More Photography Tips For The Global Photographer

Do you like to take pictures while you travel? If you do, then there are ways to capture the most beautiful images with a simple camera and a few tried and tested photography principles. Let’s take at some of them.

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The “grounds”

When we say the grounds, we mean the foreground, midground, and background. These are things that are integral to the composition of the shot. The rule of thumb is you should find interesting stuff somewhere in the foreground or midground, and try to include it in the background of your shot. People on the streets beside huge monuments, or rivers below mountains are good examples.

The “frame” and the “point”

To creatively frame the subject means to capture the entire scene with the subject in it in a way that whoever’s looking will focus on the subject and still admire the view. The point refers to the focal point, which is the subject. Sometimes, you may need to blur the background to emphasize the subject more, but we don’t recommend that as much.

The “story”

We’ve heard it time and again – a good photograph tells a good story. Posing in front of a historical landmark may seem like a good idea, but what about candid shots with laughter or friends walking along a shoreline? Those are more interesting. Those are the shots that when you show other people, you can actually them something more than just “Here’s the snapping turtle…”

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Shahriar Ekbatani is a travel photographer living in Miami with his wife and daughters. For more photography articles, visit this blog.

The Budding Shutterbug: Four Travel Photography Tips For Beginners

Some people like to collect souvenirs when they travel. But the best tokens can be the collection of beautiful images captured by your camera. Travel photography is like a time machine, capturing moments from a journey that you can look back to for years.  Below are tips to improve your travel photography game.

1. Take advantage of the golden hour

The Golden hour – the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset – is when natural light is at its best. It’s not too bright and not too dull. So, get up early and get amazing photo opportunities, while other tourists are asleep.

Image source : epicureandculture.com

2. Pre-trip location scouting

Do some “recon ops” about the destination.  Read travel guidebooks or scour the internet for articles and blogs about the place for photo ideas so when you get to the place you know where to shoot.

3. Use a tripod

Use lightweight travel pods, so it’s easier to carry them around. A tripod allows you to set your camera position and keep it there so you can take time arranging the perfect composition.

4. Don’t try to get it all at once

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Don’t try to take everything in your limited time. Take it slow and get a better understanding of each place you visit. Your images will get better as you travel.

Hi there, Shahriar Ekbatani here. I’m a travel photographer and a huge Gator fan. I’ve been a photographer for 15 years. If you want more tips, visit my page.

Exploring the world’s most picture-perfect streets

As a street photographer, sometimes the typical urban scenes can be tiring. Especially when you’ve been so used to shooting in places that are similar to home. To keep my creative juices flowing, I make sure to travel to different parts of the world to explore different street cultures. Here are some of the most picture-perfect streets I’ve visited: 

Image source: Wikimedia.org

Abbey Road (London, UK) 

If you want to have your Beatles moment, visit this street when you're in London. Lucky for us, the zebra crossing is a picture-perfect background that seems to make individuals stand out. Aside from the crossing, the street features the little things that make London living interesting. 

Old Town (Lijiang, China) 

This UNESCO World Heritage site is a great way to explore what life was like in China's olden days. If you want to have great views of the Old Town, visit Qiyi Street in Chongron Alley or Wuyi Street in Wenzhi Alley to capture the streets' charms seen in the walkways and canals. 

Lombard Street (California, USA) 

This street in San Francisco adds to the overall appeal of the city. Despite being a difficult road to take for motorists, it's a visual treat for onlookers watching cars trying to make turns on a lush green hill. 

Champs-Élysées (Paris, France) 

Capture Parisian life at Champs-Élysées. With a line of trees leading up to the Arc d Triomphe, it’s a glorious sight, especially for tourists. If you’ve always been used to busy, polluted, and crowded streets, going to this part of Paris might refresh your senses. 

For those with a knack for photography, taking photos of the streets is an excellent way to capture a country’s culture. It’s also a great way to harness your eye for detail and other technical skills. 

Image source: Sftravel.com

Hi there! My name is Shahriar Ekbantani, a longtime Miami resident and travel photographer. My favorite photographic subjects are street scenes and candid moments of everyday people, both of which tell a story of the vibrant culture that makes each place unique. Let’s keep in touch on Twitter.

Pack and shoot: Essential tips for travel photography

Places have their own haunting and distinct character, and if we want to bring back truly good photos from our visits, we need to capture it. When planning the trip, the travel photographer must know what to bring, both in terms of physical equipment and perspective. Hereunder are some tips to make the journey (and the photos) most memorable. 

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First, consider carefully what is driving you to go to a particular place instead of others. Why, for example, visit a beach or a mountain? Aside from the umbrella appeal of a place, you might want to do some research on lesser known aspects of the area that would make the trip even more worthwhile. Read about the people, the food, the culture in travel brochures or online guides.

Knowing the culture of the place is key to acting appropriately, so as not come across as rude nor offend the locals. It will likewise help immensely in comprehending customs better and adjusting to a possible culture shock on your part. We highly suggest taking notes of your first impressions. Let all your senses take in the surroundings and jot down the experience. This act will fuel creative output.

