TAKEBETTERTRAVELPHOTOS

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO TRAVEL & HOLIDAY PHOTOGRAPHY

Summer 2011 | Issue 1 | 4.50

JUNIORSNAPPERS

Photo ideas for kids

Shoot perfectblue seas Take dramaticwilldlife pictures Make yourown photobook

HOW TO

THE 10 BESTCOMPACTS &DSLRS REVIEWED

25 easyways to getgreat shots

own photobook

HANDYGUIDES:

Portraits Sunsets Night Festivals

Black & white

5

Winan amazing trip to Indiaworth2,500!

4 | TAKE BETTER TRAVEL PHOTOS Summer 2011

GET INSPIRED

10 Travel photos of the decadeIncredible pictures from ten years of the Wanderlust Travel Photo of the Year competition every one of them by amateurs, like you!

22 Win a trip to ColombiaEnter your best pictures into the Wanderlust Travel Photo of the Year competition 2011 and win a trip tocolourful Colombia!

CONTENTS24 Marrakech: A day in the lightExpert travel photographer Paul Harris looks at how to take advantage of the changing light to capture the best possible images, from sunrise to sunset.

30 Photo Icon:The Taj MahalIconic buildings like the Taj Mahal are so familiar it can be tricky to take an original picture. Steve Davey shows how to make your photos better than the postcards.

40 Take better travel photos(no new kit required!)From planning your shots to getting to know your camera, we off er 25 tips on how to improve your photographic skills and start taking more striking shots. The best bit? They wont cost you a penny.

56 Whipper snappersTwo 10-year-old photography enthusiasts share their favourite shots and off er advice for other young wannabe snappers on how to take great photos.

Could you do better than this? Check out the best amateur shots from 10 years of the Wanderlust Travel Photo Of The Year Competition and then enter this years contest

10

24

Win anamazing tripto India worth

2,500!P38

CONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSMarrakech: A day in the lightExpert travel photographer Paul

Harris looks at how to take advantage of the changing light to capture the best possible images, from sunrise to sunset.

Photo Icon:The Taj Mahal

Iconic buildings like the Taj Mahal are so familiar it can be tricky to take an original picture. Steve Davey shows how to make your photos better than the postcards.

Take better travel photos(no new kit required!)Take better travel photos(no new kit required!)Take better travel photos

From planning your shots to getting to know your camera, we off er 25 tips on how to improve your photographic skills and start taking more striking shots. The best bit? They wont cost you a penny.

Whipper snappersTwo 10-year-old

photography enthusiasts share their favourite shots and off er advice for other young wannabe snappers on how to take great photos.

CONTENTSCONTENTS

know your camera, we off er 25 tips on how

photography enthusiasts share their

Cover storyCheck out our easy25 ways to take better travel photos whether you have a top-of-the-range camera or something a little more, ahem, antiquated

40

TAKE BETTER TRAVEL PHOTOS Summer 2011 | 5

TIPS & SKILLS

64 Masai Mara photo safariCamera klutz Chris Haslam tries sharpening up his wildlife photography skills on safari in wild Africa.

72 Specialist photo safarisAdvice on choosing the right kit and fi nding the right photographic safari and guide.

74 Five minute guide:Shooting waterHeading for the seaside? We explain howto capture turquoise seas and misty waterfalls on camera.

80 Ten rules for the roadFrom backing up your fi les to keeping your kit clean, we off er ten tips for happy photo hunting.

84 Get creative withyour compactFor those with less snazzy cameras, you can still achieve some great shots if you know a few tricks of the trade.

88 Five minute guide:Awesome landscapesTaking an evocative landscape photo isnt as simple as it might seem. Pro photographer David Ward shares his expertise.

94 Do try this at homeIts homework time and your assignments include snapping squirrelsand saying hello to strangers.

98 Compacts vs DSLRs:which one is right for you?With a bewildering array of cameras to choose from, we off er three steps to buying the right camera for you plus advice on where to buy it.

101 Top ten DSLRsWant to shoot like the pros without spending a fortune? Check out our roundup of the best digital single lens refl ex (DSLR) cameras to suit travellers needs.

104 Top ten compactsTen compact cameras for photo enthusiasts who dont want a DSLR cramping their snap-happy style.

108 Photographerskit bagFilters, spirit levels, tripods,cleaners...Theres so much camera kit to choose from, but which pieces really are must-haves?

