The grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence, and that's why traveling and photography is a match made in heaven for sure.
But doing both of them correctly requires some skills and research. I still regret not being able to capture some classic images on a trip I made to Brazil in my first year as a photographer.
I was able to get access to three different slums, and I didn't take a picture of the people inside them, because I wasn't skilled enough in those years.
It is easy to become completely overwhelmed while you are traveling, everything is so new and unique, and still, we have limited time to see it all. That's why I really think that the following photography and travel related guides will give you some useful insights and tips to take on your next journey.
Short Guide to Travel Photography
Just as photography has become much more accessible to everyone, so too traveling has become more ubiquitous thanks to cheap flights, Airbnb, Uber and the Millennial desire to get out there.
In this short guide, Jason Row (who has vast experience traveling and shares lots of his tricks here on Light Stalking) generously shares with us a lot of valuable tips that you need to consider when traveling. Here you'll get great tips on the basics about traveling light and smart, as well as what to look for when visiting highly popular places.
Photographing Strangers
Alright, photographing strangers is always a complex thing to do even locally, but when traveling it takes things to the next level because not only are the people are strangers to you, their culture can be different as well.
Perhaps it is better to say that we are the strangers, rather than them! Understanding how to capture people that may not share your language or culture is a valuable asset when travelling, from social skills to tips and tricks; in this guide, Karlo de Leon shares with us some valuable information for photographing strangers.
10 Photo Tips for Your First Trip to Cuba
Here is a very specific guide. I really want to go to Cuba, and after reading this pretty dense guide written by Robin Nichols I feel absolutely thrilled to go to the Island. Here he talks a lot about the do's and don'ts for anyone willing to photograph this “stuck in time” country has to do.
Here he talks about the best gear to take with you and how to use HDR for capturing the rich colors of the island. I'm not a fan of HDR, but there are some pretty cool things that he talks about, first the scams that you should be aware of, and since I'm passionate about street photography, how to approach the locals for some pictures.
Learning a lot about photography quickly will enable you to anticipate any situation before pulling out your camera, which is really useful when travelling.
Traveling doesn't have to be stressful, think clearly about what you want to achieve and travel light. One of the most common mistakes photographers make when traveling is taking all their gear with them and they stop enjoying the trip because they are more worried about which lens they should be using at that moment.
All travels are meaningful experiences that you need to enjoy, the trick is to find that sweet spot between enjoying the scene with a camera and enjoying it with your eyes.
