Escape with Travel Photography!

During this extremely cold bout of winter weather, I can't help but think back on times when the sun beat down on my face and I got to walk outside without snow boots up to my knees!  Photographs have that unique ability to transport us back to where we were the moment we snapped the shutter, evoking the sounds, scents, and emotions we experienced.  What better way to escape the chill outside than by talking about travel photography?  There are countless ways to approach the topic, so I would simply like to share some images that demonstrate what I look for when I shoot in a new place.

Isolate color.
Especially in tropical climates, vibrant colors can make for memorable images.  Sometimes a combination of many bright colors can make for an exciting scene, but finding more monochromatic compositions can be quite striking.  In the below image I wanted to give the viewer an impression of the vast amount of green in one of Curacao's national parks but needed a focal point.  The single blue-green cactus peeking out of the foliage broke up the composition just enough to give it interest.  Vivid yellows and greens make up the remainder of the scene, made more vibrant by the midday sun.

The lack of a vibrant color can bring a different mood to the scene, so don't be afraid to shoot in a seemingly bland environment or at dusk against the sun - you just might come away with a nice silhouette shot or a moody composition!  The curving dark horns of this wildebeest are a sharp contrast to the soft grasses surrounding it.  With the sun setting, the grasses took on the warm neutral tones that would otherwise have been pale beige.

Capture well-known landmarks in an unexpected way.
On a family trip to Venice, I captured plenty of typical shots in the Piazza S. Marco, but was hoping to find a way to make the scene my own.  Pigeons are an iconic part of the Piazza, so when I saw them bathing in and drinking from the puddles I focused my gaze downward.  The combination of the stone, pigeons, and dome let the viewer know where the image was taken in a more subtle way.



Find the locals.
The most interesting way to experience a new place, whether it is a Caribbean island or a town 30 miles away, is to find places where the locals go to enjoy their community.  Something as seemingly mundane as a farmer's market can feel exotic in another country, and including people in your shot adds instant interest!

Let your surroundings inspire and guide you!
You may be in a beautiful place, but the subject you wish to shoot is against a backdrop that will cause it to blend in.  The male lion below was almost the same color as his surroundings, so my best images were cropped in close.  This was not the best time for a wide shot because the lion would not have stood out.  I shot this at 200mm to crop out as much of his environment as possible (from a safe distance, of course) and then cropped just a bit more in post production.

When the environment is working in your favor for a wide shot, give the viewer perspective!  After days of searching for the elusive black rhinos, our guide spotted them in the distance as tiny, moving black spots.  This shot shows the severely endangered species in its natural environment, enjoying its expansive territory while protected by the park's security.  Eco-tourism and photo safaris help keep the animals protected, and sharing your images can show others why they are worth saving!  Keep in mind how you can use the environment, or remove it, to send a message or make a bigger impact.

What do you look for when you visit a new place with your camera?  Leave a comment and let us know!

-Friday Ambassador