110 Making movies:holiday video camerasWhether youre using a handheld camcorder or the video recorder on your mobile phone, we off er advice on fi nding the best device to fi lm your trip.

KIT & CAMERAS

116 Processing: how to turn your photos up to 11Why shooting in RAW format makes it easy to turn photos from near-misses to masterpieces. Plus, basic digital processing skills and the software to look out for.

122 Create your ownphotobookWe pick some of the best photobook providers to help you design an album full of all your favourite travel pics.

126 Ten best gallery appsDownloadable applications to help you enhance, distort and generally play around with your photos.

128 GlossaryWhat the hecks a DSLR, anyway? And whats this white balance business? A helpful glossary of camera terms for photography newbies.

FINAL TOUCHES

choose from, we off er three steps to buying the right camera for you plus advice on

7474Cover storyCapture watersports action and get those deep blue seas really blue with our step-by-step guideto Shooting water(ticket to Bora Bora sadly not included).

122

101

104

131 FIVE HANDY GUIDESIn a hurry? Flip to our series of quick reference guides to brush up on Portraits, Sunsets, Festivals, Black & White and After Dark snappery.

MINI MASTERCLASSES

Camera at the readyLazing on the Greek Island of Santorini? No matter where you are, always have your camera to hand

2 THINK BEFORE YOU SHOOTLook in and around the scene, and think about how you are going to make the most of its potential. Is the foreground interesting enough? Are the colours too distracting? If light, weather, time and mood are simply not helping, come back another day. PH

1 TAKE A CAMERA EVERYWHEREAs the adage has it, the best camera is the one you have with you. The fanciest DSLR in the world is no good back in your hotel room.

better travel photosbetter travel photosYoure packed and ready to go but what will you come back with? Our panel of experts explains how to make this years holiday photos your best ever,using only what youve already got: a camera and your imagination

better travel photos

WAYS TO TAKE

better travel photosbetter travel photos25

25 TOP TIPSGET INSPIRED

4 USE BACK-LIGHTING FOR DRAMA Conventional wisdom says you should take photographs with the sun behind you, which tends to give warmer tones. But sometimes you can achieve dramatic results by placing yourself so your subject is back-lit (shooting with the sun facing you). This is especially true if youre shooting in the early morning or late evening, when the sun often produces a warm rim-lighting around the edge of your subject. SE

Suzi Eszterhas (SE) is an award-winning professional wildlife photographer, based in California and the UK. As well as shooting assignments for newspapers and magazines

worldwide, she leads inspirational wildlife photography tours: trips with availability for 2011-2012 include Borneo, Costa Rica, India and Madagascar. www.suzieszterhas.com

Paul Harris (PH) has a distinguished 25-year career documenting people and landscapes around the world, with a particular focus on environmental issues and

adventure travel. Based in North Yorkshire, he is a and a judge on the Wanderlust Travel Photo of the Year competition, and leads trips for Wanderlust Journeys (www.wanderlust-journeys.co.uk).www.paulharrisphotography.com

London-based Peter Mallet (PM) is an in-demand editorial photographer, shooting travel assignments for Wanderlust, Sunday Times Travel, Geographical and other top

magazines. See www.petermallet.com

Additional tips by Steve Davey & Dan Linstead.Additional images: Getty, Alamy, Eric Baldauf, Steve Davey

Suzi Eszterhasaward-winning professional wildlife photographer, based in California and the UK. As well as shooting assignments for newspapers and magazines

Paul Harrisdistinguished 25-year career documenting people and landscapes around the world, with a particular focus on environmental issues and

adventure travel. Based in North Yorkshire, he is a

London-based (photographer, shooting travel assignments for Sunday Times TravelGeographical

magazines. See www.petermallet.com

THE EXPERTS

42 | TAKE BETTER TRAVEL PHOTOS Summer 2011

3GET TO KNOW YOUR CAMERAOK, so nobody loves reading the manual but the more you know about your cameras capabilities, the more creative you can be. Even the humblest compact camera has a myriad options, so start experimenting. Take the same scene diff erent ways and compare them. Try it once with fl ash, and once without; once close-up and once out wide; try diff erent shutter speeds and white balance settings. For a handy demo of how to use basic SLR settings, have a play with the virtual camera at www.camerasim.com.

