Documentary style photography has long been of great fascination to
me. The sheer act of photographing people and places to document
spontaneous moments and the imperfections associated with it gives such
photography, and the photographer, a sense of being authentic, real, and
free to exercise his/her creative freedom.
Officially, documentary style photography has many technical
definitions. As per Wikipedia, documentary style of photography is used
to chronicle events and environments in a naturally occurring state very
much like photojournalism. I like to think of a documentary style of
photography as the letting go of my inhibitions and preconceived notions
of perfection. That I’m documenting people and places in their natural
environment – being or doing what they do on any given day.
This scene literally happened right in front of me in Jaipur, India – the classic story of the billy goats!
I find that by approaching travel photography in a documentary
fashion, I am able to have a richer travel experience. Because I can
relieve my mind of the pressures of photographing just like everyone
else and also walk away with some unique frames that speak to my own
experiences.
To that end, here are a few tips to keep in mind for a documentary style approach towards your travel photography.
#1 – Be present in the moment
Being present in every moment of every day is a life lesson we all
can benefit from. It doesn’t just apply to travel photography. Great
moments happen every day around us that are worth documenting not just
for our clients but also for ourselves so that we can live a richer,
fuller life.
People
watching is a great exercise in training your eye to really catch that
which is unusual and unique to a place – these boys in the market in
Jaipur were observing me just as much as I was observing them!
By training your mind to really live life in the moment and not worry
about all the other distractions will also help you really “see” what
is around you. More often than not, you likely travel with a very tight
agenda and timeline. No sooner than you get to your destination, you are
already mentally prepared to move on to the next stop. Instead, try and
plan a single excursion for a day and really focus on learning and
experiencing that place or activity before moving on.
#2 – Be observant of your surroundings
Life is happening all around you all the time. People interacting
with each other, people interacting with nature, nature putting on a
grand show during sunrise, sunset, or even during a thunderstorm. But
don’t wait for some preconceived notion of the perfect moment to take
your camera out and take a photo.
At the same time, don’t see the world simply through your viewfinder.
Observe the scene, anticipate the shot that you really want to get and
be ready to take the shot. Don’t just fire away at every situation only
to get home to realize that you completed missed the moment and hence
missed the shot as well.
I
once found myself in the middle of a village festival/ritual when I was
traveling in India. I had no
idea what was going on but knew I had to
document this. Luckily a female photographer was
somewhat of a rarity in
this village and I was given a special seat in the middle of all the
action
(without a word spoken amongst me and these women)! It was
fascinating to see and experience.
I
later found out that these women were taking one of the female members
of their family to each
house to get blessings as she was supposed to be
possessed by a female deity and have god-like
powers…certainly an
experience I will never forget!
#3 – Be real about your travel photography goals
A very famous travel quote says, “We travel not to escape life, but
so that life does not escape us” really hits the nail on the head for
me. Be real about why you travel and what you want to gain out of each
travel experience. If you are traveling to a marketplace and want to get
a true sense of local lifestyles and customs, then look for naturally
occurring scenes. Don’t look for people that you can pose or stage to
get your shot.
This
is by no means a perfect shot but I love the fact that this angle shows
just how crazy transportation choices can be in smaller villages and
towns in some countries!
#4 – Be aware of your gear choices
Packing for any sort of travel is an art in itself, especially if you are going away for an extended period of time.
Documentary style travel photography requires a slightly different
mindset in terms of gear than say perhaps wildlife or portrait
photography.
I find that for documentary style travel photography a zoom lens like the ultra-wide angle focal length like the Canon 16-35mm f/4 or one like the Canon 24-70mm f/2.8
works well for me. While a fast lens is ideal, I don’t usually find
myself photographing at an aperture lower than f/4 or f/5.6. More often
than not, I have more than one subject in the scene and also want to
capture some of the background in order to provide content to the shot.
I
was in Rome for three days this past summer but couldn’t get the famous
Spanish Steps without
people no matter what time of the day I tried. So
instead, I chose to embrace the crowds and
showcase this famous
monument as the tourist attraction it really is!
#5 – Be confident in your skills
Documentary style photography is generally quite fast paced. You are
trying to capture a scene as it is playing out in front of you. You
don’t really have the time or the opportunity to re-compose the shot and
then click the shutter. However, this does not mean
However, this does not mean that you have to just fire away at the
maximum fps (frames per second) that your camera can handle, then pick
the best of the lot in post-processing. Instead, use your technical as
well as artistic skills to read the scene, analyze the light, assess the
right camera settings, imagine the outcome, anticipate the shot and
then take the picture. Oh, by the way, bear in mind that you will not
likely get a redo.
I
had almost no time to really plan this shot out…I knew I wanted to try
and get all three of the
famous peaks of the Pacific Northwest in one
frame while at about 35,000 feet in the air.
