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A lot of people collect mementoes and tokens when they travel. They are a reminder of time well spent in another country. Souvenirs, beach pebbles, train tickets, restaurant receipts and more make for charming travel mementoes. At times, however, the best form of travel remembrance is through photography. 

It is said that a picture speaks a thousand words. Photography has the ability to capture nostalgic moments you’ll never want to forget. Photography is capable of depicting raw emotion, captivating timelines and astonishing locations. There’s a lot to learn about travel photography. And why should you? 

Becoming skilled and confident in the art of travel photography will benefit you in many ways. First of all, travel photography enables you to relive your adventures. From visiting the beach to posing in front of a national monument, taking travel pictures is excellent for reviving memories. Travel photography significantly broadens your mind. Indeed, being mindful about new attractions, people and undiscovered gems worth snapping pictures of is an experience in itself. 

Photography entails mindfulness, attentiveness and a fresh perspective with each and every photo taken. These values are useful not only when taking travel pics but also in other parts of life. Travel photography also helps you be fulfilled in the joy of discovery and exploration. To take travel pictures is to put in effort in seeing new, beautiful places you’re going to want to cherish. 

Now that you’re convinced about coming to gorgeous Malta, you’ll need to be familiar with the how-tos. Read on to find out more how to pictures worth bragging about. 

Be Camera Confident 

The most important rule about photography is simple. You do not need an expensive camera to take fantastic photographs. Indeed, it’s not about getting your hands on the latest camera release or advanced technology at all. Some of the best pictures that have been taken were shot using a smartphone. 

That being said, it’s important to keep in mind that no matter if you decide to take pictures with a 2000 euro professional camera or a dated smartphone, the key thing to do is to get familiar with your device. Spend some time learning about your device’s camera-taking features, and all the various ways you can utilise it to end up with the best photos possible. 

Being aware of all the technical features and capabilities your camera has will speed up the process entirely. Sometimes, you’ll find your self in a situation where capturing the right moment entirely depends on being aware of it rapidly and pressing the shutter release button in a second. This takes a lot of practise time to achieve, but once you do manage to learn how to be quick with taking photos, your photography confidence will definitely be boosted significantly. 

Scout for Photography!

Travelling around aimlessly and capturing pictures in a spontaneous way has its benefits – you can end up with very free and uninhibited pictures of your travel buddies and surroundings. However, if you really want to get the best pictures possible, scouting for locations beforehand will be very useful. 

Finding out about the nicest places you’d like to take pictures of before actually going there will give you an indication of the things you need to do to get the best possible photo result. This means being aware of the ideal time to visit a place, the normal amount of people you should expect to be there and more. A great way of doing so is by getting your hands on some travel guideline books about your destination. You could also roam the internet for plenty of articles that describe the ideal situations to take pictures in when abroad. Also, talking to friends or family members who have been to the place you’re about to visit is great for getting a raw, unbiased opinion.

Get Up Early and Stay Out Late 

We’ve all stumbled upon a picture of an utterly unspecial location that got to look a hundred times better just because a photographer took a picture of it at sunrise. There is something absolutely special about capturing a view at the start of a new day, when a summer’s sky is filled with soft and warm colours that simply take your breath away. Taking pictures of typical places tourists flock to when on holiday will definitely have you end up with some pretty amazing images that stand out. Moreover, it will also mean avoiding large queues, overly populated attractions that can be the most exhausting part of travelling. Spare yourself the extra time and hassle it takes to move through crowds just to get a decent picture.

After all, light is also the very key ingredient to creating a photo – and a good one too! Sunrises and even sunsets are very helpful in this aspect. Contrastingly, staying out late will also provide you with some extraordinary pictures. You either take pictures in a rural area where the stars shine ever so brightly, or else of lively locals at a late-night bar on a hot city night.

Street Photography

Each and every city and town has its own look and feel. They have their own distinctive setting, architecture, skyline, entertainment area and more. To get the best possible pictures, you might want to shoot a famous local attraction, a particular kind of food, dress or even locals at times. There’s always at least one thing that is unique. When covering a town or city, even a small village, you need to do one basic but crucial thing. 

