Travel Photography

If you have been planning a family trip for some time now, then the best thing is that you can actually have fun regardless of what other people might tell you in the first place. However, the good news is that you can manage to have some fun in certain situations, and the one definitive way of making sure that traveling with your family is not a tedious process is by bringing a camera along with you on the trip along with some other fun activities.

If you have been searching for some family travel photography tips, then you are at the right spot, as we are going to spend some time exploring all the tips that you can use to have the most wonderful experience you have been looking for with your family. So, let’s not waste time and start looking, shall we?

Family Travel Photography Tips – Make Every Moment Count

With the introduction out of the way, let’s look at some tips that are going to let you make the most of your family trip. We are going to try and keep things brief so you do not have to worry about the aftermath.

1. Choosing the Right Camera and Lens

I do understand that this is going to be a statement that has been repeated to death but whenever you are looking at a camera/lens combination, you simply cannot understate the importance. A lot of times, people simply overlook that and they end up getting the wrong experience out of them. If you genuinely want something that is good and something that will not fail you, then going for the right camera/lens combination is important.

As a photographer, I would always suggest you invest in a travel lens. I remember when I went for travel photography with Sony A7III and brought on some an excellent travel lens with me that helped me with all the photos. The point is, these things better.

2. Travel Light

One more thing that I am going to suggest is that you are traveling light. Simply put, when you are going on a family trip with your family or friends, you would want to be able to be mobile without any issues. Setting up your camera is only going to increase the time between every shot and we are not looking to go for that.

Keep one camera and a great lens. Ideally, I’d suggest that you are keeping something along the lines of 24-70mm and that lens is going to help you a lot as it is one of the most versatile lenses in the market and always gets the job done.

3. Make Preparations

Carrying a camera with you is all fun and games on a traveling trip until you run out of battery mid-way only to find out hat you do not have any spares. I do understand that this can be frustrating but it often comes with a very simple solution. When you are going somewhere with your family, it would not hurt to have a few, fully charged spare batteries as it will only make the experience much better and smoother overall.

4. Avoid Being Selective

When you are talking about family trips or trips in general, if you are going to take a camera with you and shoot the pictures, then being selective is a common trap that most people fall in and you would want to avoid it. Be as candid as possible when you are talking about capturing moments and that is only going to make things better for you because you would be able to get the shots that you want and that too, without any issues that might otherwise come in the way. I am aware of the fact that most people would just want to take pictures in a hurry but trust me, if you are being selective, it will take the fun out of it. Let everyone enjoy the moment, and capture them as you go, that is the best way to ensure that you are having the fun you want to have and capturing the pictures you want to capture.

5. Composition Matters

Another thing that you have to keep in mind is that whenever you are going on any trip where you have access to a camera, it is always better that you are keeping the composition in mind because at the end of the day, good composition will stand out a lot more than bad composition and we do not want that for anyone, to be honest.

Rest assured, as long as you are taking pictures that are properly composed, things will start making a lot of sense to you and you will be able to take the type of pictures you want to take without any issues coming in the way. 

6. Timing Matters

The last thing that I am going to tell you is that timing matters a lot more than you might think. I do understand that in most cases, you can just go ahead and take the pictures but when you are out with your family and want to make the most of the pictures you are taking. Going for the right timing will result in every single shot looking excellent.

The best timing that I would suggest, or anyone else, for that matter, would be around the golden hour. Why? That is the best time where the lighting is excellent and you will not have to wait around to get the right shot. It is simple, and very good in general, and that is the purpose of this whole timeline.

Conclusion

Going out with your family can be a lot of fun, to be honest. However, when you are traveling with a camera and your family, then it is safe to say that there are more responsibilities on you that you will have to partake in. After all, taking proper shots is something that everyone would want and we cannot just go ahead and ignore this, in the first place.

Therefore, if you are looking into making sure that you are doing everything the right way, then this is an excellent choice because it will surely help you in getting the right shots. We have added all the tips that we believe are necessary, so for all the photographers, you can easily have fun with your family while being outside with them.

Article by Gary Sindell, Guest Blogger

Gwinnett Daily Post, June 1, 2022

Author: Holley Calmes

During the COVID-19 lockdown, Duluth resident and photographer Mary Buck

discovered that instead of taking pictures in exotic locales such as Cuba, she was housebound like the rest of us.

Good photographers can find beguiling subject matter regardless of their situation, and Buck found great beauty in the birds that were bountiful in her own back yard.

