The self-respecting holiday snapper doesn’t just want to get the obvious. They want people to love their work on Facebook and Pinterest; they want relatives to marvel at their artistic creativity; and they want stunning images to remember the great memories of the unforgettable city break or the friends they made while trekking Machu Picchu which they can then turn into mementos such as diaries or calendars, like those found here. Here are a few simple ways to raise your game.
Burst mode
iPhone, Samsung and Sony – all have various burst modes in their camera settings, and yet so few people remember. They’re particularly of use in situations of movement where the target refuses to stay still, such as children or animals. Take a rapid-fire salvo of pics during the action; would you rather have one brilliant and three unusable, or just one average?
Close up and personal
It seems counter-intuitive to get too close to an object, cutting out interesting information behind or around it, but sometimes a dramatic space filler really stands out such as this Chevrolet in Boston. Be different and daring; heads don’t always need all the hair or neck, buildings don’t need to be completely contained, and mountains don’t always need the top and bottom.
Tilt shift
Aerial views of the same shots – from the top of a New York skyscraper, for example – are actually quite dull when you get them home. Instead, think ahead and take a tilt-shift picture. Essentially it’s a way of sharp focusing a narrow band of the picture while throwing the rest out of focus, giving a ‘miniature’ feel to proceedings. It’s an interesting and curious technique, and if you can’t achieve the effect in-camera it’s easy to perfect it at home in an editing package – Digital Camera World has tips here.
Use your angles
Again, repetition of a shot of an icon such as the Eiffel Tower or Taj Mahal, from the same angles that everyone else uses, won’t really win any awards. The advice is this; get the ‘obvious’ shots in the bag, and then think of new and novel ways of attracting the eyeballs when you’re showing folks at home. Different angles of composition (such as the angle of the Petronas Towers pictured here), placing something in the foreground, or shooting from an unusual vantage point are three ideas of note.
Selfie-respect
Showing yourself in your best light, in a glorious location, needs thought for the aspiring next level holidaymaker. Don’t limit paraphernalia to the selfie-stick or camera timer – a mini fan to blow your hair, or a friend shining a light from their phone (off camera) while you take the snap with yours, are two ways of breathing novelty into a pic. Improve Photography suggests other ideas here, such as using your feet!
People watching
People are more interesting than buildings – no-one talks to buildings, and few people have interesting stories about them. Asking an interesting-looking person if they wish to pose in your photograph can be quite nerve wracking, but rewarding, and often flattering for the person you’re approaching.
Some snappers take a few notes of local currency with them, especially if you’re approaching a parent; the photographer who snapped the boy in the Sri Lankan village did so. Be warned – some will say no to pictures unless another member of your party poses with them, to stop photographers trying to flog the snap of ‘interesting locals’ on to agencies.
Early risers
Professional ‘togs can create stunning images by utilising the magic of the Golden hour – the hour before sunset or after sunrise. A low, softer sun can give an ethereal, fantastical sheen to vistas, wildlife and city shots, according to http://www.photographymad.com
For shots that really stand out, consider leaving your hotel when you know no-one will disturb you. For example, Venice is fairly impenetrable from 9am to about 10pm, so the snap of the Bridge of Sighs was taken at 5.30am, when no tourists were present to barge the photographer aside.
Tripod time – or steady hands
A small fold-up tripod can work wonders for your creative juices. They’ll help with advanced selfies and shots at night in low light, giving an energy and vitality to sometimes dull scenes. Try using your mounted camera with a slow shutter speed to create an image with a blurred, frantic movement.
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