The traveler sees what he sees , the tourist sees what he has come to see . -Hema Narayanan (hemana@gmail.com)

Who is a Travel Photographer? “ To me, Travel photography is an art of observation. It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place... I've found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.” - Elliott Erwitt, reputed advertising and journalistic photographer So… a Travel Photographer is one who HAS eye for details, sense of place, varied perspective , … . And reasonable equipment … to Make A Frame !

“ To me, Travel photography is an art of observation.

It's about finding something interesting in an ordinary place...

I've found it has little to do with the things you see and

everything to do with the way you see them.”

- Elliott Erwitt, reputed advertising and journalistic photographer

So… a Travel Photographer is one who HAS

eye for details,

sense of place,

varied perspective ,

… . And

reasonable equipment

… to Make A Frame !

Why the need for Travel Photography? Travel is synonymous with photography… Many people can climb to the mountain-top… but only those who return with evidence get to brag about it… For a travel article, a travel photograph accompanying it.. - complements the article - elevates the feel for the place - gives the reader a richer context and visualization And personally, it makes you an individual - with a mix of two skills - “unique-perspective” advantage - higher salability

Travel is synonymous with photography…

Many people can climb to the mountain-top… but only those who return with evidence get to brag about it…

For a travel article, a travel photograph accompanying it..

- complements the article

- elevates the feel for the place

- gives the reader a richer context and visualization

And personally, it makes you an individual

- with a mix of two skills

- “unique-perspective” advantage

- higher salability

Make Pictures, Don’t Just Take Pictures There is a big difference between taking a travel picture and making one. - When you take a picture, you simply point and shoot - When you make a picture, you think about: all the elements in a scene how they can complement each other the lighting (& time of the day) the background and foreground - the mood you want to create with your picture

There is a big difference between taking a travel picture and making one.

- When you take a picture, you simply point and shoot

- When you make a picture, you think about:

all the elements in a scene

how they can complement each other

the lighting (& time of the day)

the background and foreground

- the mood you want to create with your picture

Look at image sample of : Ibrahim Rauza, Bijapur (said to be the inspiration behind The Taj Mahal) Image : Web Image

Image : Web Image

Now take a look at second sample of the same monument: The Ibrahim Rauza, Bijapur Image © Hema

Which off the two had a different perspective? The second frame , right? What are the reasons? - Not a 101 run-of-the-mill picture - “Transforms” the place - Background and Foreground well covered - Has multiple elements - Shift in Perspective - Get a feel of the elevation or structure - Dramatic skies - Right choice of ‘time of the day’ and finally Visually more appealing

The second frame , right?

What are the reasons?

- Not a 101 run-of-the-mill picture

- “Transforms” the place

- Background and Foreground well covered

- Has multiple elements

- Shift in Perspective

- Get a feel of the elevation or structure

- Dramatic skies

- Right choice of ‘time of the day’

and finally

Visually more appealing

So, a Travel Photographer should develop a variant set of attributes…. And it made it to The Editor’s Pick, for a newspaper publication

Eye for details: Travel photographer needs to observe the surrounding at length Somnathpur danseuse seen on the temple walls, Karnataka Carvings on a door of a church at Cologne, Germany Images © Hema

Singapore Children play in the small water fountains outside the Singapore Sentosa Island Germany Elderly citizens sit by river Rhine one fine afternoon Sense of a place: Travel photographer is one who has a sense for a place Images © Hema

Singapore

Children play in the small water

fountains outside the Singapore

Sentosa Island

Reflection of Lalith Mahal palace in a fountain pond outside, Mysore Varied Perspective: Travel photographer needs to look at “same” things differently Images © Hema

Reflection of Lalith Mahal palace in a fountain pond outside, Mysore

… and lot more , but what’s in A Frame ? A Frame is to a photographer :: what a canvas is to a painter It can consist of: Elements of interest Subject Context Potential Story Components: Place, People, Culture or Religion A Frame is a small space with a boundary, as seen through the viewfinder of a camera, on which the picture has to be made Please remember: “ Photography is about finding out what can happen in the frame. When you put four edges around some facts, you change those facts”

A Frame is to a photographer :: what a

canvas is to a painter

It can consist of:

Elements of interest

Subject

Context

Potential Story

Components: Place, People, Culture or Religion

A Frame is a small space with a boundary, as seen through the viewfinder of a camera, on which the picture has to be made

Please remember:

“ Photography is about finding out what can happen in the frame. When you put four edges around some facts, you change those facts”

Photo-first or Article-first… the Battle ! A Battle that never had a definitive answer… Many writers and publishers write the content first and then fit in pictures As a photographer, its effective to consider the other way around: Using "photos-first" approach: allows one’s photos to define what to say about a place Often less intimidating than staring at a blank page Editors like a good-looking spread to entice readers into their pages Providing a package with really compelling pictures, can make your piece catch the editor's eye. Selection of subjects is as big as your imagination and interests Do you like canoe races? How about golf courses , book stores, parks or landmarks? Any subject can be transformed to a round-up by shooting the right images Nothing better than to shoot from one’s own personal experience on a subject

A Battle that never had a definitive answer…

Many writers and publishers write the content first and then fit in pictures

As a photographer, its effective to consider the other way around:

Using "photos-first" approach: allows one’s photos to define what to say about a place

Often less intimidating than staring at a blank page

Editors like a good-looking spread to entice readers into their pages

Providing a package with really compelling pictures, can make your piece catch the editor's eye.

Selection of subjects is as big as your imagination and interests

Do you like canoe races? How about golf courses , book stores, parks or landmarks?

Any subject can be transformed to a round-up by shooting the right images

Nothing better than to shoot from one’s own personal experience on a subject

Some of my details…. [email_address] http://www.flickr.com/photos/elzi/ http://hemanarayan.liverjournal.com/ … that was just the beginning, There’s more to Travel Photography! As a travel photographer and writer, I have realized there are salient aspects one gains with time and experiences..