Travel & Hotspots

THIS IS HOW YOUR HOLIDAY PICTURES BECOME A HUNDRED TIMES MORE BEAUTIFUL

7 tips from a photography pro

That amazing nature reserve, lovely little bridge, cute fountain, or capturing yourself with your love on that mountain: it all seems so easy. One press of a button and voila, a memory is born. And then you come home and that photo is not, uh, quite what you had hoped for. Recognizable?

This seriously happens to me every time I go on a trip. It drives me completely crazy. Then I see on my little camera screen a photo that I think is BRILLIANT, one that should definitely be submitted for the World Press Photo, I come home and it’s blurry. Or crooked. Or just not as strong as I thought. Well folks, there is now hope.

And that hope is called Laura Vink. A 29-year-old photographer from Rosmalen who has one of the best jobs in the world. She traveled to more than thirty countries after her graduation, took her camera everywhere, and wrote the book Travel Photography – explore discover capture, with 376 pages the thickest Dutch-language book on travel photography. Believe me: this woman has the knowledge, and how nice, she loves to share it with us.

7 simple tips to take envy-inducing pictures while traveling:

1. Set off early

“Don’t sleep in every day, but also get out of bed early every now and then. Because the sun is lower in the sky, the light has a beautiful glow and is less harsh. This results in much prettier pictures, especially for landscapes and nature photos, than when you photograph around noon. And also nice: at the tourist hotspots, there aren’t yet crowds of people walking through your shot.”

2. Don’t photograph too much in one shot

“With all the new impressions, you probably find everything amazing and beautiful quickly. A common mistake is to want to cram all of that into one photo. Too much makes the image cluttered and it becomes unclear what the photo is about. By showing less in the frame, you often reveal more.”

3. Think about composition

“By consciously thinking about composition, you can make a photo much more engaging. Don’t place the subject (or the horizon) right in the middle, but rather next to it. Add more depth to the image by photographing a beautiful view with something in the foreground, like branches or flowers.”

4. Use postcards as inspiration

“When you arrive at your destination, dive into the local tourist shop and scan the rack of postcards. This gives you a quick overview of the tourist highlights and immediately provides inspiration for your own photos. You might discover a creative composition, an interesting angle, or see the advantage of photographing in the evening.‘

5. Get to know your camera

“No one praises Van Gogh or Rembrandt for the fantastic brushes they used. Just as the camera is not responsible for the final result. For well-exposed and sharp photos, it’s important that you know your camera well. Therefore, delve into the possibilities of the device before you leave. In which situation do you photograph best in which mode? If you know how to set the camera correctly, it doesn’t always matter whether you’re photographing with a DSLR, compact camera, or phone.”

 6. Tell a story with your photos

“By telling a story in your photos, you take the viewer along. For example, is a mountain climb on the agenda? Then don’t just take a photo at the top, but also of the way there. A second way to tell a story is to combine a wide shot with some detail shots. It works very well if you place these photos together in one or two photos in the photo album.”

7. Make a selection

“Without a good selection, your most beautiful travel photos drown among the mediocre examples and the ordinary snapshots. Therefore, make a conscious selection of what you photograph and which photos you present. No one in your family or friends is eager to look at six hundred pieces one by one. No, really not.”