Just between us, what’s better and more inspiring than travel for taking beautiful photographs? Nothing, in my opinion, unless perhaps pictures of people, so for my travel mementos, I often try to blend both together, in a rich and surprising cocktail that will undoubtedly inspire you to create fabulous travel photos. So for my second article, I wanted to show you my most beautiful travel photographs, pictures of people I enjoyed following and shooting, and who each remind me of the places where I went and spent time.
What should you shoot while traveling?
“The man who was watching Montreal” – Montreal, 2013.
Well I believe there’s no answer to this question, or maybe there are tons of different answers because you can take pictures of anything when you’re traveling. That’s the magic of vacation! Everything is beautiful! But maybe some of you are like me and you have a weakness for street photography and photos of people. So, of course you can take beautiful landscape pictures. It’s always wonderful to have beautiful postcard photographs you can enjoy looking at when you come home. But often people you encounter on your way tell a lot more than any landscape ever can.
– Morocco, 2014.
How do you go about taking street photos while you’re traveling?
Street photography and photos of people are what I prefer when traveling. I’m all set with my camera, I walk around, and I observe life on a human scale. I also often look around at things or have my eyes focused on the landscapes, but I observe people a lot. My advice is to be patient, to keep your eyes open, to focus on a person (but not too much, you’re not paparazzi or a detective!), but always very restrained. How would you like it if some stranger got too close taking pictures of you?
“The barracks” – Montreal, 2013.
Now I tend to make ironic comments, joke around, and say that I’m stealing the picture of strangers, but in order to make something beautiful and to enhance them. I never ask right away to take a person’s picture (because then they will pose and the photo won’t be what I wanted). I also try not to show their face that much out of preference for what’s natural, and simple, and then I’ll ask afterward. But really, what I like is the situation, the place they are, their allure, more than a picture of that person. I could watch these people and follow their stories for hours, and today they are my most precious souvenirs of my travels because the people in them have something to say, a story to tell.
“Business man” – New York, 2013.
How to frame the shot? And what about technique?
On the technical side, it’s true that a super telephoto lens lets you take pictures from far away or close up, but it is not my favorite tool. Not very discreet, not very practical, and really bulky in your bags, all the photos taken here were done with a Canon 1.4 50mm, a fixed focal length I really love. I can work with a lot of positions because it is fixed. I’ve got great depth of field and unique clarity, and with it I can also hide behind natural foregrounds (fences, windows, walls, flowers) for very original results. I also recommend the 1.8 50mm, in the same category, and most importantly it’s less expensive, for those on a tight budget. They are very small and light. These lenses are super practical when you’re traveling.
– Morocco, 2014.
“Mirror, my beautiful mirror…” – Bordeaux, 2010.
When framing my shots, I often go for a pretty wide view, leaving lots of space around the subject, to give it context and also let the photo breathe. Sometimes when I’m only interested in the subject, I opt for a close-up, but it’s pretty rare. It’s up to you to decide what type of shot will be best, and don’t forget to use framing elements and natural foregrounds. Sometimes they’ll make all the difference.
“Children’s Games” – Montréal 2013.
“On the beach” – Canary Islands, 2013.
What camera should you use?
Well that’s the great, eternal question! It’s the camera that will make you feel most at ease and at liberty to create. I bring my big reflex with me. It’s not always that practical, but I just can’t sacrifice when it comes to that image quality. Sometimes I just take pictures with my iPhone like anyone else (in fact, some phones take superb photos). And before that, back in the day I carried my bridge around with me, and that was quite a big deal.
“The coffee lover” – Canary Islands, 2013.
I would tend to advise in favor of something small, lightweight, and quick to recharge. But once again, it depends on your needs and preferences. After all, it’s not the camera that makes the photographer. Your eye and artistic sense always come first! Don’t hesitate to study what’s on the web or in this Manfrotto article or lots of others to help you choose your camera.
– Morocco, 2014.
Most of all, get inspired! Take a look at the photos taken by journalists and bloggers and take inspiration from the talent of others. This isn’t something to be embarrassed by. When you’re inspired, you’ll exceed your expectations, innovate, and refresh your creativity. You can take your art further. But wait: I said get inspired, not be a copy-cat! 😉
Céline
Blogger and photographer, Céline is never afraid to speak her mind or let her camera do the talking! She is passionate about imagery. She is a photographer, but she is also a writer, sharing her photography, her travels, and her favorite discoveries. She has a quirky penchant for kids, for photographic composition, travel, pastel photos, and oh so much more!
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