Essentials in Travel Photography

Written by Md. Shahidullah Kaiser, 244/1, Fakirerpool (1st floor), 2nd Lane, Motijheel, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh Email: photographerkaiser@yahoo.com Mob: +880 1915184748 BPS Membership ID # 2512/01 Dated: 28-01-10, Dhaka We often go for Travel. Then we try to keep those memorable moments by taking Photos or, Videos. Somebody writes Diary. But we know and believe that One Photo can express thousand of words. So this media is stronger. When you go back to your Family, you can show & can tell those stories with original taste.

Still Photography media is easy to take, interesting, popular, a creative work & easy to share. Thus Photography is the best way to capture your Travel memories. From beginning Photography is an interesting Hobby. It is a part of Art culture now. There are so many Photography competitions around the world every month. Travel Photography competition is also there.

This article is not for Professional/experienced Photographers, it will helpful for General Peoples, Travelers or, Amateur Photographers only. Here I want to illustrate some Basic points that can help you when do Still Photography in Travels. Remember that when you go out for Travel you may be in a hurry. But if you do a mistake to carry an appropriate Gadget from your home, you may be looser in time. The fact is Time & Tide wait for none. Capture the Moment where is beauty.

You have to follow up below 12 things very carefully. 01. Easy Camera that you know better (your favorite) 02. Camera Bag & dust cover/Pouch 03. Lens cleaning instruments/chemicals 04. Enough Memory card & check those periodically 05. Spare Battery or, Good Charger 06. Download cable for PC/Laptop or, Multi Card reader 07. Any kind of Stand (monopod/tripod/gorilla pod etc.) 08. Backup Camera 09. Note Book/Diary & Pen

10. Torch Light 11. Shed system (Hat/Cap/Umbrella etc.) to protect Camera sensor 12. Rain/water protection system for Camera

Here are the details 01. First you have to select your Gadgets. Take that Camera which you feel better or, familiar to
operate. If you do not know all the functions you can not use that advancement/facility. Also you have to confirm that all functions are OK. If you want to use Digital format, Please take 2 different type Cameras. One for continuous use & the other as back up. Because Digital latest /sophisticated /complicated one are very non-reliable than Conventional, Film type, old, Manual, Rough & Tough Still Body Cameras. If you use any Digital SLR, must take another small one (compact type Point & shoot or, non-complicated) as a back up for emergency. There is another history behind Complicated SLR with Zoom Lens. When you give that Gadget to another lay man to take your own Photo, he will not be able to use those functions like you. But if you carry a simple compact pointn-shoot pocket camera it will be easy for others to take your self Photos. Please do not laugh to hear my history. I have given my manual Film type SLR Zoom Lens Camera to a General People to take my Photo when I traveled in Bhutan. I requested him to make the Mountains as my Background & I will be the subject/foreground. But when I print that Photo I have astonished to see that I am like a Background & that Mountain looks sharp as subject.

Remember that compact point-n-shoot cameras have many limitations. Now some caution about small low cost Cameras. High Tech/complicated/sophisticated/latest/ miniature and having many functions/inside multilayer PCB Gadgets can often get troubled. If they start not functioning it is very difficult to solve. You can not get enough time or, Technicians to instant repair in Travel time. So Travel Photography is like as War Photography. No way to waste time, no way to go back, when a moment makes a Photo. Better to carry a simple Camera.

I have found many Digital compact camera (point & shoot type with Optical zoom system) suddenly got stuck. Means its zoom Lens can not retract in. It can be due to jamming the zoom Lens or, may causing defect of flexible ribbon. Another problem I have seen suddenly Battery consumed so much and got so hot. It is because short circuit inside if that Camera dropped from height. Never put/Aim your camera Lens direct towards sun. Direct sun light must damage your Aperture circuit/Photo sensor/CCD. Some times power ON button can not work as you have used much pressure every time on that. So very careful about pressing all soft Switches & Dials. In low cost Cameras you can feel another permanent problem Shutter Lagging time. When you just press the Shutter Button it will

work/capture after a certain time, not instantly. So you have to press some time before you need to capture the moment (need a practice). That depends on model & Brand.

02. Camera Bag & Dust cover/Pouch also very important in Travel time. You have to carry such
Bag that everything can be inserted in it easily. Not very congested. You can use hard cover for your pocket Camera that can protect you from unwanted sudden dropping. Main issue is to protect your Gadget from dust & moisture and keep all instruments together (that not to forget leave somewhere). May be you keep 2 Cameras, 2/3 extra Memory Cards, 1 set of extra battery, USB download cable, Portable storage device, Battery charger, external Flash, extra Lenses, etc.

