Technique 27
Photography News Issue 22 absolutephoto.com
Left Great travel images come in a huge variety of styles, from landscapes and portraits to documentary and still-life shots.
A little prior knowledge will certainly help make sure that you are in the right place at the right time
you’re shooting a landscape image in Tuscany or a portrait of a Herdsman in Rajasthan, it must be steeped in that culture.” Peter Karry, who was runner up in 2014’s Natural World Portfolio section, meanwhile feels that “it’s the originality and creativity of the photographer which is key in communicating the feel of the place.” Atmospheric pressure How you get that atmospheric feel is certainly an important concern, and partly it comes from getting the things that first struck you about a place into your photography. That means not shooting straight away and immediately recording the scene in front of you – which is what a security camera would do, not a photographer with a brain. Stop and take note of your first impressions: what draws your eye, and what feeling do you get from the place. The heat? The cold? The sunshine, or the mist? The iconic architecture, the landscape, or maybe the way people are dressed? Whatever you identify, it’s time to zone in on those elements and feature them prominently in your frames, because they’re what will communicate those same feelings to your viewers. “For me,” says Simon, “conditions like low light, mist and smoke, always bring travel images to life”, and if you can layer these onto your travel scenes it will enrich the view even further. Working almost like a navigational aid for the viewer, if you identify iconic buildings or landscape features at your location you’ll tap into a visual shorthand the tells them exactly where you were and where you want their
Above The picture’s ability to take the viewer on an atmospheric journey of discovery creates memorable and winning shots.
Research and adventure Research is a big part of getting the kind of travel shots you want, both when it comes to finding great new locations and also improving results from well known ones. In terms of the latter, a little prior knowledge will certainly help make sure that you are in the right place at the right time; say for a fiery sunset over your chosen subject, or to shoot a harbour full of returning fishermen. “I will always look up what markets or festivals are going to coincide with my visit,” says Peter “but you need an open mind, too; if you’re well prepared you can still look around for other potential shooting opportunities in that area”. Some internet picture research also helps define what people are shooting in the place you’re going, so that you can improve on it or avoid it entirely.
imagination to be. Then you can build other distinctive elements of the scene into your composition. “With much photographed subjects,” advises Chris, “it’s not easy to create something fresh, but the cleverest photographers use these cultural icons subtly to entertain or educate the viewer about a culture, or an element of it.” Take a well known landmark like the Eiffel Tower or the Empire State Building, for example. Placing this in the frame, even in a minor way, creates an immediate clue, which informs the rest of the composition, so the street food vendor or line of merchants’ stalls in the foreground are immediately placed; defined in their exotic location. If you’re faced with familiar, often photographed scenes, then making them your own is just part of the creative enjoyment to be had.
Above Focusing on the people of your destinations is a sure-fire way of engaging the viewer and telling them a bit more about the local culture.
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