7​​ Tips F​or The​ ​Trendy ​​Travel-Photographer ​​in ​​You
Travelling​ ​has​ ​never​ ​been​ ​easier​ ​with​ ​wallet-friendly​ ​flights,​ ​GPS​ ​and​ ​accessible​ ​accommodation.​ ​
In​ ​all​ ​things social,​ ​visual​ ​content​ ​is​ ​arguably​ ​the​ ​most​ ​powerful​ ​when​ ​it​ ​comes​ ​down​ ​to​ ​capturing​ ​precious​ ​moments,​ ​and it​ ​is​ ​especially​ ​true​ ​for​ ​us​ ​when​ ​we​ ​are​ ​taking​ ​a​ ​break​ ​from​ ​the​ ​mundane.​ ​
What​ ​does​ ​your​ ​travel​ ​log​ ​look​ ​like today?
Visual​ ​scrapbooking​ ​has​ ​been​ ​a​ ​primary​ ​medium​ ​for​ ​us​ ​to​ ​journal​ ​where​ ​we​ ​have​ ​been.​ ​
We​ ​want​ ​to​ ​capture and​ ​share​ ​our​ ​travelling​ ​experience​ ​with​ ​those​ ​back​ ​home.​ ​As​ ​much​ ​as​ ​we​ ​can​ ​feel​ ​the​ ​clock​ ​ticking​ ​by​ ​the minute,​ ​the​ ​alarm​ ​in​ ​our​ ​heads​ ​also​ ​tug​ ​at​ ​us​ ​to​ ​make​ ​the​ ​best​ ​out​ ​of​ ​everything​ ​before​ ​our​ ​departure​ ​flight.
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Like​ ​the​ ​Yin​ ​to​ ​Yang,​ ​photography​ ​enhances​ ​the​ ​overseas​ ​experience​ ​by​ ​allowing​ ​us​ ​to​ ​be​ ​fully​ ​present​ ​where we​ ​are.​ ​
For​ ​instance,​ ​we​ ​take​ ​in​ ​the​ ​details​ ​of​ ​our​ ​surroundings:​ ​the​ ​angle,​ ​the​ ​lighting,​ ​the​ ​frame,​ ​the protagonist,​ ​the​ ​story​ ​when​ ​we​ ​get​ ​a​ ​shot​ ​ready.
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On​ ​the​ ​social​ ​media​ ​feed,​ ​interesting​ ​travel​ ​shots​ ​are​ ​often​ ​a​ ​fresh​ ​insert​ ​amongst​ ​the​ ​continuous​ ​scrolling​ ​of ootds,​ ​​ ​gym​ ​selfies​ ​and​ ​food​ ​collages.
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Here​ ​are​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​top​ ​trends​ ​to​ ​be​ ​inspired​ ​by​ ​for​ ​your​ ​next​ ​trip​ ​overseas:
1. Street​​ photography​​ rolls ​​the ​​dice
Intriguing​ ​by​ ​nature,​ ​street​ ​photography​ ​has​ ​been​ ​witnessing​ ​a​ ​strong​ ​following​ ​in​ ​recent​ ​years.​ ​
With​ ​more people​ ​venturing​ ​into​ ​the​ ​streets​ ​to​ ​capture​ ​candid​ ​moments,​ ​these​ ​shots​ ​are​ ​often​ ​unassuming​ ​and​ ​full​ ​of memorable​ ​chance​ ​encounters.
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Travelling​ ​to​ ​new​ ​places​ ​often​ ​gives​ ​us​ ​the​ ​curiosity​ ​to​ ​anticipate​ ​and​ ​explore.​ ​
An​ ​old​ ​street​ ​vendor​ ​selling​ ​hot cakes​ ​on​ ​a​ ​rainy​ ​night​ ​might​ ​seem​ ​like​ ​a​ ​common​ ​sight​ ​for​ ​the​ ​locals,​ ​but​ ​it​ ​might​ ​be​ ​the​ ​highlight​ ​shot​ ​for​ ​the traveller.
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Also​ ​due​ ​to​ ​its​ ​unpredictability,​ ​street​ ​photography​ ​is​ ​likely​ ​to​ ​have​ ​​ ​an​ ​evergreen​ ​appeal​ ​for​ ​days​ ​to​ ​come.