I hope these tips convey my love for documentary style photography
and do not scare you away from it. This style of photography has its own
charm. Even though it may appear to be highly unplanned and random, it
is also a good mix of carefully anticipated planning and authenticity.
Give it a try the next time you travel and let me know how it goes. Share this article.
6 Tips for How to be a Culturally Sensitive Travel Photographer
There is a little wanderlust in all of us. Everyone, at some point in
their lives, wants to travel the world and experience all its beauty
for themselves. Travel opens the mind to many different possibilities,
and makes us more tolerant and conscious as humans. What might be
simple, normal, and mundane to some, might be unique, challenging and
exciting to another. In the words of Gustave Flaubert, “Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny space you occupy in the world.”
On
a particular assignment in Chennai, India last year, the whole
community came out to see what
I was doing and soon I found 20+ willing
subjects to photograph!
As photographers, travel and photography are very much intwined.
Photography is a way to capture and communicate the sense of place and
people. Our images help immortalize our experiences in travel. This is
particularly important when we travel to places outside of our cultural
comfort zones. Every moment and every experience is new, and the need to
document and preserve them sometimes takes over simple basic common
sense. I admit that there have been times when all I’ve done is
experienced a place or an event through the back of my viewfinder. My
camera has been strapped to my person like my life depended on it, and I
have always come back feeling less than happy. The fact that I missed
all the little nuances outside the line of vision of my viewfinder,
weighs quite heavily on my mind.
Even beyond the obvious need to really experience a place, is the
question on when is it okay to take photos of people and places,
especially when traveling to other countries? Many times there are major
cultural, social and economic differences between the photographer and
the subject being photographed. Perhaps the best way to answer that
question is that responsible photography is very much like responsible
travel. Armed with a thorough knowledge of the place, an interest in
cultural enrichment, an open mind, a pleasant attitude, some common
sense and a smile, photography abroad—just like travel itself—can be a
very fulfilling experience.
Here are some basic guidelines on how to be a culturally sensitive photographer when traveling
1) Knowledge is key
Invest time before traveling to research the customs, and photography
norms of the place you will visit. Customs vary not only by country,
but by region and religion as well. Understand and appreciate the
diverse cultural context, and be respectful of these differences. A
little research prior to your journey, goes a long way in avoiding
disappointment and despair when you find out that certain photography
restrictions exist in the places where you are traveling.
I
stumbled upon a religious ceremony on a recent trip and soon found
myself to be the official
photographer of the ceremony – the cultural
enrichment was unlike anything found in any guidebook!
2) Be personable and communicate your needs
Self confidence, an open attitude, and a genuine smile, are important
wherever you travel. People will generally respond to you with the same
attitude that you show them. Be open and honest about your need to
photograph something or someone, and more often than not, people will
respond positively to you. I have found that most people love to have
their picture taken. If you are uncomfortable or nervous about something
or someone, it’s best to just leave the camera in your bag.
I let my camera do the talking and was rewarded with one of the most genuine portraits I have ever taken.
I
was grabbing a quick meal before going to the airport in Jaipur, India
and this lady was very curious about me and my gear. I promised her a
photograph in exchange for a smile and I absolutely adore this image!
3) Get permission
Almost everyone around the world knows what a camera is, and what it
can do. Even if you don’t know the language, simple hand gestures and
pointing to the camera, can take you far in terms of communicating what
is it that you are seeking.
Not understanding the language should never be an excuse to
photograph an unwilling person. As a photographer, the responsibility of
asking for permission before you click the shutter rests solely on you.
If you have time, learn some simple phrases, related to photography, in
the language of the country in which you are traveling. This will not
only allow you to communicate more directly with your subject,
explaining why you want to take a photograph, it shows your interest in
learning at least some of the local language.
Sometimes
use your camera as an ice-breaker. Take a picture and show people the
photos you’ve taken of them, and you will find that photography
instantly becomes more fun and less intimidating. More than anything,
respect the fact that “No” really does mean NO. Yes, I understand that
there is another school of thought of whether asking for permission will
ruin the composition of an image. And while a lot of photographers will
argue one way or the other, I am of the opinion that if you are taking a
picture of a person, you should make every effort to ask permission –
either before or after.
I
made the mistake of not asking this lady before photographing her and
as she walked by me, she yelled at me for being rude and taking her
picture – lesson learnt!
4) Travel without taking pictures
Take the time to really travel without obsessing over capturing every
minute of every day with your camera. Spend time exploring
your surroundings, and your body and mind will thank you for it. Even if
you are on assignment, build in some down time to your schedule. Not
only does it help you relax, but also recharges those creative juices so
you are more productive when you do get back to work!
