Travel Photography Tips

One of my favorite things about traveling is taking photographs of new places. No matter where I travel these are a few tips I use when taking photos.

View of Los Angeles during sunset [Film]

Seattle cityscape during sunset [Digital]

San Francisco Streets shortly after sunrise [iPhone]

1. Wake up early, Stay out late

Whenever I travel I like to wake up early to explore the city while it's still sleeping and I like to stay up late to experience the nightlife. In the morning most places aren't as crowded and at night big cities come alive. Natural light changes throughout the day and the short period after sunrise and after sunset, known as "golden hour", is my favorite time to take photographs. During golden hour the light is soft and warm, unlike the afternoon when the light is usually the most harsh. Lighting can make a huge difference in your photography!

Women in Kimono in Kyoto [Film]

Busy shopping streets in Osaka [Film]

People watching at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) [Film]

Downtown Seattle [iPhone]

2. Use People

Take a tip from street photography and don't be afraid of strangers in your photos. Use people, buildings, and objects in your photography to tell a story. While traveling you come across all sorts of new people and places. I'm not brave enough to go up to a stranger to ask if I can take their picture. But if possible, I like to capture small moments with strangers in the frame to help set up a mood and to add interest to an image.

Golden Gate Bridge [Digital]

Multnomah Falls  [Digital]

View of Lake Hollywood from Cahuenga Peak [Film]

3. Perspective

Places like Las Vegas, NV have beautiful desert landscapes surrounding the big city. Las Vegas is surrounded by the Mojave Desert, where you can see some amazing landscapes with different types of cacti, joshua trees, sand dunes, and animals. When taking photos of the desert or any landscape you want to make sure to consider composition and perspective. If possible, try to get a view from a different angle or height.  A photo of a cityscape or landscape can become more interesting with added depth. Consider the foreground, middle ground, and background of the image. Lowering your viewpoint and moving to the left or right to change your composition are easy ways to add depth to your image.

Long Exposure taken at El Matador State Beach [Digital]

4. Use a Tripod

Carrying a large tripod around isn't always practical. But if you mainly use your phone or compact camera to take photographs, there are a variety of small, compact tripods on the market. Tripods are especially great when taking photographs at night, when you might want to slow down your shutter speed. A tripod would work great if you are trying to capture city lights at night, like the Las Vegas Strip. A tripod allows you to set your camera position, so you can spend some time setting up your composition. And it also allows you to play with your camera settings.

5. The Best Camera is the one You Have

You don't need a fancy camera to take great photos while traveling. My DSLR is heavy and bulky, and I have gone on trips where the main camera I use is my iPhone. Lately, I've been shooting more film on a camera that is older than I am! Throughout this post I shared whether a photo was digital, iPhone, or film. What I typically use to take photos:

• For my iPhone I like to use a few apps to edit my photos including: VSCO and Snapseed
• For photos I take on my DSLR I use a Canon 6D with a 50mm f/1.4 and edit my photos on Lightroom. 
• For film I typically use my Canon AE-1 and 50mm f/1.8 lens and I prefer Kodak Portra 400 film.  

Whichever camera you use, take the time to learn how to use it correctly and take advantage of any features it may have. 

I hope these tips help you out on your next trip! With summer approaching, check out these great Las Vegas Deals for your next trip! Living in Los Angeles has allowed me to make multiple trips to Las Vegas and there's always something to see and do, from The Strip to the dessert! 

Japan Film & Thoughts on Traveling (Solo) and other Musings

I have been wanting to go to Japan for ages. So on a whim, I decided this year I would go. I haven't traveled out of the country for almost three years (!!!). I couldn't find anyone to accompany me, so I traveled to Japan solo...and so ensued another solo travel adventure. I began my trip in Tokyo and then made my way to Nara, Kyoto, Mount Koya, and Osaka. I'm sharing a few of my favorite shots that I took on film. I was hoping to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom, but I was a bit too early and the weather was a bit too cold. That didn't take away from the beauty of the country or my experience. There is so much to see, do, and experience in Japan that I'll just have to go back.

This wasn't my first time traveling solo. My first time was right after I graduated from college and I went off to Europe for 5 weeks. That was a scary, amazing, and an insightful experience that pushed me out of my comfort zone in so many ways. But when I came back from that trip, I was forced to face the "real" world after graduation. I had no job. I came back to a post-grad slump. I debated with myself about going back to school. I worked a job that I didn't love. I quit my job. Started a new job. Figured out new career goals. Dated - a lot. Had my heart bruised. I traveled more (domestically). I moved back to Orange County. I made new friends. I've been growing. 