5DONT MISS THE GOLDEN HOURS AFTER SUNRISE AND BEFORE SUNSET You can take good photographs at any time of day (see A Day in the Light, p24), but at dawn and dusk the light is best for revealing the full texture of a landscape, as in this shot of Lake Powell, Utah. This light can be very short lived, especially in the tropics, so you need to be ready at your location in good time. PH

6 INTRODUCEMOVEMENT One of the easiest ways to animate a scene is to allow a bit of motion blur birds in the sky, passing bicycles, the bustle of pedestrians in a city centre. Selecting a Shutter priority (S or Tv) or Manual mode (M) is the easiest way to achieve this. Brace yourself against a wall to avoid camera shake, and shoot at 1/15 sec or slower to get a sense of motion. For longer exposures, youll need to rest your camera on a surface, or use a tripod.

25 TOP TIPSGET INSPIRED

56 | TAKE BETTER TRAVEL PHOTOS Summer 201156 | TAKE BETTER TRAVEL PHOTOS Summer 2011

SNAPPERS

Kids arent just g

reat

subjects for tra

vel

photography

they can

make great pho

tographers

too. We asked t

wo well-

travelled ten-ye

ar-olds

to talk us throug

h their

enviable album

s

Whipper

TAKE BETTER TRAVEL PHOTOS Summer 2011 | 57TAKE BETTER TRAVEL PHOTOS Summer 2011 | 57

P repare for an attack of envy: twins Joe and Ellie Gray have packed more adventures into their fi rst decade than many of us manage in a lifetime. Trekking in Morocco? Done it. Kayaking in New Zealand? Check. Disneyland? Of course on three diff erent continents.Almost from birth, Joe and Ellie have followed their dad,

William, an award-winning travel writer and photographer, and mum, Sally, a book editor, on journeys all over the globe. And once theyd got past those tricky toddler years (when, William recalls, the kids threw up in six diff erent car seats), they started photographing those trips too. Here are their favourite shots, and their tips for other aspiring young snappers.

KIDS PHOTOGRAPHYGET INSPIRED

TAKEBETTERTRAVELPHOTOS

From wondrous wildlife to luscious landscapes, start picking up the skills and techniques for great travel photos

TIPS& SKILLS

Photo safaris: Masai Mara How to capture wild Africa p64

5 minute guide: shooting waterWaves and refl ections p74

10 rules for the roadTaking care of your kit p80

Get creative with a compactInstant art just point & shoot p84

5 minute guide: landscapesTaking scene stealers p88

SectionTWO

IN THIS SECTION:

Want to really improve your wildlife photography?Chris Haslam did, so he signed up for an intensive

photographic safari in Kenyas Masai MaraPictures Chris Haslam

MISSINGIN ACTION

Going, going, gone... At the start of his safari, Chris was in real need of some photo tips. Could a bit of tuition take him from missing leopard to something more composed?

PHOTO SAFARI: KENYATIPS & SKILLS

80 | TAKE BETTER TRAVEL PHOTOS Summer 2011

10Pack light, look af

ter your kit and keep smiling here

s our 10-point

plan to follow if youre serious abou

t taking better photos

2KEEP ITCLEAN Always keep your gear clean: dirt or dust on your sensor will show up as ugly black marks on your pictures. Smudges on your lens will aff ect quality and can cause fl are. Clean your gear every night. Some cameras have a sensor that vibrates, but this may need extra cleaning.

A manual blower (try Visible Dusts Hurricane Blower: 7.95, www.visibledust.com) will jet dust from the sensor (never use compressed air). You might also need a sensor brush (approx 60) if you are doing a lot of travel to dusty areas. Blow grit and dust from lenses and fi lters, then use a washable micropore cloth to clean them.

1TAKE SPARE EQUIPMENT If youre on the trip of a lifetime, dont let the theft or mechanical failure of your camera and lenses mean you cant take pictures.If photography is important to you, make sure you have a spare camera even if it isjust a simple compact. If the worst happens and your camera is stolen or broken, then you can still shoot.

Dont overlook lenses, either. Many people travel with an 18-200mm super-zoom, which has such a wide range it rarely needs to be changed. But pack the kit lens that came with your camera too, in case your fi rst choice lens goes wrong or gets damaged while youre on the road.