5) Know your gear
This one is one of the basics of photography, no matter what your
genre. You should know the workings of your camera inside and out. When
you are traveling and have strangers pose for you, that is not the time
to start trying out different settings and fidgeting with your gear.
People begin to loose patience and often get leery of you and your
abilities. They are more likely to simply walk away, rather than waste
their time with a stranger who does not know how to operate his/her
camera.
These
men were intently discussing the price of wholesale fruits and
vegetables at the Chennai
Flower market and I had exactly two seconds to
take this image – this image is literally SOOC
(Straight out of the
camera).
6) To pay or not to pay
Perhaps, one of the most controversial situations while traveling
abroad, is the question of giving money to people you photograph. There
is always that one uneducated, desperate tourist who gives money to get
what they think is an award-winning prized photograph, and soon it
becomes a lucrative business in the local community. This can get quite
uncomfortable and unsafe for other photographers traveling through the
same places.
I
prefer engaging people openly, and sharing my story and my need for a
picture. I find that in most cases people are more than happy to share
their story, and to be heard. I too, walk away more culturally and
emotionally enriched with the experience. However, if someone expects
money for a photograph, then the decision becomes less of whether to pay
and more of whether to take the photo. That is a judgement call that
each of us needs to make on a case-by-case basis, while being mindful of
the example we are setting for future travellers and photographers.
I remember one instance last year when I was traveling in India with
my kids. We were visiting a temple in Southern India, and for some
reason a lot of teenagers starting taking pictures of my five year old
son. They would come and ask me if they could take a selfie with my son.
Initially it seemed innocent enough, and my son posed with them. Soon
it was getting to the point of being creepy, and I had to refuse. As a
parent, I was extremely uncomfortable with having strangers take
pictures of my kids. This experience taught me a very valuable lesson –
value and respect people’s personal space and personal preferences.
What are your thoughts on this topic? Do you ask for permission
before taking photographs of strangers when you travel? Or do you just
take the picture and move on? What other things to you take into
consideration to be a culturally sensitive travel photographer?
For the longest time, one of my dreams has been to live away from
home and travel with my family for an extended period of time. I used to
dream about all the places I could travel to, and how much fun I would
have living a nomadic life. Of course, then I would wake up, and the
realities of my responsibilities would take over.
A couple of years ago after a major life setback with the loss of my
mom to cancer, I decided that my life was too short not to make my
dreams come true.
That year, after several months of discussion and planning, my
husband and I decided that our little family would spend our summer in
India – traveling
and visiting family. Somewhere along the way a trip to Ladakh, London,
Zurich, and Rome got added to the roster. Pretty soon I was in charge of
planning and packing for a life on the road for two and a half months.
We’d be living out of just four suitcases – one for each one of us. As a
photographer, I knew that somewhere in those suitcases I had to pack my
camera equipment along with my essentials.
Since that year, my family made a conscious decision to take time
away from everything over the summer and spend at least 3-4 weeks
traveling. Last year we spent two weeks in Utah, and back-country camped
for a week in the wilderness of Denver. As the official photographer
(both for personal reasons as well as professional ones), I have had to
nail down the task of packing my gear and traveling as light as possible
to make the most of the trip.
Here are a few things that helped me make the most of my time away
from home. It is very likely that I have missed some key photographic
opportunities, but overall I am pleased with my gear setup, the
opportunities that my family has experienced, and the images that I have
created. As a bonus, all the camera equipment I take along make it back
without any significant mishaps along the way. If traveling has taught
me anything, it is that not every moment needs to documenting and not
every piece of gear needs to be used at the same time!
1. Gear choices
Let’s face the reality of life as a photographer – we all love and
want all the gear that we think we need wherever we go. As I pack, I
realize that as a photographer I always have so many things I want to
take. However, often the need for gear is quickly overruled by the need
for practical things like clothes, shoes, and books.
After a few days on the road, showers are not an overrated thing, they
become necessary! I narrow down my list based on where my travels are
taking me and what gear I could realistically carry and transport safely
without any damage.
A small travel tripod – this is my latest addition and it fits in my carry-on bag
A remote trigger
7-8 camera CF cards ranging from 8GB to 32GB
One compact 2TB External Hard drives (backup photo storage)
Two generic lens and camera cleaner kits
All of these things comfortably fit into my REI brand hiking
backpack. I use this bag for everything and store my gear in individual
soft-cover bags inside the pack. This is what I have done since day one
and something that has worked well for me.
As
a mom of young kids, my backpack not only carries my gear but also
snacks, extra t-shirts, books, color pencils and at a minimum, 5
matchbox cars of many colors. Just as the camera is my toy, my kids have
their own toys that have to make it on every trip.
My
most recent trip to Portugal had very limited gear because we were
traveling light. So I had to
get creative with my 24-70mm lens around
town as I was enamored with all the beautiful tiles all
over Lisbon!
