It\u2019s time to pack your bags, grab your sense of adventure and dust off that camera. We\u2019re about to spill the beans on the best tips and tricks to take your travel pics from blah to brilliant.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n We\u2019ve gathered all the best advice from our seasoned globetrotting photography experts, whether you\u2019re a casual snapper or an at-home expert. From capturing that once-in-a-lifetime wildlife shot, spontaneous street shenanigans and even some gear advice to help you curate the perfect camera bag, you\u2019ll find something for every photo goal.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n All that\u2019s left is to make sure your batteries are charged. Happy snapping!\u00a0<\/p>\n At Intrepid, we\u2019re lucky to have a whole bunch of talented photographers on staff who offered up their expertise. Meet Cliff Bielawski, digital creative manager; Leo Cheng, video coordinator; Mimi Field, video editor; Pat O\u2019Neill, senior designer; Vanessa Ondrade, graphic designer and Jamie Bosanko, design lead.\u00a0<\/p>\n When shooting wildlife<\/a>, the priority should be focusing on the animal\u2019s eyes. Other parts of the animal can go out of focus, but if the eyes are in focus, you\u2019ll have a much more engaging shot.\u00a0<\/p>\n Be patient with wildlife and try to look for more interesting angles. Take some time to observe them for a bit, learn their movements and try to anticipate where they will be \u2013 then frame your shot. Wait for them to come into the frame instead of constantly trying to follow them.\u00a0<\/p>\n Many of our trips offer opportunities to capture photos of wildlife. It\u2019s important to note that if you\u2019re aiming for close-ups of animals, a minimum focal length of 300mm is recommended. Anything beyond 400mm is fantastic for achieving even more detailed and captivating shots.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ever notice how sometimes photos taken on your phone don\u2019t look as big or impressive as they did in person? To emphasise scale, it\u2019s sometimes better not to shoot wide and instead use a longer lens. Shooting with a longer lens more closely represents how your eyes see the world and having parts of the subject cut off by the frame creates the illusion that it\u2019s too big to be captured by your camera.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Shoot through something in the foreground to frame your subject for a more interesting angle. This can also make a moment feel more intimate and special because it\u2019s a perspective that maybe no one else has seen before.\u00a0<\/p>\n You may have done extensive research before your trip and have a general impression of how a perfect angle can be achieved. Throw these images in your head away once you\u2019re there and have fun exploring your composition and placement to create a story you <\/em>want to share with your friends.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n While it\u2019s good to be prepared for everything, travelling light can be the difference between a great day out and a miserable time lugging a heavy bag. Before you head out for the day, think carefully about what you\u2019ll be shooting that day and which lens would be most appropriate. If you\u2019re not sure, try an all-round mid-range zoom lens to give yourself some versatility.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Don\u2019t bring your whole kit! Study your itinerary and make the call on what lenses you may need. If you\u2019re hiking in the Himalayas or the Andes, you\u2019ll need a wide lens so a 24-70mm would be ideal. If you\u2019re doing a safari, then you want to bring a 70-200mm or something even longer.\u00a0<\/p>\n These days, the cameras in phones are ridiculously good, and the shots you get out of them will be good enough for however you choose to use them. Just don\u2019t forget to shoot in landscape as well as portrait. These days people tend to blast away in portrait as that\u2019s how most images are shared online. Landscape gives you more versatility and just looks better.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n If you\u2019re using an iPhone to shoot pictures, shoot in Live mode. That way, you can choose different frames from the one shot in case the original looks bad.\u202fYou could also take short videos and pull stills from there, just try to hold your phone as steady as possible!\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n While there\u2019s a general rule of thumb for the ideal lighting or environment to take photos, this should not keep you from pressing the shutter. Don\u2019t let the rain, mist or low light stop you from capturing the photo you want. You may even create unique vibes for your photo from different weather conditions. Besides, photo editing apps are so accessible that you\u2019ll be amazed by what you can do with just a few clicks and slides from your phone.\u00a0<\/p>\n Capturing multiple shots may seem obvious, but it\u2019s often overlooked. The reality is that taking as many shots as possible in a single moment increases your chances of getting a good pose or capturing the perfect expression. This is particularly crucial in wildlife photography, where it\u2019s impossible to predict the next move of an animal. Having 20 images to choose from will better your chances of getting the shot you were hoping for.