I admit, I'm an obsessive 'snapper' when traveling. I carry my camera all the time, and click the hell out if it. However, it seems that I never have time to think about the creative or aesthetic side of photography and I also rarely think about the elements of composition. I'm trying to document my travels. I try to capture each and every place I go to, so in the end it looks more like a street-level-google map than an aesthetic photo album you'd like to show anyone LOL
So, how about you? What kind of photos do you take on your trips?
I prefer landscapes and rarely shoot details and people. I also dislike anything manmade and prefer pure nature. Don't like when someone walks into my photo either. Unless it's a dog. Or a deer :)
Do you ever go through your photos and delete all the bad ones while on holiday, or you need to buy extra memory cards because you're ran out of memory?
Do you shoot millions of photos, or you return home only with several photos which are so awesome that might easily get published in the next issue of National Geographic Traveler?
Has your style changed since you've started 365 project, and how?
I can't wait to see how you feel and think about your travel photos!
Well the thing that struck me was your opening line - about carrying a camera all the time when traveling - I always carry a camera - every day - traveling or not - so I just see travel photography as an extension of any other day.
I take a diverse mixture of photos when travelling from dramatic landscape to street photography with the odd abstract thrown in for good measure, I find that when shooting too much of one kind of shot when viewing them back they become very samey having a mixture of urban and rural in your set breaks up the shoot. I usually carry more than one memory card with me so it doesn't matter how many photos I take, but I don't go mad snapping the same thing 100 times maybe 3 or 4 shots just to try out different compositions maybe a few more if the image is lively, and I never delete photos until I have looked at them on a large screen, some of my best shots are ones that I have thought looked really bad on the camera display, I often wonder how many awe inspiring shots have been lost because they dont look good really small :) I don't think my style has changed drastically since beginning the 365 project but then I have been shooting for a long time so have a set way of working anyway, but I have learnt a few new tricks since I have been doing it which have honed my photos just enough..
I love bringing a camera with me when I travel. It is an opportunity for me to make art, to use my creativity and composition skills in a new environment. Most of the images I have won awards for have been taken when I have been traveling. I do not shoot "millions" of photos, but I would say I normally shoot 500 - 600 per week of travel and of those, 10% are keepers.
@styru thanks for your thoughts! One of the reasons why I joined 365 was to make myself use my camera more. Perhaps every day.
Actually, interest for this question rose yesterday while taking a photo of a local cemetery. I think it was the first time I took a photo in the city I live in! Imagine that!!!! The feeling was really strange, I felt a bit like a tourist because I usually shoot on travels. On the other hand, I spent much more time planning my photo. And I like the result. My usual travel photos are nowhere near that :)
So, it was a nice experience that made me think more about the way I use my camera.
And you're right, it'd be great to carry my camera all the time! It'd help, I'm sure!
I travel a bit for work and carry my camera every time I am out wondering around. It can get boring shooting around home, so I love seeing what new things I can shoot. I am in DC this week for work and there is the Cherry Blossom Festival, I probably have taken 800 shots, and only have kept about 10%.
Like @styru I also take my camera EVERYWHERE.. My ever supportive hubby brought me a camera bag/hand bag to make this a bit easier... My project is about a few things... Documenting a year in my life with a photo a day and i also want to learn more about photography and my camera... Most days i take photos of my family or my new location and then the photo i like the best is the one i use.. Some days they arent the best shot ive taken but Im ok with that.... What is your project about for you?? Maybe that will help you???
BTW i love your photo above... Xx
@asrai You've addressed it so well! My travel photos came to be too samey, as I always show interest for the same motives. Perhaps I should try to think out of the box!
I buy extra memory cards and download at home. I am on vacation so why work on editing and miss experiencing a new place. I do love landscape but it is the little moments to capture since they tell the story of our trip. People are sometimes important like when we took a wrong hiking trail and reached a wall of trees, I took a photo of a person from behind just holding their hands out admitting defeat. I use travel photos to tell our story and experience. I also take everything and delete about 70%
The reason I bought a camera was to photo the great African safari's. My camera did double time with the animals and I have some absolutely fantastic shots. Now, I wouldn't travel without my camera because I want to be able to share pictures with friends and family that show a different perspective to the average tourist. There's a story and instead of writing it......you can show it!
@soboy5 Danny, after viewing your albums, it's pretty clear you know what you're doing with your camera :) I can see that those 10% keepers are the true masterpieces! And congrats on your 365th again :)
@lscimemi & @mrsbaldy Again, it seems that the key lies in a regular use of your camera :) Lisa, it must be great to travel a lot and document every trip with your camera!
Mrs Baldy, I really admire your persistence, I must say that my biggest problem is not the size of my camera as the weight of it!!! But I must confess, I hate when I miss a great capture simply because I was too lazy to carry my camera around! So I'd better buy a new bag ;)
@phillyphotos That's very interesting Paula! I like the way you put it - storytelling photos and liitle moments captured forever!
