Digital SLR Travel Photography and Tips to Make Your Travel and Vacation Photos Great

Digital SLR cameras have offer a number of benefits over point and shoot cameras, but their size and accessories can make them cumbersome during travel and especially on vacations. Over the years I have collected a few items that are compact in size, reasonably priced and still allow decent photography. The items you need depend on your level of photographic commitment but the following important accessories my be helpful.

Following these tips will help make your travel and vacation photos great, and your experience taking them safe and enjoyable.

Always move in on your subject

When you look through your camera, try to fill your viewfinder with whatever you are photographing. The Eiffel Tower from five miles away, will not have the impact that photographing it from picture. You may consider taking only part of a subject. Try to focus on elements that will give your subject some identity. For instance; you may consider shooting just the head and torch of the Statue of Liberty, or just the more familiar portions of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Everyone will know what it is, and you will have a more visually pleasing photograph.

Carefully choose what equipment you will take with you

You will be moving around a lot, and nothing will ruin your vacation faster than having to constantly wrestle with your gear. What seems like a few lightweight pieces of equipment at first, will feel like a ball and chain by the end of the day. You should avoid carrying a large camera that may attract thieves. Hand carry your camera in front of you in a waist pack, or around your neck on a sturdy strap. In addition to your camera, bring only a flash, and extra batteries.

For bright sunny days and landscapes, use a polarized filter

It will make the colors in your pictures brighter, reduce haze, and eliminate reflections from water and other shiny surfaces. This is handy if you will be taking a lot of pictures through the windows of trains, or buses.

You should never leave your camera in a car, but if you must then store it in an inexpensive Styrofoam ice chest. It will help insulate your equipment from extreme temperatures, and is less attractive to thieves than a camera bag.

If you will be flying or using some other form of public transportation, avoid risking damage to your camera by keeping it with you at all times. Don’t pack it in luggage that will be checked or shipped separately.

Be sure to consider what you will be taking pictures of in advance, and, if possible, use a camera suited to the situation

If you will be near water, use a waterproof or outdoor-proof, disposable camera. If you will be taking pictures in mountains or other high places, use a wide angle lens and attach your camera to your neck with a strap. Believe me, you won’t care about any pictures you miss if you ruin your camera by getting it wet, or dropping it into the Grand Canyon.

Last but not least, have fun!

Taking pictures on your vacation should be an exhilarating experience, and will provide you with recorded memories that you can enjoy for a lifetime.

Vacation and Travel Photography

This book focuses specifically on point and shoot cameras and going on vacation. Within those parameters though the author does an excellent job of providing some hints and tricks and techniques that will make you a better photographer. It is clear and easy to read, there are photographs included that will help explain the point the author is trying to make, there are bulleted lists that provide a list of dos and don’ts when photographing something.