Is it very hard to capture that perfect sunset, or the lion protecting his pride in the Serengeti. Travel photography has the ability to influence people enough to persuade them to visit a certain destination; for others it captures and immortalises special moments.
To be a good photographer takes time. A good photographer has to have the patience of a saint and the reactions of a cat.
DOTWNews.com speaks to Jonathan Dunbar a South African born professional photographer, renowned for his passionate travel and documentary photography. This passion has taken him far and wide to places such as Australia, Japan, Lebanon and Mexico. He has held several successful exhibitions, the last of which was in Oxford in the UK in April, in order to raise funds for the Save the Children Japan Emergency Appeal.
Jonathan takes time out to offer some much needed advice on how to get the perfect shot.
Enjoy
Jonathan Dunbar FRGS LRPS
JRD Photography
www.jrdunbar.com
1. Research: Before travelling to your destination, find out as much about life in that city or region of that country as you can. This will not only help you to avoid getting into any hot water over shooting things or people you are not supposed to photograph, it will also provide insight into local customs and culture, religious events and national holidays, all of which could make interesting subjects to shoot.
2. Equipment: It goes without saying that you will need to travel light. Apart from airline baggage restrictions, lugging any excess equipment around will prove to be an unnecessary bother. One camera (body) will be sufficient, and a decent lens is an imperative, such as Canon’s 24-105mm. If you have the space and the budget, a good telephoto lens will also prove to be useful, such as Nikon’s 55-200mm or Canon’s 70-300mm. In terms of memory cards, always take more than you think you’ll need, and take one as a backup when you are out and about. You may find yourself in a situation where inspiration is flowing, and the last thing you want is to run out of space on your memory card. A rugged and easily accessible camera bag is also a must, such as any in Lowepro’s Slingshot or Toploader Zoom series. Finally, a good quality lens cloth and cleaning fluid, as well as a small can of compressed air are the minimum you will need regarding cleaning your camera, particularly in more dustier climes such as North Africa and the Middle East.
3. Filters: While technically still equipment, they deserve a section of their own. For any lens you take on your travels, a UV filter is vital. Although digital photography has developed to be less susceptible to UV light than film, a UV filter still performs the necessary function of providing good protection for any lens, particularly from scratches and dust. The second filter that is an essential accessory is a circular polariser, which acts to increase colour saturation and can produce results such as vivid blue skies or golden desert sands. Both filters come in various sizes according to lens diameters and are easily attached to the front of a lens.
4. Insurance: Travel insurance is important not only to cover you in terms of health and safety, but also important to cover your photographic equipment, much of which will be of high value. In this regard, when taking out a policy before your trip, make sure the full value of your equipment will be covered in the event of loss or damage.
5. Shoot in RAW: A RAW file is basically a digital negative and needs to be processed in order to get a final, usable image. Although shooting in RAW will use up memory significantly faster than shooting in JPEG format, it will give you far more flexibility and ensures the highest possible image quality when processing your photos once you return from your trip. A very useful program for this is Adobe Bridge and Photoshop CS5.
6. Take your time and observe: While you may have some idea of the destination you are going to travel to, in order to get the best shots, it is advisable to take your time and work out the best angles to take your shots. Find a street café on the edge of a busy square or market, order a drink and just sit and watch. Or simply take a slow stroll through the place you are visiting, taking in the various sights. You should soon find subjects of interest.
7. Subjects: This may seem like an obvious tip. There are of course the standard shots of landmarks and people, but to get the most out of your travel photography, you need to also think less conventionally. Go for lower or higher angles and also think of detail, such as the array of colour that a spice market holds or the intricacies of bright mosaics in cathedrals or mosques.
8. Take notes: It is a good idea to keep a notebook to record the key details of some of your best shots, preferably on the day they are taken. Things such as where and when, and what equipment and camera settings are used will provide a useful learning experience for any future projects.
9. Language: Knowledge of a few words in the local language will not go amiss. This can be gained from most travel guides or the internet. A simple ‘hello’, ‘how are you?’ ‘please’ or ‘thank you’ when talking to local people will help to break the ice and can create a more relaxed atmosphere, particularly when shooting portraits.
10. Currency: This is important when photographing people, particularly in poorer parts of the world. Some will ask for payment in exchange for you taking their photo, and a few coins in the local currency may not seem like much to you, but may represent a decent amount to them and will show your appreciation.