So traveling solo this time wasn't as anxiety inducing. I was excited and ready to see what this new country had in store for me. I arrived in Japan and fell in love with the country instantly. The people, the culture, the food. Because I grew up and went to school in predominately Asian areas my whole life, not too many things were shocking. I experienced some culture shock - the language barrier was a huge one. But nothing too difficult to overcome. I met some awesome people in Japan. Some of the best conversations I've had have been with strangers (who later become friends). I don't think I'll ever forget those drunken nights talking about life, travel, dating, photography, friends, our homes. Amazing how quickly strangers can connect with each other. 

Traveling solo has been one of the most rewarding decisions I've made. One thing that I hear from people when I tell them I'm traveling alone is that they aren't sure they could do that because they enjoy sharing the experience with someone else. Well, I can say I've shared a lot of experiences with a lot of strangers and new friends. And honestly, if I wait for people to travel with me I would have probably not traveled out of the country by now. Traveling solo is a unique experience, and I'm glad to be able to do so. Travel is a different experience for everyone. I travel to experience new cultures, meet new people, and ultimately experience humanity. A lot of conversations I had with people I met were about how when you come back home nothing has changed. The beauty of travel is that all your titles and who you "are" is stripped away. While I agreed with everyone that things are the same when you come back home, I mentioned that while things may be the same...you aren't. Travel changes you in a way that's hard to describe. Since returning, I've met up with a few friends to catch up and talk about my travels. And although things were the "same" when I returned home, I realized that I wasn't. And while that can be frustrating, to have changed so much while everything around you is the same, I've come to appreciate where I am and the opportunities I've been able to take. I don't travel to escape. I always return home with a fresh perspective on my current situation in life. I'm thankful to have friends and family that care about me back home. 

My Vantage Point

I recently learned about a new start up camera company called Light. I love photography as a way to capture memories and to share my perspective, but carrying around a DSLR isn't always possible or practical. Light's L16 Camera allows users to have the power and quality of a DSLR in their pocket.

Recently I was challenged to share my vantage point from a favorite image of mine. I chose a recent image I took while in San Francisco in the SOMA neighborhood. I took a short walk to a coffee shop by our hotel and had to stop to admire the way the morning light was hitting the buildings. 

I typically find myself stopping and admiring my surroundings and wanting to capture the scene. I didn't have my camera with me, but I did have my iPhone. With a tray full of coffee in one hand and my iPhone in the other I positioned myself to compose the shot to my liking. The compact size and ease of taking a photo on the iPhone allowed me to take this photo while on a quick coffee run. In this particular photo I wanted to capture a scene on the street - the diffused and refracted light from surrounding buildings and the juxtaposition of nature in an urban landscape. 

I've heard that the best camera is the one that's with you, and I think that's an important concept in photography. I think finding my own unique vantage point, while using different mediums and cameras, has been a small step toward learning more and improving my own photography. 

In Bloom

Spring is here! Of course, I live in Southern California so that doesn't really mean much. But I love the idea of "starting fresh" and I did experience my first real winter this year (snow isn't just in the mountains, apparently). I stopped by Trader Joe's the other day and saw there were ranunculus in season, and I couldn't help myself. I can't resist photographing flowers against dark backgrounds, I just like the moody contrast.

These flowers were just a small little pick me up, and a small reminder that spring is in the air. I've been grappling with a lot of things in my life lately, and I'm using this new season as a time to reflect and focus on myself. 

So - hello, spring. Let's see what this new season has in store for me. 

Museum Days

Oh hello blog, it's been a long while. A lot has happened since my last post and trip to Seattle. You would think I'd have a post lined up about my travels since then: Chicago, Wisconsin (long story), and Washington, DC...but instead I have a post about a place I can't seem to get enough of: Downtown Los Angeles. This is my small step back into blogging and photography. I had a few rolls of film I finally got developed, with a few photos from a day I went to the Broad and explored the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The photos from the Natural History Museum were taken on my iPhone because I tried to shoot medium format at the museum, but I'm apparently terrible at manual focus. 

I've passed by the Walt Disney Concert Hall numerous times, but I never really took the time to explore it. There's a small garden a top the stairs, and there's some great views of Grand Ave. I'm itching to see the LA Philharmonic perform there, I eagerly check my emails every Tuesday for student rush tickets.