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2. Short​​ videos​​ for​​ our​​ short​​ attention ​​span
With​ ​Insta​ ​story,​ ​snapchat​ ​and​ ​other​ ​look-alike​ ​platforms​ ​available,​ ​creating​ ​videos​ ​no​ ​longer​ ​seem​ ​as daunting​ ​to​ ​the​ ​common​ ​man.​ ​
The​ ​shortening​ ​attention​ ​span​ ​also​ ​leads​ ​to​ ​the​ ​proliferation​ ​of​ ​short, easy-to-make​ ​videos,​ ​GIFs,​ ​Boomerang​ ​and​ ​Hyperlapse.​ ​Short,​ ​sweet​ ​and​ ​memorable,​ ​videos​ ​are​ ​a​ ​great​ ​way to​ ​document​ ​your​ ​holidays.
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Besides​ ​this,​ ​minimalistic​ ​photography​ ​can​ ​also​ ​be​ ​an​ ​attention-grabber​ ​by​ ​emphasising​ ​on​ ​therapeutic -looking​ ​lines.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​a​ ​great​ ​contrast​ ​to​ ​the​ ​influx​ ​of​ ​incessant​ ​prints​ ​and​ ​colours​ ​everywhere​ ​else.
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3. Animals
While​ ​travelling​ ​to​ ​different​ ​countries,​ ​the​ ​animals​ ​open​ ​up​ ​a​ ​whole​ ​new​ ​way​ ​of​ ​understanding​ ​the​ ​landscape too.​ ​
Be​ ​it​ ​a​ ​husky​ ​cafe​ ​in​ ​Bangkok​ ​or​ ​a​ ​drive​ ​through​ ​the​ ​nature​ ​reserve​ ​in​ ​New​ ​Zealand,​ ​a​ ​successful​ ​photo​ ​of an​ ​animal​ ​glazing​ ​through​ ​the​ ​lens​ ​will​ ​always​ ​add​ ​to​ ​the​ ​sense​ ​of​ ​fulfilment​ ​and​ ​excitement​ ​during​ ​and​ ​after the​ ​trip.
Of​ ​course,​ ​it​ ​is​ ​usually​ ​not​ ​easy​ ​to​ ​get​ ​a​ ​decent​ ​shot​ ​of​ ​the​ ​koala​ ​high​ ​up​ ​on​ ​the​ ​tree.​ ​Safety​ ​precautions​ ​aside, lighting​ ​conditions​ ​have​ ​to​ ​be​ ​good.​ ​
Rather​ ​than​ ​zooming​ ​in,​ ​getting​ ​closer​ ​to​ ​the​ ​animals​ ​in​ ​real​ ​life​ ​will​ ​get​ ​a better​ ​picture.
4. Storytelling
Like​ ​a​ ​visual​ ​journal,​ ​photography​ ​will​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​be​ ​trending​ ​with​ ​the​ ​story​ ​behind​ ​it.​ ​
Like​ ​what​ ​a​ ​school teaching​ ​visual​ ​communications​ ​and​ ​photography​ ​would​ ​teach,​ ​every​ ​photo​ ​frames​ ​out​ ​a​ ​story​ ​with​ ​details such​ ​as​ ​the​ ​angle,​ ​lighting​ ​and​ ​composition.​ ​In​ ​sum,​ ​relatable​ ​photos​ ​that​ ​personalise​ ​a​ ​story​ ​have​ ​the​ ​power to​ ​connect​ ​others​ ​to​ ​your​ ​perspective.​ ​
This​ ​is​ ​probably​ ​why​ ​photography​ ​courses​ ​have​ ​always​ ​been​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the more​ ​popular​ ​modules​ ​in​ ​school.
