Archive for April, 2011
5 Techniques For The Travel Photographer
When you travel to far away places you want to make sure that you bring back the best images that you can. Equipment is one aspect of achieving that but technique goes hand in hand with it.
The Digital camera has changed the way we view photography nowadays. It allows us to have more finite control over the post production of our images as well as giving us more in camera control. Different brands and price points offer different features but whether you are a DSLR user a point and shoot user or a photographer that employs the use of both there are certain techniques you can use to produce stunning travel photos.
For the purpose of this post I am going to assume that you already have an understanding of your camera’s features and a basic knowledge of digital photography terms. I will cover some of what I consider to be the must have techniques for the best Travel Photo’s.
1.Composition Now this may seem like a nobrainer but when you are traveling and have to shoot from the hip maybe at some once in a lifetime festival or event it is important to have a understanding of the rule of thirds and how to employ it quickly and effectively. Imagine that your photo is cut into thirds like the grid on the photo below. We want to make sure that the main focus of the photo is not in the center square. By placing the subject either in another section or where the lines intersect gives the photo more impact and more energy than just centering it. So the next time you are taking a photo give it a try and see the difference for yourself.
The Rule of Thirds
2. Lighting This is a very involved subject and here are a few main points. When shooting outside remember that at midday the sun is at its harshest and from a lighting standpoint is the worst time to take a photograph. If you can early morning or late evening is the best time when the sun is low in the sky it will give you contrast and better colour. Another rule of thumb is try not to have the light directly behind your subject back light unless you are going for a silhouette effect as it can cause your subjects to lose colour and detail. And finally move around your subject and observe how the light falls from different angles. This will give you a better understanding of light and how direction quality and colour affect your photo’s.
The histogram in your camera shows you what the camera sees in terms of information. It is simply a graph that allows you to judge the brightness of an image.The trick is to make sure that we don’t go off the edge at either end of the graph. When we do it is referred to as clipping which means that information is lost. You should bias your exposures so that the histogram is snugged up to the right but not to the point that the highlights are blown. There is no such thing in my opinion as the perfect histogram. If you experiment with your camera before your trip you can get a better understanding of how it works.
3. Angle This tends to be overlooked as we tend to take all of our photo’s from one angle; straight on. The key here is to experiment especially when you are at places that are photographed a lot. Look for a unique angle something that hasn’t been done before. When photographing children it is always best to get down to their level it shows a level of respect as photographing people from above tends to have a condescending effect. Low angles tend to lend strength and dominance as well as dramatize the subject where high angle shots help orient the viewer because they show relationships among everything in the picture area and tend to minimize the strength and size of the subject.
4. The 3 Question rule this one is something I do before taking any photograph. I ask myself:
- Is there anything that is distracting in the frame?
- Where and what is the primary light source and how does it affect the image?
- Impact: Should I get closer or further away?
By answering these simple questions you have already become a more aware and better photographer.
5. Depth of Field This one tends to confuse people but it is very important in defining the impact of a photo. DOF defined is simply the range in a scene from near to far that is in sharp focus. DOF can be used to separate your subject from a background or keep the foreground in focus as well as the background. It is great if you have an idea of what kind of photo you want before shooting as this allows you to prepare for it. When you are shooting wide angle landscape shots it is best to have the largest depth of field as you can. In order to achieve this you should use a small aperture as well as a short focal length and be far away from your subject. That’s the easy one. For shallow depth of field you should opt for a wider aperture a longer lens and be closer to your subject. Most new DSLR’s come with a DOF Preview which can help a lot giving you a preview through the lens of the desired effect. Unfortunately this feature is not available on most point and shoot camera’s so you will just have to experiment. Sometimes taking advantage of DOF will require a tripod or a shutter release. Not everyone can travel with these but in there place you can use a sturdy surface and the timer on your camera.
Shallow Depth of Field
I hope these 5 techniques will help you in producing great travel photo’s. I know it has helped me.
