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!
