Travel and Scenic Photography 101
When you’re driving through the mountains somewhere, and you notice a car parked half off the road and some guy leaning to the left to avoid a branch with his Rebel 2000 camera in the act of focusing, you’ve met me. I do this because, to me, a trip isn’t fulfilling unless I’ve preserved that beauty for posterity. I’d like to share some of the techniques that make scenic photography such a wonderful artform - simple, yet elegant.
First off, equipment. As much as the cheapo disposable camera beckons, get real. These cameras have fisheye lenses which I call “spam” lenses. They cram everything in, with equal blurriness and boringness. Good photos are sharp, unless you use blur for artistic effect. Sharp comes from an adjustable lens. It can be a fixed lens or a zoom, but it must focus specially for each picture. Fixed lenses are limiting for scenic pictures, where to frame the shot you may need to move long distances. Imagine using a fixed lens on the Washington Monument, when you’re half a block away! Zooms get my vote, even though they often don’t have as wide an aperture, which limits their capabilities in low light situations.
Practically speaking, an SLR is the absolute best. They are lightweight, and can be used with top quality lenses. Film SLRs tend to be less expensive, but have the limitations of film, meaning you have to get it developed and so forth. Digital SLRs are VERY expensive, so for the budget conscious either go with a film SLR or a high quality basic digital camera. With digital, resolution is also a critical factor, so look at the specs before you buy.
OK, we’ve got the camera, emotions are running high, and that’s great, but not too great! Sometimes I find a spot that is so wonderful, I start shooting like a madman, only to be disappointed by the pictures. What happened? Emotions. When you experience a place, there are sounds, aromas and breezes as well as the visuals of the spot. Needless to say, you can’t photograph all of these elements, only the visual. When overwhelmed by the spectacle of a scenic hotspot, we are often overwhelmed by all of these elements.
So what to do? Look through your camera. The viewfinder does not lie (usually). Try to see what you are looking at as the finished picture. Most people perfunctorily take pictures, hoping that somehow the shot will come out great. If you wonder how the pictures came out when you are on the way to the drug store to get them, you’re doing something wrong. At the moment you click the pic, you should know exactly what you will get. (Of course with digital, that’s not a trick!).
Now, I was a tad dishonest in saying that you can’t capture all of the elements of a scene. You can hint at them. For starters, motion. Yes, even in a still picture, there is motion. Something happened before, during and after your picture. In a mountain vista scene, you may find something that hints at motion, whether it be a branch of a tree that has been swaying in the breeze, or a river flowing through the valley below. These add a sense of motion.
Then there’s the “rule of thirds.” When you place the main object of the picture smack-dab in the middle, it is static and boring. Place it one third of the way from either side, and you IMPLY motion. Put the horizon in a landscape photo a third of the way up or down, not across the middle.
Remember, when a person looks at a picture, their eyes move. You want to frame your photo to help that movement. If you can find some lines in the scene, such as a skyline, cloud formation, path through the forest, etcetera, use it interestingly, and with the rule of thirds to draw your viewer’s eyes into the picture.
Avoid “summit syndrome.” You get to the top of Mount Washington and shoot the majestic vista. Great. The pictures come out … boring! How? No PERSPECTIVE. Big vistas will be flat unless you have an object in the foreground, such as a rock or a tree, to give them perspective. Then the eye really grasps how big this scene is. People enjoying the view is a real winner, because the viewer may identify with their emotions, giving the image real impact.
Cheese! Yes, you do have to take the family photos. It’s obligatory. But when you do, make sure that they show the LOCATION of the photo. Otherwise, you might as well do it on your driveway. Frame the scene in context, with landmarks as part of the picture. Find a way to tell as story in the picture, such as little Sara climbing up the rocks by the waterfall.
Finally, any element in the picture that hints at more senses than just the visual will make it remarkable. Actor headshots for example, tell a story about the subject. You can almost hear them saying their next lines. If you photograph a garden, the viewer may experience the aroma of the flowers. A tourist street with an accordion player on the corner may have your amazed friends whistling “Dixie.”
In summation, picture taking on travel is recording the experience in a satisfying way. Use motion, perspective, sensory, storytelling and so forth, to bring your photos to life. Oh, and needless to say, make your job easy and go to great places! See you at the overlook!
Seth Lutnick is a photographer, composer, and performer. He has taken thousands of scenic photos, recorded two albums of original music, and appeared on stage, TV and film. Visit his website - www.getitdone.biz - for more detailed plans on photography, music, health and education, and extensive product links for the resources to fulfill your goals.