I visited the Natural History Museum in New York last winter, and the Natural History Museum in DC recently. I realized I hadn't visited the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles since I was in middle school, so I decided to take a visit. I really enjoyed the "Becoming Los Angeles" Exhibit and getting to learn a little bit more about the history, geography, and cultural phenomenons that helped shape the city. The Nature Lab was a cool little room too, it's geared more towards kids, but it has interesting facts about the microclimates surrounding L.A, and a neat little nature garden.

I have a few ideas lined up to help me get back into photography and blogging, but let's see if I actually get around to executing them. I've started using a planner again, and I've gotten into the habit of journaling regularly, so that's taken place of blogging. But I'm itching to be more creative, so let's take another go at this.

Catch A Falling Star and Put it in Your Pocket

Lately, my bones have been aching for adventure. Maybe it's because I'm stuck at work indoors most of the week. Earlier this week I looked up the weather for Friday night and was excited to see clear skies in the forecast. So after I got off work Friday night around 10pm, I drove up to Malibu's El Matador State Beach just to star gaze and catch a glimpse of the milky way.

Of course I had to take photos of some star trails! This was only about 30 minutes of trails because the tide starting getting too high for us to stay. Funny how much my definition of a fun Friday night has changed since college.

Seattle Love

One morning, a few weeks ago, my sister and I were feeling down about recent events in our lives. My sister started talking about taking a trip, and I remembered seeing an email from Alaska Airlines for a 24 hour airline sale that morning...and before you know it we booked our tickets for a weekend trip to Seattle. Later that night I told my brother, and he joined too - sibling trip to Seattle! I was in Portland, Oregon a few months ago in May and I loved it, so I was ecstatic to have the chance to visit the Pacific Northwest again. 

Our first day was spent doing typical tourist things. We took a ferry to Bainbridge Island to grab a late brunch. We took a walk around the famous Pike Place Market, visited the Central Library, and went to the top of the Space Needle to see the sunset. While waiting for our time to get up to the Space Needle we stumbled upon a free concert (with free snacks!). Not bad, Seattle.

Feeling Tiny

The other night I decided to drive up to the Angeles National Forest with my best friend (and his dog) to watch the Perseid Meteor Shower. We tried to watch it a few years ago, but it was cloudy. This night was perfect. I am so intrigued by astrophotography, so I decided to try my hand at it - especially since I had enough time to prepare.

I failed at photographing any meteors, but I did see a good amount in the sky. Fun fact, that streak in my photo is a satellite. 

Behind the mountains is the lovely, bright city of Los Angeles.

I also decided it was the perfect time to try out photographing star trails! I set up my camera and let it take multiple long exposures over a span of 1.5 hours. I wish I had been a little more patient and had taken more photos. But it's not too bad for my first attempt, I definitely want to try taking more. 

Laying down (on a very uncomfortable log) and staring at the stars felt surreal. I love places that make me feel tiny. They remind me how small my problems are. Life hasn't been easy for me lately. I'm in my twenties and I'm confused.

Staring up at the sky that night and staring at the vast amount of stars with my best friend - I couldn't help but feel so incredibly lucky for the life I have and for the people in it. The universe is so vast -- my little piece of the world is so small. My "problems" felt so tiny in comparison. I'm surrounded by love from my amazing friends and family, who have helped keep me grounded through everything going on in my life. I hate that I haven't been able to completely let go of my feelings of hurt and inadequacy, but that's why I'm writing this down. This is my catharsis. All I can do is keep growing and learning from these experiences, because "someday all this mess will make me laugh."

San Diego Daytrip

It's been a bit slow on this blog, but that's because I started a few weeks ago at my new job! And the few days off I have are spent out and about, since I'm stuck in doors for hours. But I finally decided to have a day to myself, which means going through some developed film! A few days ago Vanessa and I decided to take a day trip to San Diego to visit Kat and Missy! Took the opportunity to shoot some Medium Format and 35mm film.

We started the day with brunch at Snooze! Our waiter gave us a free sinful pancake, maybe cause Kat was in crutches? Haha, who knows. Brunch was delicious. Kat then took us to a beach in Del Mar, and took us on a tour of "ranch wives". San Diego is such a diverse place. After our visit with Kat, we headed more south to visit Missy.

Missy took us to North Park, a little hipster neighborhood for some ice cream. It's hard to tell from the photo, but we ordered a flight of ice cream! This changes everything.

We then got lost trying to go to Balboa Park. Most of the exhibits were closed, since it was a Monday, but it was nice to stroll around. The park reminded me a lot of the parks in Spain, especially in Barcelona with all the old architecture and buildings.

We ended the day with dinner at Seaport Village, and a very quick stroll (because it was cold and we didn't have proper jackets).