The one thing I always wish I’d taken with me is a rain cover for the
camera itself. My backpack has a rain cover, which I use when caught in
a sudden downpour, but without a separate rain cover over my camera, I
am not able to use it in the rain – which can be disappointing. Somehow,
I always forget to buy one before my trips.
2. Organize and plan your trip
For me, being prepared and organized includes having a rough idea of
where I am going and the kind of environment I am going to expose myself
and my gear to. Before I leave for a trip, I jot down all the serial
numbers, make and brand for my camera equipment, and store them in a
document on my cloud-based Dropbox account. This gets updated and
checked multiple times in the year as I sell and buy new gear. Just add
this as one of your to-dos before you depart on your trip. All my external hard drives are stored off-site at a friend’s place as well as the remainder of my gear.
Now, obviously, this is a friend I trust. But another option would be
to lock it in an off-site storage facility. As part of your research,
another good thing to keep in your back pocket is the name, address, and
contact information of authorized service dealers for your gear in the
country you are visiting. Sometimes things go wrong no matter how
prepared you are. Having information about services centers and
authorized dealers for your gear is a time saver – especially when you
are traveling in areas where internet connections are not very reliable.
During my travels, my gear choices depend on the activities planned
and the kind of travel we are going to do. When traveling with my family
in Rome and Zurich, we traveled everywhere either on foot or used
public transportation. So I just carried my camera body and the 24-70mm
lens among other daily necessities in my backpack. The rest of my camera
equipment was either packed away in the hotel room safe or locked away
in my suitcase.
When we hiked and camped in the Himalayas, my camera, along with both
my lenses, were always on my person. The tripod was handed off to the
porters that were carrying our camping gear. For my camping trips, I
just carried all my CF cards and ditched the charger and external hard
drive at the house where we were staying because it was highly unlikely
I’d find a charging port on the journey.
Sometimes, if I ask nicely, my husband will carry my gear bag but only because it is not too feminine!! Also, it doesn’t scream camera bag.
This
is my camera bag, day pack, and hiking bag. It can hold a lot of stuff
and has back support
which is really important. Plus it is not
too”girly” in case I need some help carrying it!
When we travel on a road trip, my camera and 24-70mm lens sit up
front with me and store the rest of the gear in the car trunk. When I
fly, I carry all my gear in my backpack – I am too paranoid about
checking in any gear.
My next purchase for a long haul trip is going to be a Pelican case,
so I don’t have to carry anything on my person. As I age, I find that I
cannot carry heavy bags as easily.
All these choices are possible because of the research I do ahead of time.
Additionally, a good mindset to have when you travel to far-off exotic locations is one of acceptance of physical and mental limitations of both your and your camera gear.
I experienced some altitude sickness when I traveled to Leh and
Ladakh as we were traveling on roads at almost 17,000 feet above sea
level. I also found my gear did not function as efficiently at that
altitude. My batteries did not last as long, and the camera also did not
shoot as fast. The first few times it happened I freaked out. However,
then I just accepted it as something beyond my control and gave myself
some extra time to be patient when getting the shot that I wanted.
3. Know your gear
This one is too basic to include here, but it is amazing how many of
us don’t follow this simple tip. We are so enamored with the latest and
greatest gear available, but yet don’t quite know how to use the stuff that we do own.
The best way to get over this is to limit yourself to a few key
pieces of camera equipment for an extended period. One of my photography
goals is to capture star trails and the Milky Way.
The opportunity presented itself when I traveled to Ladakh. After all, I
was going to be in a remote part of the country at an altitude of
almost 15,000-17,000 feet above sea level.
Now astrophotography
is not my thing. I always limited myself from trying it out because I
don’t usually travel with a tripod, nor do I own an intervalometer. So
this time I downloaded the camera manual on my phone and studied it
before I left. With that information, I was able to comfortably and
confidently use the B (a.k.a Bulb mode) on my camera to capture star
trails in Ladakh. It was quite a thrilling experience for my maiden
attempt.
Nothing
quite prepares you for seeing the milky way. That first glimpse takes
your breadth away
and without the right gear, it is impossible to
capture.
This is one of my first milky way shots and now I find myself looking
out for stars every night! This would have been impossible without a
tripod and proper remote trigger.
Another good thing to practice before you head out is gear maintenance.
I routinely clean my lens and camera throughout my trips, so I carry
two camera cleaning kits because I know my gear gets a lot of time out
in the elements when I travel.
Before every major outing, I spent the time to clean out the dirt and
dust from the camera and the lens. I keep the dust pen in my camera bag
in case I need it while I am out and about photographing.
