Sunday 11 March 2007

10 Tips for Travel Photography

Once upon a time, a lone traveler wound his way through the beautiful paths of an exotic location. He longed for something, something with which he could make those breathtaking scenes immortal, until he discovered – the camera.


This was the beginning of a long romance between a traveler and his camera – the Travel Photographer.



He practiced and practiced, discovering images never seen by the common man. Then he thought, ‘Why not share these experiences so that many more like me can gain knowledge from my experiences?’

What followed was a precious collection of ten Travel photography hints and tips, which were his simple tools to that winning picture.

They are:


1. Lighting: The term Photo means light. Thus an image can be captured only when there is an optimum level of light reflected on the object to be photographed. Once there is a good source of light, the picture can bring out amazing results.

2. Composition: This is the art of knowing what to include in the frame and how to. You can be as creative as possible, but the image within the frame of the picture must attract attention. An eye for detail will do the trick.

3. Motion Blur: Many a times, while traveling in a bus or car, an image is made, but you just cannot decipher what it contains, since it is sooo blurr! There is a solution to that too – simply increase the shutter speed if you have an SLR(Single Lens Reflex) or use a faster speed film(400ISO) for film cameras.

4. Memory: For the digitally savvy, remember to carry along many memory cards and transfer chords (USB chords), a good number of roles if analogue.

5. Alternative camera: This is very important for adventure enthusiasts. Small, one time use cameras for adventurous trips like glacier climbing, river rafting, etc. prove to be reliable even where your latest state of the art camera would fail.

6. Tripods: They work like an extra, extendable pair of hands. You can attach your camera to it for basic shots for a complete family picture or explore the wonders of night photography in your favourite travel destination. Tripods come in handy the most for telephoto shots.

7. Click through glass: For SLR cameras, it is wise to use a polarizing filter if one is taking a picture of an object through a glass door. If shooting with a compact camera, stand sideways to avoid getting a big bright white circle (bounce of camera flash light) as your picture!

8. Filters: Use of yellow filters on a very sunny day can give you great detail and deep tones of a beautiful sky.

9. When taking photographs of people, come in close for a tight shot unless the main focus is the background. Don’t make the mistake of taking pictures of people who are 15 feet away, due to which they cannot even be recognized!

10. X- Ray: For air travelers, get your films hand-inspected as you go through security. Many a times, exposure to x-ray can damage your films.

But most of all, always carry your camera and keep practicing, just like the lone traveler did and you will get a ticket into the magical world of travel photography!

Ladakh A Kingdom in the Sky


Ladakh
Mystic Land…
At an average altitude of over 11,000 ft Ladakh (literally - "Land of High Passes"), nestling in the Himalayas, is a place like no other. Its raw beauty, unique people and the prevalence of Buddhism in their culture brings many travelers to this mystical land.


Vast mountains studded with whitewashed monasteries, verdant valleys that surprise you with their splash of vivid green, incredibly blue skies, remote monasteries built on hilltops, air so clear you can literally see for miles…are some of the unique gifts bestowed to this land.


The People…The people of Ladakh are the land’s most unique asset. It has a mix of Buddhists and Muslims, with many monasteries and mosques in the region. Their friendly and peace loving nature is reflected in a harmonious lifestyle. A warm Jullay (welcome) is refreshing to the ears and they happily share a slice of their lives, brimming with hospitality and a cup of namkeen chai.


Living in isolation, this arid region opens up to the world for a mere 4 months in the year. Ladakh comes alive during the summer months from June to September. Its festivals in monasteries, during which the people come out with a unique style of dressing, coupled with fun filled archery and polo competitions in open arenas and a wide variety of cultural performances are some of the highlights in summer. During the other months, Ladakh is covered under a blanket of snow. Among the highest inhabited places in the world, life here flows with the seasons.


The Places…Ladakh is known for its monasteries, stupas and gompas along with its quaint but bustling market. The main Leh town is dominated by a nine-storey palace built by King Singge Namgyal, in the grand tradition of Tibetan architecture, which is said to have inspired the famous Potala in Lhasa built about half a century later. The towering Shanti Stupa a little away from the town area is a sight worth seeing. The beautiful monastery of Tiksey is situated about 20 km far from the town of Leh and ranks among the most important monasteries in Ladakh.

There are many more places to explore out of the main town in Leh. Lamayuru, Kargil, Drass and Zanskar are a must see for every visitor. If the highest road pass in the world behind Leh, the Khardung La, is open, one can have the privilege of experiencing its vivid beauty.


Getting There...Flying into Leh airport, which takes two hours from Jammu, the cold desert land, over the magnificent Himalayas is a beautiful and scary experience at once. Even though one can drive to Leh form the Srinagar- Kargil route, it is much too tiring and long (two days) a route and does not give you the exclusive opportunity of an aerial view of Ladakh.

After being immersed in the virgin beauty of Ladakh, it is the toughest thing to bid farewell to this tiny kingdom in the sky. The memories cannot be replaced for eternity.