define travel photography

What is Travel Photography and Why is it Important?

What is Travel Photography?

When you think of travel photography, what comes to mind? Perhaps it’s the iconic shot of a lone traveler standing on the edge of a cliff, gazing out at a breathtaking view. Or maybe it’s the candid photo of a family laughing and playing in the surf. Whatever it is, travel photography is a genre of photography that captures the essence of travel – the people, the places, and the experiences that make travel so special.

In this article, we’ll explore what travel photography is, why it’s so popular, and how you can get started taking your own amazing travel photos. We’ll also provide tips on how to improve your travel photography skills, and share some of our favorite travel photography examples. So whether you’re a seasoned traveler or you’re just starting to plan your next trip, read on for everything you need to know about travel photography!

Travel photography is a genre of photography that captures the people, places, and cultures of the world. It is a way to document and share travel experiences with others, and it can also be a form of artistic expression.

Travel photography has a long and rich history, dating back to the early days of photography. In the 19th century, photographers such as William Henry Fox Talbot and Julia Margaret Cameron traveled the world, capturing images of the people and places they encountered. In the 20th century, travel photography became increasingly popular, as more and more people began to travel for pleasure.

Today, travel photography is a major part of the photography industry. There are many travel photography competitions and magazines, and there are also a number of online resources dedicated to the genre.

History of Travel Photography

The origins of travel photography can be traced back to the early days of photography. In the 1830s, William Henry Fox Talbot invented the calotype process, which made it possible to produce multiple copies of a photograph. This made photography more accessible and affordable, and it led to a surge in interest in travel photography.

In the 19th century, photographers such as William Henry Fox Talbot and Julia Margaret Cameron traveled the world, capturing images of the people and places they encountered. These images were often used to document the cultures and customs of far-off lands.

In the 20th century, travel photography became increasingly popular, as more and more people began to travel for pleasure. In the early days of air travel, photographers would often document their journeys by taking photographs of the people and places they visited.

In the 1950s and 1960s, travel photography became increasingly artistic. Photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Frank used travel photography to explore the human condition and to document the social and political changes of the time.

In the 1970s and 1980s, travel photography became more commercial. Photographers began to work for travel magazines and tourism boards, and they produced images that were designed to promote travel destinations.

In the 1990s and 2000s, travel photography became increasingly digital. With the advent of digital cameras, photographers were able to take high-quality photographs without the need for bulky film cameras and darkrooms. This made travel photography more accessible than ever before, and it led to a surge in the popularity of the genre.

Development of Travel Photography in the 20th Century

The 20th century saw a dramatic increase in the popularity of travel photography. This was due to a number of factors, including the rise of mass tourism, the development of new photographic technologies, and the increasing importance of visual media in society.

The rise of mass tourism

In the early 20th century, travel became increasingly affordable and accessible for people from all walks of life. This led to a boom in the travel industry, and it also led to a surge in the popularity of travel photography.

The development of new photographic technologies

The development of new photographic technologies also played a role in the increasing popularity of travel photography. In the early days of photography, cameras were bulky and expensive, and they required a lot of technical knowledge to use. However, by the mid-20th century, cameras had become much smaller and more affordable, and they were easier to use. This made it possible for more people to take photographs of their travels, and it also led to a new level of creativity in travel photography.

The increasing importance of visual media in society

The increasing importance of visual media in society also played a role in the increasing popularity of travel photography. In the early 20th century, photography was still a relatively new medium, but by the mid-century it had become an essential part of journalism, advertising, and entertainment. This meant that there was a growing demand for travel photographs, and it also led to a new level of awareness of the power of photography to communicate ideas and emotions.

The rise of digital travel photography

The 21st century has seen the rise of digital travel photography. Digital cameras have revolutionized the way that photographs are taken, processed, and shared. This has made it possible for anyone to take high-quality photographs, and it has also made it easier to share photographs with others.

Digital travel photography has also led to a new level of creativity in the genre. Photographers are now able to experiment with different techniques and styles, and they are able to share their work with a wider audience than ever before.

**Elements of Travel Photography

What Is Travel Photography?

Travel photography is a genre of photography that captures the people, places, and experiences of travel. It can be used to document a journey, share a story, or simply capture a moment in time.

Travel photography can be done anywhere in the world, and it can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. Whether you’re taking photos of iconic landmarks, local street scenes, or the people you meet along the way, travel photography is a great way to capture the beauty and wonder of the world.

Types of Travel Photography

There are many different types of travel photography, and the type of photography you choose to do will depend on your interests and goals. Some of the most popular types of travel photography include:

Landscape photography: This type of photography focuses on capturing the natural beauty of a location. Landscape photographers often use wide-angle lenses to capture sweeping vistas and dramatic landscapes.
Street photography: This type of photography captures the everyday life of people in a particular location. Street photographers often use candid photography to capture moments that are both spontaneous and revealing.
Portrait photography: This type of photography focuses on capturing the likeness of a person or group of people. Portrait photographers often use studio lighting and flattering poses to create images that are both stylish and memorable.
Documentary photography: This type of photography documents a particular event or journey. Documentary photographers often use a photojournalistic approach to capture images that are both informative and engaging.

Techniques for Travel Photography

There are a number of techniques that can be used to improve your travel photography. Some of the most important techniques include:

Using a tripod: A tripod can help you to take sharp photos in low-light conditions and avoid camera shake.
Using a wide-angle lens: A wide-angle lens can help you to capture sweeping vistas and dramatic landscapes.
Using a telephoto lens: A telephoto lens can help you to isolate subjects and create a sense of depth.
Using a flash: A flash can help you to illuminate subjects in low-light conditions.

Tips for Travel Photography

In addition to the techniques listed above, there are a few other tips that can help you to improve your travel photography:

Plan your trip: Before you leave on your trip, do some research to identify the places you want to photograph. This will help you to make the most of your time and ensure that you don’t miss any of the best photo opportunities.
Be prepared for anything: When you’re traveling, you never know what’s going to happen. Be prepared for anything, from changing weather conditions to unexpected delays. This will help you to stay calm and focused, even when things don’t go according to plan.
Get up early and stay late: The best light for photography is often early in the morning and late in the evening. If you’re willing to get up before the sun rises and stay out after it sets, you’ll be rewarded with some of the most stunning photos of your trip.
Talk to locals: One of the best ways to learn about a new place is to talk to the locals. They can tell you about the hidden gems, the best places to eat, and the best times to visit. They can also give you some great tips on photography.
Share your photos: Once you’ve taken some great photos, share them with the world! Post them on social media, share them with your friends and family, or submit them to a photography contest. Sharing your photos is a great way to connect with other photographers and inspire others to travel.

In addition to the tips listed above, there are a number of specific techniques that can be used to improve your travel photography. Some of the most important techniques include:

Using a tripod: A tripod can help you to take sharp photos in low-light conditions and avoid camera shake. When using a tripod, make sure that it is stable and level. You may also want to use a remote shutter release to avoid camera shake.
Using a wide-angle lens: A wide-angle lens can help you to capture sweeping vistas and dramatic landscapes. When using a wide-angle lens, be careful not to let your foreground elements overwhelm your subject. You may also want to use a polarizing filter to reduce glare and improve contrast.
Using a telephoto lens: A telephoto lens can help you to isolate subjects and create a sense of depth. When using a telephoto lens, be careful not to let your subject become too small in the frame. You may also want to use a tripod to avoid camera shake.

Travel photography is the art of capturing the beauty and wonder of travel experiences through photographs. It can be a way to document your own journeys, share your experiences with others, or simply create beautiful images that can be enjoyed for years to come.

What are the different types of travel photography?

There are many different types of travel photography, each with its own unique set of challenges and rewards. Some of the most popular types of travel photography include:

Landscape photography: Capturing the beauty of natural landscapes is a popular type of travel photography. This can involve photographing mountains, forests, beaches, deserts, and other natural wonders.
Cityscape photography: Capturing the sights and sounds of a city is another popular type of travel photography. This can involve photographing city streets, landmarks, and other urban features.
Street photography: Capturing candid moments of everyday life is a type of travel photography that can be both challenging and rewarding. This can involve photographing people, animals, and other everyday scenes.
Cultural photography: Capturing the unique cultures of different countries and regions is a type of travel photography that can help to promote understanding and appreciation between cultures. This can involve photographing people, traditions, and other cultural aspects.

What are the essential elements of good travel photography?

There are a few essential elements that all good travel photography should have:

Composition: The composition of a photograph is the arrangement of the elements within the frame. A well-composed photograph will have a strong sense of balance and visual interest.
Lighting: The lighting in a photograph can make or break the image. Good lighting can help to create a sense of atmosphere and mood, and can also help to highlight the subject matter.
Focus: The focus of a photograph is the area of the image that is sharpest. A well-focused photograph will have a clear and sharp subject, while the rest of the image will be blurred.
Exposure: The exposure of a photograph is the amount of light that is recorded by the camera sensor. A well-exposed photograph will have a good balance between highlights and shadows, and will not be too dark or too light.
Post-processing: Post-processing is the process of editing and enhancing a photograph after it has been taken. This can involve cropping, adjusting the exposure and white balance, adding filters, and other effects.

What are some tips for taking great travel photographs?

Here are a few tips for taking great travel photographs:

Plan your shots in advance. Before you set out on your trip, take some time to think about the types of photographs you want to take. This will help you to focus your efforts and make the most of your time.
Be aware of your surroundings. When you’re out taking photographs, be aware of the people, animals, and other elements in your surroundings. This will help you to avoid taking photos that are cluttered or distracting.
Experiment with different perspectives. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different perspectives when taking photographs. This can involve shooting from different angles, using different lenses, and getting close to your subject matter.
Take your time. Don’t rush through taking your photographs. Take your time to compose your shots and make sure that you’re happy with the results.
Have fun! The most important thing is to have fun taking your photographs. If you’re enjoying yourself, your photos will be more likely to turn out great.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when taking travel photographs?

Here are a few common mistakes to avoid when taking travel photographs:

Taking too many photos. It’s easy to get carried away when taking photographs on vacation, but it’s important to remember that quality is more important than quantity. Don’t take so many photos that you end up with a lot of blurry, poorly composed images.
Using the wrong settings. Make sure that you understand the settings on your camera before you start taking pictures. This will help you to avoid taking photos that are too dark, too light, or out of focus.
Not paying attention to the background. The background of your photographs can be just as important as the subject matter. Make sure that the background is clean and uncluttered, and that it doesn’t distract from the subject of your photograph.
Not editing your photos. Post-processing is an important part of the photography process. Take some time to edit your photos after you’ve taken them to improve the quality and make them more visually appealing.

Where can I learn more about travel photography?

There are many

travel photography is a genre of photography that captures the essence of a place and its people. It can be used to document a journey, share a story, or simply evoke a sense of wanderlust. Whether you’re a professional photographer or just an amateur with a camera, travel photography is a great way to explore the world and share your experiences with others.

Here are some key takeaways from the article:

Travel photography is about more than just taking pictures. It’s about capturing the essence of a place and its people.
There are many different ways to approach travel photography. You can document your journey, share a story, or simply evoke a sense of wanderlust.
No matter how you approach it, travel photography is a great way to explore the world and share your experiences with others.

So next time you’re planning a trip, don’t forget to bring your camera! You might just capture some amazing images that will last a lifetime.

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What is travel photography?

What is a good travel photo, aspects of travel photography, travel photography, a popular genre, travel photography is underestimated, travel photography explained, receive photography and travel tips, travel photography.

Travel photography is a form of photography that for example involves photography of landscapes, historical buildings, cultures, and people in a specific place and destination to document a certain place and make others make to wish they were there.

With a collection of travel photographs of amazing landscapes, wildlife, breathtaking nature, cultures, and people, you will have the possibility to showcase a place, country, or even the world through photos. Travel Photography goes further than just capturing an awesome image.

A good travel photo tells a story, inspires the viewer about other beautiful places in this big world, and educates them about a place or culture by showing them how they differ from their own.

There are travel photographers that specialize in a specific aspect of photography , for example, landscapes or travel portraits but I basically shoot all aspects of travel and I combine that with photographing properties, such as hotels and lodges. When I travel to a certain place or country I try to showcase that place at its very best using a variety of images including landscapes, nature, wildlife, and people from different cultures.

Travel Photography became popular through magazines like National Geographic Magazine . Since more people travel, more people photograph while traveling. Therefore, it's a popular genre among travel and photography lovers.

Travel photography is an underestimated photography genre . To shoot high-quality travel photos you have to do a lot of research on the subject you want to photograph, but you still can't control all shooting conditions. You have to deal with different conditions that affect the final result, such as low light, unpredictable weather conditions, and unexpected moments that sometimes make an ordinary photo a spectacular photo. Something, I experienced myself while photographing wildlife, where you come across moments that rarely recur.

I hope you got a better understanding of the travel photography genre, one of the many types of photography .

Check out the Travel Photography Guide to learn more about travel photography, including many useful travel photography tips to improve your travel images and learn how to make money with your images.

Photography Explained Podcast

What is travel photography.