4. Be local and think like a local
I have to include this one in any travel photography related article
because it does relate indirectly to taking care of yourself and your
gear. I often find photographers I meet along my journeys have a fake
sense of entitlement. When you are a guest in someone’s house, are you
not on your best behavior? Why is it that when you are a guest in
another country, common sense and basic manners seem to fly out the
window? Locals
are still people who deserve the same amount of respect and courtesy as
anyone. Put yourself in their shoes and try to imagine what they
experience when someone shoves a camera in their face without so much as
a hello or a smile.
My 24-70mm lens is my go-to travel lens. It really lets me get into
small places and photograph a variety of things. I am not one for a more
obscure lens where people don’t know I am photographing them. Instead, I
prefer to interact with people and let them know, rather see, that I am
taking their picture. This is just the way I work.
While in Ladakh, we visited a lot of beautiful monasteries. Most of
them are still in use, and we saw many temples where the monks were in
prayer. Even if there is no sign discouraging photography, please use
common sense not to invade their private space – especially when they
are chanting.
I cannot tell you how many times I have come across tourists that
almost jump over each other or hang out of moving cars just to take
pictures of monks chanting and praying. Seeing this rude behavior almost
made me embarrassed to take my camera out!
Being respectful has everything to do with travel and travel photography.
Additionally, flashing your fancy gear around is almost begging for
the wrong kind of attention. One evening in Rome, I was out with my kids
taking photos around beautiful horse-drawn carriages. We lost track of
time and soon found ourselves in a deserted alley. I quickly put my gear
away in my backpack, stuffed it with our jackets, grabbed my kids, and
sprinted towards a more crowded piazza.
5. Make friends with local photographers
The internet is an amazing tool for almost anything. It is such a
great resource to find and connect with other photographers, especially
if you are traveling to areas that are new and foreign to you. When I
travel, I always try to connect with some local photographers. We
sometimes meet for dinner/drinks, chat on the phone, and just become
friends.
They
even give me advice on some of the local, non-touristy spots to
photograph as well as offered to lend me gear if I need it (Well! Some
do…not all want to part with their gear to a total stranger).
A recent trip to the city where I got to try out a 40mm lens and get some cool shots indoors in low light.
I hope these tips are helpful as you plan your next vacation in a
far-off destination. Travel in itself is quite the adventure and adding
photography to it is just the icing on the cake. However, remember to
travel light and enjoy your trip for all that it is – not just a
photography expedition.
Also, there is no such thing as perfect photography, but there is
something known as a life-changing experience. Travel to experience more
of those than just taking pretty pictures.
Do you have any extra tips for traveling light with your photography
gear? If so, please share them with us and our readers in the comments
below.
Share this article
7 Non-Photography Items Which No Travel Photographer Should Leave Home Without
It’s fair to say that as a travel photographer you can never be 100%
prepared for everything. There are so many different scenarios and
variables that can affect your photography and your journey that you
simply can’t predict. But over time you will begin to learn techniques
that will help you be able to tackle the issues you’ll encounter.
Part of this is your list of equipment. While the obvious
photographic equipment might seem straightforward, there are also a
number of non-photographic items that will begin to make it on your
list. As you will discover over time they can also be invaluable. Here
are seven of my must-have items that might also help you along the way.
#1 – Plastic Bag and a Rubber Band
It doesn’t matter how well you prepare and how many times you check
the weather forecast, at some point every travel photographer will get
caught in the rain. Most times you can avoid you and your camera
equipment getting wet by trying to wait it out under some shelter. But
sometimes you can’t or more importantly, you still want to photograph.
After all, rain can provide wonderful reflections on the surface of
pavements and roads not to mention people with umbrellas that can really
help tell a story.
So to avoid getting your camera wet, simply take an ordinary plastic
bag and cut a hole big enough for your lens hood to fit through. You
want roughly half of the lens hood sticking out and the hole in the bag
should be a tight fit. Put your camera in from the top of the bag (as if
you were putting shopping in it) and stick the lens with the hood
attached through the hole. Put the elastic band around the bag near the
hole to keep it in place and voila you have created a bag to keep the
rain off your camera.
When you want to shoot with your camera simply put your hand in the
bag and hold the camera inside. Sure you can probably find an expensive version that you can buy, but why waste money when you can make it yourself?
DIY rain cover.
#2 – A Face Towel
If you ask me what is the one non-photographic item that I always
carry with me, it’ll be a small face towel. I have lost count of the
number of times that I have used a towel in different scenarios. Whether
it’s to wipe my camera dry after getting water, mud, or anything else
on it, or wiping my face when I’m hot and sweaty (it’s amazing how much
better you feel when you can simply wipe your face with a clean towel
when you are out and about all day), wiping my finger when I have cut
myself, or even just wiping a bench dry after rain so I could sit down
while waiting instead of standing up (or getting my trousers wet by
sitting on a wet bench). The number of times that a simple towel will
come in handy will astound you.
