If you’re on Instagram you’ll have seen so many travel images, almost total copies of each other – taken at exactly the same place, in exactly the same way.
It’s easy to sneer, but some of those photos are awesome, and you can see why other travellers might want to repeat them.
But look around, take a little time and follow these 9 tips for taking great travel photos, courtesy of Pork Belly, and you’ll come up with something just as amazing.
And a little bit different.
Here’s a little rhyme to help you:
Get high
Go low
Check it out before you go
Talk to all
Think small
And don’t be afraid to get down and crawl!
Checklist for taking the best holiday photos
• Before you go, research your destination’s iconic locations
• Find the best light – usually early morning or late afternoon
• Talk to locals – they know
• Be curious – find the unusual that others might miss
• Think small – little details make a difference
• Go low – try different angles for impact
• Get high – look for a vantage point
• Take your time – weather, crowds and the light have their own schedule
• Keep it all in perspective – after all you are on holiday!
Check it out before you go
Look up images of anywhere you’re heading to see what others have done.
At well-known beauty spots and iconic landmarks you may find you’re constrained by accessibility, crowds and safety rules which can’t be ignored.
But you’re bound to find one or two which look extra special. Study them and see if you can work out what makes them stand out.
Check Google Earth to help you get orientated so you have an idea of where you might be able to stand.
And make sure you know about any special celebrations or events so you don’t miss the parade!
Look for the light
Even the most beautiful place will look flat and bland if you take a shot in the harsh midday sun.
Best light is early morning, late afternoon and evening but you’ll need to wait for that perfect moment when the lights come on and the sky is just the right shade of deep blue.
You may have to sacrifice a bit of sleep for that dawn shot or miss an evening cocktail to catch the sunset, but it’ll be worth it.
And don’t forget neon and night skies. City life is a whole new world after dark.
Get chatting
Even if you don’t know the language, a simple smile and friendly gestures go a long way.
You can learn a lot from locals, tour guides, fellow travellers and receptionists.
If you’re visiting a popular place with hordes of others, a little inside knowledge can give you the best place and time for your shot. When everyone else in your party has moved on, a friendly guide may let you hang around.
Pork Belly got amazing shots of the Harry Potter area of Universal Islands of Adventure in Florida by keeping in with the security team sweeping the park at closing time.
Result? Deserted streets.
And don’t be afraid to ask people to pose for you. It’s surprising how willing they are to oblige if you share their interests or express your enthusiasm for their hometown.
Be curious
By all means take the iconic view of the Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal or Mount Fuji. Those shots look wonderful and are photographed a million times for a good reason.
But keep your eyes peeled for the unusual angle, take side paths if you can and don’t always follow the crowd.
Including people in your photos can help with scale, but their clothes and attitudes will also date the image. Instead think about using them in silhouette.
Think small
Some of the most beautiful images don’t try to capture the whole but instead focus on some small detail.
A window framing a different view, the coloured mosaic tiles surrounding a door, a reflection, part of an ancient wall painting.
These images often express the spirit of a place better than the picture-postcard shot.
Get low
Unusual viewpoints can add perspective, scale and impact.
Pork Belly always carries a black bin liner around so he can lie down on even the messiest of surfaces to get a different view.
Another little tip is to take a small beanbag with you – very useful for steadying the camera on a bumpy wall or spiky fence.
And a towel is essential for beach shots.
Get high
Getting up above everyone else is always worthwhile. Find paths that run higher than the usual routes, make sure they’re safe then go for it.
Pork Belly once photographed a mist-filled valley in France from the top of a manure heap.
His trousers were never quite the same again, but the shot was a cracker.
If you’re on an observation deck or somewhere similar, look for the angle that shows as much of the panorama as possible.
But remember, if there’s glass in front of you, get the lens as close as possible to avoid reflections of you and your camera.
Be patient
You may have to linger long after everyone else has moved on to capture the gap in the clouds which lets a single shaft of sunlight hit just the right spot.
Or stay to watch the wildlife creep back into the space the humans left behind.
And don’t forget patience’s twin sister anticipation.
Look around, guess what’s about to happen and you’ll be in the right place at the right time.
Keep a sense of perspective
Trying to take a picture of your friends and family in front of something huge? Forget it, just walk away.
Then find a quiet spot where the archway, castle or monument is in clear view and position your subjects in the foreground.
Job done.
And while we’re on the subject of perspective, getting the perfect shot doesn’t mean ruining the day for yourself, your party or other visitors.
Take your time, yes, but don’t p*ss everyone off with endless poses!
Now all you’ve got to do is get them to smile.
For that you’re on your own!
Where to next?
• Lewes – a town of curiosities
• Island Life – Isle of Wight
• The Manor at Hemingford Grey
These are some great tips. I am constantly trying to improve my photography so will definitely be putting some of them to good use.
Glad you find them helpful. Will checkout your blog to see the results.