Hi, everybody. Welcome to Episode 38 of the Photography Explained Podcast. In this episode, what is travel photography?

I’m your host, Rick, and each week I will try to explain one photographic thing to you in plain English in less than 10 minutes without the irrelevant details. My aim is to explain things in just enough detail to help you and me with our photography, and no more.

I’m a professionally qualified photographer based in England with a lifetime of photographic experience, which I share with you on my podcast.

Yes, I’m on episode 38. And I’m still having to read that out. Anyway, this is a good one. One of my favourite things.

What is travel photography?

Travel photography is the art of capturing all aspects of a place to inspire others to go there. Travel photography captures and conveys the physical location, landscape, people, and culture. Travel photography educates people not able to visit a location by providing interesting and informative photographs that convey what a place is really like.

Travel photography should make you want to be in that place. This is what travel photography is to me. Okay, all my own words there.

I did have a look on Google to see how people define travel photography, and mine’s better, even if I do say so myself.

Anyway, travel photography is one of my favourite genres of photography. So I’m excited to talk about this in my podcast.

You can listen to the episode here

Or keep on reading. or do both. entirely up to you, 1 what is travel photography used for.

As with landscape photography, all sorts of publications and websites use travel photography – it is potentially anywhere you look. I mean, any photo you’ve seen on any holiday brochure, any travel magazine, or anything about travel really.

That’s travel photography.

Travel photography images are also used a lot in stock where there is a big, big demand these days for travel images. And if you go on Instagram, places like that, spoiler alert, I’ll get on to that later, you will see endless, wonderful examples of travel photography.

2 What is the difference between landscape photography, and travel photography

Now then, this is one of those things I had to think about for a bit. Landscape photography is about capturing the physical environment of a place. I’m using the word place because there are lots of other words you can use, but I’m trying to keep it simple and to the point, so place works for me.

Landscape photography is about capturing the physical environment of a place.

Travel photography is about capturing that plus the whole essence of a place. Travel photography is about capturing the physical environment, and also the soul and heart of a place.

As I said before, excellent travel photography makes you want to be there. That is the difference for me.

3 Why do I love travel photography?

It’s not a good enough answer. Of course, it’s not. Well, travel photography combines two of my favourite things which are travel and photography.

One of my favourite things to do on holiday is to get up early and photograph and video the sunrise. I do this on every holiday, not every morning but a couple of mornings in a two-week holiday is fine.

And what this has done, it’s got me out and I witness things that others do not. Quite often there’s nobody else there. It’s just me watching that sunrise.

Now if I wasn’t into my photography, I wouldn’t see these things. So it’s given me things to see on holiday that others don’t see. It also gets me out into less obvious places, rather than going to the obvious tourist locations.

I hire a car, drive off into the middle of nowhere, park up somewhere and go and wander. Very rarely do I see other people on my own travels.

No, I’m not a loner. I’m comfortable with my own space. So travel photography gives me freedom and exploration and a reason to do it.

4 Who do I take travel photos for?

Not strictly true. I have some other websites. Yes, more websites. More on this later.

5 Can you make a living from travel photography?

You can. And you could probably make a very good living from travel photography. But I would imagine it’s a very, very competitive space. It’s such a broad space, so many people doing it. As you’ll see on Instagram, the endless endless scrolling of amazing travel photographs is quite incredible.

6 Do you need specialist knowledge?

No, you do not. Anyone can do this. knowledge will help you, knowledge of taking photos, processing, the outdoors, and travel locations.

But more importantly, in my book, the determination to find new places as in, get off the beaten track, find new things, and photograph new things.

7 Do you need specialist gear?

No, you do not. Anyone can do this, I would recommend a lightweight camera, I use a Micro Four Thirds camera for my travel photography. And it’s fantastic. It’s an Olympus EM5 Mk 2. No, I’m not being paid to say that. I bought it. And I love it.

And that’s what I use to travel.

Another thing I would say is you don’t need specialist gear necessarily, but the right camera bag will make a massive difference. I use a backpack for my camera stuff, which I also use for hand luggage, funnily enough.

Again, not being paid to say this is – it is a Peak Design Everyday Backpack – had it for a few years and love it.

8 How’d you process travel photos?

With freedom and creativity. Do what you want to do. That’s something I love doing, having the freedom. Like I’ve said before, I love doing my commercial photography work. But when I get the chance to just process photos for myself in Lightroom I just love it.

It’s just great. It’s liberating it’s freedom. Do what you want. I’m sure I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again no harm in it. I get a technically correct photo of something first. And then I, well, I might not always, but sometimes I will go and do something different something a bit funkier have a play, enjoy. But I get the good photo first.

9 How do I start as a travel photographer?

Go out and take photos. It can be where you live as well. Now when we think about travel photography, or maybe it’s just me, I think about that as being me being abroad.

But if you think about it, if I took some photos on my local beach, that’s travel photography, because not everybody lives where I do.

So why not? Travel photography can include where you are nothing wrong with that.

Okay. But as I said before, try to take different things. Don’t do the same as everybody else. Find your own little techniques, and compositions, and photograph things from different viewpoints.

And also share them everywhere. Get yourself and your photos out there in that mad world of Instagram, Pinterest, and all the other social media places of inspiration.

10 Do I need to be qualified?

Or do you need to be qualified? Depending on how you look at this? No, you do not.

11 A word from me about my travel photography.

Well, as it happens, I have two travel photography websites. One of them is called Photos of Santorini , which is quite literally a travel photography website where I write about the photos I took on this wonderful Greek island.

I also have Paxos Travel Guide (not pack sauce travel guide.com as the transcript heard it!) this is more of a travel guide than a photography guide. And I haven’t even managed to add on the photos, yet which is a shame, another job on my list.

But there you go.

That’s two travel websites I have already created. So as you can see, this is something that well, I don’t just love doing it. I have done it and done it a lot. And I also have lots of photos from lots of other fantastic locations which I’m very grateful for

Okay, a quick recap

My one-line summary. Great travel photography makes you want to be there. That is it for me.

So, what do I want you to do now?

1 Do this one thing.

Go out and take some travel photos. Try to convey the meaning of a place in one photo.

2 Let me know how you get on

On Twitter @rickphoto. Share a photo if you want. I’d love to see them.

3 Subscribe to my podcast.

If you enjoyed this episode. This helps me.

4 Rate and review my podcast.

Again, only if you enjoyed this episode. This also helps me.

5 Tell someone you know about my podcast. This also helps me very much.

Okay, next episode..

I’m going to learn to speak before the next episode where I’m going to try to do street photography. Now, I don’t know much about street photography, I don’t really know what it means – I tend to dismiss it, wrongly.

So I’m going to do some work on this one, which I’m going to do right after I finish recording this and then we’ll see what I find out and learn, which I’m looking forward to sharing with you.

Photography Explained Podcast Episode 39 – What Is Street Photography?

Thank you very much for listening to my small but perfectly formed podcast. Check out my website Rick McEvoy Photography where you can find out all about me and my architectural and construction photography work as well as my weekly blog .

And check out my other websites Photos of Santorini and Paxos Travel Guide . You can also check out the Photography Explained Podcast website where you can find out how to ask me a question, find a list of episodes, and also things I’m going to explain in future episodes.

Over time so badly

This episode was brought to you by a very nice cheese and pickle sandwich and a bag of cheese and onion crisps.

I’ve been Rick McEvoy. Thanks again very much for listening to me and for giving me 12 minutes of your valuable time. I’ll see you in the next episode.

Cheers from me Rick (not Eric as the transcript thinks!)

OK – that was the podcast episode.

Want to know more?

Head over to the Start page on the Photography Explained Podcast website to find out more.

And here is the list of episodes published to date – you can listen to any episode straight from this page which is nice.

Let me know if there is a photography thing that you want me to explain and I will add it to my list. Just head over to the This is my list of things to explain page of this website to see what is on there already.

Let me send you stuff

I send out a weekly email to my subscribers. It is my take on one photography thing, plus what I have been writing and talking about. Just fill in the box and you can get my weekly photographic musings straight to your inbox. Which is nice.

And finally a little bit about me

Finally, yes this paragraph is all about me – check out my Rick McEvoy Photography website to find out more about me and my architectural, construction, real estate and travel photography work. I also write about general photography stuff, all in plain English without the irrelevant detail.

Thanks for listening to my podcast (if you did) and reading this blog post (which I assume you have done as you are reading this).

Cheers from me Rick

Rick McEvoy

I am the creator of the Photography Explained podcast. I am a photographer, podcaster and blogger. I am professionally qualified in both photography and construction. I have over 30 years of photography expereience and specialise in architectural photography and construction photography.

The Complete Guide to Travel Photography

As travelers, our cameras can feel like a fifth limb—an essential tool with which to move through the world and absorb new experiences. They make it possible to document the people we meet. They provide tangible memories of the remarkable beauty we travel so far to see. Ultimately, they help us communicate what words cannot.

In the digital era, the tie between travel and photography feels more innate than ever. Photography has become more accessible and affordable to dabble in (who even needs a real camera with phones these days? ). On the flip side, it can feel as if documenting and sharing our travel experiences has become half of the seeing itself. In her essay on pushing herself to take a photo-free trip , Allie Jones asks a question we can all relate to: “If you visit a trendy upstate New York museum and don’t take any photos, were you ever really there?”

As the routine of snapping and sharing becomes as habitual as rinse and repeat, others urge us to become more thoughtful with our travel photography. Just because we can photograph and share everything, in a matter of seconds, doesn’t mean we need to. In his feature, Tyler Moss explores the #nogeotag movement , and looks at just how our photo sharing can drastically alter a destination—and decide who gets to experience it. For professional photographers Gray Malin and Alex Strohl , the “how” of nailing their iconic travel photographs has relied more on patience, and analog techniques like driving massive props cross-country, or waiting for the perfect shot in sub-zero temps, than on any new developments.

And, just in case you were starting to let your Instagram feed convince you that you’ve seen it all, we’ve pulled in photo studies from photographers whose work we can’t help but ogle. Jessica Sarkodie shares a refreshing look at the unspoiled beaches of her native Ghana. Cedric Angeles flew to Mongolia for a peek inside the lives of the country’s famous eagle hunters (and yes, there are photos of the eagles in their hunting caps ahead). For Sandy Noto , photographing harvest season in the Dolomites while off-duty yielded gorgeous slices of life.

Of course, if you’re ready to step up your own game, we’ve also got the gear you need—from underwater cameras to camera bags that don’t look like camera bags. And, we’ve rounded up our favorite photographers to follow right now, because as much as we want to cut the social media umbilical cord, there is so much to admire there. You just need to know where to look.

Through the lens

Think before you shoot

Behind the scenes

The gear you need

Everything else you need to know

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Travel Photography Explained

A Personal Perspective from Travel Photographer: Clint Burkinshaw

Importance of travel photography, the photographer, proactive and reactive photography, travel photography gear, quick access bag, lighter weight camera body, lens choice, travel tripod, safety and security, travel photography tips for beginners, tip #1. know your gear, tip #2. reduce complexity and keep things simple, tip #3. noise is better than a blurry image, tip #4. get lost, tip #5. respect local customs, tip #6. mix up your shots, tip #7. take the time to post process your photos, tip #8. maintain your gear, tip #9. backup your photos.

Travel photography differs from other subcategories of photography. It is a genre that has few limitations to its image qualifiers, but will also test the photographer to great lengths due to the abundance of challenges faced. Within the travel photography genre, one can expect to see a vast range of images aimed to capture anything from the combination of landscapes , portrait, street, culture, food, underwater scenes and more.

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However, the unique component at the heart of travel photography, is that the images from the vast range of subcategories are aimed to capture and share moments in time from different cultures, an alternate way of life, and varied geographical locations from around the globe.

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Travel photography goes further than just capturing a great image. It’s there to tell a story, educate and inspire.

So what exactly is travel photography? In this article, I'll share with you my own perspective as a travel photographer, why travel photography is important, what you'll need to get started and above all, how to stay safe on your travels.

To me, travel photography transcends just “landscape” or “portrait” photography. It’s about capturing and documenting that distant place in a single frame, pulling the viewer into the shot and making them wish that they were there.

A good travel photo will be more than just a slice of time captured in a rectangle. It will tell a story and convey emotion. Travel photography is a source of inspiration and driver to see and experience the best our world has to offer. Subsequently, it brings out the best in me.

See also: Tips for Planning a Photography Trip to Iceland

Travel photography is all about bringing the world to people and exposing to them what else is out there. It’s about educating people about the customs of other cultures, showing them how they differ from their own.

The world is far grander and more exquisite with beautiful differences than just the area that surrounds us. Bringing nature's majesty to the people, inspires and promotes the diversity of this planet and helps encourage others to explore and see the great outdoors.

See also: 25 Useful Tips to Quickly Improve Your Landscape Photography

Anyone can do a bit of travel photography, just as anyone can do landscape or portrait photography, regardless of what the definition of “professional” is.

There are essentially two main groups of people engaging in travel photography. One group consists of those who travel for the purpose of photography, and the other group consists of people who travel for the sake of travel and take photos to compliment their travels.