Since then, Buck has become very popular for her bird photography. Always seeking new places, and new avian subjects, she received an email from the Georgia Audubon Society about a birding trip to Southwest Spain.

“It sounded like such a great adventure, so I called my BBFF (best birding friend forever) Susan and said, ‘Let’s go!’”

Buck and her friend flew to Madrid on April 23. Over 11 days, they covered 1,000 miles throughout the regions of Extremadura and Andalusia. There were 11 individuals in the tour group, mostly from Atlanta.

One of the goals of these tourists was to bag as many “lifers” as they could. A “lifer,” in birding terms, is a bird that a person has successfully sighted and identified for the first time in their life.

The expert guides of the wild bird company “Wild Donana” were named Maria and Sergio.

Between them, they sighted 190 species of birds during the 11-day tour, so many “lifers” were obtained by the group.

Buck used a Canon Mirrorless full frame camera and very long lenses.

“I did a little homework before I left and was eager to see and photograph raptors,” says Buck. “When I finally did see them, I was so far away that they were barely a speck in my viewfinder. I found much more satisfaction photographing smaller birds that were closer and practically posing for me.”

“I was thrilled to photograph the Eurasian Hoopoe,” Buck said. “It really does make that ‘hoopoe’ sound! I photographed the Eurasian Bee-Eater which really does eat bees, the Bald Ibis, and the Iberian Magpie, just to name a few. My only disappointment was not seeing a Cuckoo bird.”

Buck’s greatest experience was witnessing the migration of birds from Africa to Europe

, in Punta Carnero where the eastern end of Gallows Hill descends 600 feet to the Mediterranean Sea.

“It was fascinating to watch the migratory birds such as buzzards, eagles, vultures and black kites make the trip across the straits,” Buck said. “They utilize thermals, warm rising air columns, and soar to great heights. They can then glide great distances without flapping their wings.”

An unexpected detour led part of the tour to Seville during a colorful festival

, where parades of big-hatted horsemen, beautiful carriages, and women in traditional dress performing Andalusian folk dances provided a colorful experience, and a few photos.

Buck has traveled to many fascinating places, but this trip was special in unique ways.

“I was able to experience nature on a new level,” she said. “Although I took over 3,000 photos, the best view was unobstructed by a camera. I’ll be back.”

To view more of Mary’s Travel Photography, visit her website

To learn more about Photography lessons and workshops visit her Photography Immersion Website.

My travel photography brought me to two spots this year

before the pandemic stopped all travel.  I flew to Panama in early February, and in the first week of March, I visited Arizona. Both places are completely different, but I found that I was drawn to the same subjects. I photographed landscapes, flowers, birds, and architecture in both locations.  It was so wonderful to have experienced the travel before social distancing became the new norm.

The beauty of the country of Panama in Central America

was captured ferociously with my Canon EOS R and Canon EOS 80d. I chose to bring two cameras, so I would not have more latitude in focal length choices and not have to change lenses frequently. My favorite telephoto lens is the Tamron 18-300mm lens, which I choose to use with my cropped sensor Canon 80d camera, which gave me an effective focal length of 28-480mm. The maximum focal length is perfect for bird photography. My Canon EOS R is a full-frame camera, which I chose for sunrises, sunsets, and other low light situations where I had to use a high ISO.  My lens of choice with that camera was the 24-105mm. The 24mm provided a true 24mm and was the perfect wide-angle focal length for landscape photography. In my one week in Panama, I created over three-thousand images of

• beautiful birds
• architecture
• flowers
• sunrises, and sunsets
• the rainforest
• and the Harpy Eagle

I would like to share my travel photography in Panama

for the readers of this blog.  For easier reading or skimming, I have categorized the remainder of the blog into the sections which I listed above. Because every picture tells a story, the description of images is kept short and sweet. For more information on a trip to Panama contact Condor Tours and Travel. Read Lori’s blog about Panama.

Beautiful Birds

The hummingbirds are abundant in Gamboa, in the Panamanian rainforest. I used a fast shutter speed of 1/500 sec. to capture this image.

Architecture

The Catedral Basílica Santa María La Antigua is in Old Town Panama. This church was built between 1688 and 1794, its main facade presents a series of architectural elements typical of the prized churches such as the Caravaca Cross, the Papal Emblem and the city keys.

The old barracks once occupied by the US military are now empty shells. Their photogenic nature draws many photographers.

