Every time I look at the photos on my office walls, I think of how lucky I am. Images of Colorado, Utah, Portugal, China and Ecuador bring back memories of places I've been. Whether my journeys are 5000 or 50 miles from home, I record my cherished moments on film. For many of us, vacations are once-a-year events and can be quite expensive. Should something go wrong with the photos, returning to the vacation spot isn't an option. Being prepared in advance and having an idea what to shoot is imperative to producing lasting memories of your sojourn. When the trip is over, all you have are memories—saving them on film allows us to relive them.
To create good travel photos, many factors remain constant. From choosing a destination to creating a multi-media slide show of your best shots, much forethought must go into your planning. For example, an African safari is high on many photographers' lists. Imagine laying out over $5000, only to find that the day you arrive is the beginning of monsoon season. Don't laugh—I've heard worse horror stories than this.
A Baker's Dozen
Just like a good baker, a photographer needs to use the right ingredients and superior techniques to create an appealing end product.
Any baker worth his/her weight in salt allocates 13 items in every dozen. For a travel photographer, there are 13 key points to coming home with good images. First, there are the basics: planning the trip, testing the equipment, and learning some key phrases of the country's language. Then come the ingredients: what equipment to carry, what film to bring and how much. The sweeteners are added to the batter at the destination: working with the light, shooting details, photographing the people, using fill-flash, capturing the country's flavor, and keeping good records. The finished pastry is like the baker's 13th—showing off the wonderful images: using them as holiday cards, putting them on the Internet or creating a full-blown slide show.
The Basics
• Planning the Trip. There are a multitude of locations, both within the U.S. and abroad that I'd like to photograph. They're pulling me like a magnet, and each location has a special attraction. Knowing when the attraction peaks, and for how long, dictates when I go. For example, the lavender fields of France call my name—finding out when they bloom is step #1 when planning a trip to photograph them.
Guide books provide a wealth of information. Whether the trip is 100% photographic or a 50/50 split between family and photo time, you can find a publication that accommodates these needs. Topics such as food, places to stay, the climate at varying times of the year, history and tourist attractions are usually explained in detail. And don't overlook a trip to the local library.
The Internet is another great travel resource. Researching your destination via the country's Website is a good start. You can get involved in travel chat rooms, or find someone who has recently returned from the spot you're headed. While online, inquire as to the country's political situation, exchange rate, and people's customs. In some countries, pointing a camera at someone can be frowned upon.
• Equipment Preparation. It sounds trite, but the most important prerequisite before leaving is to make sure all photo equipment is in proper working order. Before your departure, shoot a roll of slide film in various lighting conditions with all the camera bodies you plan to bring. Slide film will give you the most accurate evaluation—no over- or underexposure compensation can be made as with print film. Additionally, be sure to clean all lenses and filters of fingerprints or smudge marks. Micro-fiber cloths are great for this purpose, and fold up very compactly for easy packing.
Batteries are the camera's lifeline. Before leaving, install new ones and bring plenty of extras. Carry them with you as you never know when a cell will die out, leaving you powerless. I also strongly suggest bringing a back-up camera body, whether it's another 35mm SLR or a point-and-shoot. It's comforting to know you can still shoot if the primary body fails.
• Learn the Language. Learning key phrases in a foreign country is very important. Most people's first inclination is to learn "Where's the bathroom," or "Which way to the finest restaurant?" I go directly to the translation of "Can I take your picture? Smile—my, you look pretty," or other quips to create expressions on people's faces. I have a card taped to the back of my camera with this and other key terms written down. If I'm traveling with a group, we hire a guide/translator. It makes life easier when trying to direct people photographically.
The Ingredients
• Equipment Choices. Over the years, I've accumulated a lot of photographic "stuff." I used to haul all of it wherever I went, but the only benefit to this was to build muscle tone. I've since learned to cut down on the equipment I bring and carry only what I use.
For general shooting, my pack consists of three zoom lenses: 24-50mm, 35-135mm, and 75-300mm. Two camera bodies, a flash, extra batteries, and some primary filters are also added to the batter. A small tool kit, mini flashlight, a Sharpie pen, plastic bags and a few other miscellaneous items round out the mix. Depending on the subject matter I'll be shooting, I carry a medium- or heavy-weight tripod to accommodate my 150-500mm zoom.
• Film Choice. A rule of thumb is to take as much film as necessary, and then double it. Carrying unexposed film home is better than running out and not being able to buy more on the road. Taking film of varying speeds is also beneficial. If Mother Nature throws a curve and provides dark skies, slow-speed film won't allow you to use the necessary shutter speeds for sharp images. Whether you bring slide or print film, slower, fine-grain film should be used on sunny days. High-speed films of ISO 400 or greater are reserved for gloomy days or shooting indoors without flash.
• Airport Concerns. Photographers traveling by air need to be aware of two major issues: 1) carry-on restrictions, and 2) high-output X-ray machines. Most airlines are now restricting travelers to one carry-on item of a specific size. Because I never pack photo equipment with my checked baggage, I must come up with creative solutions to carry all my gear onto the plane. For example, fanny packs and photo vests are not usually counted as carry-ons. This leaves me plenty of room in my camera bag for film and two camera bodies.