Remember that you don’t need to bring an expensive camera. Unless you are a professional photographer specifically tasked to take paid-for photos, even a mid-range smartphone should be okay for photo documentation as recent ones already boast of good megapixels and nice features like 2X zoom. What’s more important is that you tell a story with your photographs. Don’t just stick to one type of picture; create a narrative, chronicling the time you’ve spent in a place with shots of both mundane and intriguing details. 

IImage source: flixel.com

Hello, Shahriar Ekbatanihere. I’m a forty-something resident of Miami and a diehard Gator fan. I currently work as a travel photographer, having fallen in love with the many vibrant street scenes of the world. For more on my interests and hobbies, check out thiswebsite.

Capturing the perfect moments with an entry-level camera

Many aspiring street photographers get their dreams hindered by thinking they have to get pro cameras to start shooting good photos. But the thing is, it’s the skill you develop that matters, not your gear. You can even take great photos using your phone. Having an entry-level camera would do just fine in taking candid moments. 

Image source: bhphotovideo.com

Learning the basics of candid photography helps you identify your style when taking photos. If you travel a lot, a small kit will do you great as it doesn’t take much space. Although make sure that the kit you have complements the way you shoot. Find a camera that’s lightweight and quick to use. This will enable you to shoot in uncommon places and situations. 

Even when you’re using an entry-level camera, what’s important is your knowledge about it. Knowing how to use it and applying it when you shoot will have an impact on your output. It’s easier to be confident when using a small camera as its size is not overwhelming. 

When shooting in the streets or congested places, it’s good to have a camera that has a silent shutter. It makes your job a little more discreet. Flashes and loud shutters gather unwanted attention from your subjects and the surroundings. As you are more involved in the moment, there are better chances for you to create better imagery. 

Having a camera that’s light and shoots quickly lets you experiment, explore, and become more adventurous with your shots. 

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Shahriar Ekbatani here. I’m a travel photographer now living in Miami, Florida. I take candid photos to try and tell the stories of the streets and their wanderers. Follow me on Twitter for more updates on travel photography.

Smartphone techniques for better street photography

The rise of the popularity of smartphone photography has encouraged a lot of photography enthusiasts to try out street photography. Though it’s easy to get into, it’s one of the hardest to build up the courage to actually try. 

Image source: doublemesh.com

Hopefully, this tip sheet will show you how to start capturing great street shots. 

Shoot from the hip 

While many photography schools have taught that you shouldn’t shoot from the hip, in street photography, it’s actually encouraged. After all, what matters is the photo. Shooting from the hip helps in the candidness of the picture. Once you aim your smartphone from your chest, people will immediately think they’re being photographed and will act unnaturally as a result. Shooting from the hip will also yield you results that you find interesting because of the angle you’re shooting from. 

Avoid using the shutter button on your touchscreen 

If you’re shooting with an iPhone, the volume button on your headphones acts as a shutter, so you can appear listening to music while you take a photo. You’ll also get more stable shots because prodding the screen can make you lose stability. 

Don’t spend too much time perfecting your shot 

When you work with dedicated cameras, many photographers try to get the image as close to what they want it to be in the camera. But with a mobile phone, the emphasis is much more on fixing it later on in the post. The sensor on a camera phone is generally so small that your focus shouldn’t really matter. Avoid spending a ton of time perfecting your shot, because you might miss a lot of good opportunities in the process. 

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Shahriar Ekbatani here. My favorite photographic subjects include vibrant street scenes in cities around the world and candid pictures of everyday people. Check out my work by visiting my LinkedIn page.

Shoot Perfectly Candid Street Photography

My frequent travels made me want to try out street photography. I wanted to capture the culture of the countries I visit. And street photography is the best way to do it. It isn’t easy, it will be frustrating, but once you capture that perfect moment where everything falls into place, you’ll be wanting for more.

Here are tips you can try if you want to jump into street photography.

Image source : petapixel.com

1. Speed shooting

How you hold the camera affects how fast you’ll be able to take a shot. And speed makes all the difference in the world in street photography. Because you’re shooting candid, you can’t tell your subject to pause. Sometimes, great moments happen only for a second or two, so be ready. When I’m walking down the street, I usually wrap the camera strap around my wrist instead of my neck. It is easier to maneuver the camera that way and allows you to shoot from the hip if you need to.

2. Shoot from the hip

The whole idea of candid shots is to not let your subject know you’re photographing them. Putting your camera on your eye to shoot is the best way to let your subjects know you’re taking a photo of them. Shooting from the hip also gives a different perspective. It makes the viewers feel they’re in the moment.

3. Use wide-angle lens

Avoid using a long lens. You’re not shooting a portrait. Once you whip that huge lens out, your subject will act unnaturally, knowing someone might be photographing them. The wide-angle lens also helps you get closer to your subject, giving more intimacy in your shot.

Image source : petapixel.com

I’m Shahriar Ekbatani, from Miami Florida. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you want more information about travel photography, follow me on LinkedIn.