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 tugs at us to make the best out of everything before our departure flight.
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.
On the social media feed, interesting travel shots are often a fresh insert amongst the continuous scrolling of ootds, gym selfies and food collages.
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.
Travelling to new places often gives us the curiosity to anticipate and explore. An old street vendor selling hotcakes on a rainy night might seem like a common sight for the locals, but it might be the highlight shot for the traveller.
Also due to its unpredictability, street photography is likely to have an evergreen appeal for days to come.
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.
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.
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 fulfillment 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 personalize 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.
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-scenes 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. 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 artifact or a shot of your phone taking a food picture creates a sense of familiarity as well.
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 equipment become more accessible.
There are several rental options for travellers to bring this 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 re-imagining landmarks.
Landscape photography has been highly popular. Beyond the hustling city life, deserted nature, unusual patterns, fog and other quiet terrains are favoured among travellers.
Developing the photographer in you?
For those who are passionate in photography and want to master the craft with a firm grasp, head on over to find out more about getting a diploma in professional photography course in Singapore!
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