, and protect the photos that they have taken. This enables photographers to charge additional money if extra prints are requested. Nonetheless numerous wedding photographers do not consider selling photographs, and are more than ready to hand over whatever negatives. Each photo studio will have assorted policies regarding who retains the rights to the negatives and proofs. Some studios also wish to keep negatives for people just in case the primary negatives have been damaged or lost.

To find out more go here: Family Photography and more information at Nightlife Photography and Underwater Photography

The Canon Sure Shot Digital Camera is known to be one of the ‘good’ Canon cameras. The various features you can find on this camera will make it very easy for you to take great pictures.

The Canon Sure Shot Digital Camera comes with amazing features. Here are just some of the features you get with your digital camera:

- Built-in zoom capability
- Timer system
- Red eye reduction capability

Those features make the Canon Sure Shot Digital Camera fully automatic. You can be sure that you will be able to capture steady images. No more blurred pictures unless that’s what you want.

One good point about the Canon Sure Shot Digital Camera is the duration of the battery. With this type of camera you can expect a long duration and life for your battery. Of course like many cameras out there are also some weak points. With this type of camera you can expect to experience a small delay in-between taking pictures. For some it can be a problem, for others it’s no problem. Either way it’s worth mentioning.

The bad side of this is that you will have to wait a few seconds before you can take the next shot. The time delay you will experience is very short but sometimes this can cost you a great picture by loosing a candid moment.

But to be fair I need to say that there are a lot more advantages to this camera than disadvantages. The flash you get with this camera is powerful enough to turn a dark room into daylight brightness. For me The Canon Sure Shot Digital Camera remains a very good camera to buy.

On top of that the Canon Sure Shot Digital Camera is very good to take great pictures of landscape and portrait photographs.

One of the things you might want to consider when buying your Canon Sure Shot Digital Camera is the accessories that come with the camera. You might also take note of the accessories that you might have to purchase separately to enhance you camera even more.

When you buy the Canon Sure Shot Digital Camera you will also get the strap which is attached to the camera. You will also get the case for transporting the cameras which is usually made of leather with a strong Velcro fastening.

You will find that the Canon Sure Shot Digital Camera is probably on of the best digital camera you can get if you are an amateur photographer.

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