While there is no reason to promote one group over another, it is still a good idea to prioritise your intended scope prior to planning your trip, as the experience will be somewhat different.

See also: How to Become a Professional Landscape Photographer

There are two main categories for which one needs to focus their skill development and preparation within. These consist of proactive and reactive photography.

Reactive photography becomes significantly evident when engaging in street, cultural or wildlife shoots. These unpredictable and dynamic scenes tend to present golden opportunities, which seem to come and go in the blink of an eye. Photographers need to be incredibly quick and demonstrate the skills to make the most of these opportunities and capture the images in an efficient and effective manner.

Proactive photography in essence is being “proactive” about your next photo shoot, by doing things in preparation (like researching your upcoming location) prior to arriving.

Of course, no matter where a photographer goes and what he shoots, being proactive is always encouraged. However, there are more prevalent and anticipated situations where proactive photography will be much more beneficial.

Landscape photography is a great example of this, as the success of such photos can heavily depend on the preparation gone into the shoot. Additionally, these scenes also require quite a bit of reactive photography when on site, in areas such as lighting and newly discovered composition opportunities.

See also: How to Start Taking Landscape Photos with a Smartphone

When it comes to what equipment to take, travel photography has its own unique considerations in contrast to other photography categories. What to pack will also depend on the trip itself. As a travel photographer, if I could give one imperative tip; it would be to ‘go light’!

As mentioned previously, much of travel photography is reactive. This means, being in the right place at the right time, and NOT missing that golden opportunity. For this, being ready with equipment that is not going to slow you down, is vital.

First of all, you'll need a bag that’s going to allow you to get your gear in and out quickly. When that opportunity presents itself, you need to be able to access your camera extremely fast.

For this, I recommend a day pack with a side access pocket which can be undone in a single zip, giving you access to your camera body with an appropriately attached lens. Also, if the voyage is a long one, quick access will help you keep your sanity with the hundreds (if not thousands) of times you’ll be grabbing your camera. Hybrid camera bags are good for this, and also allows you to take additional non-photography related belongings.

When I previously mentioned “going light” is the key for successful travel photography, I very much meant it. If you’re going to be walking for hours on end each day, or going on regular hikes, lighter weight equipment is going to help you out with your photography much more than you think.

A lighter body with fewer lenses than normal, gives you the opportunity to go further with ease and allows you to get your camera out more often than not, especially in those times when you might think twice. So shelf that hefty camera body, and take something much lighter.

Thankfully, full frame sensors are fitting into smaller and smaller bodies these days, and the choice has grown substantially.

See also: Camera & Gear Reviews

The type of lenses you take is also key to getting great photographs. While taking enough lenses to cater for all situations, going overboard with too much lenses only works against the photographer. I recommend taking nomore than four lenses for short trips, and no more than 3 lenses for longer trips.

For landscape lovers, an ultra-wide angle lens is an absolute necessity.

A nice standard zoom for a walk around street photography lens is very useful, combined with a fast prime for nice low depth of field shots to really enhance favourite subjects.

Telephotos aren’t generally required for standard travel photography (depending on the trip), but is something to be considered based on photographic intentions.

See also: The Best Lenses for Landscape Photography in Iceland

One good thing about going light with your camera body and lenses is the fact that it’s now possible to downsize the tripod. A smaller smaller (or lighter) body and lens combination means a lighter weight tripod and all of this together will cut down the weight required to carry on the shoulders. It’s also quite helpful to have a tripod that folds up small to fit in your day bag. This means one with 4 leg sections.

See our popular Greenland Photography Tours & Workshops

Caring for both you and your equipment is paramount when it comes to travelling in a foreign environment. Depending on the location visited, there may be areas which should not be ventured into.

Walking around at night, or even walking around with your expensive equipment during the day, may put you and your possessions in danger. Always seek local advice for do’s and don’ts in the area, and take them seriously.

Having strong familiarity with your equipment is one very important aspect of travel photography. Walking busy streets will often throw all kinds of lighting conditions at you, and within these hectic, constantly changing conditions, golden opportunities come and go within a matter of seconds.

Being able to act quickly with the right lens and appropriate camera settings, is an absolute necessity to capturing these magic moments.

Another crucial aspect is to not over complicate your setup. If you’ve got an inappropriate number of lens (because you just “need” the best of the best for each situation) and organised in a fashion that makes you scramble each time you want to change things up. You’re doing it wrong.

Have a nice high quality lens that’s capable of a broader spectrum, with a simple setup, that’ll allow you to snap photos with ease. The more complicated and burdensome things get, the less photographs you’ll take.

You can always work with an image that's slightly noisier than you’d prefer, but you can never work with an image that's blurry. If lighting conditions are ever a question, and you’re doing a whole bunch of that reactive photography talked about earlier, then always bump up the ISO a bit to be on the safe side.

See also: Understanding Image Noise in Your Landscape Photography of Iceland

In the kindest way possible, of course! Taking the time out to spend a day wandering the streets, is one of the best things that could be done for street photography. You’ll discover places you never would have had normally. Getting off the tourist trail is also a great way to get authentic and interesting culture shots.

A major part of travel photography is being sensitive to foreign customs and cultures. It’s very common for other cultures to find it rude (or an insult) to be photographed. Especially without permission. This needs to be heavily be considered when in a foreign place photographing people and cultural scenes. Do your research, respect customs, and ask people before taking a photo. A simple kind gesture will go a long way in terms of getting what you want and doing the right thing.

See also: Golden Myanmar | 12 Day Travel Photography Workshop

Instead of sticking to just one genre of photography (e.g. street shots), mix it up and shoot a range of different subjects. Photograph everything from food, people, to landscapes and wildlife. After all, it’s about capturing as much as you can about that distant location.

See also: 9 Day China Photography Tour | Yunnan Rice Terrace & The Red Land

Instead of waiting till the trip is over to start processing your photos, take some time out along the trip and process as you go. This could mean spending a few hours a couple of times a week, in a cafe, with your laptop. Even an extra drink or two after dinner at a local restaurant will go a long way when it comes to progressing your photos.

Also, use the time to catalogue, label and rate your photographs, as it will save you a huge task later on. If you plan on writing about your trip in a blog or article later on, take as much notes as possible. Some things you just don’t remember once you get home.

See also: 5 Simple Lightroom Post Processing Tips for Landscape Photography

A dirty lens or a flat battery are two things easily avoided, but could very much be responsible for missing those golden opportunities. Keeping your spare batteries charged and lens clean will give you a big head start in making sure you catch that magic moment around the next corner.

There’s nothing worse than losing your camera, and coming to the realisation that all the photographs you’ve taken of your trip, are now gone. Backup as often as possible onto a USB hard drive and store it in a separate bag to your camera.

About the author: Clint Burkinshaw is a travel photographer based in Australia. You can find more of his work on his website or by following him on Instagram .

There's no better way to get started in travel photography than to get out and about! Join one of our photography workshops and tours and you can begin taking your photography skills to the next level!

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That actually explain what's on your next test, travel photography, from class:, history of photography.

Travel photography is a genre that captures the essence of a place, its culture, and the experiences of people as they explore different locations. This type of photography often highlights landscapes, architecture, and candid moments that reflect the life and beauty of destinations around the world. Box cameras played a pivotal role in making travel photography accessible to amateur photographers by simplifying the process of taking quality images while on the go.

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5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

Box cameras emerged in the late 19th century, significantly democratizing photography and allowing everyday people to document their travels.
The simplicity of box cameras made it easier for travelers to capture landscapes and moments without needing extensive knowledge of photographic techniques.
Travel photography emphasizes storytelling through images, aiming to convey the atmosphere, culture, and unique experiences of different locations.
This genre became popular with the rise of tourism in the 20th century, as more people began to travel for leisure and wanted to document their adventures.
The advent of digital photography has transformed travel photography, making it more accessible while allowing photographers to experiment with editing and sharing images instantly.

Review Questions

Box cameras significantly influenced travel photography by making it accessible to a wider audience. Their simple design allowed amateurs to take quality photographs without needing specialized skills or equipment. This democratization of photography encouraged more people to document their travels and share their experiences, leading to a boom in travel photography as a popular genre.
Candid photography plays a crucial role in travel photography by capturing spontaneous moments that reflect authentic experiences. This approach enhances storytelling by showcasing genuine interactions between people and their environments, which helps convey the cultural nuances of a destination. By focusing on real-life situations rather than posed shots, travel photographers can create a deeper connection with viewers and evoke a sense of place.
Digital technology has revolutionized travel photography by greatly enhancing accessibility for aspiring photographers. With digital cameras and smartphones, anyone can capture high-quality images without the constraints of film. Additionally, editing software allows for quick enhancements and adjustments, making it easier to produce professional-looking photos. The ability to instantly share images on social media platforms has further popularized travel photography, encouraging more individuals to document their journeys and share their stories with a global audience.

Related terms

Box camera : A simple type of camera that has a box-shaped body, allowing for straightforward operation and enabling even novice photographers to take decent pictures.

Documentary photography : A style of photography that aims to chronicle significant and historical events or environments, often overlapping with travel photography in capturing cultural contexts.

Candid photography : A form of photography that captures spontaneous moments without posing subjects, often found in travel photography to depict genuine interactions and experiences.

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Photography 101: The Art of Travel Photography

Our guide will help you learn all about travel photography, so you can get out there, explore, and capture great photos!

Capturing the perfect photo is an art form, and there is no better canvas than the world around us.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, travel photography is a great way to explore your creativity and expand your portfolio.

Nowadays with the increase in technology, you don't have to be a professional photographer to get great shots, but capturing awesome photos can take practice, patience, and a bit of luck.

Here are a few travel photography tips to get you started.

Find Your Style

The first step for any travel photographer is finding your photography style.

Do you prefer candid shots or posed?

Black and white or color?

Zoomed in or wide angle?

Once you’ve found your niche, stick with it.

Consistency is key when it comes to building a strong portfolio.

Travel photography is all about capturing the world around you, so it’s important to find a style that suits your subject matter.

Landscape Photography

If you’re shooting landscapes, for example, you’ll want to focus on composition and light.

Look for interesting lines and shapes, and pay attention to the colors in the scene.

The time of day can also make a big difference in the quality of light, so be sure to experiment with different times of day to get the best results.

Street Photography

Street photography is all about capturing the everyday moments that make up life in a city.

Look for interesting characters and stories, and be sure to get permission before taking any photos of people.

This type of photography can be challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding.

Portraiture Photography

As any professional travel photographer knows, it’s all about connection for portraits.

You want to capture the essence of your subject, so it’s important to make a connection with them before you start shooting.

Engage in conversation, make them laugh, and put them at ease.

The more comfortable they are, the better your photos will be.

Wildlife Photography

Wildlife photography can be tricky, but it’s also one of the most rewarding genres.

You never know what you’re going to get, so it’s important to be prepared for anything.

Be sure to pack plenty of patience and a long lens, and don’t be afraid to get up close and personal.

Remember, practice makes perfect!

The more you shoot, the better your photos will be.

Action Shots

Professional photographers know that action shots are all about timing.

Whether you’re photographing a surfer catching a wave or a bird in flight, you’ll need to be quick on the trigger to get the shot.

A good way to practice is by setting up a tripod and using the timer function on your camera.

Start with a longer interval like 10 seconds, and then work your way down to shorter intervals as you get more comfortable.

With a little practice, you’ll be capturing amazing travel photos in no time!

Get to Know Your Camera

This may seem like a no-brainer to travel photographers, but it’s important to know all the functions of your camera before heading out on your trip.

Experiment with different camera settings and take practice shots in various lighting conditions.

The more familiar you are with your camera, the better your photos will be, so sharpen your photography skills before you head out.

The last thing you want is to be fumbling with your camera when you should be enjoying the view and capturing amazing travel photographs.

This may be difficult for beginners who want to bring every lens they own, but trust us—less is more when it comes to travel photography gear.

Traveling can be tough on camera equipment, so it’s best to only bring what camera gear you need.

Depending on your style, one camera body and one or two lenses should be sufficient.

And don’t forget extra batteries and memory cards!

Be Prepared

The best way to avoid missed opportunities is to be prepared.

Before heading out on your trip, do some research and make a plan.

Know when the best time of day is to shoot, and be sure to scout out locations in advance.

If you’re shooting landscapes, for example, you’ll want to find a spot with a good vantage point.

And if you’re shooting portraits, it’s always a good idea to have a few backup locations in case your first choice is crowded or doesn’t work out.

By being prepared, you’ll be able to make the most of your time and come home with amazing travel photos.

Above all, remember to have fun!

Photography should be enjoyable, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself to get the perfect shot.

The best photos often come from candid moments, so relax and let the picture happen naturally.

Capturing Travel Photography

Now that you know some photography tips for beginners, get out there and start exploring your travel photography journey!

With these tips in mind and a little practice, and you’re ready to start capturing beautiful travel photos.

Remember to have fun and experiment—that’s half the battle.

The world is full of possibility, so get out there and start exploring!

And who knows?

Maybe one day your work will grace the walls of a gallery with other professional travel photographers or end up in someone’s living room as a cherished piece of art.

