7 top tips for capturing the best travel photos

Holiday happy snaps are time-honoured. Photos brilliantly capture priceless travel moments and preserve cherished memories with family and friends.

Hikers at Mount Buller Source: Visit Victoria

Technology has only increased our thirst for photography. The emergence of smartphones and digital cameras, as well as image-focussed social media channels, means being behind the lens is easier and more rewarding than ever.

While technological advances have made photography simpler, your camera or phone can’t do all the work for you. So, have a read of these travel photography tips to help you capture the best holiday snaps possible.

1. Get to know your camera in advance

You’ve just bought a new camera but if you’re not acquainted with your new toy well before departure you might find yourself wasting precious time flicking through manuals and being frustrated by settings when you should be enjoying yourself.

Even if you spend only a short amount of time getting a feel for your camera before you head off, it’s better than nothing. And while not so important with smartphones, it still helps to be familiar with its features in advance.

2. Do your research

Scenario: You spy a breathtaking rock formation or towering waterfall online and decide you want to photograph that particular scene for yourself. You arrive at your prized vantage point and gasp in horror, the image you’ve gazed at doesn’t contain busloads of tourists! at popular sites. Or ask locals for advice, they may reveal an alternative vantage point to snap away at your treasured subject.

3. Think about your timing

Image quality varies considerably depending on the timing of your photograph. Early risers are consistently rewarded, cue jawdropping sunrises and crowd-free spaces. Conversely, patiently waiting to shoot a blazing sky at sunset can be equally gratifying.

Yet again, ask a local, or research the optimum time to capture landmark sites. Standley Chasm near Alice Springs is a good example of an attraction that rewards savvy photographers (for the record, it’s best photographed around midday).

4. Composition

While this is not a technical photography guide, we have a couple of simple composition tips to make your photos more pleasing to the eye.

Give thought to the key element/s of your image and what you’re trying to achieve. For example, photographing friends or family requires versatile thinking. Sometimes it pays to ‘fill the frame’ (take a close up) to best capture a beaming smile and portray your subject’s excitement.

However, if you’re near an iconic sight, consider giving more weight to the surroundings to highlight the destination’s significance.

Similarly, don’t shy from ‘negative space’, such as a backdrop of a bright blue ocean. If negative space helps to ‘bring out’ the main subject of your photo, include it.

If photographing from a lookout or at a crowded area (where people are not your subject matter), identify a key element. Otherwise the image may be too ‘busy’, boring, or inadequately convey the scene.

5. Don’t be afraid to experiment

For those who like to be creative, experiment to your heart’s content! Digital technology means photographic experimentation does not have to equate to churning through rolls and rolls of expensive film. Nowadays, if your creative efforts don’t work out, simply delete the image, and try again.

6. Charge your battery

It’s obvious advice, but it can’t be stressed enough, always charge your camera battery or phone before you head out to shoot. You’ll never forgive yourself if you miss that once-in-a-lifetime shot as a result of a dead battery.

7. Enjoy the moment

To finish with, remember this understated tip, don’t let the process consume you. Enjoy the moment and never let photography detract from your holiday experience. If you’re stressing about camera settings or trying to perfect a shot, you may miss the moment altogether. Take time to appreciate what’s in front of you.