@savannah51 I'm sure you're photos are great! Sharon I believe I'm still better with words than with photos when it comes to storytelling. But it'd be great if I could get words and pictures in balance :)
When I started this project it was to document but after doing this for a few years, it's become both. Maybe that's the next step in my photography journey. I document but much more selectively and I am pushing the artistic side of my brain. Documenting is more for my personal use and I find I am sharing more of the artistic look at things here now.
When I travel somewhere or do photowalks, I carry more memory and take more photos. Later though, I delete any out of focus, duplicates, and those that have no clear subject. I find storing photos takes up valuable space and I just can't justify keeping photos just for the sake of hanging on to them. I feel like a photo hoarder when I do. This helps to keep me in check.
What a great question. As I'm just coming off a vacation in Florida, and in February, I traveled with work to Nebraska (a very different landscape from my own), I have carried my camera with me everywhere. Everywhere. I could not say that 101 days ago. When I was in Nebraska, I had to ride with a colleague in a car for over 5 hours, and my friend was so patient with me when I asked to stop the car to capture a snow drift, a farm of yacks, a water tower, even a chicken crossing the road. Fortunately, I had a patient and encouraging driver--we enjoyed the "work" trip immensely.
When I started 365, I was actually using it as a writing project--I wanted to write daily and needed more inspiration to do so; I thought visual elements would provide the prompts and I'd have a journal of sorts to see at the end of a year. Learning how to use my camera (a gift over a year ago from my husband -- which was dormant except for "special occasions" to "haul it out"--wow, how I've changed!) was secondary.
Now, I have merged writing with learning to use my camera in every way I can imagine. When I travel (back to your question), I make an effort to capture something unique to the place I visit, and I also make an effort to reflect in text what it means to me. I take too many photos each day, then I load them on my laptop (also goes with me as I work online), cull through them (that day if possible), dump many, save a few, and then pick the one for 365. I'm in the process of trying to figure out where to store (online) the few I save. If you'd like to see how I "documented" Florida, here is day one (arrival just before sunset). It goes to April 7 (there are also photos in the alternate album from those dates). http://365project.org/darylo/365/2013-04-01
I'm a mixture. Sometimes I just snap away to snap away, capture as much as Ican to remember-especially with the kids. I don't have a lot of pictures of me as a baby so I like to take a lot of them, so in that aspect I'm just documenting.
Other times I have that moment where I'm telling my husband to pull over, I need to take 100 pictures of whatever it is that strikes my fancy. Or I get all artistic in the snapshots too. It just depends on how the subject makes me feel.
@dmortega & @darylo Thanks for taking time to share your experiences!
It's great to hear how our preferences and skills change over time!
I guess massive deleting of anything not-really-great is a wise thing to do, however, I often find it so hard! Maybe I should just shut my eyes and press 'delete' every once in a while :)
Do consider this when you are taking your day-to-day photos, as well. When you look back you will not regret having taken the time to look beyond the obvious things you saw everyday.
Hi,
I take way too many photos on vacation, and not enough every day.
Having just returned from holidays, I am now needing to review and upload my shots for the last week.
To me, it is important to take for experiences, and, hopefully, some will turn into pieces of art at the same time. Can one really take "bad" pictures of Zion National Park?
I managed to get a card reader to plug in to my iPad, screen them every couple of days and get rid of the duffers. Do the final editing when I get home again.
@angelamarie1437@eyeseeu@lornahw Thanks for your input. It's so interesting to read your responses and different ways of taking and dealing with your travel photos. @angelamarie1437 Angela, I like the way you balance between 'regular shooting' and more 'artistic' photography. It seems that none of your photos at 365 is 'just a random one', though, as they're all so beautiful. @eyeseeu Well, that approach seems familiar :) And yes, taking a bad photo of Zion NP does seem impossible, but there's always some space for improvement, right? I never really thought much about it, but now I think it'd be nice to have more creative photos instead of just 'fast snaps'. @lornahw Lorna, glad you've found your way to deal with photo selection during travels. I actually plan to do something like that on my next trip. However, I will still have to reduce the number of photos I take, as I don't want to spend half of my holiday checking out the photos ;)
@dmortega That is a great advice, will definitely remember it! Thanks for the link - beautiful examples of travel photos! And you're right, it'd be great to take such wonderful images on a daily basis.
I can't imagine travelling without a camera...in fact usually a bag full of camera gear. I also travel with a notebook and spare external drive so that I can download as I go and make sure that I have two copies of everything, in case of failure. I can just get this down to my 7kg carry on luggage and the tripod goes in the hold. I can then happily snap away for a month or two. I photograph everything, people, places and things...and sort them when I get home.
When I travel I try to take artistic shots that document what I have seen and where I have been. I love the art of photography, but I tell people my purpose with photography is to show people the world through my eyes.
One thing that has changed a lot in my style is that years ago I came home from a trip and afriend flipped through my pictures and asked where the people were. I started adding people in the shots.
@swilde That's great Sue, seems like you got it all covered :) I usually love roadtrips, camping and remoteness. Of course, that often includes lack of electricity, so it can get challenging to charge my camera battery, not to mention a notebook :) But whenever I can, I carry all my 'gear' too :)
@mcrt Mike, you really are taking artistic shots, as we can all see! These are amazing! And agree, you really do art and documentation simultaneously in every shot! Love your friend's remark about the people missing in your photos - it's funny how a simple remark can change our approach, isn't it?