So, pack your bags , grab your passport, and see where the road takes you!

Create your own adventure and capture precious memories along the way!

Eager to learn more about travel photography? Check out Chris Hau's video!

Now that you know more about travel photography, you're definitely going to want to capture all of the fun memories as you explore the world! If you want to locate exquisite birds easily, head over to Resilient Reviews because Travis' article on the best monocular for bird watching has you covered!

Eager to learn Photoshop in an hour? Check out Scott Kelby's Course for $29 on KelbyOne !

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Travel Photography Portfolio

Getting Started With Travel Photography

What is travel photography.

Travel photography is a genre of photography where the photography captures the landscape, cultures, historic, traditions, landmarks, customs, history, and the story of the place.

Travel photography — which is the act of photographing while traveling — covers many different types of photography niches such as landscape, architecture, portraiture, food, street photos, adventure photos, and much more. Travel photography can also be found in many pieces of media we regularly encounter — such as tourism brochures, billboards, advertisements, nature magazines, and restaurants.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about travel photography — including what travel photographers do, how you can become a travel photographer, which equipment will help you capture winning shots, and how you can build and leverage a travel photography brand.

Travel photography is the term used to describe the types of photographs that are taken while someone is traveling. The goal of a travel photographer is to capture their adventures and experiences through the lens of a camera, allowing them to be documented and experienced for future viewing.

Popular subjects often shot by travel photographers include landscape, tourist attractions, people, culture, food, history, nature, architecture, and much more. Travel photography is also a broader term often used to describe other smaller sub-genres — such as street photography, landscape photography, architecture photography, and food photography (to name a few).

What Do Travel Photographers Do?

The main goal of a travel photographer is to capture stunning images of their experiences in locations away from home. This allows them to serve as storytellers and educators on the world’s rich diversity — with the power to capture moments in time, just as they were experienced.

As a travel photographer , your main reason for traveling must be for taking photos — which means that being able to take the best possible photographs can become extremely challenging. However, many travel photographers find their career choice to be one of the most fulfilling occupations in the photography world.

How Can You Become a Travel Photographer?

Professional travel photographers have existed for several years. However, in previous times, this profession was mainly limited to explorers who had their work published in popular magazines (such as National Geographic).

The Internet and social media have made travel photography more accessible to the public, increasing work opportunities and earning potential for photographers of this genre.

While it may appear simple to become a travel photographer by simply traveling with a camera, it involves much more than that. Professional travel photography requires a lot of work, time, and skill development. If you want to become a travel photographer, you should take the following steps:

Defining Your Personal and Professional Goals

We highly recommend researching, planning, and defining your personal and professional goals before starting a career in travel photography. Many aspiring travel photographers make the costly mistake of entering the field without a clear vision of their brand objectives. In a highly competitive field like travel photography, having a clear set of long-term goals gives you leverage and a head start.

Outline your goals for a career in travel photography, whether you want to make it a long-term career or use your photography career to travel. For example, you should decide whether a nomadic lifestyle or having a fixed base is better for your operations.

Learning the Art of Travel Photography

As stated previously, becoming a successful travel photographer involves much more than just taking cool photos. Most successful photographers have mastered their craft and are proficient with high-quality equipment, allowing them to capture shots that will truly stand out and wow viewers.

To produce work that meets the standards of magazines, stock image sites, and other outlets that want to purchase travel images, you must become skilled with a DSLR. While smartphone cameras have improved, they still cannot match the quality of a high-end DSLR (like a Canon or Nikon) and a set of standard or professional lenses.

Observing and learning from other professionals will also help you improve your photography. This includes taking travel photography courses, watching YouTube videos, and reading online articles from seasoned pros.

Creating a Brand and Portfolio

Given the competitive landscape created by social media and the internet for photographers, developing a niche or brand is critical. Give your brand a unique name and logo, and define your niche.

Creating a portfolio for your brand and work is also important. Your travel photography portfolio will allow you to show off your work and tell stories about your travels. It will also showcase your work and creative abilities, giving potential clients a sense of your brand goals and overall photography skills.

Consider scaled image features, horizontal-scrolling galleries, accessible menu options, and an intuitive layout design when creating your travel photography portfolio. Your portfolio should only contain your best work and be updated frequently.

Ready to build your travel photography portfolio?

Your online portfolio will be your number-one tool in helping you grow your career in travel photography and winning new clients.

What Education Do You Need To Become a Travel Photographer?

While having a photography or arts degree can be helpful in getting your travel photography business off the ground, formal education isn’t a requirement to pursue a career in travel photography. At the end of the day, your clients will want to see your ability to produce stunning images — not your credentials. This means that while your certificates can certainly spruce up your resume and speak for your experience, your portfolio will be your key tool in impressing your viewers and landing more gigs.

What Are Some Travel Photography Courses You Can Take

If you’d like to sharpen your skills, there are hundreds of travel photography courses online to help you cover the fundamentals and learn to take better photos. Many universities, community colleges, and online workshops feature certificate programs and seminars to help you master your craft.

There are a number of free and paid resources online to take your photography skills to the next level. In our list of photography courses , explore all the classes you can take from renowned brands, education institutes, and professional photographers.

What Skills Do You Need To Become a Travel Photographer?

Some skills you’ll need to succeed as a travel photographer include:

Travel photographers must be organized, flexible, and ready to adapt to time constraints (such as needing to wake up early or stay up late to capture shots of a particular place, event, or person). Traveling isn’t always luxurious; it can be time-consuming, strenuous, and demanding. Long-haul flights can be taxing on the body, causing fatigue, stress, and decreased productivity.

Travel photographers should also be prepared for delays, crowds, language barriers, lost directions, and traffic (to name a few). Mandatory COVID-19 testing and awareness of pandemic-related travel restrictions have recently been added.

Flexibility

Compromise is sometimes required in the world of photography. The more you’re willing to travel or relocate quickly, the more travel photography opportunities you’ll have.

Given that opportunities can vary based on location, being flexible will help you land more gigs. Consider how much time you can and want to spend away from home. Many travel photographers choose to work as digital nomads, constantly moving their base of operations to meet demand.

Strong Communication Skills

Language is a powerful tool in photography. The ability to communicate with strangers and ask for directions in unfamiliar places will help you grow as a travel photographer. Even better is learning basic phrases in each destination’s language.

Is Travel Photography a Good Career?

While many aspire to a career in travel photography, it is not without its challenges.

Travel photographers typically spend several hours in planes, trains, cars, and transit stops. Due to the nature of landing gigs, you may be required to spend extended periods away from home and alone. Early in your career, the frequency of gigs and pay can be unpredictable.

However, there are many benefits to working as a travel photographer. It will allow you to travel to amazing places and meet amazing people. You’ll also get to meet other creative professionals, try new foods, and have a flexible work schedule that allows you to explore new ideas.

How Much Money Does a Travel Photographer Make?

The amount of money you can make as a travel photographer is largely dependent on how much work you do and the type of work you choose to take on. Other factors that can determine your financial success include how many clients you receive, what their general budget range is, and where (and when) you decide to travel for work.

Some of the main ways travel photographers generate income include selling their photos to stock photography websites, selling their photos to clients (such as magazines or tourism publications), taking on assignments, serving as retainers, selling prints, conducting in-person workshops, or photo blogging/vlogging (which can generate advertising or affiliate revenue).

According to ZipRecruiter , the average annual pay for a travel photographer is $45,581 USD.

What Is the Best Equipment To Use for Travel Photography?

While different photographers will have varying preferences and budgets, finding the right equipment will ensure you’re prepared to take the perfect travel shots for your upcoming trips.

Best Camera for Travel Photography

When it comes to choosing the best equipment for travel photography, professional travel photographers often prefer a compact camera for its portability, affordability, and budget-friendliness. A smaller device is also easier to fit into a carry-on bag (or even a pocket) when traveling light.

However, DSLRs are also better options for still photography than mirrorless cameras. Their optical viewfinder can help you get a better idea of what your camera will capture. DSLRs have better low-light performance and more manual controls.

Action cameras have also revolutionized travel photography. Small, waterproof, and damage-resistant, these cameras are ideal for hiking, boating, snorkeling, scuba diving, and other outdoor activities.

Some of the best-reviewed cameras by travel photography professionals (in 2021) include:

Sony a7C – The Sony a7C is one of the most compact devices on the market, offering image stabilization and full frame image quality within a small and portable package. It also includes an AF system, 4K video, and a long-lasting battery, making it great for long day trips. It also comes equipped with a 28-60mm F4-5.6 kit lens, keeping its overall size small and convenient for easier travel.

GoPro Hero 9 – The GoPro Hero 9 is one of GoPro’s best models, with excellent video stabilization, vibrant color, and 5K footage. It has a touch screen and a waterproof case. The Hero 9’s second front-facing screen allows photographers to preview selfie-style shots before taking them.

Nikon D7200 – If your luggage can accommodate a somewhat larger camera, the Nikon D7200 is one of the best entry APS-C cameras available — making it a great option for beginner travel photographers. It comes equipped with a 24.2 MP sensor and is compatible with hundreds of lenses.

Best Lens for Travel Photography

Like your camera, you won’t want your lens to weigh you down while you’re on the road. If you’ve chosen a DSLR or a mirrorless camera as your trusted device, you’ll need to figure out which lenses to carry as well.

When choosing the best lens for travel photography, performance isn’t the only thing that needs to be weighed. The tools you use should be as durable, versatile, and compact as possible during periods of travel.

The best lens types to consider for travel photography include:

All-Around Lens – If you’re new to travel photography, a 24-70mm lens is ideal. With its extensive features, it can easily capture landscapes, portraits, and close-ups. Pricey, but high-performing and sharp-shooting device that will help you capture serious photography pieces.

Telephoto Lens – If you’re looking to specialize in landscape photography, having a telephoto lens in your luggage is a must. To shoot detailed landscapes with sharp precision, you’ll want your camera’s focal length to have greater reach. A 70-200mm lens will provide you with extra length, without being too weighty or difficult to carry around on the road.

Wide-Angle Lens – A wide-angle lens is ideal for capturing stunning landscapes, cityscapes, and architecture. Wide-angle lenses’ added depth and smaller aperture allow them to capture perspectives unseen by the human eye. Wide-angle lenses are a premium choice for those willing to carry a little extra weight.

Travel photography can be an exciting career. Pick up your camera and start snapping around your own city and start building your travel photography portfolio!

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PHOTOGRAPHY

Travel Photography Tips

Each place we visit has its own particular look, character, and ambiance. If we want photographs of our travels to be good and lasting, they should capture all of these qualities, and say as much about a place as give the literal look of it.

We are unlikely to long remember the smell and buzz of a flower garden in spring, the awe of gazing for the first time at the mountain we intend to climb, the caress of a tropical breeze, the thrill of a huge roller coaster, the wonder of our first wild bear, or the adrenaline of rafting white water. Our photographs need to bring these and other sensations back, to trigger our memories, and to communicate how we felt to others. To do this, we need to think and feel as much as look when setting out to make photographs.

First and foremost, think about what made you decide, out of all the places in the world, to choose this particular destination. Whatever it is—the beach, the rides, the mountain, the galleries, the food—obviously appeals to you. If it didn't, you wouldn't be going there. That site or activity (or inactivity) is one of the things you want to photograph. But there are probably many other interesting aspects of the place you may not be aware of. That's where research comes in.

Photographers for National Geographic spend a lot of time doing research. This helps us figure out what's there—what the place is about and what subjects we need to cover. Read brochures and travel books. Go to libraries, bookstores, or onto the Web. Talk to friends who have been there. Pick up travel information at the country's embassy. Find whatever you can that is relevant, and devour it.

Understanding the customs and traditions of a place is vital. For one thing, you want to be sure you act in a way that is not rude or offensive while you are there, and it's hard to know what's acceptable and what isn't with some knowledge. It can also help you understand things people do that at first encounter you might consider incomprehensible or even horrifying.

When you arrive at your destination, be open and try to take note of the first impressions—write them down if you have to. (A notebook is an essential accessory for a travel photographer.) When you see a place for the first time from the plane window, or when you drive around a bend and there it is, or as the ship nears some distant island—how do you feel? Where do your eyes go first? What do you notice about the place right away? A smell? The heat or cold? Blistering sunlight? Mysterious fog? A particular building or vista? The way people move? Their dress? Whatever it is, remember it. First impressions are invaluable sparks to creative interpretation, and by definition are not repeatable. You've seen the place in pictures, you've read about it. Now you're there, and all your senses can partake.

Get out there. The only way to discover the rhythm of life in a place, and so figure out what to shoot, is to experience it. Many places, particularly hot ones, are active very early in the morning and late in the afternoon but rather in a lull around midday. Get up early, stay out late. If you are on a tour that is scheduled to leave the hotel or ship at 9:00, get up well before dawn. Wander around before meeting up with your companions. If the tour goes back to the hotel or ship for lunch, don't go with them. Rather than take the bus back at the end of an afternoon tour, hang around until after sunset and then take a taxi. Use any spare time to get out and look for photographs. Besides availing yourself of more opportunities, time spent discovering the place will enrich your experience.

