Summer is officially here, and for many photographers, that means travel — and (more importantly) travel photography!
To help you maximize your camera and minimize stress, we’ve put together some tips and tricks that are great for beginners and pros alike. We’ll also mention some ways to approach your travel plans and lay the foundation for a fun and fruitful trip.
Lenses
To save on space and weight, you should limit yourself to two lenses:
Photo by Jordan Andrews
Prime Lens – without the ability to zoom, you’ll be forced to experience the scene in a limited yet potentially creative way. Prime lenses make you move your feet to explore different angles. With wide apertures like f1.8-f2.8, you can make photos in both dark and bright conditions. Plus, you can achieve both blurry background (a.k.a. “shallow depth of field”) as well as “tack sharp” photos, where your subject is crystal clear.
Which focal length you ask? Everyone is different but we think 35mm or 50mm are your best bets.
Travel zoom – this will likely be your “go-to” lens on most travel days. These all-in-one lenses usually range from 18-150mm, or 24-200mm depending on your camera model. From the bell tower high above, the bird on the branch, or the expansive vista on top of a mountain, the wide variety of focal lengths these lenses offer allow you to capture an array of photos. Although they lack the compact size and wider apertures of prime lenses, their flexibility is invaluable for exploring photographers.
In order to help you pick which lenses in your collection to bring, identify what kind of photos you like and hope to take, e.g. 10-20mm lenses for wide angle photos, or 24-50mm lenses for street scenes.
In our Digital Cameras 2 class, the BPW covers focal length in detail, with lots of hands-on practice for those still getting comfortable with different focal lengths.
Lastly, keep in mind that the bigger the zoom range the larger the lens will be, and those ounces add up at the end of a day spent sightseeing.
Tripod
To bring the tripod, or to leave it… this is the age old question for photographers.
Let’s face it. Tripods are one more item you may not want to bring. Here’s our take: if you’re traveling to a place with ample landscape or cityscape opportunities at nighttime, or sunrise, then bring it.
Nighttime cityscapes, or mountain ranges at dusk are beautiful and a blast to capture. But to get the incredible shots you desire you need a tripod. If you’re not interested in photos when the sun goes down, then ditch the tripod.
Now.. which tripod? You’ll have lots of options when looking for a light, portable, and budget-friendly tripod — some of our favorite recommendations can be found in Gear We Love: Tripods For Beginners.
Before you make a selection, make sure you measure your suitcase to be sure it fits! Pro tip: Try measuring diagonally for a couple extra inches. We also recommend that you wrap your tripod in a sweater or towel before you pack it so it doesn’t destroy your cologne on your way to Cologne.
Photo by chuttersnap
Airport Security
Although most airports allow your digital camera to stay in your carry-on for x-ray screening, be aware that there are certain countries (including many in Asia) that will make you take out all of your electronics. Be prepared to tackle this issue if it comes up, and give yourself a little extra time to get through security if you can.
DO keep your lithium batteries in your carry-on and NOT in your checked bag. But, make sure you DO check any camera repair kits or small screwdrivers you might have in your carry-on for quick fixes — TSA is not a fan of little pointy things!
Photo by Anant Jain
Weather Concerns
Humidity – If you’re traveling in the summer, your hotel room will almost certainly be cooler than the temperature outdoors (unless you’re going penguin-watching in Antarctica). To avoid lens fog, allow at least 30 minutes for your camera and lenses to slowly acclimate to the hotter, more humid conditions outside when you leave the hotel for the day.
Heavy rain – Your camera can typically handle some sprinkles, but if you’re caught in a downpour you might want some extra protection. You can buy an expensive rain cover if you like or you can do what we do at the BPW: Cut a hole in the front of a plastic grocery bag and rubber band it around the lens. Instant camera poncho!
Planning
You may want that perfect, golden light when capturing the Eiffel Tower or mountain peaks, but we’ve all had that moment where we show up to find it in shadow. Before you leave for your destination do some research on sunrise and sunset times for your locations so you know what direction your light will be coming from and at what time. Most often 10a–3p isn’t going to be your best bet so plan to get out earlier or stay out later.
Quick trick: Heading to Paris? Google “Sunset in Paris, *DATE OF YOUR TRIP*”. Take that time and subtract 90 min. This safety buffer allows you to know you’ll have golden light as you make photos!
You can also use Google Earth to look at where the sun will be at certain times using Google Street View or a 3D model. With apps like SunSurveyor, you can virtually stand in front of the Vatican or La Sagrada Familia and change the time to see when you’ll capture the best light.
Photo by Kai Pilger
