Photos are one of the best souvenirs we can cherish from our travels. They have a unique way of describing experiences without the need for any words, and they let us relive our best (or worst!) moments long after we’ve come home.
If you’re one of the many who have fallen in love with travel and would like to know how you can get the most of out of your camera, follow the tips below.
Get To Know Your Camera
Camera by Owen Ballesteros
Who hasn’t been frustrated when attempting to capture a stunning sunset, only to see that the photograph end up looking nowhere near stunning?
The first step is to get to know your camera well enough so you can control how the photos come out, and not the other way around.
Cameras do not see the way the naked eyes do so it’s important to know what each and every button and dial does.
You may already know about aperture and shutter speed, ISO, etc. but here are some quick tips:
- Use narrow apertures (f/8 is ideal) to achieve rich detail throughout the frame, such as for landscapes.
- Use wide-open apertures (f/3.5 or lower, depending on your lens) to isolate the foreground by blurring the background.
- Use slower shutter speeds (start with 1/10 and work your way up or down) to capture motion blur, such as moving vehicles or people.
- Use faster shutter speeds (start with 1/500 and work your way up or down) to freeze fast-moving subjects.
Know When To Shoot
There’s nothing worse than seeing a beautiful scenery and not having enough time to stop, admire, and take a couple of photos for souvenirs. But when you do have more time, try waiting for magical light to fall on the spots that interest you.
You may notice that some places seem to change character depending on the amount of sunlight and time of the day. What may appear very dull at high noon may actually look great in the after-hours, or vice versa. Keep your eyes peeled for possibilities like this, and you may yet discover interesting bits of a place’s character.
1. Sunrise
Waking up at dawn may be the last thing you want to do when you’re out traveling, but there are some places whose best moments appear when you’re happily snoozing last night’s booze away.
Sunrise over La Sirenetta, Coron, Palawan by Rolly Magpayo
Some people may also argue that sunrises hold a different magic than sunsets, and there’s only one way to find out. It’s important to know where east is and scout for possible spots in which to shoot. Asking the locals for sunrise spots may be a good idea.
2. Early Morning
Between 6 and 8 AM is a great time for lovely, flattering sidelight. This is also when most local people get up and start their day, making it an excellent opportunity to capture some local scenes.
Early morning in Buscalan, Kalinga by Owen Ballesteros
3. Golden Hour
When the sun starts its descent, it usually gives off a soft warm glow that flatters almost everything (including buildings and people). The lovely directional light also produces shadows, which you can also use to your advantage.
Golden Hour at Island Cove, Cavite by Paul David
4. Sunset
Sunsets will never get old, whether it’s on top of a cliff, on the beach, or even in the midst of a bustling city. Anticipate where the sun will set and choose your spot.
Sunset at Panagsama Beach, Moalboal, Cebu by Owen Ballesteros
5. Blue Hour
The so-called blue hour, that window of time (around 15 minutes) after sunset and before evening when the sky turns a bright blue, is an excellent time to shoot architecture and still scapes. The use of a tripod is usually required for steady shots.
Blue Hour in Santo Nino Basilica, Cebu by Owen Ballesteros
Make Photos Stand Out With Camera Accessories
The more you can expand your camera’s functionality with accessories, the more possibilities you create for your travel photography. Just as important as knowing what an accessory can do is knowing when and how to use it properly (and when not to use it). The following accessories are easy to operate and, although not dirt cheap, will justify their costs quite well.
1. Remote
The camera remote is very useful for several situations: shots where you want to be in the frame, night shots longer than 30 seconds, shots when pressing the shutter on your camera may cause the slightest shake. These cost around ₱1,000.
2. CPL Filter
There are various kinds of filters, but one of the easiest to use when traveling is the CPL or circular polarizer. Simply put, the CPL filter eliminates reflections (on glass, on water, etc.), making it useful when shooting bodies of water (such as waterfalls and lakes) as well as food.
It’s also great at enhancing saturation and contrast which produce more vibrant images like deeper blue skies. Simply screw the CPL filter onto your lens and you can use it as an all-around filter. Good filter brands (such as Hoya and B+W) start at around ₱2,000 for the smaller-sized filters (filter size depends on the lens you’re using).
3. Tripods (or Gorillapods)
Tripods are not for everyone. And they’re not for every occasion nor for every place either. Where they are very useful though are for special shots that need long exposures. If you’re interested in capturing these types of photos when traveling, then the extra load (and baggage costs) will be worth it. A versatile alternative are Gorillapods, they’re much smaller and will fit nicely in your bag and can clamp well on almost anything.
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