They say a photo freezes a moment in time and we always nod vigorously. It only takes a single look at a travel photo to bring up all the memories, smells, images and feelings of that moment – it doesn’t matter if the photo was taken at a beautiful landmark on a glorious day or when you were all dirty and sweaty at the market, buying avocados. And even if you were only grumpy and exhausted then, it’s that feeling of nostalgia which makes all these moments from the past so magical.
In the last couple of years, quick selfies have become incredibly popular, and even though such photos can be a source of great memories (especially of the captured moment was unique and you really didn’t have time to take out the camera from your backpack), everyone wants to also have some nice travel photos. So, how do you take photos on your trip without a selfie stick?
If you’re travelling in the company of your friends, your boyfriend/girlfriend or your family, then it’s all really simple. It’s true that not all people are equally skilled at handling cameras (especially when it comes to the more professional ones) or just aren’t good enough at taking pictures (meaning, they always cut your feet off or, heaven forbid, your head). In order to avoid a communication “mix-up”, it’s best to preconfigure all the settings on your camera/phone or even pick the right position of the photo and then ask the person to hold the phone. You then walk to your desired spot, say “1, 2, 3, cheese” and there you have it, a travel photo tailored to your wishes.
Are you travelling alone? No problem! HI hostels are always packed with travellers and you’ll surely find people with the same interests as yours. Evenings in the hostel are dedicated to parties and socialising – that’s when you can easily organise a group trip for the next day. Not only can you take photos of each other, it’s also going to be lots of fun and way cheaper!
Are you at a museum, at a market, or somewhere in the city? When you take a look around, you’ll quickly notice other travellers – they can often be distinguished by their outfits, backpacks and cameras hanging around their necks. Ask them for a photo and tell them that, in return, you can take a photo of them, too – in 99% of cases, they’ll eagerly help you out. You do need to forget about shooting photos in ten different positions – it’s also best to preconfigure all the camera settings in this case as well.
CAUTION: To make sure you don’t end up losing your camera, take a really good look at the person to check they’re actually a traveller and not a pickpocket or a thief, waiting in the crowd to seize the opportunity. The longer you travel, the easier it gets – but if you’re not sure, then maybe pick an elderly person or a family with children for your photoshoot.
The tripod (a camera stand) has been our most loyal travel companion for years – regardless of whether we’re travelling together or going solo. In fact, we can’t even begin to comprehend travelling without it because it’s not only useful for selfies. It also helps you make more beautiful photos of landscapes as well as photos where you need to hold your camera completely still for up to ten or more seconds (e.g. motion-blurred photos of waterfalls, taking photos at night etc.). You can get pretty solid tripods for a few dozen euros (our first one even lasted for a whole one-year trip, and it was subjected to frequent falls, and we even accidentally stepped on it from time to time), and its weight and payload capacity should be adjusted to your camera.
The tripod isn’t meant to be used for “snapshots” (though it’s possible with practice), and you have to move a few metres away from it, so it’s not really a great choice for locations that are usually crowded (and pose a risk of your tripod being stolen).
Besides videos, drones can definitely help you make quite unique photos using various angles, but it’s obviously not the cheapest choice or something every traveller would carry in their backpack (unlike phones). Not to mention they’re forbidden in many areas (nature parks, landmarks), so you should definitely check where you can safely fly them, before you go.
Even if you don’t own a tripod, drone, or a camera, you can still make a great travel photo. Every smartphone has a timer that counts down the time. You can set the desired time (at least 5 seconds, so you can get to your spot in time) and then press the button. Many cameras also have the burst mode or continuous shooting mode, which takes multiple shots in quick succession (usually at 0.5- to 2-second intervals) – simply set the maximum number of shots and switch poses between them. You’ll surely get at least one great photo!
If you want to get creative, all you need is a little bit of imagination; that way you can put your phone or your camera on the floor and take a “worm’s-eye view” photo and vice versa – you can place your phone or camera between tree branches and create a “bird’s-eye view” photo. And if blurred leaves (or seashells when on the beach) cover parts of your photo, then it’ll have an even greater artistic feel to it.
We wish you happy travels and many great memories!
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