The number of times that a simple towel will come in handy will astound you.
#3 – Smartphone
Okay, so technically speaking a Smartphone isn’t a “non-photographic”
item but ignoring the camera element, it has become a must these days
for travel photographers. Whether it’s to check sun direction,
weather forecast, maps, making notes about potential shoot locations
and metadata details, to simply having access to pass the time by
reading the news while waiting for sunset, a Smartphone has become an
essential tool for every travel photographer.
#4 – Compass
For the majority of photographers, a Smartphone has replaced the
trusted compass. But it’s still worth having a small one in your bag
just in case your phone runs out of power or you can’t get a signal.
Besides being able to bail you out when you get lost, a compass can help
you determine sunrise/sunset direction where the light will move, which
is essential for any travel photographer.
#5 – Gloves
Travel photography usually means early starts and late finishes as the soft light in and around sunrise and sunset
is great for photography. This usually means you’ll be out and about
when it’s colder than during the day and trying to work your camera
dials with cold hands or even carrying a tripod is not an enjoyable
experience.
During the daytime depending on the time of year, it can be pretty
cold for your hands and even in the summer months it can get much colder
in the evenings and early mornings. So do yourself (and your hands) a
favor and keep a pair of gloves in your camera bag.
#6 – Pen and Paper
Sometimes you simply can’t beat pen and paper. It might be to take
notes, to jot down ideas for shoots, to sketch a composition that you
want to try and create later, or it might simply be to take the email
address of the person who’s photo you have just taken so that you can
email them a copy. Whatever the reason, a pen and paper is always useful
to have in your camera bag.
#7 – Sunscreen and a Hat
It’s easy to forget sunscreen and a hat among all of the other things
above, in addition to your photographic equipment, but they are
essentials for anyone working outdoors. As a travel photographer, you
will be spending most of your days out and about and it’s easy to get
distracted and not notice a few hours going by. The last thing you need
on a photo trip is to get sun burned.
Over the years, I have found that these small items have become
invaluable. I will, of course, adapt this list as I go and add or remove
things for certain destinations. For example, if I’m out in the
wilderness I would carry a first aid kit, an emergency kit with things
like a whistle, blanket, etc., a torch, and the relevant maps of the
areas I’m planning to explore. But my basic list of items accompanies me
on any trip even a short city break.
Over time you will build up your own set of items. But for the time being, I hope this list is useful for you.
Anything else you can think of? What non-photographic item do you
always carry with you and why? Please tell us in the comments below. Share this article.
New travel photographers are always asking me what equipment they
should invest in when first starting out. Before I get into what I
believe are the basic essentials that beginners should start with, there
are a few things that you’ll want to take on board first.
A more expensive your camera doesn’t automatically make your photos
better. The camera is just a tool, and the main factors are things like
composition, lighting, and technical aspects, like focus.
Start with the basics and build up from there. The last thing any
travel photographer wants to do is drag a ton of camera equipment
around.
Get adequate insurance to cover your camera and accessories. Accidents and thefts do happen when you travel with cameras.
Now to the list. Obviously, this all depends on your budget, but
here’s the basic list of equipment that I think novice travel
photographers will need.
Camera
Needless to say that your basic requirement is a camera. There are so
many different choices available for every budget, so the only way to
really know which is right for you is to do your research. Professional
travel photographers use high-end DSLR Nikon or Canon cameras which
range from around $1,500 to $5,000 USD. But there are plenty of very
capable cameras under $1,000. One of the best ways to make a decision before you purchase is to rent the camera for a day. Go out and take some photos with it and you’ll get an idea of what it’s like.
One option that has been on the rise in recent years in travel
photography is mirrorless cameras. These are much smaller and generally
cheaper than high-end DSLR cameras but still capable of producing
high-quality photographs. More and more travel photographers are now carrying these either as a spare or an alternative to their main DLSR camera.
When you are ready to purchase, shop around and don’t forget that you
could also buy serviced second-hand cameras which will be in perfect
working condition, but at a lower price.
My
camera of choice is a Canon 5D MK III. It comes with a hefty price tag,
but it is an exceptional camera that won’t let you down and stands up
very well at high ISO settings. I usually carry an extra body with me
which I leave in my hotel room in the event that anything happens to my
main camera. Or sometimes I have my other body fitted with my telephoto
lens if I think I will be using it a lot that day to save me having to
change lenses.
Lenses
Usually, cameras are available as a package with a lens or just the
body, meaning you will have to purchase the lens separately. Whichever
you decide will usually come down to your budget as there will be
different lens options offered with each camera.
As a starting point, you will need what I would call a “work horse”
lens. It’s the one that the majority of your images will be taken with
and will need to offer a good focal length range. Something along the
lines of the 24 -70mm lens is a good range to start. This will allow you
to capture everything from landscapes to portraits. In fact, you could
actually get away with just this one lens the majority of the time.
