"You certainly don't present a negative, or even a real attitude about a place. There's no point for a travel photographer to show refugee camps. If you can show them as romantic hill tribes, fine. There's a difference between travel photography and photojournalism, and a different function to each."
Lisl Dennis, Interview, 1985
A person may live and work in the most inspiring locale in the world and rarely pick up a camera. If another person travels to that area they may be so captivated that their camera rarely leaves their hands. Travel reveals "the shock of the new", while an inhabitant may have become so visually jaded that they are blind to the amazing people, places and things around them.
The impetus to photograph when traveling may come from the need to bring back "trophy" pictures (the "I was there" shot), or simply from the fact that new places, faces, architecture and landscapes tend to open the "photographic eye". That inspiration is often enough to get the creative juices flowing.
Much of travel photography is the record shot, a virtual inventory of the obligatory sites on a tour. While there's nothing wrong with this, such shots are readily available at the local souvenir store, or from the host of travel sites that dot the web and that seem to cover virtually every popular destination. Although some record shots are inevitable, memorable travel pictures are those that take a more personal, interpretive approach to the subject matter.
The degree to which this can be done is often determined by the journey's itinerary. Covering eight countries in five days will often yield photographs that seem to be no more than a glance back at subjects that whiz by. Immersion in an area usually results in better pictures, as there is time to study and observe subjects. That study may simply be noticing when light is best on certain scenes and shooting accordingly. Observing the flow of life in the locale, and photographing people in the market, during festivals or simply going about the business of their daily lives can become the real treasures of the travel experience.
Ever since its invention, photography has been tied to travel. When getting about was a more difficult task, only available to a small segment of the population, photography served as the eyes of the world on exotic and far-flung regions. Pioneering photographers traveled around the world to bring back pictures for exhibitions, books, parlor stereographs, and later, for newspapers and magazines. When cameras and film became more portable at the end of the nineteenth century, and travel became more accessible to more people, the linkage between the voyage and the camera was sealed. Today it is almost unthinkable to travel without a camera as part of the luggage.
Both professional and avid amateurs provide many of the photographs for today's travel industry, either on assignment from tourist boards and travel publications, or as so-called "stock" photographers, who shoot on speculation. A large network of picture agencies sell stock images to the travel industry and magazines. Freelancers try to combine business with pleasure by making travel pictures when on vacation or weekends, or plan elaborate trips that are actually self-assigned photographic essays. The sheer volume of photographers engaged in this industry makes for a competitive marketplace, one where the ability to combine a travel "lifestyle" with technical excellence is key.
The digital SLR is the camera of choice for those seeking to make more than snapshots on trips, although cameras with excellent optics and high megapixel counts can work as well, although care must be taken not to shoot at too high an ISO. For competitive reasons, pros often use full-frame DSLRs with high megapixel counts. In general, zoom lenses are good choices for travel, as they cut down on the amount of gear. While tastes differ, as does the requirements of different locales, a good lens kit should include a zoom in the 28-80mm and one in the 70-210mm range; this covers most picture needs. A small portable flash also comes in handy.
When traveling always carry-on the gear and especially the “take” after the trip is done. Never, ever pack anything of value in checked baggage. Personal experience has shown me that should you have something “lost” when in checked baggage results in a round of finger pointing on the part of the authorities that brings you through a circle and back again.
There are a host of accessories for the traveling photographer, including camera bag-sized tripods, photo vests, hip cases and "fanny packs". Small beanbags for steadying the camera on virtually any surface during long exposures can come in handy. While traveling with a camera is fun, lugging too much gear will always get in the way of the travel experience.
Text and image copyright George Schaub 2009. All rights reserved.