03. Most important part of your Camera is the Lens. So you must take extra care on it. Always wipe
gently by soft lint less cloth or, soft Brush. Try to do before & after use your Camera. Dust can reduce sharpness. Use any Lens cleaning chemical twice a year. If not available clear Alcohol is enough. If fungus affected you have to use different solution (better to contact with service personnel). Careful not to put any scratch on Lens. When you go out any warm environment from A/C Room, your lens becomes cloudy/vapor. Just wait for some time to neutralize this phenomenon.

04. Always follow your memory card that is it working/capturing properly or, not? Simply you
check it by playback your captured images after some shots. Low cost SD cards sometime shows card error and can not capture. Keep enough Memory Cards with you. Mark numbering on each Card. Such a way you can remember which you have already used, which are still blank. So you can put them quickly when need change. Be sure the mini side switch is in unlocking mode.

05. Think Power back up. It is a vast thing. Battery is the heart of your Camera. So take care it!
When you insert Battery to your Camera, wipe both ends by dry cloths. That will make the ends moisture free. Other wise can get rusted after a long time. If you use first time, new rechargeable Battery you have to give an initial charge for 8-12 hours with one interval (as per instruction manual with it). Basically 2 types of rechargeable Batteries are available now. Conventional Ni-MH and Ni-Cd and the other one more expensive Pre charged type (like Sony Cycle energy, Uniros etc.). Later one is more expensive but show better performance. This can be direct use from unpacking after buy. No need to give first 8-12 hours charging like conventional. You know having more mAh can run for a long time (means more capacity of charge). Power back up time depends on this rating. Use heavy weight batteries. If you found more mAh printed over Battery but feel light weight, definitely those are fake Batteries (actually less mAh capacity).

Batteries having more capacity of charge should be heavy weight. Ni-MH is better than Ni-Cd types. If you hope extended life for Ni-Cd type, you have to discharge them first and then give fresh charge. But that procedure/technology is not available to user. Ni-MH type can take charge in any condition. Those are safer. Li-ion Battery is the best, but it has different shape, not AA type available.

Remember you have to give charge to all your (conventional) rechargeable Batteries once in a month (though you are not using). This complementary charging time will be less than regular full charge. Like, you can give 2 hours charge after each 15/20 days to your all inactive Batteries. Because they got discharge in Air when left idle. It happens more when you put those inside your Camera for a long time unused. Sometime they can melt or, get rusty. Better to put out when not in use. If your Battery got full discharged it will not catch/hold the same charge in future (for Ni-cd type battery). On the other hand if you give more/excess charge, any Battery will be damaged for ever (first you feel so hot by putting your finger & then can found no charge holding symptom). So follow and keep in touch when charging.

Pre charged expensive Batteries need no intermediate or, complimentary charging. Those latest invented pre charged Batteries can hold previous charge for a long time (85% up to 1 year).

Use heavy weight chargers (inside Transformer) for better performance. Because light weight Travel chargers (inside no Transformer) are very low mAh charge rating (slow charging capacity). So take more time to charge the same Batteries. Also they can reduce the shelf life of your valuable Batteries. You know Batteries having a mark on its packet like 1000 cycle charging. After finish the rated cycles it will not show optimum performance. Naturally it will take 4/5 hours to full charge a pair of 2500 mAh Ni-MH Batteries by a good charger. Remember when you charge your Batteries check after sometime by putting your finger over there. If you feel very hot instantly unplug that charger. Means either your charge complete or, that charger gives more current to quick charge. Also more mAh capacity Batteries needed more charging time. Better to use an Auto charger, which can shut down after full charge. If you use more pair of AA Batteries, please sorting & marking them in pairs (check mAh rating). Use always pair together. Charge & use them maintaining same group. Do not mix them up.

Be sure to check polarity when you insert into Camera. Same caution for the charging time.

06. Some download cable is not same for different type of Cameras. If you can not bring that USB
cable, please carry a multi card reader to easy download to PC/Laptop. Also you can carry a TV out cable if you want to show captured images into a TV for others.

07. Stand also very important if you want to enlarge your Photos. Some time hand shake (Shutter
speed below than 1/60 Sec) can not be seen in your Cameras built in LCD display. But you can find it in your PC when enlarge more than 150%. So better to use any stand instead of free hand. If you want to take a Landscape photo (focused on hyper focal distance) with slow shutter speed you need it. Take steady shot as possible. Monopod is light weighted, but need some practice to maintain that. Mostly use tripod but that is bulky too for your Travel time. So use any fixed object to hold with your camera. I use any fixed elements like standing Car/Pillar/Chair/fence/Grill/Cell Phone set/Table/Water Bottle/Wooden Box/Tree/Window frame etc.

