If you’re a travel enthusiast, chances are that you’ll love nothing more than taking epic shots of your adventures. While the best way to enjoy a holiday is to live for the moment and stay present in the experience it also helps to have a souvenir that you can cherish for a lifetime; one of these souvenirs could be a enviable Instagram account.
Posting any old travel pic won’t garner you instant online success, it’s only the best that make the grade and attract the attention of thousands of fans. This article offers some tips on how to take a viral travel picture so take head!
1. Focus on the local culture
One of the most popular forms of travel photography is street portraiture. However, the best shots are far removed from the staged cheesy school portraits we all loathed as children. Capturing spontaneous raw emotions key here.
Pick out examples of scenes that are indicative of the local culture such as local market vendors selling their wares, people sitting outside a cafe, or children playing in the street.
If you can have the time to go even deeper on your focus, you could give special attention to their eyes since this is where the most emotion is.
2. Consider what’s in the frame
When you’re taking photos of exceptional places, ideally you want to showcase the destination in all its glory whilst maintaining a true-to-lie representation.
Even if you want to focus on the landscape itself, don’t forget to take a good look at what’s in the field of view. Is there an unwanted crowd? Unsightly power lines? Modern billboards in an otherwise traditional site? Try moving a few steps back or changing your perspective. Doing this can help you create cleaner and more visually-appealing photos.
Hashtags would also add more views and likes on your posts. However, you’ve got to use the right ones. So, check out this photography hashtag guide to get started.
3. Look for depth and dimension
This tip applies if you’re taking photos of architectural sites, buildings, landscapes, and stunning views. By looking for the most dramatic angles or incorporating dramatic elements such as stark lighting or a moody sky you can instantly elevate your image.
That said, here are some of the best tips you can apply to add some drama to your travel photos:
- Allow moving objects in your photos to blur
- Play with light and shadows
- Shoot from a different perspective, such as crouching, rather than eye-level
- Shoot fast, without focusing too much on the quality, but rather emphasizing capturing the moment of the people
READ MORE TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDES FROM WANDERLUSTERS
4. Learn The Local Language
This tip can come in handy when you’re travelling alone. Whether the picture is of yourself or other people, it’s easier to have the cooperation of the locals when you can at least converse with them in their own tongue.
You don’t have to be a master in their language. Even a simple ‘hi,’ ‘hello,’ ‘good morning,’ or ‘how are you,’ can take you a long way towards getting permission to take a close up shot.
5. Get up early or stay up late
Some of the best photos are those taken early in the morning or late in the evening. There’s just something so raw about the light at dawn and dusk. Plus, you can also avoid crowds, especially if you don’t want them in your photos.
By waking up early, you also have access to the best lighting for your photos. The morning light, which is warm and soft, is one way to create very beautiful and inspiring travel photos. When it comes to the golden hour, which is the hour before sunset, you can have soft and warm tones that can add depth and drama to your photos.
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