If your budget then allows, you could add a telephoto lens to
compliment your wide angle. Something like a 70-200mm lens means you are
covered for pretty much everything you will need day to day. Over time
you can build up your lens collection further by adding macro or prime lenses. But to start, just a wide angle zoom ,and if your budget allows a telephoto, will be sufficient.
My basic list of lenses that I carry on every trip are:
Most travel photographers will say that a tripod is probably their
favourite accessory. Quite simply without a tripod, you will not be able
to take photos which require slow shutter speeds
as you will not be able to hold the camera steady enough by hand. But a
tripod is so much more useful than just for photographing low light
conditions. Using a tripod often means you spend a bit more time
thinking and composing the image rather than just snapping away.
Which tripod you choose will come down to personal choice, budget,
and how much weight you can carry from day to day. Carbon fiber tripods
are usually what travel photographers use as they are stable and
lightweight. I use the Manfrotto 055CXPRO3 which is a sturdy carbon fiber tripod which is lightweight to carry. I also use a Manfrotto 327RC2 light duty grip ball head to connect my camera to the tripod.
But like any camera accessory, there are lots of tripods ranging from
inexpensive all the way into a few hundred dollars. Often I see people
with the latest expensive camera equipment but a very inexpensive
tripod. Besides the fact that low-end tripods can actually have an
adverse effect on your photos through vibrations, do you really want to
rely on something cheap and flimsy to hold up your expensive camera?
Choose the best tripod that you can afford because it will last you a
long time and will be well worth the initial investment long term.
An alternative option to traditional tripods is a monopod.
You will often see sports photographers or photographers which large
telephoto lenses use these as an aid to support the weight of the camera
and lens. Obviously, the downside of a monopod is that it isn’t
supported by three legs so your photos with slow shutter speeds might
suffer from camera shake.
Camera Bag
A good camera bag is one of the most important things you will buy.
Not only will the bag keep your equipment safe while in transit but also
when you are at your destination photographing. There is no shortage of
camera bags these days and they vary in terms of size, usage, and cost.
As you become more experienced it is likely that you will have
different bags for different scenarios. For example, if I’m hiking or
out in the wilderness I carry my LowePro Pro Trekker 450
as it is a comfortable bag for long walks and has plenty of room for
equipment as well as space for things like a water reservoir or to strap
my tripod onto.
But this bag would be too big in a city where for example, I want to
photograph in busy places such as markets. So in those situations, I
would either take my Lowepro day bag pack (an older version of the Fastpack BP 150 AW II) or my shoulder bag (Lowepro Passport Sling series). Occasionally if I have a day off I might just carry my Toploader Pro70 AW II which just carries one camera and lens. So it’s easy to carry and not too imposing.
Lowepro is one of the market leaders and they alone have pretty much
every type of camera bag you will ever need covered. The main thing to
consider is what you will be using the bag for and what is the most
comfortable style for you to carry.
Other Essentials
Once you have your camera, lens, and tripod the only other things you need are camera batteries, memory cards, and a lens cleaning kit.
When you buy a camera it will come with a rechargeable battery but it
might be wise to invest in at least one more. The last thing you would
want is to be away somewhere when your battery fails and you can’t
charge it. A spare will always come in handy.
The other essential that you will need is a decent size memory card.
The cost will again be a factor here, but keep in mind that RAW files
take up much more space so if you are planning on shooting in that
format you will need extra memory card space. It isn’t unheard of to
fill a 32GB memory card in just a few days when travelling, so always
carry a few spares.
The last of what I consider to be essential is some sort of lens
cleaning kit. That might just be a brush and a lens cloth but there is
no doubt that you will need to wipe dust, debris, and dirt off your lens
glass a few times on a trip. I would also recommend that you fit a UV filter
to your lenses as this will help ensure that the lens doesn’t get
scratched. It will be far cheaper to replace a UV filter than to repair a
scratched lens glass.
Accessories
The above list covers the basics of what any travel photographer will
need but of course, there are other things that you can add over time
that will become incredibly useful in some situations.
Polarizing filter – helps get rid of unwanted reflections while boosting blues and greens.
Neutral Density filters (ND) – helps to limit the amount of light entering the camera, which allows for effects such as smooth looking water to be created.
Graduated Filters
– similar to ND filters, graduated filters are useful in situations
where you have a disparity in the brightness between the background and
foreground and want to even that out.
Hard drive – if you have limited memory card space, a hard drive is useful to transfer your photos over to. But a hard drive is also useful as a backup in case something happens to your memory cards.
All of my lenses are fitted with a Hoya Pro 1 Digital UV filter. This helps protect the lens glass especially in very harsh conditions such as the desert.
