After the conclusion of yet another wonderful holiday, the only things that remain upon your return to Singapore are memories and photos.
Taking lots of travel photos lets you look back at your adventures abroad and reminisce. Here are five tips that will make your best photos even better.
Get Closer
One problem with people’s holiday photos is that they’re often pictures of just about everything around the person at that point in time.
The best travel photographers know what they want to focus on, and what they want the eye to see. Once you know what you really want to take a picture of, get closer. Don’t rely only on the zoom function of your camera, as zooming erodes picture quality.
For instance, if you’re taking a picture of a busy market scene, instead of taking the entire market from a distance, pick a stall, a product or a person that fascinates you and then go right up to them and snap a pic. If people are involved, always ask for permission first.
Getting closer also lets you cut out unnecessary, distracting and unsightly elements, such as trash cans or heads of tourists walking by.
Play with Filters
What a difference a filter makes! Filters on your digital camera or phone can dramatically alter the appearance of a scene, making colors richer and more vivid.
Before your trip, experiment with the various filters on your phone and figure out which ones work best. Setting your default filters ahead of time is more convenient than trying to decide which filter to use before every shot.
Avoid Clichés
Most tourists rush to snap pictures of themselves smiling in front of the most famous monuments, whether they be the Eiffel Tower or Big Ben. Go ahead if you really must, but in order to compile a truly memorable album of travel photos, you should be avoiding such clichés.
Instead, look at the little details around you that other tourists might not automatically see, but which infuse life into your trip and make it more than just a rush to tick tourist attractions off a checklist. Take pictures of people going about their daily lives, unusual details in the architecture and street scenes.
As an added bonus, avoiding the big tourist sights once in a while in favor of areas frequented by locals is probably the cheapest way to spend your holiday.
Find interesting ways to Compose your photo
Just because you’ve managed to fit something into your frame doesn’t necessarily mean it makes for a well-composed photo. Think through the composition of your pictures before you press the shutter.
Always experiment with new ways to compose photos, and push yourself to find a more pleasing way to frame a scene. Many photographers use the rule of thirds to compose pictures but beware of sticking too stubbornly to the rule, as breaking it often results in surprising and refreshing pictures.
Look out for colors, contrast, and patterns
Interesting or pleasing colors, surprising contrasts, and repeated patterns are often what makes a photograph interesting and beautiful.
Instead of looking out for famous monuments to snap pictures of, keep an eye out for elements that can make a good picture.
For instance, the contrast of someone’s bright red coat against a blue wall or the riot of color in fruit and vegetables at a market can become fodder for engaging photos.
Buy travel insurance
Don’t leave home without first protecting yourself with travel insurance you can trust. HL Assurance offers both single-trip and annual travel insurance policies.
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