Get lost. Wander down alleys. Sit in cafés and watch life pass by. Don't eat where the tourists do, but where you see locals. Just set off down a street and see where it leads. Look around the bends, over the rises. Get away from the crowd. I find that if I meander away from the tourists and tourist sites, away from what is too familiar and comfortable, it's much easier to adapt to the rhythm of a place, and to be more observant.

Always have your camera with you and always keep your eyes open. Serendipity plays an enormously important role in travel photography. You never know what you are going to run into, and you have to be ready. Many times you will see what could be a good photograph but decide that the light is not right, or there are no people around, or too many—something that means you will have to come back later. But sometimes you get lucky. You happen to stumble upon a scene at just the right moment. If you forgot your camera, are out of film, or your digital card is full, if you have to fumble around getting the right lens on, the moment may be gone before you can recover. This is true whether you are doing street photography or visiting a natural or man-made site. Mountains, trees, monuments, and other static subjects are, of course, not going to go anywhere, but the ray of sunshine, the soaring eagle, or the embracing couple that add the needed element to your photograph are unlikely to hang around. Think of it as hunting—whenever you leave the confines of your camp, you should be ready and able to capture whatever pops up.

Make time for photography. Like doing anything well, making good photographs requires a commitment of time and energy. One problem with much of modern travel is that the days are chockablock full of scheduled tours, events, and meals. Our trips are usually of limited time, and we naturally want to see as many sites as possible. The itineraries rarely leave room for serious photography. You have to make time. It may help to make photography a scheduled part of every day, so you know you have the time and won't be tempted to get lazy and say, "I'll do it tomorrow." It might rain tomorrow. Don't procrastinate.

When traveling, you're likely to encounter all sorts of situations and subjects. This requires being a bit of a jack-of-all-trades—you need to be able to photograph portraits, landscapes, and everything in between.

Above all, work the situations over. Never be satisfied with your first view of a place or the first frame you snap. It's always possible—and usually likely—that you can come up with something better. Why else would painters make sketches? Get closer, then get closer still. Try different angles, different lenses. Wait for the light, wait for the crowd, wait for a bird to land on the tree branch. Never be in a hurry to get somewhere else. Tell yourself that nothing is more important than getting the best you can get out of the situation you are in. Once you've exhausted every possibility you can think of, you can start working on the next one.

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Landscapes come in all forms—mountains, forests, plains, deserts, swamps, lakes, rivers, seacoasts. Each has its own characteristics, and individual sites within each category have their own too. The Grand Tetons do not look like the Andes—the Nile River is different from the Mississippi.

Whatever kind of landscape you are shooting, think about what the essential qualities are—and not just the visual ones; think about how the place makes you feel, what kind of emotions it stirs in you. Then look for ways to get those qualities and feelings onto film. Is it a rocky, violently wave-washed coast or a bright and sandy one? If it's the former, you want to show waves crashing against the shore, probably in stormy weather. Blue sky and sunlight are more appropriate for the latter unless you want to show the desolation of a resort beach in winter.

Cities and Towns

Like landscapes, each city and town has its own look and feel—a distinctive setting, architecture, or skyline; a famous local site; a particular kind of food or dress. There's always at least one thing that is unique. When covering a town or city, even a small village, you need to do three basic things at a minimum: capture a sense of place, which is usually a wide shot that shows the setting, skyline, or other view that gives a feeling for the whole; landmarks that the place is famous for; the life of its inhabitants. For the cityscapes and wide shots, as well as for the landmarks, it's a good idea to check out the postcard racks in your hotel lobby or at kiosks. They will quickly give you an idea of where the best views are and what is considered well-known enough to warrant a postcard.

Monuments and Other Buildings

When you are photographing buildings, statues, or other monuments, think about what they represent before you shoot. For example: There's a large statue of Vulcan outside Birmingham, Alabama. You could make a perfectly nice image of him standing on his hill on a sunny day, but such a picture would not say a lot about who Vulcan is. A photograph on a stormy evening, with perhaps lightning in the background, would. Cannons on a historic battlefield might look better in fog than in bright sunlight. Get the idea of the subject, then think of the weather, light, angle, etc. that best communicates it.

Photographing Family Members and Friends

We often travel with people we know—taking a family vacation, for example, or bicycling around Tuscany with a group of friends. We quite naturally want to come home with pictures of them as souvenirs of the trip. Be sure to get these, but don't forget that you can also use members of your family and your friends to make your other photographs more effective.

When you are making pictures of your friends, try to strike a balance between a picture of them and a picture of the place. A friend of mine once made a close-up portrait of me in China. It wasn't a great portrait, but more important, it could have been made in my backyard—there was nothing of the place in the frame. Of course, you may want to shoot portraits, or to capture someone's expression at a particular moment, but often you are making the picture as a way of documenting your shared experience. You want to show enough of your friend to be able to recognize him—that vertical speck in the distance could be anybody. But you don't want to be so close that there's no context. If your friend is the primary subject, he has to be strong enough to draw attention and be recognizable but still keep some sense of where he is.

Photographing Strangers

It's best to ask permission if you want to photograph someone, especially if you are working in close. Engage them before you pull out your camera. Learn at least how to say "hello" and "May I make a photograph" in the local language—just showing that you've made a little effort helps. Explain to them what you want to do and what it is about them that made you want to make a picture. If approached in an open and friendly manner, most people will be agreeable—many are flattered that someone has shown an interest in them and what they do. In places where there's a lot of tourism, you may run into people who are tired of being photographed—many tourists are not courteous enough to ask permission, and local people can come to feel abused and exploited. The only way to overcome this is to spend time with the people or to go to parts of the place less frequented by tourists.

In many tourist destinations, people may ask for money if you want to photograph them. Many of these places are desperately poor, and people have few ways of getting hold of cash. The money they ask for is usually not very much to us, but may represent quite a lot to them. How you deal with these situations is up to you, but remember that every time you buy a postcard, you are happy to spend the money for a picture somebody else took. Why not spend a little on your own?

You cannot always ask permission, of course. If you are shooting a street scene or a wide shot of a market, you can't run up to everyone and ask if it's OK. In general, people do not mind this sort of photography—it's only when they're singled out that they get uncomfortable. But not always. Be sensitive to the scene in your viewfinder. If people are getting nervous, ask permission or move on.

Make use of people to give your images life and scale. If the facade of a particular building appeals to you, the picture may be that much better if you show people walking in front of it. They will give it scale and also let viewers know what sorts of people live there, how they dress, and the like. An outdoor café may be more interesting crowded with people than empty.

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Just What Is 'Travel Photography'?

This year’s Travel Photographer Society (TPS) competition culminated in a beautiful exhibition of interesting and unique work from travel photographers all over the world in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Surrounding the exhibition, TPS also held a series of talks by prominent travel photographers. In his standout presentation and follow-up blog post, Pics of Asia ’s Etienne Bossot questions us deeply about the ethics surrounding travel photography and just what constitutes the genre.

Throughout the engaging 15 or so minutes of his talk, Etienne takes us on a journey through what it means to make travel photographs and raises some valid points about the crossover of genres that are redefining travel photography. He also questions some of the world's biggest travel photography competitions and the role they play in shaping what people consider to be travel photography.

Taking a look at social media, he also questions why people take the photographs they do and asks you to question if you're looking for success as defined by Facebook likes and not by authenticity in your work.

So, just what is it that makes travel photography? What separates it from fine art and commercial work? What is authenticity? Does it matter? When you travel, are you doing it to create images or to have a unique experience that you can bring home?

The full blog post can be found on Pics of Asia and on the TPS competition site. For more from Etienne, check out his great collection of blog posts and tutorials on travel photography and swing by his gallery in Hoi An, Vietnam, if you’re in the neighborhood.

Dylan Goldby is an Aussie photographer living and working in South Korea. He shoots a mix of families, especially the adoptive community, and pre-weddings. His passions include travel, good food and drink, and time away from all things electronic.

Esteban Toro’s 'Aperture' and Insights For Photojournalists and Fine Art Photographers From The NYT and WPO

I enjoyed it a lot but it doesn't address the fact that, in years past, a travel photographer showed you unique things you'd never heard of before much less seen. It would be easy to think he's advocating to travel around the world, photographing people of various cultures who dress like us, have the same kinds of jobs as us, and are walking around checking their smart phones for messages. In my opinion, a large part of the problem is the merging of cultures. There're fewer interesting subjects to shoot. There is no solution. I hope someone can show me how I'm wrong.

Can someone give me the highlights from the video as I'd probably fall asleep listening to it.

It's actually very watchable and I'm a huge critic of boring videos. Anyway...

Most "Travel" photography is staged, based on the photographer's preconception of what an area and it's people look like and the things they do. These get repeated and imitated over and over. Rather, we should record, in a creative and original manner, the reality of these places and people. Near the end, he talks about representing the "travel" aspect of travel photography but I didn't really understand what he meant by that. Maybe I was falling asleep! ;-)

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The Ultimate Guide to Capturing Viral Travel Photos

By Rach DePaoli | Inspiration

Travel photography has evolved immensely over the years due to the popularity it amassed via Instagram in such a short time. Not too long ago, it seemed like our feeds were filled with popular professional travel photographers, as well as amateur Instagram photographers trying to make it big.

With the popularity of travel photography came pre-made filters from professional photographers. Once these hit the market, everyone began editing their travel photography in a few main ways and since this time, travel photography has really settled into its recognizable niche.

Within the realm of travel photography editing, two main aesthetics emerged, have stayed, and have defined what we know as travel photography today. We have light and airy photos, and we have dark and moody photos. One of the similar editing techniques that both of these aesthetics have in common is that their shadows have a matte effect to them. Travel photography is now a part of our everyday culture and it continues to inspire people’s future holiday and vacation plans.

Whether you’ve got a trip planned or you want to practice travel photography in your own city, we’re sharing all our best tips for nailing the shots and then will also show you how to achieve this popular travel photography aesthetic using BeFunky’s Photo Editor .

4 Tips for the Capturing Viral Travel Photography

Traveling to a new place is exciting and well worth documenting. Follow these tips to enhance your travel photography and editing skills. Later, we will take one of our travel photos and show you a few of BeFunky’s Photo Editor tools that are perfect for travel photography.

1. Venture off the Beaten Path

When you are traveling to a place you’ve never been before, research some of the main places you want to visit. To do this, I often search for ‘2-Days In [City of Choice], including the city you’ll be traveling to. This is going to give you plenty of hits of the top things to do in this city. Once there, if you are in a city that accommodates walking, walk to each destination and take your time getting there.

Stop at any place, restaurant, building, or view that catches your attention along the way. I do this each time I am in a new city and have found the most wonderful places, some just by scent alone!

2. Get a Different Perspective

If you’ve seen one picture of the Eiffel Tower, you’ve seen them all. Since our feeds are inundated with travel photography, the shots that stand out are the ones that are innovative. Work your angles and find a unique point of view. The pictures below show the same subject as the focal point from two very different perspectives.

Once you arrive at the place you want to be, take some time walking around your subject to see it from a different perspective. If there are trees nearby, try using the foliage as a buffer in the foreground with your subject in the distance. See what happens when you lay on the ground and shoot upwards towards your subject to display its grand size.

When I started photographing, I was nervous about looking weird getting into certain positions on the ground, standing on objects like chairs, or squatting. Let me reassure you that all great photographers do this. Do what you have to do to get the shot and don’t worry about what other people think. There was a reason why Ansel Adams said, “A good photograph is knowing where to stand.”

3. Pay Attention to Lighting and Time of Day

Match your lighting to your mood. This one is key, no matter if you are having a photo shoot in your hometown or are taking travel photographs around the world. Lighting can set the whole mood of your frame. Be mindful of the mood you want to capture and use the light to your benefit. I would normally say the best time to take photos is in the early morning or evening, or when it is overcast when the light is soft. Lately, though, I have been loving harsh mid-day lighting with contrasted shadows. If you are trying to capture the romance of a place, waiting until golden hour helps to bring alive certain elements you’re photographing that broad daylight may not.

4. Shoot In Your Own Backyard

When most people think of travel photography, they immediately imagine someplace far off in other parts of the world. As practice, try taking photos like a travel photographer in your own city. Sometimes we don’t think of our hometown as a place to travel to, but not only will it help you prepare for taking epic photos in other places, your own city could easily give someone else a case of wanderlust!

Walk around your neighborhood and try taking unique photos of something you see every day, like inside your house, your favorite coffee shop, or the best viewpoint within walking distance. Practice capturing these places at different angles, at momentous times of the day, and in different weather conditions.

The Best Photo Editing Tools For Travel Photography

The process of creating a great photograph doesn’t end with pressing the shutter release. To bring out important details of your images, fix problem areas, and enhance the overall mood of your photo, you’ll need BeFunky’s Photo Editor . These are our favorite tools to help enhance your travel photography:

The Crop Tool

Composition is everything. What most people don’t realize before traveling to certain monuments or places around the world is that the reality of a monument’s surroundings often looks completely different. For example, the photos you often see of the Taj Mahal are from the same angle. The reason for this is that on the opposing side of the frame, the ground is covered with trash. The Pyramids of Giza, as another example, look like they are sitting in the middle of a desert, but are backed right up into a city.