Buying your first camera and all the accessories that you need can be
a daunting prospect. The key is to do your research and only buy the
absolute essentials. Over time you can always add more specialized
equipment. The above list is my basic recommendation for a travel
photographer and should have everything you need.
Anything I have missed? Let us know your thoughts below.
Share this article.
Concert Photography 101: Cameras and Lenses for Beginners
If you’ve ever wondered how to become a concert photographer, one of
the very first steps is to acquire the right gear. You’ve probably been
to a concert or festival and seen music photographers hauling tons of
equipment such as two camera bodies and enormous lenses. While it’s
certainly ideal for a professional to have this much stuff (and then
some), most beginners or amateurs absolutely don’t need this much gear
to get started. Read on for some of my suggestions on how to gear up as a
beginning doing concert photography.
Concert photography rules
Before we get into gear, let’s discuss your typical concert
photography setting. Whether you’re shooting a big arena show or a
small, casual performance in a bar, concert photography rules are more
or less the same. You get to shoot for the first three songs only, and
cannot use a flash or strobe of any sort. With these two rules in mind,
this means that you need gear that allows you to adjust and shoot
quickly and pull off shots in a low lighting setting.
What kind of camera do you need?
First off, invest in a solid DSLR camera. While there are point and
shoot cameras that could arguably get the job done, you need the lens
choices that come with DSLRs. It doesn’t really matter what brand you
choose. What does matter is being comfortable using it and knowing that
you have a wide variety of lenses to pair with it. Canon and Nikon are
two of the biggest camera brands that are among the most popular for
concert photographers.
Crop Sensor or Full Frame?
When researching DSLR camera options, you’ll have a choice between
investing in a crop sensor or full frame camera. The differences between
the two types of DSLR cameras is best explained in this article.
To
quickly summarize, crop sensor cameras are typically smaller in size
and much cheaper than full frame cameras. The main disadvantage to crop
sensor cameras has to do with their smaller sensor sizes that will
impact available ISO options, thus resulting in slightly noisier or
grainy photos than full frame cameras. In short, start out with a crop
sensor camera if you’re on a budget, and aim to upgrade to a full frame
camera the further you get in your concert photography career.
Canon 5D Mark III (full frame) on the left and a 6D on the right.
After you’ve invested in a DSLR, be sure to budget for the purchase
of accompanying lenses, which can end up being just as expensive as the
camera body. Generally speaking, you shouldn’t use the kit lens that
automatically comes with your DSLR camera.
Most of these kit lenses are fine for shooting in ample lighting
conditions, but they won’t perform well in the low light settings of
concerts. Instead, what you want is a fast lens with a wide aperture (or
f-stop) of between f/1.2-f/2.8. This will help you capture moving
subjects in dark settings.
Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200 f/2.8.
Start with prime lenses
For beginning concert photographers on a budget, prime lenses are
your best bet. While these lenses have fixed focal lengths, meaning you
can’t zoom with them, their low f-stops mean they will shoot better in
low light. Prices and exact lens models will vary according to which
camera brand you’ve chosen. Since I’m a Canon shooter, these lenses are
geared toward Canon.
Pretty much every professional concert photographer will have two go-to lenses on hand: a 24-70mm f/2.8 midrange zoom lens, and a 70-200mm f/2.8
telephoto lens. Neither of these lenses is cheap and should definitely
be considered a long-term investment. But if you can afford one or both,
don’t hesitate to add these lenses to your concert photography kit.
Keep an eye on third party brands
While it’s certainly ideal to purchase lenses in the same brand as your DSLR camera manufacturer, there are many third party companies
producing cheaper and sometimes even better options. Great lens options
exist from Sigma, Tamron, and Tokina, to name a few. Again, the
specific options will depend on the DSLR camera body you’ve chosen, but
here are a few possible options for Canon shooters:
It’s a reality that concert photography equipment isn’t cheap. But
there are some ways to score more affordable camera gear. First, look
into used or refurbished camera bodies and/or lenses. As long as you purchase from an accredited source, you can save hundreds of dollars on gear.
On the flip side, keep in mind that camera gear retains its value as
long as you take care of it. So if you buy a lower-end camera or lens
and want to upgrade later on, it’s pretty easy to sell off your old gear
to help you invest in newer options.
Finally,
look for older models or previous versions of gear. For example, you
could spring for the brand new Canon 5D Mark IV camera body, or you can
save over $1,000 by investing in the older yet still very functional
Canon 5D Mark III. The same is true for many other camera bodies and
lenses on the market. It all depends on your budget and what kind of
features you absolutely need to have.
Consistently pulling off pro-quality concert photos
often requires investing in pro-grade camera gear. But it’s best to
start small and to upgrade over time as your skills and budget increase.
What are your go-to concert photography cameras and lenses? Let me know
in the comments below!
