HOW TO CREATIVELY COMPOSE YOUR TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography has become such a huge part of travelling so why not learn to capture a destination with your own unique perspective? Visiting somewhere new means there are always sights to see, beaches to explore or mountains to hike and taking a photo to say you’ve been there is all part of the fun.

The good thing about photography is that there is rarely a wrong way to do it. Adding a little creativity to your images will enhance your experience on the trip and no doubt generate a great response when you share the photos on social media! Don’t be afraid to get a little artsy and test out what your camera is capable of capturing.

As a professional travel photographer with The Wandering Lens I want to share a few composition techniques you can use on your next trip to make your photos more original and creative!

LIGHTING

Cities and landscapes will look different in changing light so being at the right place at the right time will make all the different between a good and a great photo. The golden hour, around sunset/dusk is ideal for warm light which means rich colours and dreamy skies. You’ll also find it’s the most popular times for tourists to come out in full force so research a little to find an alternate location to compose your photo.

FOCUS

Instead of pointing the camera straight ahead, look around to see if there is anything you can use to focus on to create an alternate view. A monument like the Eiffel Tower has been photographed a billion times so I used the beautiful blossoms in spring to frame it and blur it into the background.

TEXTURE

You can focus on an entire scene or look a little closer to photograph the textures within it. Destinations like Morocco or Turkey are great for this as there are always so many inspiring patterns or carvings to use in your photographs.

FRAMING

Photographing your subject with a new perspective can easily be achieved by framing it with something unique. Whether its tree branches, shadows, a window, arches or something else entirely, framing your image is a great way to let the viewer see your view.

NEGATIVE SPACE

Referring to the space around the subject your photographing, negative space can be a key element of artistic composition. Without anything to distract from what you’re photographing means all eyes will be drawn to the subject. You can use a bright blue sky, water, a warm sunset sky or just white space.

PERSPECTIVE

Draw people into your photos by showing them where to look. Creating perspective is about pointing the viewer towards what you want them to see. Using lines is an easy way to create perspective, a row of trees or a footpath is a great way to do this! Also to show perspective by way of size, add a person to your photo to show the true scale and how high a mountain or building is.

REFLECTIONS

Keep an eye out for reflections in mirrors, lakes, tables…basically anything that shines. Using a reflective surface to create an alternate view is a great way to creatively compose your travel images. You can even use the reflections to capture a street scene or landscape, it’s just about being aware of the possibilities and looking for them.

SENSE OF SPACE

Before taking any photos take a little look around to see what you can incorporate alongside your subject that helps tell the story or highlight the culture of the destination. Adding in a variety of elements or capturing people going about their day to day lives can create a sense of place and compose an image that really showcases the story of a destination.

We hope that this article has inspired you to get more creative with your photography! If you have any questions or tips to share with our readers please leave these in the comments below.

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Author

We Are Travel Girls Contributor Lisa Michelle Burns of TheWanderingLens.com
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