\u00a0<\/p>\n Don\u2019t be afraid to move around while shooting to get the perfect angle. Sometimes, getting a little higher up or closer to the ground is the difference between a good shot and a great shot. Just be absolutely certain you\u2019re being respectful of other people\u2019s space, the local culture and safety. No shot is worth it if you get run over or fall out of a tree!\u00a0<\/p>\n Know when you got the shot and move on. It doesn\u2019t mean you need to stop taking pictures of whatever you\u2019re shooting, but once you think you have a good shot move on to experimenting with more creative angles instead of wasting time getting a bunch more of the same.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n Get up early. The busiest cities in the world can be completely empty if you get up early enough. The light is also better at this time.\u00a0<\/p>\n Magic hour (about one hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset) is typically the best light, but midday light is ideal when shooting underwater. Water absorbs a lot of light, so the harsher sunlight penetrates more to better light your subject and create more vibrant colours. Try to position the sun behind or perpendicular to your subject for more dramatic shots with stronger contrast and visible light rays. Setting your white balance around 4500K will also help with capturing the blue colour of the water better.\u00a0<\/p>\n A cheap dry bag is better than no dry bag. If you ever find yourself airborne in a boat, a dry bag increases the chances of you still owning a camera when the boat lands. It\u2019s also a great place to store an extra shirt or towel so there is extra padding when you sandwich the bag between your body and the bottom of the boat as you hold on for dear life.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Pro tip: Fill the dry bag with a little water, clothes and detergent and shake it for easy laundry on the go.<\/p>\n Familiarise yourself with your camera to the extent that you could shoot with your eyes closed. This familiarity becomes crucial in capturing moments you don\u2019t want to miss, like the sudden appearance of a rare bird. In such instances, having the ability to swiftly turn on the camera and adjust the settings within a short three-second window can make all the difference.\u00a0<\/p>\n Travelling somewhere hot and humid? Be careful of moisture! While it won\u2019t necessarily damage your gear, there\u2019s nothing worse than opening your camera bag and discovering you\u2019ve missed the shot because your lens was fogged up from the humidity. This can be easily avoided by putting a couple of small silica gel packs in your camera bag to absorb excess moisture.\u00a0<\/p>\n If you\u2019re on a budget and want to take wildlife photos, consider buying a camera with an APS-C or Micro 4\/3 sensor. These cameras introduce a crop factor on the lenses they use which extends the range. A 400mm lens on a Micro 4\/3 camera can be the equivalent of 800mm. Lenses for these cameras are often smaller and more affordable than full frame.\u00a0<\/p>\nMeet the experts<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/mimi_crop.jpg\")
<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>Get wild with wildlife\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
All about eyes \u2013 Cliff\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Patience is a virtue \u2013 Cliff\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n
<\/figure>\n<\/figure> Get up close and personal (from a distance) \u2013 Mimi\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Time to get framed\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Bigger is better \u2013 Cliff\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Get a new perspective \u2013 Cliff\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Tell your own tales \u2013 Leo\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n
How to travel like an expert\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Less is more \u2013 Jamie\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Travel as lightly as possible \u2013 Pat\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Don\u2019t say phooey to your phone\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Don\u2019t doubt the smartphone \u2013 Pat\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Keep it moving \u2013 Vanessa\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Getting the shot\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
The perfect time is now \u2013 Leo\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Get snap happy \u2013 Mimi\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Crouch, crawl, climb! \u2013 Jamie\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Have faith \u2013 Cliff\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Early bird catches the shot \u2013 Cliff\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Catching the light \u2013 Cliff\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n
All the gear \u2013 some ideas\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Keep your camera dry \u2013 Cliff\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Know your camera \u2013 Mimi\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Silica gel saves the day \u2013 Jamie\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n
Small but mighty \u2013 Cliff\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n
What\u2019s been your favourite place to take photos so far?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n