The Crop tool can help you to reposition your focal point or crop out unwanted items in your shot. After selecting it from the Edit menu, drag and resize the Crop target to fit within the area you want to highlight. Everything outside of this target will be eliminated from the photo.

The Levels Tool

To quickly enhance the brightness, shadows, highlights, and contrast of your photo, click on the Levels tool in the Edit menu.

This tool is exceptional for adjusting your photo exposure and also creating that matte look you see regularly in travel photography. If you want a deeper tutorial for this tool, check out A Professional Photographers Tips for Fixing Exposure With the Levels Tool .

The Color Mixer Tool

The Color Mixer Tool helps to balance out the Red, Green, and Blue in your image. This makes your image’s color richer and helps to correct the colors that your camera may otherwise not be able to capture correctly.

The Clone Tool

The Clone Tool is by far one of my favorites for travel photography. This tool makes it easy to remove unwanted objects in your photo and disguise those areas with another part. If you have a person’s head in your shot, you can seamlessly remove it with the clone tool.

To use it, select Clone from the Touch Up menu on the left. A circular target will appear for you to select the area of the photo you want to use to cover up the unwanted area. Then an additional cursor will appear for you to click and drag over the unwanted object, painting over it with a different part of your image.

Check out this tutorial for a deeper look at the Clone tool.

The Replace Color Tool

This tool is amazing for desaturating certain colors that are distracting from the overall subject. This can also help you create the right color profile for your image, making your image more aesthetic. You can make grass darker, and desaturate the sky, making a moodier image.

The Vignette Tool

With photography, you always want to draw your audience's eye to the focal point of your choosing. Using a vignette can be a very helpful tool to accomplish this, as it’ll slightly darken the edges of your photo to subtly direct the viewer’s gaze where you want it to go.

To use one, click on Vignette in the Edit menu and select either the Radial, Square, or Linear tab. Most vignettes are circular in nature, but you can get creative with the Square or Linear vignettes if you want! Drag and resize the vignette target on your image so that the focal point is in the center, then adjust the Opacity, Color, or Blend Mode from the menu.

Once you are all finished, make sure to save your image by going to the top of your screen, selecting Save , and then Computer .

Capturing Travel Photos Just Got Easier

These photography shooting and editing tips are the ones that I’ve used for over a decade and truly work to produce the kinds of viral travel photographs you see littered on your feed. With just a few simple edits in Befunky’s Photo Editor , your travel photos are ready to be added to your travel or lifestyle feed.

Photo Editing, Simplified.

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Jessie on a Journey | Solo Female Travel Blog

Storytelling Through Photography: How To Take Better Travel Photos

This post contains affiliate links to trusted partners. If you purchase through these links, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

Guest post by documentary photographer Willow Paule of Willow Paule Photography. She’s also one of my Travel Blog Prosperity members, and the creator of an incredible free online photography course. Grab your seat here !

I grew up in a small community in West Virginia.

In just second grade, I showed my mom a photo of a rice field in Java, Indonesia.

“I am going to go there,” I said confidently.

Fast forward a few decades, and I’m now a documentary photographer based in Central Java, Indonesia.

So, I guess I knew what I was talking about.

My mission as a documentary photographer is to create intentional photographs of ordinary people, while getting to know their extraordinary stories.

I feel strongly that everyone has one.

Photography is the medium through which I explore issues important to me, like women’s rights and the struggles of marginalized groups such as former prisoners and people who grew up in foster care.

Additionally, photography helps me satisfy my curiosity about micro-business owners, farming initiatives and diverse cultural practices.

After about a decade of professional photography experience — often overseas —I’ve had the chance to compile some best practices for travelers who want to visually capture a place, and the people who live there.

Do you want to know how to become a travel photographer, or at least be able to take amazing travel photos like one?

Below, find 11 tactics that will have you creating meaningful photographs of the places you visit.

And don’t forget to click here and sign up for my free storytelling photography email course , too!

Psst! Don’t forget to pin this post for later!

Learn how to take better travel photos and go deeper with your visual storytelling. Whether you're looking for iphoneography ideas or travel photography tips, you'll be taking trip pictures like a photojournalist after you read this post!

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Table of Contents

Storytelling Photography Definition

But first, let’s quickly define what storytelling through photography really means.

Most everyone takes photos with their phone these days, you may even feel comfortable on camera , but are you really happy with the results?

You might pick up your camera to take a photo in front of a landmark, or some beautiful food, but what are you really trying to say with those images?

Visual storytelling photography is thinking about what you want to convey with your images.

It’s also being intentional about each photograph you make, then looking at it critically to see if it fits the narrative of your story.

It’s working to create a succession of images, that, when combined, enthrall your viewers, leaving them wanting to see more. It’s creating truthful, compelling stories that really capture your experience of a place.

It’s telling stories that you’re proud of.

Luckily, photography and storytelling go hand-in-hand, with the former offering the perfect medium for the latter.

Storytelling Through Photography: 11 Powerful Travel Photojournalism Tips To Take Your Pictures Deeper

1. put your camera down and look around to absorb the scene..

Wait, put my camera down?

This may feel counterintuitive but sometimes the best way to find what you should be photographing is to just put your camera down and observe carefully with your naked eye first.

Having your camera out and ready to lift to your eye is smart, but putting it down occasionally to survey the scene — and reassess your position — is best practice.

You won’t see what’s in your periphery if you constantly have your camera pressed to your eye.

Although most of us are photographing with digital cameras nowadays, putting some intention into finding the decisive moment is a good way to develop your photography skills.

An added benefit?

Not spending hours and hours culling through photographs that weren’t really that great.

That’s one of my most valuable travel photo tips.

Psst! Looking for photojournalism courses online? I recently created a FREE email course that walks you through the process of creating a meaningful photo story. By the end of one week, you’ll have a completed body of work to share! Grab your FREE seat here (or click the graphic below)!

2. Consider how the light affects the mood of your photograph.

The word “photography” comes from the Greek root “photos” (light) and “graphe” (drawing), so understanding light is a basic component of being a good photographer.

That being said, understanding light could take a lifetime.

But here are a few tips to keep in mind and understand some of the finer points.

Take stock of what you’re seeing.

What kind of light are you seeing?
What will this light convey to the viewer?

Knowing the answers to these questions makes it easier to decide how you will manipulate it.

If you’re photographing in manual mode, adjust your ISO, shutter speed and aperture to correctly manage the lighting conditions.

This is one major piece of the puzzle, and I recommend mastering your SLR camera’s manual controls .

Another piece:

Being intentional about what message you’re trying to convey, and using the natural light to convey that message.

This is what will lead to better travel photography.

Here’s an example:

Perhaps you’re visiting places where piracy was a big problem on the Pacific Ocean.

Your travel photojournalism project involves writing about some of the more dramatic pirate attacks.

If you want to take photos that tell a story, you can wait for an overcast, cloudy day to photograph big, swirling, choppy waves and brooding, dark clouds.

Here’s another:

Maybe you’re visiting a famous surfing destination in Bali, where surfers participate in large but friendly competitions.

The competitions take place all day; however, you might consider photographing during the golden hour.

This is the time in the afternoon — just before sunset — when the light gets softer and golden-yellow.

This can show the fun and beauty of belonging to a surfing community.

If you must take photos of people at midday, remember the noon sun can be harsh and add dark shadows to their face.

Try to find a shady corner with even light.

3. Move around something you’re photographing to experience it different ways.

Have you ever photographed the same thing as your travel partner and later looked at each of your photos together?

Are they similar or strikingly different?

Back in art school, my classmates and I took turns modeling for each other while the others photographed.

We were all in the same classroom photographing the same model, but we could decide how to position ourselves, and how close to stand.

Later, we printed our photographs and compared them.

It was really elucidating to see the different ways classmates approached the exact same scene, and how different the results were.

I urge you to stand up, squat down, get flat, get tall.

Photograph through windows, under chairs, look through holes.

All of these things can make your photographs more creative and more compelling.

4. Come to the same place at a few different times of day.

If you know you’ll have time to go to the same place more than once, you can devote your first trip to careful observation.

Is this a place that would be more fascinating early in the morning?

Or will it be more dramatic as the sun sets?

Perhaps you want to photograph a busy farmer’s market, but it turns out most people show up early to get the freshest produce.

You can learn all this by visiting once to scout it out, and then again to photograph.

The second time you visit, you’ll already have scoped out some of the most interesting parts of the market and can head directly to them to photograph.

5. Focus on the people who make the place.

Sure, there are myriad beautiful and extraordinary destinations to explore around the world.

For me, though, it’s the people that make me remember a place.

In fact, let me share a few storytelling photography ideas.

If you meet someone interesting in your travels, ask if you can watch them doing what it is they do, and photograph the process for your blog.

For example, perhaps you meet a friendly bartender.

How does she create her signature drink?

As you’re photographing her, ask questions.

“How long have you been working as a bartender?”

“What do you like to do in your free time?’

If the relationship develops and you feel comfortable, ask her if you can take some photos of her in her free time.

Maybe you meet a farmer who has introduced organic practices to his village.

Ask if you can take some photos of his crops, of where he stores his harvest, or him working.

What does his family eat for breakfast?

Ask from a place of sensitive curiosity, using your intuition to understand when you’ve asked enough questions.

But, most important:

Don’t be afraid to ask questions, because this helps you develop as a photographer and storyteller.

Your story about this one interesting person can get your readers interested in visiting this area, and reading your blog more often.

I’m convinced that meeting local people is one of the best ways to really engage with a place.

Moreover, it’s one of the most interesting things you can share with your travel audience.

By the way, I recently created a free online photography course which teaches you to take more engaging photos of people. The course is perfect for travelers who want to add to their storytelling toolbelt and learn to put together compelling photo stories. Sign up for the free one-week course here (or click the image below!):

One other note about photographing people:

Sometimes those photos don’t actually have to be of people.

They can be about the artifacts they leave behind, the spaces they inhabit, or gifts they’ve given.

Can any of these approaches help you tell your story?

These are the creative questions to ask yourself.

6. Visit places you wouldn’t normally have access to as a traveler by going with someone from the area.

You can find these opportunities by using Couchsurfing (with has accommodation and local meetup forums), finding local area Facebook groups or just talking to people you meet.

Another idea:

Reach out to tourism colleges in the area.

When you head out with your local guide watch their social cues in order to have the best experience possible.

Are they being quiet for some important reason?

Have they put their camera down as someone passed?

Observing their social clues will make you the most respectful traveler photographer possible.

Your new friend will offer you an insider’s perspective about this new place you’re visiting.

They can recommend events, take you to little-known places, or invite you to weddings.

Yes, you read that right.

And I speak from personal experience!

Quite honestly, this is one of my favorite tips for taking better pictures on the road .

7. Do your research.

When you’re trying to tell stories with photos, knowing a place’s background is useful.

Take some time to read about the place you’re going.

Perhaps you can even infuse some of the history of the place into your images.

Imagine you are a character from the history you’ve read of the place.

What would that person focus on when taking photographs?

Note: Don’t be too concerned about whether cameras existed in their day.

Try a day of photographing in their shoes.

8. Put your camera down.

“But Willow, didn’t you already say this?”

Yes, I did.

When you are traveling, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by a sense of responsibility to document everything at all times.

My opinion?

This habit is detrimental to good storytelling.

Thinking deeply about your purpose and what you share with your audience will only serve to make your message clearer.

Putting your camera down to think about what you want to convey will make you a better storyteller.

If you want to up your storytelling game and learn to tell compelling visual stories about people, join my free email course .

9. Create an organizational system.

If you take photos you’re proud of and want to share, but then can’t find them, what good will that do you?

The solution:

Spend time getting organizational systems in place.

Here are some ways I manage my photos:

I save my images to two external hard drives.

I like to use WD external drives because they are affordable, plug directly into my computer and are compact.

If you only save photos in one place, anything can happen.

If you save them in two places, your images are much safer.

I never erase/reformat my memory cards until I’ve saved my images to at least two external hard drives.

When organizing in the external hard drives, there are good systems to have in place.

My favorite F word is “folders”, at least when I’m talking photography.

Folders are your best friend.

I like to save my images by year and location, then specific location/assignment.

Once I process the images, I sort them by larger unedited images, edited large images, and finally images edited for web.

It might look something like this:

The reason I save by year and location is so I don’t have to look through 100 folders before finding the project.

Admittedly I have a bad memory, but I can usually at least remember what country I was in and what year.

The result of this organization?

Later, when you need the images, they’ll be easy to find.

You’ll already have images sized for web to share on social media.

Moreover, if one external hard drive fails, you have a backup.

If you prefer to use the cloud or online storage, you can use the same principles, but should still save in two places.

Another way to up your photography game:

Keep track of what you’re doing with notes on:

Your camera settings — and, by the way, you can find some of the best travel cameras right here
How to get to specific locations that you may want to revisit later
The personal details of people you photographed for captions or blog posts
Your feelings when you visit specific places.