08. I have already mentioned take a compact/point & shoot camera as a back up. Full auto digital
SLR cameras if once get faulty you yourself can not repair instantly. You have to go to authorized and expert Technician. That is time consuming.

09. Note Book need to write down the name of Places you have captured. In some competitions you
have to mention it.

10. Torch light need to see your Camera Buttons in night time. Also you can use this to auto focus in
dark places. This is a manual way to function red eye reduction for close ups in low light condition.

11. Shed system need to protect your Camera sensor from direct sun ray. If your Camera direction
towards sunlight use a Cap/Hat/Handkerchief/Umbrella over that.

12. You must protect your Camera from rain drop/water. When do Photography in Sea shore care
full about salt moisture. Also aware from tidal wave, that very fast comes. If accidentally merged in to water, quickly shut down/switch off and than disconnect the batteries along with Memory Cards. Short circuit is very dangerous. In rainy season use a Plastic Bag to protect the Camera.

Here are some other important Tips for Travel Photography that can help you.

Use proper amount & direction of light. Because we use light source & reflected light to make an Image/Photograph. If you feel the amount of light is not enough, use flash or, any Plain glittering surface to reflect that light appropriately. Remember if you use access light the Hue or, Color saturation may shift. Like at noon if you take a photo of a leaf it may captured yellowish/whitish tone. Only in sub bud/moderate light (like afternoon or, early morning) you can get the actual green color.

Decide a Focus point which is the most important area that must be covered in focus. You have to cover most of the area in focus when take a Landscape Photo. Some times we use selective focus (e.g. Portrait Photography). In Macro Photography it is more important where to focus. Because its depth of field is very Low.

Also angle of view is so important element. You can not take a Photo from an ocuward angle. Suppose you are taking a Photo of a Multi stored Building. You have to stand just in front of that, center position & hold the Camera parallel to horizon when using wide angle Lens. Otherwise you will get Perspective bad effect.

Try to catch the moment. So in Travel time you have to get prepared all the time to catch a nice moment. Here a point & shoot (compact) Camera will give you the best result. If you use a manual type SLR instead you have to select some parameters/programs to take such Photos in that situation. Like advance preparation to take selected Photos.

Try to match your subject with appropriate background (also match color combination).

When you shoot people check through view finder/LCD display is there any obstacle (like Bamboo/Tree) just behind the subjects head. These are destructive elements. First try to understand the motive & upcoming reaction of Mobs/Peoples before take a snap in open Places. Also take prior permission before to take any single person portrait Photo. Follow the instruction/low in restricted areas where Photography is prohibited. Be careful about religious Places. In Muslim countries nude Photography is strongly prohibited.

Camera can be fall down/slip for your grip. So must grab it firmly or, use shoulder strap on our neck. If you do a continuous photography please give some rest (switch off). Otherwise your Camera may get hot. You can use view finder instead of LCD display in day light that can save your Battery back

up time. No need t check every snap by play back. Use external Flash if needed to save Camera Battery (stop using internal Flash).

When you go to capture a portrait having a mountain or, Monument as background. Tell the person to stand some distance from that, so you can capture the whole background along with the clear Portrait of the Person.

Never put/leave your any Gadget on Car Seat/Restaurant Table/Toilet Basin. It can be stolen/missing. Always keep your Camera Bag with you.

Decide where to use Flash or, not. If you think the subject will be scared at that (Candid photography) use natural light with slow shutter speed.

When you are on Board (riding Vehicles) do not use simple compact Point-n-shoot type Camera to take out side Photo. That will give you Blurred Photo. Your running way you have to use any SLR Camera that capable more than 500 shutter speed (need exposure compensation also). So, better to take photos when the vehicle is standing. Normal compact Camera does not have this function. If you want to take a night Photo/low light photography, you have to use a Tripod & select no flash in your Camera. Compact camera (having manual option) also can do this work. It will captured by a long shutter speed. So, Camera shake/hand shake should be avoided. This way you can take colorful lighting (and natural color). If you use a manual type SLR Camera, need some practice to select the exposure timing.

The final thing is Keep all Gadgets close contact with you, find out nice Places & good timing, check your memory card & Battery back up before go out from Home. Hope your best journey and have a nice stock of Travel Photos. Carry on my friends.

Please feel free to contact with me for any further query. Thanks.