Travel Photography Tips



Left Image: Canon EOS D30, Tamron 70-210mm f-2.8 Bogen tripod and ball head.
Multi-pattern meter at f8 and 1/250 sec on aperture priority mode and manual focus. Original color image was converted to black and white in Photoshop.

Traveling to new places is exciting and offers great photo opportunities. You get to see and photograph new places and bring back some unique images. You must be prepared and take all necessary equipment you will need. You can't just turn around and go back home to get your tripod or stop at the local drug store to buy more films. Here is some tips to help you get prepared for your next trip to take full advantage of all the photo opportunities.

1. Get to know your destination. Buy guide books about the place you will be visiting. Learn about interesting sites and plan in advance to make sure you'll have enough time to see all the best the place has to offer. Local people are always the best guides. Ask them about places for photography and you will find locations not mentioned in any guide.
2. Get to know the basic laws and regulations, especially laws regarding photography. Some countries for example, have laws against photographing military bases or even private homes. Respect their laws even if they seem unusual to you. You are not there to start a revolution, but to take pictures.
3. Pack all your equipments and carry them with you on the plane. It is no use to spend 500 dollars on a new lens and leaving it at home. If you possible, carry your tripod with you as well. If you leave your equipments inside your luggage and the air line looses it, your photography trip will turn into just site seeing. Make sure to take as much as you can including extra lenses, your flash, and other accessories.
4. I highly recommend a second camera body. If your camera stops working or gets damaged, your second body can be used to continue taking pictures. You can invest in a low priced body for back up as long as it has all the basic features you need.
5. All-in-one lens users beware! If you own only one 28-200mm or 28-300mm zoom, and if it is accidentally dropped and damaged, your trip will end in disaster. This is the main draw back to this type of zooms. You may want to take extra lenses just in case.
6. Buy twice as much film as you think you will need. You'll never know what you will find and you don't want to run out of film, when you find that once in a life time opportunity. If you don't shoot all the rolls, you can always bring the unused ones back home. Use clear plastic film cans and place them inside large zip lock bags to carry your films and ask for hand inspection.
   
   
   Image Above: Canon EOS D30, Tamron 70-210mm f-2.8 Bogen tripod and ball head.
   Multi-pattern meter at f-4 and 1/160 sec on aperture priority mode and manual focus. Original color image was converted to black and white in Photoshop.
    
7. Beware of X-ray: X-ray machines are photographers worst enemy, especially the newer CTX machines installed in many major cities. X-ray will damage films and CTX machines can even totally destroy all your films. Film shields may provide some protection against some X-ray machines, but almost none against CTX. I don't trust film shields and believe they are a waste of money. If the X-ray operator can't see what is inside the bag, all he or she has to do is turn up the power. Damage depends on the type of ISO (ISO 400 and higher are much more sensitive), location of film inside the bag, film format, and number of scans performed. If you notice foggy or ghostly images or total black out, it was the result of X-ray. Best protection is hand inspection. In US and Canada, you have the right to request for hand inspection. In Europe and most other countries, agents have the right to refuse hand inspection. You should still ask and be very nice and polite. If the agents are not very busy, they may inspect your films without putting it through X-ray. Another option is to have your films processed at your destination. It might be more costly, but worth the price if it will protect your films.
8. Don't forget extra batteries. Nobody seems to pay much attention to batteries. Needles to say that without them you can't do any type of photography. Keep fresh extra batteries with you at all time, and I mean inside your bag or pockets. You don't want to run back to your hotel to get fresh ones.
9. Take extra care before taking each shot and take insurance shots. Bracket when in doubt and take extra shots of each opportunity. You can't just go back the next day to take more if you mess up, especially if it's your last day.
10. Find out about the climate and take appropriate clothing. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes for long walks. I pack casual cloth and take less to leave room for my photo vest, backpack, and monopod . I also take warm jackets and sweaters even when traveling to warm places. You'll never know.