Keep these notes in a small notebook or journal, in your phone, or in audio files.

10. Stop thinking about doing it and just do it.

Overthinking can be detrimental.

Sure, being well-educated and considering all angles is good.

But even more important is imperfect action.

As in, doing the best you can. You can only learn and grow from this.

At some point, it’s just time to get out, take photos, make mistakes and then try again the next day.

11. Ignore all my advice and find your own path for travel photography ideas.

People always say you should learn the rules so you can understand when and how to break them.

Learning visual storytelling techniques , photographic theory and camera mechanics — as well as viewing work from some of the best travel photographers — is valuable.

But once you’ve studied up on all of that, it’s important to use your intuition to feel out what fuels you.

There is no right answer when it comes to storytelling through images.

Use your personal interests to define what you will photograph, and how you will approach it.

It’s all a process.

The more you practice the craft of making photographs, the more adept you will become.

Follow your curiosity and just keep getting out there taking photos.

Finally, I’d love to keep in touch! Want to share your travel feed with me? Tag me in your photos on Instagram @WillowPauleFoto.

*All images above by Willow Paule. Featured image via Jose Aragones/Pexels.

Enjoyed this post? Pin it for later!

These powerful travel photography tips will help you take better pictures while creating a deeper impact with your visual storytelling projects (whether you're having fun with iphoneography or using a professional camera!).

About Willow Paule

Willow Paule is a documentary photographer, educator & blogger at WillowPaule.com . Her photos tell the intimate stories of everyday people & their extraordinary lives. She blogs about photography, creative risk-taking & bringing vulnerability into photography work. Sign up for her free e-course: Create A Compelling Photo Story In One Week .

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Khanty-Mansiysk: Why you simply must visit this northern land of mammoths

“I have been to Yugra many times. I was sworn in as a Siberian in a cedar forest,” producer Andrey Suleikov writes in the preface to a collection of legends called Yugra. It’s My Land . “I tasted lingonberries in the cold and could not tell whether the berries were coated in sugar or ice. I also enjoyed outdoor hot springs while taking a traditional Siberian bath."

Fuel pumping stations

Sounds more like time travel than a present-day tourist trip, doesn’t it? But that is what Yugra is like: a fusion between prehistoric things like mammoths and modernity, which has brought oil, gas and new buildings. Even the region’s official name (which is quite long: the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area – Yugra) combines the present with the past.

Tying a ribbon is a national tradition

There is a beautiful legend about Yugra’s origins. In one very bright, warm and sunny city, twins of unprecedented beauty were born: a brother named Yug and a sister named Ra. At first, they grew up like ordinary small children, but with age they began to argue and fight, so much so that when they did flames flared up around them. The townspeople were afraid that they would burn everything down, so they exiled Yug and Ra to a remote northern land covered with ice and snow. The brother and sister illuminated this land with their light and made it warm so that people could come here to live. Yug and Ra stopped fighting and began living together in harmony. Since then, this northern land has been called Yugra.

When you look at the map, it may seem that Khanty-Mansiysk is located almost in the middle of Russia. However, the climate here is similar to regions of the Far North. In winter, the temperature here drops to below -40 degrees Celsius.

We asked local residents and people who know this region well to tell us more about it and to share some tips for tourists who come to visit.

Why should a foreigner visit Khanty-Mansiysk?

“If you want to feel the coldness and colors of Russian winter, then you should definitely stop by in our small cozy town,” says a local tattoo artist, Semyon Chepurnoy.

A Khanty man in a traditional dress

Yevgeny Zinovyev, a journalist and the former editor-in-chief of a local media outlet, says that Khanty-Mansiysk provides the opportunity to experience a real and not touristy part of Russia. “In winter, there are frosts, snowdrifts and wind. In summer, heat, midges and bears. At any time of the year, you can experience the everyday life and customs of the indigenous peoples: the Khanty and Mansi. And of course, in Khanty-Mansiysk you can get to know the backbone of modern Russia – its oil and gas sector."

“We have unique scenery here. Khanty-Mansiysk is located on seven hills and is surrounded by the taiga. There are a lot of fish in the rivers, and a lot of mushrooms, berries and pine nuts in the forests surrounding the city,” says local insurance company employee Sergey Yankovich.

View of the city and the Irtysh River

The harsh climate of the region influences how local residents relate to visitors. “Residents of the city are very good-natured and welcoming and are always ready to offer help in any situation, even to a stranger, because in the north, there is an unspoken rule: If you see that a person is in distress, be sure to help them, because tomorrow, it may be you in their place. The harsh climate and surrounding scenery leave no room for error, especially in winter,” Sergey says.

Things to see/do/taste in Khanty-Mansiysk

Mammoths at the Archeopark

According to Irina Pudova, a local resident and the author of a collection of legends called Yugra: It’s My land , the first thing to do in Khanty-Mansiysk is to see the local mammoths. Seven life-size bronze prehistoric animals "roam" the area near Samarovsky Hill on the grounds of the Archeopark complex. Here you will also find a prehistoric bison, a pack of wolves, a cave bear, two woolly rhinos and prehistoric people themselves.

Sculptures of bisons at the Archeopark cultural and tourist complex

“Then you could get something to eat,” Irina advises. “The thing to do is to go to any local restaurant of Siberian cuisine and ask for muksun. It is a valuable freshwater fish of the salmon family, which is highly prized by locals and tourists alike.”

Khanty-Mansiysk is a relatively new city and only received this status in 1950. Soo oil was discovered in the region, prompting a dramatic push in its development. Prior to that, there were just Siberian settlements built by Russia in the late 16th century. Irina is impressed that a modern city was built in such harsh conditions.

The Church of the Protection of the Holy Virgin

“Cultural objects, squares, houses - all this is unique. And everything is new, there is nothing very ancient here. Except for mammoths!” she says.

In addition to the Archeopark mentioned above, Yevgeny Zinovyev’s list of favorite places in the city includes the Museum of Geology, Oil and Gas, along with the Museum of Nature and Man and the centuries-old cedars in the Samarovsky Chugas natural park. He recommends checking out the views from the observation deck near the Monument to the Explorers of the Yugra Land and paying a visit to a local bathhouse.

'Red Dragon' bridge over the Irtysh River

Yevgeny also provided us a checklist of culinary delights that anyone visiting Khanty-Mansiysk should be sure to try:

Muksun (in any form but best of all frozen and sliced as Stroganina).
Wild berries (cranberry, cowberry, cloudberry).
Venison (in any form but best of all stewed and sprinkled with frozen berries and pine nuts).

Sergey Yankovich recommends visiting the open-air ethnographic museum Torum Maa, which means "Sacred Land" in Mansi. “There you can get acquainted with the history of the city and the district, as well as with the life of the indigenous peoples of the Khanty and Mansi, who belong to the Finno-Ugric group,” Sergey says.

Torum Maa ethnic center

In addition, he advises anyone who comes to Khanty-Mansiysk to visit the spot where the Ob and Irtysh rivers meet, pay a visit to Misne Hotel’s restaurant and taste traditional dishes there, as well as dishes prepared by local fishermen and hunters while in the taiga.

According to Semyon Chepurnoy, the Valley of Streams natural park is another must for any visitor. It is one of local residents’ favorite recreation areas, where you can stroll along a dedicated footpath offering stunning views of the city. Semyon also advises trying pancakes at the GoodFood chain of cafes.

What are the best souvenirs?

“We all love something mystical and supernatural. There is a strong culture of shamanism here, so I think it’s cool to take with you some local amulets charged by a shaman—a bear claw or a pendant made of beads and deerskin,” says Irina Pudova.

A Khanty woman in the traditional dress selling souvenirs

Sergey Yankovich advises that authentic souvenirs can be found at the Crafts Center on Roznina Street. “There you can also see and even try on the national costumes of the Khanty and Mansi and try to solve traditional puzzles that representatives of the indigenous peoples made for their children.”

According to Yevgeny Zinovyev, the best souvenirs are Khanty and Mansi amulets, clothes, jewelry, as well as traditional local treats such as muksun, wild berries, pine nuts and venison.

Cowberry bush

For his part, Semyon Chepurnoy recommends bringing away memories and photographs as well as a little bit of Siberian Frost ❄.

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Khanty-Mansiysk city, Russia

The capital city of Khanty-Mansi okrug .

Khanty-Mansiysk - Overview

Khanty-Mansiysk is a city in Russia, the administrative center of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug - Yugra. This is one of the oldest, most beautiful, and unusual cities in Western Siberia. Located on seven hills about 20 kilometers from the confluence of two great Siberian rivers - the Ob and Irtysh, it has a unique natural landscape.

The population of Khanty-Mansiysk is about 106,000 (2022), the area - 10.5 sq. km.

The phone code - +7 3467, the postal codes - 628000-628991.

Khanty-Mansiysk city flag

Khanty-mansiysk city coat of arms.

Khanty-Mansiysk city map, Russia

Khanty-mansiysk city latest news and posts from our blog:.

4 March, 2017 / Khanty-Mansiysk - the view from above .

6 March, 2011 / Khanty-Mansiysk - the capital of the world biathlon for two weeks .

22 November, 2010 / The handicrafts center of Khanty-Mansiysk city .

15 June, 2010 / Khanty-Mansiysk city puppet theater project pictures .

History of Khanty-Mansiysk

Khanty-mansiysk in the 16th-18th centuries.

In May 1582, the Cossacks began a “yasak campaign” (to exact fur tribute from the indigenous peoples of Siberia) along the Ob and Irtysh rivers, and didn’t meet any serious resistance on their way until Samar, the chief prince of the local Khanty (Ostyaks) people, decided to fight back and was killed. The settlement that existed in this territory was plundered and deserted. The full inclusion of Siberia in Russia took another half a century.

In the 1630s, people from other parts of Russia began to arrive in the lower Irtysh to service the postal tracts. In 1635, one of the first official documents was signed on the creation of Samarovsky settlement, which was named after the Khanty Prince of Samar killed here.

In the 17th century, its favorable location at the intersection of important routes allowed Samarovskaya sloboda (settlement) to become a center of trade. Merchants from all over the world brought cloth, velvet, silk, spices, jewelry to Siberia. Russian merchants offered fur, fish, hides, dishes, buttons, gunpowder. A branch of the Tobolsk Customs was opened here, where screening and evaluation of goods were carried out, duties were collected.

In 1708, Samarovo became part of the Siberian Governorate. In the 18th century, the residents of the settlement had to master crafts and production, since Eastern Siberia was joined to Russia and the main trade routes shifted south. The settlement began to be called Samarovo. In 1748, the population of the village was 487 people.

More Historical Facts…

Khanty-Mansiysk in the 19th-20th centuries

In the 19th century, Samarovo began to attract more and more attention from travelers, researchers, and scientists. Edmond Cotteau, a French traveler, wrote: “Samarovo is a beautiful settlement built at the foot of hills covered with dense forest. The church with white domes stands in the middle of it. Previously, the capital of the Ostyak kingdom stood here, but its original residents left it and settled in remote valleys. Now, the only residents here are Russians…”.

At the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, Samarovo became a prosperous village with numerous large two-story houses. In 1930, a decree was issued on the organization of the Ostyak-Vogul National District. In 1931, 5 km from Samarovo, construction of the new capital of the region began. It was named Ostyako-Vogulsk. In 1937, a road was built between the new village and Samarovo. Later, it began to be called “Khanty-Mansiysk Street”. In 1938, the population of Ostyako-Vogulsk was about 7.5 thousand people. In 1940, Ostyako-Vogulsk was renamed Khanty-Mansiysk.

In 1950, the village of Khanty-Mansiysk received the status of a town, the village of Samarovo became its part. In 1953, a natural gas field was discovered in the village of Berezovo located north of Khanty-Mansiysk. In 1960, oil was discovered in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug. Khanty-Mansiysk began to grow and develop rapidly.

The airport was reconstructed, new apartment buildings, schools, kindergartens, libraries, and a cultural center were built. Thousands of people arrived to develop the oil region. In 1989, the population of Khanty-Mansiysk was about 34.5 thousand people.

The latest history of Khanty-Mansiysk

The beginning of the 1990s was a time of great changes for Khanty-Mansiysk. In 1993, the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug became a subject of the Russian Federation and received the right to independently form its own budget.

Significant funds began to be allocated for the development of the transport and communal infrastructure of the region, for the implementation of social programs aimed at improving the living conditions of the population, preserving the traditional culture of the indigenous peoples of the North.

In 1993, the IV International Folklore Festival of Finno-Ugric Peoples was held in Khanty-Mansiysk. In 1996, a federal highway connected the city with Surgut, Nefteyugansk, and Tyumen.

In 2004, a unique automobile bridge was built over the Irtysh River and the city received reliable communication with Nyagan and other cities of the western part of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug - Yugra. In 2010, the road built through the village of Gornopravdinsk reduced the distance from Khanty-Mansiysk to Tyumen by 300 kilometers.

