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

Image source : independenttravelcats.com

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.