When your The Good Life France Magazine arrives, what is the first thing you look at? If you’re anything like us, you flip through the pages from front to back, captivated by the photos! This is the essence of travel photography: to capture the character and allure of a place, and to convey your unique experience in a way that words simply cannot. Your photography should evoke the spirit of wanderlust, inviting others to share in the extraordinary moments of your travels.
But how do you achieve this in your photos? How do you move beyond merely documenting your travels and start capturing moments that make others yearn to be there with you?
Let’s explore the three Ts of travel photography: Time, Thirds, and Take a Step.
Time
Of the three, time is the most impactful factor for improving your travel photography. Photos taken in the middle of the day often appear harsh, uninviting, and lacking warmth. Many of you have heard of the “Golden Hours” of photography – the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset. These times are called “golden” because they result in beautiful, warm, and evocative photos. You can usually get great lighting up to 2 or 3 hours after sunrise and before sunset, but the hours around noon are reliably the worst time for lighting in your photos.
Consider the two photos (above and below), taken from the same perspective at different times of day. The view is stunning in both, but which one more effectively ignites your wanderlust to visit Eze?
We’re not saying that stunning photos can’t be taken between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., but if you want to improve your travel photos, try getting up early and taking a nap in the middle of the day, then staying out late! Getting up early also offers the advantage of smaller crowds and deserted streets. Eze, for example, is generally empty of crowds before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m., both are fantastic times for photography.
You may find an exception to these lighting guidelines on a completely overcast day. The cloud cover will generally provide soft, even lighting perfect for photos of people, flowers, and details. Panoramic scenes will seem rather dull with the flat gray sky and you lose the cozy warmth painted on by the sun during the golden hours.
Thirds
After time, the next biggest improvement to your travel photography comes from better composition using the rule of thirds. Every photo needs a subject or focal point, and where you place this focal point within the frame can significantly enhance the attractiveness of your photograph and draw the viewer’s gaze. Try to avoid placing your subject in the center of the frame – that’s often too static and boring.
Here’s an illustration of the rule of thirds in a photo (taken in Annecy). Imagine dividing your frame into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines. Placing your focal point at one of the intersections of these lines creates a more dynamic and pleasing composition. Also, remember that subjects in odd numbers, such as groups of three, are more visually appealing than even numbers.
You can also use the rule of thirds to decide where to place your horizon line. If the sky is more interesting, let it take up the top two-thirds of the frame. If the interest lies below the horizon or the sky is dull, make the sky only one-third of the photo. Always ensure your horizon line is level!
Hint: Most cameras have a feature to display the “Thirds” grid on your viewfinder or screen. This is a great tool for helping you to be conscious of your composition, horizon placement and level. For example, on the iPhone simply Open Settings, Select Camera, and Under Composition, turn on the Grid toggle.
Take a Step
Finally, our third T of travel photography: using your feet and taking a step (or three). Just take a few steps, turn around and look at the view behind you!
The above photo was taken in probably the most iconic scene in Colmar. The other beautiful capture (below) was taken in exactly the same location after simply turning around and looking at what was behind us.
One of the easiest ways to improve your photography is to un-anchor yourself from the spot where you first saw the stunning scene that prompted you to lift your camera. Sure, snap that initial shot, but then explore. See if there might be a better spot, one more interesting than the standard postcard view. You naturally took that first photo at eye level – what if you went lower or higher with your camera? Could the shot be framed by an overhanging tree or archway? Could taking a few steps capture additional elements that enhance the ambiance of the scene?
Don’t get so engrossed in the scene right in front of you. As part of taking a few steps, make sure you completely survey your surroundings. You may be pleasantly surprised by what you find.
When you next travel, try out the 3 T’s and enjoy the rave reviews of your travel photography.
