Exposure
TRAVEL
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DABBLE’S CREATIVE DIRECTOR & PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHER SIMON BURN STEPS FROM BEHIND THE LENS TO SHARE SOME TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS
Ah, Summer. It’s that time of year when we prepare to head off on vacation. Many of us will be armed with the latest and greatest digital cameras, with visions of shooting wonderful travel photos to remember our vacation by, and impress our friends and family. We tend to shoot the people travelling with us standing in front of local landmarks, and endless shots of the beach, architecture and landcapes. This is all great but, if you really want to capture the spirit of the destination, don’t forget to shoot the locals. Wherever you are, people are an essential element to communicate local culture, and can help tell a compelling travel story.
Do
Have confidence. This is really important. Ask people if you can take their photos. Chat with them, even if you don’t speak their language, at least learn a few words and try to develop a rapport. Make an effort, make a fool of yourself, make them laugh. Point to your camera and point to them. Smile. You’ll be surprised how many will oblige. The worst case scenario is they’ll say no!
Make travel photos that tell a story Don’t
Go up to people and stick a camera in their face without permission. Respect local cultures and respect people’s privacy—you’re not the paparazzi! If they don’t look cooperative, smile and walk away. There will be plenty of others who say yes.
About the photo
When I was in Santiago de Cuba, I saw this vendor walking the streets with his horse and cart every day. This is a typical street scene in Cuba. It was also interesting because he was selling mamoncillos, a common local fruit that I saw many people eating as a refreshing snack. I really wanted to shoot the guy as he is an important part of local life. To develop a rapport, I went over to him and said “hola!” and purchased a bunch or fruit. I then pointed to my camera
and to him, and he immediately posed. He was so proud, he even grabbed a bunch of mamoncillos and held them up—I didn’t even need to ask him! I had taken a shot earlier (FAR LEFT), typical of what most of us do, but it didn’t tell enough of a story. I wanted to see what kind of fruit he sold, and I wanted to see his face, weathered from years of walking in the hot sun. As with many locals, he was poor, but worked hard and was proud. The photo above reveals this.