About the writer:
Dave and Deb are Canada’s Adventure Couple. They have traveled to over 35 countries where they have taken on extreme adventures from Cycling from Cairo Egypt to Cape Town South Africa and Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Every new adventure takes them to remote corners of the world where they paddle hike scuba dive and trek their way around the globe. http://www.theplanetd.com http://www.picturetheplanet.com
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5 Romantic Travel Resolutions
A new year always means a chance for a new start. You and yours can begin this New Year by making some travel resolutions together regardless of your time and budget restraints. Put aside those old travel habits and make some new ones! Let this be the year that your travel plans focus on fun fantasy and festivities!
1 We’re going to plan a real vacation. No it doesn’t have to be an around the world cruise or first class getaway but if you can afford it what are you waiting for? It does have to be an honesttogoodness vacation though. No cell phones no laptops. Mark the dates on the calendar and keep it just like you’d keep any business appointment. The business of romantic travel though is a fun one and an activity that the two of you can plan for months.
2 We’re going to involve each other in the trip planning. All too often one partner gets the job for planning a trip…and that task quickly becomes a bore. Plan your trips together! Anticipation is half the fun. Visit a travel agent. Collect brochures. Buy a guidebook. Rent a video about your destination. Search the internet for information.
3 We’re going to do something we’ve never done. Here you can be as mild or as wild as you dare. Go whitewater rafting. Rent a houseboat. Take a hot air balloon ride. Spend the night in a local bed and breakfast. Learn to scuba dive. Dance the whole night away under the stars. The choice is yours.
4 We’re going to take one minivacation every month. Whether it’s for the night or just for the night out plan one tiny slice of a vacation every single month. The only rule: you must pretend you’re on vacation. Book a night at a local bed and breakfast. Call your local hotel and find out their nonpeak nights in businessoriented cities it’s usually Friday and Saturday then plan a short romantic getaway.
5 We’re going to go to at least one festival. Special events take place at just about every community around the world. Whatever your interests from square dancing to sandcastle building you’ll find a festival celebrating with a day or two of fun and food. If you don’t have the time or budget to go far contact area chamber of commerce or tourism offices within a day’s drive of your home for their calendar of events. If you can extend your trip into a long weekend. If you’ve got the time and resources check out some of the major fun festivals: Carnival Mardi gras and Rios Carnival. Don’t forget your costume!
About the writer: For More Free Resources visit www.toursguide.com
5 Fun Secrets Of Disney Worlds Epcot
Epcot is one of our favorite parks and its definitely the most interactive of Disneys theme parks. There are 2 parts to Epcot: Future World and The World Showcase. Here are some of Epcots secrets:
1. Do you know what EPCOT stands for?
Its an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow.
2. That big glass golf ball in Epcot is really a geosphere. Inside it is a newly refurbished attraction called Spaceship Earth. During the ride youll be asked to answer some questions about yourself and enter your answers electronically. Youll also pose for a photo.
At the end of the ride youll enter a hightech game room. Watch for your photo on the world map. It will show where youre from. Then watch the murals at the top of the walls around the room. Youll see your future self as depicted by your responses to those questions you answered.
3. The exact center of all of Disney World is marked by a monument in Epcot. Sort of.
On the plaza between Innoventions East and Innoventions West theres a work of art that features concentric circles. The circles highlight important inventions that changed our world. This monument was intended to mark the center of Disney’s property too which was a cool idea.
The work began and then construction hit a snag. It seems that the Epcot property overlapped the nesting ground of an endangered woodpecker. Disney walked their environmental conservation talk by shifting the entire Epcot project 300 feet to preserve the bird’s habitat.
So the circle monument is 300 feet from the exact center of Disney’s property and a symbol of Disneys dedication to the environment as well as a monument to major innovative accomplishments.
4. The Fountain of Nations is located near Innoventions West. The waters dance to a powerful musical score and it’s an incredible sight.
5. Soarin is one of the best rides in the world! Weve never seen anything like it. You strap into a hang glider and soar high above the ground on unbelievable adventures! Youll want to hold your breath as you sail over waterways orange groves and pine forests. But dont. Breathe deeply and smell the air! Smellovision rules!
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Anne Marie Hayes is the author of “Disney World Deals”.
The Disney World Deals website www.DWDeals.com has coupons tips and strategies for making the most of your Disney World vacation while saving hundreds even thousands of dollars!