Purpose of Travel Photography

Tell a Story

A good travel photograph should make a connection with the viewer, and tell you a story. It should have you keep finding interesting details in the photo for several months after you first view it. The skill is to entertain the viewer within the singular moment of the photo. Capturing the instant in time, and preserving it forever, can make it into something amazing. It can remind you of a certain location, a certain point in time, or a period of your life.

Show someone more than they see

Travel photography is not purely about taking yourself to beautiful locations. In fact, real skill comes from finding beauty in everyday life. I came across a quote, once, by Eliot Porter, an American nature photographer, which had stayed with me- “All the cycles of life are beautiful.” This quote rings true for the Travel Photographer. As you search for the “special parts” in life around you, it all comes together when you push the camera shutter and the photo reveals something special and spectacular.

Sharing the feelings of a moment

Another aspect of travel photography is to share the feelings that come with these incredible moments in time. It is one thing to be able to see these amazing things yourself, it is quite another to be able to share them with others.

Remind people, the beauty of our world

The final purpose, that I will talk about, is the ability to remind people of nature, and the natural world. In our current lives, it is easy to run out of time, to never find that moment where you stop and smell the roses. It is common to get caught in your own busy world and lose track of the outside world. Travel photography should remind you of that connection we all have to the land and coax you to stop ever so often, take a deep breath, and be aware of your senses. Travel photographs can also show both the strength and the fragility of nature- the volatile beauty of the wilderness and the earth that needs to be protected. The act of photography intensifies one’s visual experience.

What is NOT landscape or travel photography?

Landscape or travel photography is not photojournalism. It is not a documentary, it’s aim is not necessarily to capture scenes in their ordinary state. Most of the time, we actually wait for the conditions that transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Gears

Comfort and convenience in day-to-day use is an important factor while packing your gear for Travelling. When buying equipment, it is always advisable to consult other photographers and explore the reasons for their choices. Let us not carry whatever we have.

I use a Canon 5D Mark II & Mark IV. My choice of lenses for travel has been an affixed one and I seldom need to rethink. It is as follows:

•One wide-angle 17-40mm
•One mid zoom 24-105 mm
•One prime 50mm
•One zoom 100-400 mm (only if needed)

Camera Care

One can take care of the equipment in 2 ways, carry them in a good camera bag for protection, and never leave it unattended, inviting thieves in the process.