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Actually, interest for this question rose yesterday while taking a photo of a local cemetery. I think it was the first time I took a photo in the city I live in! Imagine that!!!! The feeling was really strange, I felt a bit like a tourist because I usually shoot on travels. On the other hand, I spent much more time planning my photo. And I like the result. My usual travel photos are nowhere near that :)
So, it was a nice experience that made me think more about the way I use my camera.
And you're right, it'd be great to carry my camera all the time! It'd help, I'm sure!
BTW i love your photo above... Xx
I enjoyed reading your answers!
@soboy5 Danny, after viewing your albums, it's pretty clear you know what you're doing with your camera :) I can see that those 10% keepers are the true masterpieces! And congrats on your 365th again :)
@lscimemi & @mrsbaldy Again, it seems that the key lies in a regular use of your camera :) Lisa, it must be great to travel a lot and document every trip with your camera!
Mrs Baldy, I really admire your persistence, I must say that my biggest problem is not the size of my camera as the weight of it!!! But I must confess, I hate when I miss a great capture simply because I was too lazy to carry my camera around! So I'd better buy a new bag ;)
@phillyphotos That's very interesting Paula! I like the way you put it - storytelling photos and liitle moments captured forever!
@savannah51 I'm sure you're photos are great! Sharon I believe I'm still better with words than with photos when it comes to storytelling. But it'd be great if I could get words and pictures in balance :)
When I started this project it was to document but after doing this for a few years, it's become both. Maybe that's the next step in my photography journey. I document but much more selectively and I am pushing the artistic side of my brain. Documenting is more for my personal use and I find I am sharing more of the artistic look at things here now.
When I travel somewhere or do photowalks, I carry more memory and take more photos. Later though, I delete any out of focus, duplicates, and those that have no clear subject. I find storing photos takes up valuable space and I just can't justify keeping photos just for the sake of hanging on to them. I feel like a photo hoarder when I do. This helps to keep me in check.
When I started 365, I was actually using it as a writing project--I wanted to write daily and needed more inspiration to do so; I thought visual elements would provide the prompts and I'd have a journal of sorts to see at the end of a year. Learning how to use my camera (a gift over a year ago from my husband -- which was dormant except for "special occasions" to "haul it out"--wow, how I've changed!) was secondary.
Now, I have merged writing with learning to use my camera in every way I can imagine. When I travel (back to your question), I make an effort to capture something unique to the place I visit, and I also make an effort to reflect in text what it means to me. I take too many photos each day, then I load them on my laptop (also goes with me as I work online), cull through them (that day if possible), dump many, save a few, and then pick the one for 365. I'm in the process of trying to figure out where to store (online) the few I save. If you'd like to see how I "documented" Florida, here is day one (arrival just before sunset). It goes to April 7 (there are also photos in the alternate album from those dates). http://365project.org/darylo/365/2013-04-01
Other times I have that moment where I'm telling my husband to pull over, I need to take 100 pictures of whatever it is that strikes my fancy. Or I get all artistic in the snapshots too. It just depends on how the subject makes me feel.
It's great to hear how our preferences and skills change over time!
I guess massive deleting of anything not-really-great is a wise thing to do, however, I often find it so hard! Maybe I should just shut my eyes and press 'delete' every once in a while :)
http://www.thephotoargus.com/inspiration/20-outstanding-examples-of-travel-photography/
Do consider this when you are taking your day-to-day photos, as well. When you look back you will not regret having taken the time to look beyond the obvious things you saw everyday.
I take way too many photos on vacation, and not enough every day.
Having just returned from holidays, I am now needing to review and upload my shots for the last week.
To me, it is important to take for experiences, and, hopefully, some will turn into pieces of art at the same time. Can one really take "bad" pictures of Zion National Park?
@angelamarie1437 Angela, I like the way you balance between 'regular shooting' and more 'artistic' photography. It seems that none of your photos at 365 is 'just a random one', though, as they're all so beautiful.
@eyeseeu Well, that approach seems familiar :) And yes, taking a bad photo of Zion NP does seem impossible, but there's always some space for improvement, right? I never really thought much about it, but now I think it'd be nice to have more creative photos instead of just 'fast snaps'.
@lornahw Lorna, glad you've found your way to deal with photo selection during travels. I actually plan to do something like that on my next trip. However, I will still have to reduce the number of photos I take, as I don't want to spend half of my holiday checking out the photos ;)
@dmortega That is a great advice, will definitely remember it! Thanks for the link - beautiful examples of travel photos! And you're right, it'd be great to take such wonderful images on a daily basis.
One thing that has changed a lot in my style is that years ago I came home from a trip and afriend flipped through my pictures and asked where the people were. I started adding people in the shots.
So is it Art or documentation? Yup, it is both.
Japan - Mar 2013
Belgium - Nov 2011
@mcrt Mike, you really are taking artistic shots, as we can all see! These are amazing! And agree, you really do art and documentation simultaneously in every shot! Love your friend's remark about the people missing in your photos - it's funny how a simple remark can change our approach, isn't it?