Winning the Perfect Shot

Basic Travel Photography Tips

Summer heat is now kissing our skin. I’m sure it is not only me who can’t wait to worship the sun, the sand and the sea. Summer vacation spells swimming, sunbathing, camping, mountain climbing, nature-tripping and a hundred more adventures. But one action that summarizes them all is one of my favorite hobbies in the world—traveling!

Discovering new and far-off places is one of the things I best look forward to every summer. My points of interest range from God-made to man-made—ancient trees, bodies of water, sea shores, rice fields, farm animals, nipa huts, hilltops and caves. My eyes could capture them well, but stories are always better with visuals attached. And so, with my traveling comes photography, which allows me to share my divine experience with nature to the rest of the world.

Not everyone has a knack in photography, but it is a skill that can be learned through considerable amount of practice. It doesn’t matter if what you have in your bag is a pricey SLR or a basic digicam. Just hold it high, keep your focus and aim all you want. Now, let me share some tips on vacation photography that my artsy friends and I keep in our pockets every time we go out of town.

• Do not over pack. It’s best to just bring the equipment—camera, tripod, batteries and memory cards—you need for easy traveling. A huge pack will be harder to carry as you tour from one place to another. Plan ahead what you need for where you are going.
• Get out of the hotel. Take pictures of the beach, the sunset, and other flattering sceneries. And don’t miss out on local cuisine and great architecture. Capture the culture of the place you are in, and take as many pictures as you can.
• Experimenting is your key to productive vacation photography, so try different angles and techniques in shooting.
• Get in the spotlight and prove that you’re there. You might get carried away shooting those scenic beauties and forget to include the human element.
• Make your photos tell a story. Try to get some action shots and not just you and your family or friends always standing in front of a scenery or landmark.
• If you are with your family, consider taking kids’ photos first. They may not be that fresh and game after hours of walking. Capture their excitement with that amazing scenery or landmark at the background.

Hope these tips help you in your vacation photo shoot. Don’t be afraid to take that shot. Grab your gadget, focus and snap the button! MYKA SANTIAGO

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