Photographs​ ​documenting​ ​what​ ​the​ ​traveller​ ​sees.​ ​
Be​ ​it​ ​shots​ ​of​ ​you​ ​packing​ ​for​ ​the​ ​flight,​ ​being​ ​lost​ ​with​ ​the GPS​ ​or​ ​trying​ ​to​ ​figure​ ​out​ ​where​ ​the​ ​Airbnb​ ​host’s​ ​keys​ ​are,​ ​these​ ​photos​ ​of​ ​the​ ​imperfect,​ ​messy​ ​and​ ​hasty daily​ ​routine​ ​relate​ ​to​ ​the​ ​masses​ ​while​ ​being​ ​an​ ​interesting​ ​way​ ​to​ ​remember​ ​your​ ​trip​ ​by.
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The​ ​same​ ​is​ ​true​ ​for​ ​food,​ ​objects​ ​and​ ​interior​ ​images.​ ​
If​ ​you​ ​are​ ​intending​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​your​ ​travel​ ​ventures​ ​social, try​ ​these​ ​story​ ​angles​ ​instead​ ​of​ ​the​ ​usual​ ​touristy​ ​shot​ ​with​ ​a​ ​V​ ​sign.
5. Behind the scene photography
Similar​ ​to​ ​the​ ​previous​ ​point,​ ​you​ ​can​ ​take​ ​a​ ​spin​ ​on​ ​the​ ​conventional​ ​story​ ​angles​ ​to​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​what​ ​is​ ​usually left​ ​unsaid.​
​Paying​ ​more​ ​attention​ ​to​ ​what​ ​is​ ​behind​ ​the​ ​scenes​ ​like​ ​the​ ​barista​ ​preparing​ ​your​ ​latte​ ​instead​ ​of the​ ​cup​ ​itself​ ​adds​ ​much​ ​more​ ​dimension​ ​and​ ​life​ ​into​ ​your​ ​pictures.
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Coupled​ ​with​ ​the​ ​trend​ ​of​ ​the​ ​90s​ ​film​ ​filters,​ ​​ ​polaroid-like​ ​snapshots​ ​and​ ​flash​ ​photos,​ ​authenticity​ ​is​ ​a definite​ ​theme​ ​helming​ ​a​ ​strong​ ​presence​ ​in​ ​visual​ ​content​ ​everyday.
6. ​​Techify your pictures
Ironically,​ ​including​ ​technology​ ​can​ ​help​ ​others​ ​to​ ​resonate​ ​with​ ​your​ ​shots.​ ​
Capturing​ ​your​ ​friend​ ​pointing​ ​her camera​ ​at​ ​an​ ​artefact​ ​or​ ​a​ ​shot​ ​of​ ​your​ ​phone​ ​taking​ ​a​ ​food​ ​picture​ ​creates​ ​a​ ​sense​ ​of​ ​familiarity​ ​as​ ​well.
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Another​ ​way​ ​photography​ ​can​ ​leverage​ ​on​ ​technology​ ​is​ ​using​ ​it​ ​to​ ​shoot​ ​unconventional​ ​angles.​ ​For​ ​instance, 360​ ​degree,​ ​4K​ ​and​ ​aerial​ ​videos​ ​are​ ​trending​ ​as​ ​the​ ​filming​ ​equipments​ ​become​ ​more​ ​accessible.​ ​
There​ ​are several​ ​rental​ ​options​ ​for​ ​travellers​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​these​ ​equipment​ ​overseas,​ ​although​ ​it​ ​is​ ​likely​ ​to​ ​add​ ​up​ ​to​ ​the packing​ ​list​ ​with​ ​more​ ​valuables​ ​to​ ​take​ ​care​ ​of.
7. ​​Reimagine Landmarks
Taking​ ​a​ ​photography​ ​course​ ​in​ ​school​ ​is​ ​probably​ ​a​ ​much​ ​better​ ​way​ ​for​ ​you​ ​to​ ​master​ ​the​ ​skill,​ ​but​ ​a​ ​simple change​ ​can​ ​help​ ​to​ ​capture​ ​a​ ​decent​ ​shot​ ​by​ ​reimagining​ ​landmarks.
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Landscape​ ​photography​ ​has​ ​been​ ​highly​ ​popular.​ ​Beyond​ ​the​ ​hustling​ ​city​ ​life,​ ​deserted​ ​nature,​ ​unusual patterns,​ ​fog​ ​and​ ​other​ ​quiet​ ​terrains​ ​are​ ​favoured​ ​among​ ​travellers.
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