“The Grand Canal” by Shelley Hughes
Ken Duquaine
As you read this article we are in the middle of the prime travel photography season. But what exactly is travel photography? May I suggest that travel photography as a genre is not the same as doing photography while traveling.
I would submit that the goal of travel photography is to portray landscapes, cityscapes, people, wildlife, cultural practices, architecture, or everyday life of a given area in a way that conveys cultural context, tells a story, and evokes emotion or curiosity in our viewers. Seen in this way, travel photography is more than taking pictures while traveling and serves both documentary and artistic purposes.
So how does one succeed in producing travel photos that inspire the viewer?
It starts with a basic working knowledge of one’s equipment, whether a smartphone, DSLR, or mirrorless camera. How many times have we encountered tourists sporting brand new cameras on an important trip? It’s impossible to focus attention on the artistic or documentary elements of a scene while struggling with the mechanical demands of a camera. Rule 1: Know your equipment.
After mechanical mastery of one’s equipment the travel photographer should have an understanding of the elements of composition, the importance of light (particularly golden hour and blue hour), the value of storytelling skills, and the desire and ability to connect with local cultures.
Planning before the trip is critical to success. Consulting such resources as Google Earth, Google Maps, PhotoPills and various online sites that have photos of your destination can give you ideas, save time, and help to build a shot list. Researching a location’s traditions, customs, cultural norms, lifestyles, and events such as festivals can greatly enhance one’s ability to plan important times and places for photography.
Equally important are the ethical considerations involved in travel photography. These include such things as respect for local cultures, getting consent from photographic subjects, avoiding the misrepresentation of subjects, perpetuating harmful stereotypes, and cultural appropriation, particularly clothing and symbols. Ultimately, it is simply having an awareness and appreciation of cultural sensitivities and dynamics. Travel photography is a powerful endeavor that can educate, inspire, and inform. It also comes with important responsibilities to respect and honor the cultures and locations that we photograph.
Few things have brought me more pleasure in my photographic journey than having had the opportunity to combine my love of traveling the world with my love of photography. I hope that your travel photography experiences are equally rewarding.
Happy shooting!
The East Valley Photo Club meets on the second and fourth Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Navajo Room of Sun Lakes Country Club from October through April. For more information about the EVPC and its activities call EVPC President Raul Lopez at 408–209-3114, or email rslopez19@comcast.net, or Past President Ken Duquaine at 248–342-0790 or email kduquaine@hotmail.com, and visit our website at eastvalleyphotoclub.com.