Flowers

Although I do not know the name of this flower, it was flourishing in the rain forest of Gamboa. The flowers are pink or red. The softness of the petals led me to this flower.

Sunrises and Sunsets

A colorful and mesmerizing sunrise was taken at the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. A high dynamic image provided a blend of several exposures by using my camera’s built-in HDR setting.

Sunset on the Pacific Ocean does did not disappoint me with its array of golden tones. I also got lucky with the birds. My ISO was set to 400 for this image and I exposed for the sky for a silhouetted effect.

The Rain Forest

One of the highlights of my trip was to visit the indigenous tribe on the Chagres River. The village of Tusipono welcomed us with music and ceremonial dance.

A local guide led us for a jungle tour on the Chagres River. Disneyworld will never be the same. Our canoe driver was a member of the Tusipono Village.

The Harpy Eagle

Mytrip to Panama would not have been complete without a photo of their national bird, the harpy eagle. I was not fortunate to find one in the wild, so this guy was photographed at the Summit zoo. My 400 mm telephoto came in handy for this shot.

For more information on my photography lessons and workshops visit the website.

Learn more about Private Lessons for Adults

Learn more about Private Lessons for Teens

Learn more about the one-day Photography Immersion Workshop

My trip to Cuba was a dream of a lifetime. People often ask me why Cuba? Why not Hawaii, Europe or another Caribbean Island? As a photographer, I have been fascinated with Cuba for years and decided I wanted to go before everything changed.  I signed up for a group trip under the leadership of Peter Turnley, former Newsweek Photographer.

What I found in Cuba, I don’t thing you could find anywhere else in the world. I was mostly struck by the beautiful color palette of the pastel buildings, the textures, the classic cars and finally the wonderful spirit of the people. There are photo opps just about everywhere.

In my forty years, as a photographer, I have never been exposed to the ‘photo-journalism’ side of the craft. I learned a lot from Peter about how to tell a story within your frame. What I learned was a different way of thinking from being a portrait photographer. I was there the last weekend of Fidel’s mourning, so it was a very historic moment. What I found in Cuba is a treasure of photography moments and I can’t wait until I go again.

I challenge all of you to try something new this year with your photography. Try not to be too stuck in your ways. Capture an image that tells a story and that needs no words. Look through the frame of your camera and examine all four edges. Is your story complete within the frame? Zoom in or out as needed and do not omit anything necessary that will convey your message. Focus on the eyes of your subject.  A more extreme depth of field is sometimes necessary so the viewer can sense the time and place of the story.

Below are some of my favorite photos from the trip. To view the entire galleries from my group you can visit the Cuba Gallery here.

The weather is finally getting nice and many of us will start our travel planning for this summer. If you are like me, you probably love to take photos while on vacation; but how much can you learn about your craft while you are on a ‘vacation?’.  This blog post on Travel Photography Tips, has a lot more do to with what type of trip you should plan rather than what equipment to bring and what techniques to use.

You basically have three choices for pleasure travel:

1. go by yourself (not very much fun)
2. travel with a group of non-photographers
3. travel with a group of photographers

The best choice in my opinion is Door #3.  Although many tours will include a guide and a group, how much time do you actually have for photography when on a whirlwind type of vacation unless it is a photography group?   In this category, others may not share the same passion you have and may not have the patience to photograph the same scene for hours.  Don’t get me wrong, most people do like to take snapshots while on vacation, but the level of detail and time is usually not the same.

I recently met someone who toured a very popular tourist destination but was disappointed there was not enough time to explore all the photo opportunities. She saw “more” than the non-photographer and came back a little disappointed.

While family vacations are important, I always set aside sometime to venture to new places with a group of photographers. I love the camaraderie of being with a group of like-minded individuals. Many opportunities exist for photography travel where you can learn as you travel.  I prefer the smaller, more intimate groups where you share and critique images at night.  Some of the best travel groups I have found are;

Nomad Travel Tours

Photography Adventure Vacations

Equipment for Travel Photography

Equipment can range from DSLR cameras to the newer mirrorless cameras. I own both and have found the Sony Mirrorless a6000 or the newer a6300 to be an excellent alternative to the heavy, bulky SLR camera. Pack light, but bring a good range of focal length lenses (18-300mm), a good prime lens, polarizing filter, ND filter, tripod or monopod, SD cards, batteries and charger and a protective covering for your camera in case of rain.  A backpack camera bag is a great choice for travel.

I am so ready for my next photography journey to be Cuba?  Anyone want to join me?