Capture the feel of a place. This is usually achieved by taking a wide shot that shows the setting, skyline, or other views that gives a feeling for the whole. These may include striking landmarks that the place is famous for any noteworthy ways of life of its inhabitants and more. For the cityscapes and wide shots, as well as for the landmarks, it’s a good idea to check out the postcard racks at kiosks. They will quickly give you an idea of where the best views are and what is considered well-known enough to warrant a postcard – or a picture that might make you more popular once shared on social media.

Remember the Photography Rule of Thirds 

One of the most basic key concepts of photography is the Rule of Thirds. It can be applied to any subject to improve the composition and balance in of your image. Learning to apply the rule of thirds in your personal photography can mark the  difference between an amateur photo and a professionally taken image, to put it frankly.  Essentially, the rule of thirds involves mentally dividing up your image using 2 horizontal lines and 2 vertical lines. You then position the important elements in your scene along those lines, or at the points where they meet. The aim is to create an off-centre composition that is more pleasing to the eye and looks more natural than one where the subject is placed right in the middle of the frame. It also encourages you to make creative use of negative space,  also known as the empty areas around your subject.

Use Different Angles

The thing about travel photography is that it can be difficult to take unique-looking photos. This is because visiting popular places means that hundreds of other photographers have taken a photo of the same view before you. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t get creative and make your travel photography stand out!

Learn to view the world around you from a different perspective. Make use of new, strange angles that don’t come to mind that quickly. When finding the photography subject, you can take a step back, to the side, kneel on the ground, walk back in a corner, zoom in using just your body etc. Get creative and listen to what your mind is telling you what you should be doing when it comes to finding new angles. A fresh point of view is never not welcomed with impressed feedback in photography. 

Once you have taken your pictures, make your edits yours. Make use of strange colours that don’t necessarily fit with the setting, edit in peculiar things and make a photo about you using the various photo editing applications out there. All of this will help you give your photos a little bit of a special twist. 

Stay Alert for the Details

Before you take a shot, have a quick glance around to make sure you’re aware of all the details you’d like to include in the frame. Is there any weird ornament placed on a coffee shops’ table? Is there a brave bird sitting randomly in a crowded spot? Make sure you don’t miss out on these little things!

Balance Is Key 

When we’re on holiday, we love to take photographs of the people we travel with for long-lasting memories. A great way of incorporating a little bit of character of the place you’re visiting is to make sure there is a balance in your pictures. That is, a balance between your loved ones and the surrounding views in the picture. 

When you’re photographing the people you’re travelling with, make sure that you don’t end up with a hundred pictures of a person you easily could have taken at home. Make sure to focus on the background too. 

Back It Up!

As a photographer, the most important thing you need to do that doesn’t rely solely upon your photo taking skills is in fact preparation. The worst thing that can happen to you when you’re planning a photography session is to run out of something or to forget to pack something else. Sure, taking travel pictures simply for a tangible form of memories isn’t the same as being the official wedding photographer of a prestigious celebrity back home. However, there’s always going to be something you can do to avoid frustrating situations. 

When on a trip always make sure that you take with you these life-saving items: extra batteries, an extra charger, an extra memory cards or two, an external hard drive as well as a comfortable bag to carry everything in.

Pack Light

That brings me to my next point: pack light. Making sure you’ve got with you all of the crucial items mentioned above is important. However, if you want to prioritise taking heaps of pictures when on holiday, you need to be comfortable. Otherwise, a heavy bag might easily get in the way of your focus, attention, comfort and camera’s positions in your hands. 

Admittedly, packing light for a holiday can be a bit challenging. This is because you’ll want to make sure you have simply everything you need for the maximum enjoyment and security for the duration of your holiday.  However, packing lightly will make your overall stay more enjoyable when you’re out and about. Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes as well. 

Patience is Everything

It takes time to take impressive photography. Spending hours on a single picture when on holiday is not exactly easy to do, but greatness is never achieved in a few seconds either. As with any skill the more you keep at it, the faster you’ll improve. Practice taking photos as much as you can! You’ll eventually start to learn and see what works in comparison with what doesn’t. Don’t give up easily either. As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day. 

Concluding Remarks 

Taking pictures is all about making memories. When you’re not making memories with your friends and family by taking amazing travel pictures, make them at a luxurious, relaxing and rejuvenating accommodation.

At 1926 Hotel & Spa, we guarantee enjoyment, comfort, relaxation and luxury. Our various facilities offered will leave you wanting to come back for more.