SNAP HAPPY

Travel photographer Richard I’Anson has no shortage of stamps in his passport. The author of Lonely Planet’s Guide to Travel Photography has visited more than 80 countries to shoot everything from erupting volcanoes to loved-up rhinos. Use his tips to take better photos so that when you’re boring your mates with your holiday snaps, at least they’re good ones.

PORTRAITS

Before picking up your camera, decide whether you’re shooting a close-up picture or an environmental portrait where the setting is an important element. “Doing this before you step up saves time and means your subject won’t have time to tense up,” explains I’Anson. When taking a close-up, aim to fill the frame with your subject so their eyes are in the top third of the picture. For an environmental portrait, “back off with a wider angle to include more information”. Try to position the subject so you get “a soft, even light with no strong shadows under the chin, nose or eyes”, adds I’Anson.

ARCHITECTURE

“People often photograph buildings in the most boring way imaginable,” says I’Anson. “They tend to just shoot them when they first see them.” Instead, look to find a perspective or detail that showcases the building’s charms and “avoid pointing a camera straight up at it so the building bends in as if it’s tipping over”. Also don’t overlook the foreground of the photo, as this might occupy up to a quarter of the frame.


For a reference, think of the classic shot of the Taj Mahal. This ticks all the right boxes in terms of perspective, camera angle and foreground, simply through the way the building is laid out.

WILDLIFE

“People miss the moment with animals because they’re not quick enough,” says I’Anson. “The best animal photos are when the animal is active.” Improving your skills comes down to practice and I’Anson recommends photographing your pets or taking a trip to the local zoo.


Ultimately, however, the right equipment makes a big difference. Before you embark on your African safari, you’ll need to invest in a 300-millimetre lens (with image-stabilisation or vibration-reduction technology). This allows you to get close enough to the action to fill the frame, while remaining sufficiently far away to avoid becoming a mid-afternoon snack for a peckish lion.

LANDSCAPES

Landscapes usually look their absolute best in the first and last hours of the day, says I’Anson. “When the sun’s low, there’s a nice warmth in the colour of the light and you get long shadows that add texture and depth.” The optimal time for your shot will depend on the direction of the sun in relation to the landscape. Ideally, aim to shoot the landscape when it’s bathed in sunlight.

NIGHTLIFE

The light is likely to be shocking when attempting to take an indoor photo of a live band or pub scene. “The common mistake is to use flash,” says I’Anson. The problem here is two-fold: “Flash light is very unflattering – you tend to lose colour and subtlety.” Secondly, the effective range of a flash is generally under five metres.

Instead, your best option is to make the camera’s sensor more sensitive to light by adjusting the ISO reading. With a digital camera, I’Anson suggests setting the dial to between 500 and 1000 ISO. Any scenes of drunken carnage you do manage to capture can later be used to blackmail your mates.