It may seem like a no-brainer… when you are on vacation you take pictures of your family and friends in front of various local attractions, right?
Yes and no. Yes, if you are traveling with your family, but for those who are taking a solo trip there are other ways you can capture the mood and culture of an exotic location without including familiar faces in every shot.
I would start by taking pictures of local signs, buildings and famous landmarks. Just be mindful of the sun’s position before you press the shutter button. You’ll typically get better results if you place the sun to your side. Using a polarizing filter to cut out any glare (especially if you are shooting a building that features a glass exterior) is also helpful.
To ensure you have the best lighting conditions to capture local landscapes get up early—-as the sun is rising–or wait until the sun is 10 minutes from setting. These “golden hours” will illuminate your shot in the most pleasing light.
Photograph the locals. Visit a bustling marketplace in the city you are visiting and capture residents as they go about their daily routines. Take shots of people eating, working, or children playing. Just make sure your subjects are doing something interesting. When my brother took a surfing trip to Bali, Indonesia he came across local firefighters putting out a blaze on the outskirts of town. His pictures were incredible. Luckily no one was injured and the fire was contained rather quickly. By the time the flames were extinguished my brother had captured dozens of shots of the firefighters in action using techniques that we don’t typically see in the United States.
My brother’s situation was unique. Personally, I would stick to the local markets. Large busy marketplaces can make for very interesting photography. Shoot images of the local stalls, the sellers, and all of the different foods and don’t forget to get a few shots of customers enjoying their purchases.
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