How You Can Tell a Travel Story Using Photography
Travel is one of the most powerful mediums for free exchanging ideas, especially for a photographer. The most appealing thing that I find in traveling photography is that it's unpredictable.
You can't create a storyline or make plans; you just need a camera and your creativity to make your storyline a blast or flop. Travel, shoot, play, repeat; It's the story of any travel photographer. But it is neither their destination nor yours; it's a process of capturing the journey.
Are you thinking about being a traveler to explore this captivated world? If yes, don’t forget that travel photography is a completely different version of other photography types. It’s more about the journey and less about scenes.
In this era where everything is already being explored, and you find nothing to contribute. Your biggest challenge as a travel photographer is to prosper in creating new & refreshing demonstrations of our world. Is it possible for you?
Well, let’s find out together. Here we are giving you some tips to make an amazing traveling story. Let’s get into it!
1. Don't Fill the Blanks with Caption
Photography is all about the visuals, not the words. Think about it if you are using captions to explain your picture rather than defining the scenery. A travel story is more than just a record of your tour. Only just a few people do care about locations you have visited.
Usually, people do not take an interest in the places they visit. Once you realize that your job is to tell a story, not to document the places, your work will become a masterpiece to evoke emotions.
In photography, try to say as much as you can using just the context and the photo itself rather than a caption or a description to help fill in the blanks for that photo. Too many words will make it difficult to interpret that how much value a thing can hold to
If you're basically telling somebody, this is what the photo is about; this is the way it's supposed to be read rather than making them explore themselves. It wouldn't be that much interesting.
Let the viewers interpret your image based on their own personal experiences will leave a more powerful impact. Plus, what a story without a little bit of mystery, right? So, let your journey be a mixture of class and mystery!
2. Consider the Light
The word “photography” comes from the two Greek words “photos” and “graph," means which means light & drawing. So, understanding light effects is a basic element of being a good photographer.
The light can affect the mood of your photos. And for you to understand, the light may take your whole life. During traveling, you can't carry various lights with you, and in such a situation, nature is your solution. And to use nature's light, you need to be efficient and creative.
Here we have some tips that you need to keep in mind & understand.
But first, find the answer to a few questions:
What kind of light are you looking for?
How can you use light to convey your message?
·Which angle is the most appropriate to capture the right amount of light?
These questions will surely help you to decide how to manipulate the circumstances to get the best. You can manage the lighting conditions to some extent by using manual ways as aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
However, the best way to solve this puzzle is to manage your time according to natural light based on your theme. Let people see the real beauty of the scenery and not the edited one. This is what will lead you to be a better travel photographer.
3. Do Your Research & Be Innovative
Do you think that without research, your journey would be more surprising and fun?
Definitely not! Traveling without preliminary research is like blind walking without a stick. It will be more problematic than fun. So, make sure to put some effort into searching for the best things and locations you want to visit.
Look at already existing pictures and cover different aspects and angles than prior ones. Well, there is nothing wrong with taking the same picture if you are inspired by it. But to make your own travel story try to think out of the box.
We personally believe that you are unique with your own ideas and creativity. However, many of us find it unconfident to follow something new. Well, you can draw inspiration from others' ideas but think positively and find courage for following yours too.
4. Move Around, Find Something Different
Have you ever thought about what makes a difference between two pictures of the same spot?
Well, those pictures might be photographed by two different individuals or angles. You can experience this thing with your travel partner when both of you take pictures of the same spots together, but the end results are strikingly different.
You can make it happen by yourself by standing at different positions, keeping the altered distance, and changing the light pattern. It is really amazing to see the different ways to approach the exact same scene with completely different results.
Thus, we urge you to put your camera down, squat yourself down, stand up, get tall or get flat.
Photograph through windows, from beneath, behind the trees, look through hovels. These things will surely help you to be more creative and compelling.
Unlike traveling photography wedding photoshoots, especially Bay Area Muslim wedding photography, photographers have their own styles and ideas that they execute. Their ideas are their identity which brings them fame or makes them lame. So, find yours and become unique.
5. Capture the Living
No doubt, there are extraordinary destinations & scenic spots to explore around the whole world. But a human’s heart is much deeper than the ocean with the never-ending exploration.
Places can give you a beautiful picture, but people will provide you with an unforgettable story. It's the people who make a place worth living or remembering. So, how can your story be complete without them?
If you find someone interesting, skillful, or talented while traveling, ask them to be a part of your story and photograph it. But before asking them a favor, make sure they are comfortable enough of being filmed or captured.
Don’t forget to add these living cultures and colors with expressions for a better storyline. You can't claim to be a good traveling photographer until you learn to portray human emotions along with places.
A Good Traveling Story
After discussing some tips and tricks about traveling photography, let’s briefly look into what a good story actually is?
Basically, a structured story that has a powerful impact also the following things in it:
Strong introduction
Conflict
Resolution
No matter what’s your theme is or at which place you are present, these three things should be the base of your story. The quality, selection, and editing of photos depends on your arrangements, presentation, and organization.
Wrap Up!
Unlike in the past, traveling has become a passion and choice of many of us. Now people are not choosing it out of need, but they are taking it seriously for making carriers.
You can find many people covering documentaries, telling stories, and exploring places that we have never seen before just because of the camera. This power comes with huge responsibilities. Make sure that the stories you are sharing or making are worth sharing.