In the second part of our two-part series on top travel tips, Robert Keeley shares some final suggestions to help you make the most of your travel photography.
01 MAKE A LIST
Experienced photographers often know their equipment well, and know what they might need at any destination, but even if you’re knowledgeable it can pay to think again once you investigate a new locale. Write a list of the gear you might need a month or so before departing, then review it a couple of times before your departure.
Near departure time lay your kit out on a table. It’s surprising what you can miss! If you have a back-up body, you should seriously consider taking it. Digital equipment can (and does) fail. You don’t want to spend your time in another country looking for somewhere to buy new equipment (unless you actually DO want to do that!). It’s more fun taking pictures. My travel list includes two SLR bodies (as long as I can comply with airline weight restrictions), my wide-angle lens, a telephoto, a 1.4x extender, and the best tripod I can manage. Nowadays, if I’m taking my heavy duty tripod on a plane I make sure I pack it properly (well padded and in the middle of my case), but there are some very good lightweight travel tripods available. I always carry one unless weight restrictions will totally exclude it. Any time you want to shoot sharp sunset or evening images, a tripod is essential. I’ll also take a polarising filter, a lens puffer, a cleaning kit, and far more memory cards than I think I will ever need. And make sure you keep your used cards away from the unused ones!
02 COMPUTER POWER
Digital photography inevitably requires a computer. But should you take one on your travels? I think the answer can vary, depending on the circumstances of your trip. Many years ago I did a road trip around Australia which took several months. At the time I was shooting transparency film, so I never had to worry about downloading at the end of a day’s shooting. If I did the same trip again I would definitely travel with a lightweight computer and the appropriate software. I now download daily (and back up to a separate drive), edit out the obvious errors, and file images in folders based on each day’s shoot. I don’t do much serious editing until I return, but it’s certainly open to take a different approach. On more recent overseas trips I’ve undertaken the above approach has worked for me. I don’t want to spend every night glued in front of a computer screen because night time in overseas locations can present some of the best shooting opportunities.
But on shorter driving trips of a few days I will often leave a computer behind so I can concentrate purely on shooting images. If you plan to take a computer overseas you need to be well aware of how it will impact on your airline weight restrictions. It may well mean you have to leave lenses or spare bodies behind. Tablet computers are another form you can consider if weight is an issue. The technology is constantly changing so this problem may well diminish in future (though there will no doubt always be more bits of kit you can load up with!).
03 A PLAN OF ATTACK
If you’re travelling on your own schedule you can build in some flexibility when you visit different locations. Of course, you need to bare in mind the importance of shooting outdoor locations early in the morning or late in the afternoon through to sunset. Take a travellers alarm with you, or set your mobile for an early start. Be aware that popular destinations will often be crowded with many other tourists trying to do what you’re attempting to do – take great photos. So think laterally. At Uluru some years ago I visited a position early in the morning for a sunrise shot and it was jam-packed with tourists. I soon left there and went to a nearly empty car park where the giant rock was silhouetted against the rising sun. It was the sunset carpark, and I had it almost to myself!
Organised tours can present specific difficulties, though there are more photographic tours now available. Seek these specialist tours out, but if you’re on a regular organised tour always look for a moment when you can get away from the bustle of your group. Think ahead and move quickly once you’re off the bus, because these sorts of tours often don’t leave much time to contemplating shots! Even the most organised tours usually have some breathing space for individuals, and this is the time you should seek out different locations for pictures.
Some well-visited locations simply don’t open until after the sun is well over the horizon. Check out if there are any photography tours of sites which might let you in early, and find out if there are other locations you can shoot from outside official barriers. The insides of historic buildings, where officials don’t allow tripods or the use of flash, often present real problems for photographers. In these situations try resting your camera against a door or bench, and setting a high ISO. Then hold the camera very still and breathe out as you press the shutter. It will give you a chance to get a good sharp image without the tripod. But sometimes, despite your best intentions, you simply won’t be able to get a picture at all. Remember that you’re travelling to see new things, and never forget that you can simply put your camera away and soak up the experience!
For a look back at part one of "Top Travel Tips" click here.