In the 2000s, the city as the center of the largest Russian oil and gas region developed rapidly, its population more than tripled. A number of educational and scientific centers, cultural and sports facilities were opened in Khanty-Mansiysk: the Khvoyny Urman ski complex, the Ice Sports Palace, the Ugra-Athletics open stadium for 10,000 spectators, the Center for the Development of Tennis Sports, the cultural tourist complex “Archeopark”, the equestrian club “Mustang”, Yugra Chess Academy, and others.

In June 2008, Khanty-Mansiysk hosted the World Congress of Finno-Ugric Peoples and the V International Festival of Finno-Ugric Peoples Crafts “Yugra-2008”. In September 2010, the 39th World Chess Olympiad was held in Khanty-Mansiysk. About 1.5 thousand chess players from 158 countries arrived here to participate in the most massive sporting event in the history of the city.

Pictures of Khanty-Mansiysk

General view of Khanty-Mansiysk

Author: Sergov

State Art Museum in Khanty-Mansiysk

Author: Igor Timoshok

Sculpture of a woman with a tambourine in Khanty-Mansiysk

Khanty-Mansiysk - Features

Khanty-Mansiysk is located on the territory of the West Siberian Plain in the central part of Western Siberia, on the right bank of the Irtysh River, about 20 kilometers from the confluence with the Ob River; in the natural zone of the taiga. The distance to Tyumen is 669 km, to Moscow - about 2,580 km.

It is the largest of the centers of the autonomous regions of Russia and the only one with a population of more than 100,000 people. At the same time, it is one of the few Russian administrative centers, which is smaller than other cities of the region. Khanty-Mansiysk is only the fourth largest city of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug after Surgut, Nizhnevartovsk, Nefteyugansk.

This city is equated to regions of the Far North and is located in the continental climate zone. The average temperature in January is minus 18.9 degrees Celsius, in July - plus 18.4 degrees Celsius.

In recent years, Khanty-Mansiysk has one of the highest, even by all-Russian standards, population growth rates. The annual growth is about three thousand people. Students and working youth make up more than 30% of its population. The average age of a city resident is about 35 years.

Khanty-Mansiysk is a green city. Almost a third of its territory is occupied by forest. The city is surrounded by Samarovsky Chugas Park - a natural reserve with relict species of conifers. The environmental situation in the city is very favorable, because there are no large industrial enterprises.

The airport of Khanty-Mansiysk offers regular flights to Moscow, Kazan, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Krasnoyarsk, Ufa. It is connected by road with other major cities of the Tyumen region (Surgut, Nefteyugansk, Tyumen).

Passenger ships connect Khanty-Mansiysk with a lot of towns and villages of the region, as well as with Tobolsk, Omsk, and Salekhard. The nearest railway stations are Pyt-Yakh (248 km from Khanty-Mansiysk) and Demyanka (238 km from Khanty-Mansiysk). The bus network of Khanty-Mansiysk is represented by 7 city and 1 country bus routes.

Khanty-Mansiysk is a center of skiing of world importance. Here, from the beginning of the 2000s, a modern biathlon center has been operating. In 2000, 2005, and from 2007 to 2016 (except for 2014), the stages of the Biathlon World Cup were held here.

The most interesting souvenirs you can bring from Khanty-Mansiysk are various leather and fur products, original Khanty tambourines, folk dolls and Khanty toys, beadwork, pine nuts, wicker products made from cedar roots and grass.

Main Attractions of Khanty-Mansiysk

Archeopark “Samarovsky Ostanets” - a cultural and tourist complex with sculptures of ancient animals and people. The main sight is the famous stone sculpture of 11 mammoths. In addition, there are sculptures of wolves and bison, lions, deer, bears, rhinos, and other animals from the Pleistocene. Obyezdnaya Street, 23.

Museum of Nature and Man - one of the oldest and most interesting museums in Khanty-Mansiysk. The collection of this museum numbers more than 120 thousand exhibits: various cultural and everyday objects of the Khanty and Mansi peoples, reconstructions and models of ancient buildings, skeletons and stuffed animals, expositions showing external and internal processes of the Earth. Mira Street, 11.

State Art Museum . The art collection of this museum consists of sections of icon painting, Russian painting, graphics, prints, arts and crafts, and sculpture. Here you can see the paintings of famous masters of Russian fine art: Rokotov, Tropinin, Repin, Aivazovsky, Surikov, Levitan, and other artists of the 18th-20th centuries. The section of old Russian art includes works of icon painting of the 15th-19th centuries. Mira Street, 2.

Museum of Geology, Oil and Natural Gas . Khanty-Mansiysk is considered the heart of the natural gas and oil industry in Russia. The largest oil and gas fields in the country are located in this region. The collection is based on historical documents and photographs, precious stones, minerals and rocks, samples of oil production equipment, and decorative items. Chekhova Street, 9.

House-Museum of the People’s Artist of the USSR Vladimir Igoshev . The purpose of the museum is to popularize the works of the artist, who depicted in his paintings the beauty of the Siberian land, its history and culture, and the people living in Yugra. In addition to the exhibition halls, you can also visit the artist’s workshop and apartment. The appearance of the building constructed in the Russian Art Nouveau style with mosaics and stucco moldings is also interesting. Lopareva Street, 7.

Ethnographic open-air museum “Torum-Maa” . Located in the picturesque forest of the Siberian taiga, this museum preserves the culture and traditions of the Khanty and Mansi peoples. Here you can see the constructions of the indigenous inhabitants of this land, their household items, clothes, jewelry, and various collections of old objects. Traditional festivals and ceremonies are also held here. The name of the museum means “Holy Land”. Sobyanina Street, 1.

Orthodox complex “In the Name of the Resurrection of Christ” . Its majestic buildings, crowned with gilded domes, can be seen from almost any part of Khanty-Mansiysk. Built in 2005, the complex includes more than 10 buildings, the main of which are the Cathedral of the Resurrection, an Orthodox gymnasium and a school, the Church of Prince Vladimir, and a 62-meter bell tower, which is one of the tallest buildings in the city.

Here you can also find the first in Russia Orthodox park of Slavic writing and culture “Slavic Square” decorated with sculptures on the theme of the Ten Commandments. In addition, the complex has monuments to saints, alleys, playgrounds, and places for recreation. Gagarina Street, 9.

Monument to the Discoverers of the Yugra Land - a picturesque 62-meter trihedral pyramid lined with glass. Each side symbolizes an important milestone in the history of Yugra - the appearance of indigenious peoples, the exploration of the region by the Cossacks of Ermak, and the discovery of oil and natural gas fields. The pyramid is visible from anywhere in Khanty-Mansiysk as it is located on the slope of a high hill surrounded by forest. Pervootkryvateley Lane, 1.

The Red Dragon Bridge over the Irtysh River - one of the most beautiful bridges not only in Western Siberia, but also in Russia. The 1,316-meter-long bridge was built in 2004. It connects Khanty-Mansiysk with the western part of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug.

Samarovsky Chugas Nature Park - a great place for ecotourism lovers. Spread along the picturesque hills, Samarovsky Chugas covers an area of ??more than 6.5 thousand hectares with dense forests, streams, and blue lakes. This park, once called the Khanty-Mansiysk Hills, has the status of a natural monument. This is a favorite place for lovers of wildlife and walks in the fresh air. The visitors of the park are also offered ecological sightseeing routes with an experienced tour guide.

Khanty-Mansiysk city of Russia photos

Sights of khanty-mansiysk.

The Red Dragon Bridge in Khanty-Mansiysk

Yugra-Klassik concert hall in Khanty-Mansiysk

Author: Mariusz Rzetala

Cathedral of the Resurrection in Khanty-Mansiysk

Architecture of Khanty-Mansiysk

Apartment buildings in Khanty-Mansiysk

Khanty-Mansiysk cityscape

Author: Dmitry Sanatov

Yugra State University in Khanty-Mansiysk

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Travel photography differs from other subcategories of photography. It is a genre that has few limitations to its image qualifiers, but will also test the photographer to great lengths due to the abundance of challenges faced. ... regardless of what the definition of "professional" is. There are essentially two main groups of people ...
Travel photography
Definition. Travel photography is a genre that captures the essence of a place, its culture, and the experiences of people as they explore different locations. This type of photography often highlights landscapes, architecture, and candid moments that reflect the life and beauty of destinations around the world. Box cameras played a pivotal ...
Ultimate Guide to Travel Photography 2024 [from beginners to pro]
4.7 Best travel lens to take on a photography trip. 5 Travel photography tips for beginners [the essential 17] 5.1 Do Travel Photography with somebody else. 5.2 Take it easy. 5.3 Look around you. 5.4 You can't take masterpieces every day. 5.5 Add a person to your photo. 5.6 Smile, smile and smile again.
Photography 101: The Art of Travel Photography
Photography 101: The Art of Travel Photography. Our guide will help you learn all about travel photography, so you can get out there, explore, and capture great photos! Capturing the perfect photo is an art form, and there is no better canvas than the world around us. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just getting started, travel photography ...
Introduction to Travel Photography
The importance of light and contrast in taking great photos. Traveling to take photographs is very different to taking photographs while traveling. Professional travel photography is about commitment to the image. Nothing gets higher priority than being in the right place, at the right time, all of the time. Kick-start your travel photography ...
Getting Started With Travel Photography
Travel photography is the term used to describe the types of photographs that are taken while someone is traveling. The goal of a travel photographer is to capture their adventures and experiences through the lens of a camera, allowing them to be documented and experienced for future viewing. Popular subjects often shot by travel photographers ...
Travel Photography Tips -- National Geographic
You have to make time. It may help to make photography a scheduled part of every day, so you know you have the time and won't be tempted to get lazy and say, "I'll do it tomorrow." It might rain ...
What Defines Good Travel Photography?
A Sense of Light. All good travel shots have one thing in common, good light. The light is another important aspect of defining a location. From the warm, hazy early morning light of a tropical city to the cold but clear blue light of an arctic town in winter, we need to understand how the light typifies a location and gives it a sense of place.
Our Top Travel Photography Tips For Beginners (2021 Guide)
There will always be tradeoffs, so understanding what you want to achieve out of your photo will define which settings you use. Here are a few common travel photography settings: Landscape during daytime | Shutter 500, f/9, ISO 100. Portrait during daytime | Shutter 1000+, f/1.8, ISO 100.
Just What Is 'Travel Photography'?
Most "Travel" photography is staged, based on the photographer's preconception of what an area and it's people look like and the things they do. These get repeated and imitated over and over ...
The Ultimate Guide to Capturing Viral Travel Photos
4 Tips for the Capturing Viral Travel Photography. Traveling to a new place is exciting and well worth documenting. Follow these tips to enhance your travel photography and editing skills. Later, we will take one of our travel photos and show you a few of BeFunky's Photo Editor tools that are perfect for travel photography. 1.
Storytelling Through Photography: How To Take Better Travel Photos
Storytelling Through Photography: 11 Powerful Travel Photojournalism Tips To Take Your Pictures Deeper. 1. Put your camera down and look around to absorb the scene. 2. Consider how the light affects the mood of your photograph. 3. Move around something you're photographing to experience it different ways. 4.
Khanty-Mansiysk: Why you simply must visit this northern land of
According to Irina Pudova, a local resident and the author of a collection of legends called Yugra: It's My land, the first thing to do in Khanty-Mansiysk is to see the local mammoths. Seven ...
Khanty-Mansiysk city, Russia travel guide
Khanty-Mansiysk - Overview. Khanty-Mansiysk is a city in Russia, the administrative center of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug - Yugra. This is one of the oldest, most beautiful, and unusual cities in Western Siberia. Located on seven hills about 20 kilometers from the confluence of two great Siberian rivers - the Ob and Irtysh, it has a unique natural landscape.
Khanty-Mansiysk
Khanty-Mansiysk is a hyphenated word combining the names of two Russian indigenous peoples local to the region, the Khanty and the Mansi, ending in "-sk" as is typical for the names of Russian towns, which means city.Before 1940, the settlement's name was Ostyako-Vogulsk, as these tribes were previously known as the Ostyaks and the Voguls, respectively.
Погода в Сургуте на неделю. Точная погода в Сургуте, Ханты-Мансийский
Точный прогноз погоды на неделю в Сургуте. Подробная информация о температуре воздуха, давлении и влажности воздуха в Сургуте, Ханты-Мансийский АО — Югра, ГО Сургут.

What is Travel Photography and Why is it Important?

What Is Travel Photography?

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What is travel photography?

Photography Explained Podcast

What is travel photography?

You can listen to the episode here

That’s travel photography.

2 What is the difference between landscape photography, and travel photography

3 Why do I love travel photography?

4 Who do I take travel photos for?

5 Can you make a living from travel photography?

6 Do you need specialist knowledge?

7 Do you need specialist gear?

8 How’d you process travel photos?

9 How do I start as a travel photographer?

10 Do I need to be qualified?

11 A word from me about my travel photography.

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3 Subscribe to my podcast.

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Getting Started With Travel Photography

Guest post by documentary photographer Willow Paule of Willow Paule Photography. She’s also one of my Travel Blog Prosperity members, and the creator of an incredible free online photography course. Grab your seat here !