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TAKE BETTER
PHOTOGRAPHS
By Lester VLedesma
VACATION PHOTOS
contain some
of the happiest moments of our lives,
and they do belong up there with our
most valuable possessions. But there’s
a better way to document your travels
without resorting too much to the usual
“we were here” snaps. Think of yourself
as a photographer on a mission: to
capture the joys of your family and
friends on holiday, and create some
stunning travel photographs at the
same time.
1
Make time.
Here’s a fact that any
photographer should learn to
accept when traveling with kids: you
will miss some shots. To lessen the
chances of this happening, plan your
itinerary in such a way that it “follows”
the light: outdoor tours should be done
earlier in the morning or later in the
afternoon to maximize the use of the
“golden hours,” that time of day when
sunlight is at its warm and glowy —
from daybreak to shortly before 10am,
and a couple of hours before sundown.
Between 10am to 3pm when sunlight
is harsh and the mid-day heat is at its
worst, take photos indoors where the
light and temperature are better.
2
Watch out for photo ops.
Think
of your camera as a visual pen
that you can use to tell your holiday
story. A vacation always exposes you
to new people and experiences —
exactly the kind of things you want
to remember years from now. Trying
new food? Shoot it before you dig in!
Is the girlfriend bargaining hard for an
exotic souvenir? Take her picture while
she haggles her heart out! And don’t
be afraid to photograph the people
you meet on the road — shoot them
together with your family, then capture
them in their natural environment for
that unique character portrait. More
often than not, they’ll be flattered by
the attention you give them and they’ll
happily oblige — and you’ll have a truly
unique set of photos to show everyone
back home.
3
Use instant models.
Searching for
models to add a human element
to a scene? Look no further than your
travel companions — photograph them
in such a way that they’re part of a
scene. Your kids playing on the sand
could serve as a good foreground for
a beach setting, while a close-up shot
of native handicrafts might look more
interesting with your partner browsing
through the store shelves in the
background. The ideas for such images
are endless — and there are no model
fees required!
4
Focus. Compose. Click.
Three
words to remember before taking
any shot. Half-press the shutter to focus
on your subject. Compose the frame
quickly and then press the button all
the way through.
5
Enjoy yourself.
Vacations are
supposed to be all play, so loosen
up and try not to take the picture-taking
too seriously (unless, of course, it’s a
photo tour you’re after). Have fun with
your friends and family — and don’t
forget to be in the picture as well!
The shutterbug’s
credo: focus,
compose, then click!
PHOTO
GETTY IMAGES (BOTTOM)
PHOTO
LESTER LEDESMA (BOOKS)
Taking photos as a way of telling the story
of your trip helps you to quickly decide on
what shots to take.
09LKH Smile
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