I believe that every picture has a background, thoughts, feelings, unique smell and mood that drives you back to the place and the time when it was taken. It is because each location has its particular view, character, inspiration and aura, which is generally observed and often captured by travelers.
Travel blog pictures are the visual representation of your blog posts and are one of the most crucial features of the blog. The photographs in your blog portray the whole story behind its capturing, an eye-catching view and give an idea of the location to its viewers who will consider visiting and experiencing the same feel at that very spot. But the whole idea may be ruined if the photos emerged blurred, shaky, and not justifying compared to the real sense of the location.
Likewise, some people scroll down directly to the photographs without reading lengthy blogs, so you must not compromise on taking the best shots during your traveling. Therefore, here are some valuable tips for capturing excellent travel photographs for your blog.
- Get up early and stay late
The most important aspect of taking amazing photos is light. Soft and warm sunlight plays its best role in creating awesome images. Because you know that “the early bird gets the word”, you have to wake up early for an epic postcard-perfect picture of a well-known spot like the Eiffel Tower or Taj Mahal.
Another time of the day with the ideal light to capture eye-pleasing photos is sunset time. The light one hour before sunset has soft and warm tones like the sunrise time and this is why these are known as “Golden Hours” for photography. Moreover, an hour before sunrise and an hour after sunset, named “blue hours,” are beautiful phases for snaps.
On the other hand, when the sun is shining at its peak, the sharp light at noon is the nastiest time for photography. So this is the best tip regarding time for superior snapshots.
- Investigation before your visit
Before you reach your itinerary, you must go through related articles, blogs, reviews and photos on the internet, read some guidebooks and talk to people you know who have visited the location earlier. It will give you a much clear perspective of the site for capturing better images. Additionally, you will be knowledgeable about some iconic spots and it will save your time too.
Other than the research mentioned above, collecting information about specific points will be more beneficial. Such as the best sunlight time, timings of opening and closing, weather on that day and transportation along with time to reach the location will privilege you in taking awesome shots at a perfect moment.
- Wander around random places with your camera
Attainment of all the images of the popular places is good. But exploring off the beaten path for capturing some photos which are never taken before by anyone else is more exciting. For this, the best idea is to wander around different locations on purpose. Take your camera with you and keep asking locals to avoid any unsafe zone. So exploring unknown and non-tourist spots may get you some of the rare and exceptional snapshots.
- Carry a small and lightweight tripod
A tripod is beneficial for taking photos using a slower shutter speed (to capture waterfalls, night sky and stars, etc.) and keeps the camera immovable. It is perfect for state-of-the-art camera techniques such as focus stacking, HDR, panoramas and helps you control your camera’s settings manually.
Although it is beneficial, it is not essential to take it with you for every tour. However, for moving water snaps, dim-light camerawork, sunrise or sunset shooting, self-portraits and sharp landscapes images, you must have to keep your tripod with you. But it should be lightweight and easy to carry.
- Composition/ Try some different standpoint
As you know, the composition is the arrangement of different elements framed in a photograph. No matter what you decide at first to capture, keep changing your position and angles for a unique click. For instance, take a picture from the front while standing, then try from a lower angle (sitting down or lying on the floor) and climb up a chair or a rock or anything nearby for a higher angle shot.
Besides trying various angles, consider shooting a composition from alternate distances. Take the broad picture following the other from a shorter distance and lastly, get a closeup.
Take into account the foreground, middle ground and background components appropriately. It helps in understanding scale and enhancing the 3D effect.
Keep capturing images, always go for experiments and stab new and unusual approaches for photography.
- Do not underestimate the human
You should not always take photos of landscapes, beaches, portraits and structures alone. Adding human elements can really make a difference sometimes. A little human being in the vast landscape may be surprising and may impressively play its role in the picture by providing the scales to the scenery.
Aside from the scaling factor, humans also affix emotions and feelings to the pictures. You can make other people feel like they carry that emotion and exist in that specific location. It will work well if the face of the person in the image is not shown. This has exactly happened with Murad Osmann’s traveling photographs on Instagram that went viral.
- Turn on burst mode feature in camera for moving objects
It is also one considerable piece of advice for catching something which is in motion. The burst mode feature in the camera app will take several shots with just a single click. So you can pick the best one among all images and can post it on your blog. It will also save you at times when you ask some stranger to take your photo and it comes with a blinking-eyed photo if not set on burst mode.
- Framing
By means of natural or structural frames would take the photography on another level. You might have seen some of the examples on the internet when the photographer clicks and captures the inner view from outside the gate/door/arch using it as a frame. You may discover a natural frame at any point. Don’t miss this opportunity to frame the scenery behind or between this natural setting.
- Rule of thirds
Ruler of thirds is one of the preeminent rules for captivating and infrequent images. It aids in well-adjusted composition by diving the view horizontally and vertically in thirds. The primary objective is to put all substantial elements into these sections to form an eye-pleasing snapshot.
Usually, the main object is placed on one of the two vertical lines so that a typical look of being in the middle of the picture may be changed. At the same time, the horizon is kept in the lower third rather than keeping it in the center. The lines also help to ensure a straight horizon.
- Give photography proper time
Taking pictures in a rush and moving around different locations in a hurry will make your memory card full of tedious and dreary photos. To avoid such situations, you must have to plan and take time out for photography.
Even if you are with friends or a tour team, manage your time accordingly. Wake up before them and get some good clicks.
- Do not obsess over camera equipment
Trust me! You do not need to buy over some expensive camera equipment to increase your photography skills. You can take some of the masterpieces with your existing gear. Your knowledge in the field, experience and creativity are the key features to be a master of photography. Professional photographers use those super expensive gears for a diversity of images. For instance, fast-moving animals capturing large printable images and sky or stars photos in excessively low lights. While a nice camera with medium-ranged features hopefully will not disappoint you and is justifying if you are taking amazing pictures for your travel blog.
- Must capture waterfalls, beaches, and leading lines.
Capturing waterfalls, beaches and leading lines apart from landscapes really feel pleasing to the viewers’ eyes. Snaps of Beaches with the serene ambiance are always sensational and take the looker-on in another world. Just be sure to keep the horizon straight.
Waterfalls are also soothing and delighting in photos. But to get a fantastic shot of it, you must use a tripod (to make the camera immovable) and a slower shutter setting. It will enhance and create a smooth effect of water falling in the picture.
Leading lines may be roads, rivers, trails for hiking, mountain ridges, or anything that will lead the seeker to the main subject in the photo. All these elements in an image make it spectacular and exciting for others.
These tips really work and help you to capture better photos for your travel blog. From my standpoint, there are four main elements for making impressive snapshots; be at the right place and the right time, master of your gear, knowledge of the skill and creativeness.
By being skillful and using these tactics, you will be able to gain people’s attention by providing them with outclass and eye-catching traveling photographs.