00Pack light, look af

ter your kit and keep smiling here

s our 10-point

RULES FOR THE ROAD

Take care of your kit clean lenses (gently) with dust blowers. And always pack spare equipment in case something gets damaged or stolen

TAKE BETTER TRAVEL PHOTOS Summer 2011 | 81

STRAP HERE

3BACK UP YOUR PICTURESDigital images are essentially ephemeral. They can disappear in an instant due to theft, mechanical breakdown or corruption. However, they are easily duplicated, so there is no excuse for losing images.

Memory cards are cheaper than ever. Take enough so you dont have to reuse them. Copy pictures to a laptop and back this up to a hard disk such as LaCie Rugged Hard Disk (from 95 online). Also, copy cards to a standalone storage device (browse at www.hypershop.com). Only then reuse a memory card. You can also back-up to DVDs in internet cafs. Store one back-up in your hotel; carry the other.

4BE AWARE OF WHERE YOU AREMost travel books recommend that you dont carry valuables on you but as a photographer, you dont really have a choice. However, you should take basic precautions against robbery. Try to be aware of your surroundings and take local advice about dangerous areas. Carry your camera securely, and look out for bag-snatchers on motorbikes. Never leave your camera or camera bag on a caf table or where anyone can grab it and run away. Learn to work quickly: if you stand fi ddling with your camera for ages, youll attract attention. If you are taking a risk, back up your memory card fi rst just in case.

Be aware of your surroundings and take

local advice about dangerous areas

Always back up your images twice! Save fi les to portable hard-drives and burn them to CDs at internet cafs

Wor

ds a

nd m

ake

your

CD

imag

e: S

teve

Dav

ey. O

ther

imag

es: A

lam

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tock

TRAVEL SAVVYTIPS & SKILLS

You dont need an expensive SLR camera to take an impressive shot compacts can give great results if you know a few tricks of the trade, advises Steve Davey

Get creative with yourCOMPACT CAMERA

COMPACT SKILLSTIPS & SKILLS

C ompact cameras are getting more sophisticated. Although, size for size, the sensors used in larger digital SLRs tend to produce better results, the simplicity of a point-and-shoot allows you to be creative without worrying about camera settings.

However, even the most advanced compacts cant perceive the photographers intentions. At best, automatic functions are an educated guess. And there are times when it all goes wrong.

Luckily, you dont have to ditch all automatic functions and set everything yourself. You can still use your compact cameras clever tools to do most of the work, but by making a few simple tweaks you can greatly improve your chances of getting it all right.

TAKE BETTER TRAVEL PHOTOS Summer 2011 | 85

CAPTURE THE ATMOSPHERE WITH SLOW-SYNCH FLASHIf you light a whole scene with fl ash, the results are often harsh. Flash light is very directional and falls off over distance; this is why backgrounds often look dark.

To improve this, set your fl ash to the slow-sync setting. The fl ash will fi re as normal but the camera will also set a slower speed if it thinks it needs one so that the ambient light registers as wel l. If light levels are really low, then be careful of blur in parts of the picture lit by ambient light although this can be a nice eff ect if you are shooting a party or dance performance.

This is the setting to use if you want to take a picture of someone in front of a fl oodlit building at night. The fl ash will light the person and the slow speed will allow the ambient light to register.to register.to register.

Snow-stoppingUse the exposure-compensation facility or Snow setting to correct blue casting

All white nowSet your white balance to suit the scene you are shooting

Stay in controlGet to know your cameras picture modes: they do make a difference!

AVOID NASTY COLOUR CASTS

Diff erent light sources give off a range of colour temperatures, from red to dark blue. Humans cant distinguish these casts; the brain automatically corrects them.

Digital cameras have a similar function: the Auto White Balance (AWB). The trouble is the camera doesnt know what you are photographing: it cant tell the diff erence between the rich reds of a sunset, which you want to preserve, and the orange cast from an incandescent bulb, which you probably want to eliminate. The AWB will seek to cancel out all colour casts good and bad.

The solution is to switch off AWB and use the Daylight setting. This makes your camera behave in the same way as fi lm, and is perfect for most conditions. At sunrise and sunset warmer light will be reproduced in your pictures as atmospheric red tinges.

If youre shooting under artifi cial light, switch the AWB on to cancel out the colour cast. If shooting in fl uorescent light, select the Fluorescent or Incandescent settings; theyll

usually give better results than AWB.

All a blurThe slow-syn

c setting

can introduce blur to

produce atmospheric

festival shots

Alamy

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