Have you ever looked at photos of awe-inspiring places and thought how magnificent it would be to journey there but doubted your chances because life gets in the way? Have you ever looked at an image of a far-off destination and thought how lucky that photographer was to get to travel to that location? Have you ever wondered about the person in the photo walking on the beach and how the sand would feel under your feet? Rather than be jealous, become zealous and do everything in your power to try to make it happen. I fully understand the limitations, but even if you wind up in places close to home, there are others who would be jealous of that trip. The bottom line is to make something happen, be ultra-zealous and it may come to fruition.
You count down the days on your calendar and you arrive at your dream locale. Your number one priority is to bring back the best possible images so you can relive your memories. You also want great shots to post on social media. Additionally, you’d like to make some large prints to hang on your walls to be reminded of it each time you walk past the masterpiece. Your love to get there will come out in your photos if your love to get the photos shares the same passion. Below are a number of tips to help you achieve this goal.
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Immerse Yourself
Your motivation to be where you are is high. That’s an integral component if you desire to capture great images of the environment and/or its subjects. Once you establish a love relationship with your cherished site, you’ll never run out of photographic material. As with any loved one from whom it pains you to be away, you’ll explore the terrain more deeply and be driven to make more images. Check out the same locations under different conditions. Experiment with different focal lengths. Attach a macro and explore the details. Make verticals and horizontals. The more deeply you immerse yourself, the deeper in love you may fall.
Romantic Sunrises And Sunsets
Whether your mission is to come home with great scenics, wildlife, architecture, tourist shots, etc., take advantage of the light at sunrise and/or sunset. As a matter of fact, go to the same place at both times to really explore your relationship with your locale. At sunrise, you may wind up with silhouettes and at sunset, you may get late light bathing the subjects in wonderful warm, yellow, soft light. It may be obvious that the iconic shot works better at sunset, so make that photograph. But in order to grow the relationship, other options need to be explored. Capture the iconic file, but go back at sunrise to investigate other possibilities. It may take a few outings, but that’s the beauty of developing a good relationship. Investigate the possibilities and have fun in the process. As a matter of fact, if you get an overcast day, make an additional journey to see what else can be added to your files.
Slow Romantic Walks Or Long Car Rides
Explore your environment during a slow observant walk or take a drive to seek out a new possibility and inspect the nearby surroundings. In other words, explore the depths of your loved locale. Jump in the rental car and drive around to find new angles. A lot of territory can be investigated in short spans of time. Slow down the pace and use your feet to take long walks. Move slowly and intimately to learn its more subtle aspects. You’ll see nuances at 2 mph that would surely get overlooked at 40 mph. Conversely, the vehicular exploration lets you cover more terrain to make sure you don’t overlook a potential photo.
Become Absorbed
Regardless of the subject matter that prompts you to go to your destination, become absorbed in it. Do your research, investigate specific weather patterns, where the wildlife appears, how crowded it gets and more. Know your gear inside and out. When does the wildlife get the most active? What time of year does the sun line up with your favorite geological feature? Being armed with these answers will help you fall more deeply in love.
If you’re a regular reader of my weekly tips, you know I’ve fallen in love with Tanzania. One of my favorite areas is around Lake Ndutu. All of the images I used in this week’s tip were made within a 10-mile radius of the local camp. Some were on foot as I walked the grounds of the camp and others were made from the safari vehicle. The point is that if you fall in love, you keep wanting more and more. You, too, can make it happen.
To learn more about this subject, join me on a photo safari to Tanzania. Visit www.russburdenphotography.com to get more information.