-
Technical DataStorage Floppy Drive / TypeNoneTechnical DataDisplay (Projector) / TypeLCD displayTechnical DataDisplay (Projector) / Diagonal Sizein2.8Technical DataDisplay (Projector) / TechnologyTFT active matrixTechnical DataVideo Input / TypeDigital cameraTechnical DataVideo Input / Digital Video FormatQuickTimeTechnical DataAudio Input / TypeMicrophoneTechnical DataDimensions & Weight / Widthcm9.5Technical DataDimensions & Weight / Depthcm1.7Technical DataDimensions & Weight / Heightcm6Technical DataDimensions & Weight / Weightg128Technical DataMiscellaneous / ColourRedTechnical DataFlash Memory / Form FactorIntegratedTechnical DataFlash Memory / Storage CapacityMB10.8Technical DataVideo Input / Still Image FormatJPEGTechnical DataVideo Input / Light SensitivityISO 800Technical DataOptical Sensor / Optical Sensor TypeCCDTechnical DataHeader / Product LineCasio EXILIM CARDTechnical DataHeader / ModelEX-S880Technical DataHeader / ManufacturerCasio ComputerTechnical DataVideo Input / Digital Zoom4Technical DataHeader / Packaged Quantity1Technical DataAudio Input / Microphone Operation ModeMonoTechnical DataLens System / TypeZoom lensTechnical DataLens System / Lens ApertureF/2.7-5.2Technical DataLens System / Min Focal Lengthmm6.2Technical DataLens System / Max Focal Lengthmm18.6Technical DataCamera Flash / TypeBuilt-in flashTechnical DataLens System / Optical Zoom3Technical DataVideo Input / Shooting ModesFrame movie modeTechnical DataDisplay (Projector) / Display Form FactorBuilt-inTechnical DataCamera Flash / Red Eye ReductionBuilt-inTechnical DataOptical Sensor / Sensor ResolutionMegapixel8.1Technical DataDigital Camera / Digital Camera TypeCompactTechnical DataDigital Camera / Supported Flash MemorySD Memory CardTechnical DataBattery / Battery Form FactorManufacturer specificTechnical DataBattery / Manufacturer Battery NameCasio NP-20Technical DataVideo Input / ISO (Max)1600
Amazon Price: ?217.64
Customer Review: ZX too fragile
I recently had a problem with a Casio EX-Z70 which had to be returned for repair, which cost ?100. The display cover was cracked, but soon after the camera failed completely, but wasn’t covered by warranty. It’s a pity, because I want another camera and the speed of operation is impressive so I’ll have to take my chances on another make.
Customer Review: Absolute Let Down
I had this camera for less than two weeks and someone dropped it causing the lens to keep protruding outwards. The camera can not take any sort of shock without breaking. I inquired about repair and found out I would need a whole new lens costing ?125 which is ?15 short of what I paid for it in the first place. I have now been warned that casio do not sell parts individually and never drop their prices therefore this product is quite a risk as at some time or another, the camera will be dropped. My advise is stay away and get the new olympus that the kid throws around the place and still works!
Continue …
Amazon Price: ?24.40
Customer Review: Simple and slick
This is a simple leather case for the popular W and T series, the cameras are so small that this should make them more noticeable in your pocket (so there are less panic moments when you think it may have dropped out). The T and W series have some pretty high spec cameras in the range (no single figures formegapixels here, well, some maybe!). Okay - so there’s no nifty compartments for memory cards, but who needs that if you’ve slipped in a 8GB beasty!?! But lets face it - you’ve stumbled across this on Amazon because of it’s name! 
Continue …
List Price: ?18.00
Amazon Price: ?13.99
Customer Review: only relevant for the usage with the canon digital ixus 960is or a simmilarly sized camera
I was not happy with this product, as it did not fit my camera nicely. I took it back to jessops to try the 5 and 30 cases, but they were not giving me a good fit either. Another thing to mention is that the case adds bulk to the camera itself; it makes it 1.8 cms thicker. Also, the way to close the case is by a magnet flap? I mean, that doesnt seem right to me considering the security of my camera, or even the safty, in fact. on the lighter side, the product is very nice to look at, and was of good quality; the suade detailing and soft leather give a lovely finish. I would recomend going into a shop that sells this case and try it out, before you buy it. I paid a full ?25 for this case in jessops, as it was the only one that fitted my camera - i neede immediate protection. I intend to refund my case and buy the Canon DCC-70 Soft Leather Case from amazon for ?12, for a gauranteed fit. I would suggest that people who have a canon Digital IXUS 700, 750, 800, 850 IS,860 IS, 900Ti or 960 IS camera, should buy the DCC-70 case, instead of this one. I hope this review has helped you.
Customer Review: Really like this case with my F31fd!
Just to second the other review here - bought this for my F31fd and it is a perfect fit. The dimensions seem just right, the camera slides in and out easily but the case isn’t baggy in any way. It is nicely put together from soft leather and matches the quality feel of the camera very well. I particularly like the magnet to hold the flap shut, you can open the case and slide the camera out noiselessly without the ‘rasping’ you get with velcro. Great for situations where you don’t want the world to know you are getting ready to shoot!
Continue …
30GB HDD with 2.1 megapixel CCD 
Amazon Price: ?22.54 
You will receive one Power Rechargeable Battery. This Rechargeable Battery 100% fits and is properly matching !
You will receive one Power Rechargeable Battery. This Rechargeable Battery 100% fits and is properly matching !
Olympus has released updated firmware for the Zuiko Digital ED 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 SWD lens, announced in October 2007. The update offers improved focusing precision on distant subjects when using continuous autofocus mode. Firmware updates are downloaded through Olympus Master software.