A friend just turned me onto a fabulous new resource that if you’re into traveling and photography you’ll want to know about…
Photography for Travellers is a new website that helps people to get more from their photos. It’s not a technical site for geeks, but a rich source of philosophies and useful tips on how to take better photos when you travel.
by Ewen BellOffering information and inspiration about the world of photography outside the studio, PhotographyforTravellers.com is a fabulous free resource where photography and travel enthusiasts can learn more about taking great pictures.
It’s about getting real with the camera - no models and lights, just real life and lots of advice on how to capture the emotion of your journeys on digital film.
Ideas we can all use to bring home photos that reveal the true spirit of the places we visit.
Developed by travel journalist Ewen Bell (named 2007 Travel Photographer of the Year by the Australian Society of Travel Writers), Photography for Travellers has great, easy-to-follow advice, and anyone can take something away to improve as a photographer.
Check it out at www.PhotographyforTravellers.com and let me know what you think using the comment link below.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
As part of the lead up to this years International Apeture Awards competition Head Judge Peter Eastway (Editor of Better Photography Magazine) has put together some advice on entering and succeeding in photography competitions.
HOW TO WIN PHOTO COMPETITIONS | 
Santa Maria dei Miracoli. This image has won awards around the world.The trick to winning a photography competition is to impress the judges. How you do that is a little more complicated, but start by imagining you are one of the judges.
Think about it. You’re presented with hundreds or maybe thousands of photographs. Each image is precious and important to its photographer, but unlike the photographer, you as the judge don’t have the same emotional attachment.
Many people enter photographs of their children or loved ones, thinking they are the best images in the world. And they are. They are the best images for that person because there is a three way association between the subject, the photographer and the photograph.
However, for a judge who doesn’t know either the subject or the photographer, that association is lost. All the judge can deal with is the image, not the personal associations.
Successful photographs will create an association with the viewer. That association is created by choosing interesting or appealing subject matter, by capturing that subject matter with beautiful lighting or in an exotic location, by choosing an unusual camera angle, etc. Successful photographs are usually different from what we are used to seeing.
www.InternationalApertureAwards.com/
Entries Open 1st October - 30th November 2009
Peter Eastway; www.betterphotography.com
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Enroll now for the SATW Digital Photography Institute July 9- 13TOP 10 TIPS FOR BETTER VACATION PHOTOS FROM TRAVEL WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS
The Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), the world’s largest organization of professional travel journalists and photographers, recently polled its members to come up with the “Top 10” tips to help travelers take better vacation photos.
“With digital cameras, it has never been easier or cheaper to take top quality vacation photos,” states SATW president and broadcast travel journalist, Bea Broda. “However, there are still some things that travelers can do to help them come back with stunning images of their vacation,” she said.
Listed in order of votes with comments from SATW writers and photographers, the “Top 10” tips for better travel photos are:
1. Shoot photos early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., the sun is overhead and the light is flat. Shooting in early morning and late afternoon will add more color and shadows to your photos, giving more definition to the subject.
“Although morning and late afternoon are considered the best light for making photographs, some exceptions apply. In the Caribbean, for instance, to capture the water at its most electric aquamarine, shoot the seascape from on high, preferably at noon.”— Patricia Borns, maritime and travel writer/photographer
2. Move in close to your subject for impact (too far back and your photo can be too busy). Get close, and then get closer! Fill the frame with your subject.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
As a professional travel photographer, photo tour leader and workshop teacher, I’m often asked by people how they can improve their people pictures. One of my favorite resources to direct them to is Erin Manning’s book Portrait and Candid Photography Photo Workshop (John Wiley & Sons)“Taking great people pictures isn’t a matter of luck,” writes Manning. “The secret is in observing your subjects and connecting with them, and then using your camera to its best advantage.” I couldn’t agree more!
In the book, Manning, professional photographer, digital photography expert and host of the Telly Award winning how-to series The Whole Picture, uses hundreds of full-color images and step-by-step instructions to help you create people pics with personality including assignments at the end of each chapter so you can build hands on experience. Later you can upload your photos to Photoworkshop.com and get feedback from other readers. How cool is that.
Before you dive headlong into the book, here are 5 simple tips from Manning to help get you started.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Follow your passions and expand your relationship with photography - Join Santa Fe Photographic Workshops.
Looking for your next adventure, or simply a fun week exploring your love of photography? Join Santa Fe Photographic Workshops for a workshop experience in historic Santa Fe, New Mexico, and change the way you see the world.
Or, sign up for one of their on-the-road workshops and tours in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, Tuscany, and Provence, Ireland, Australia, Morocco, Thailand, Tanzania, Big Sur, and the coast of Maine.
Uproot yourself from the ordinary routines and obligations of home and catapult yourself into a world of new challenges, insights and inspirations. With self-expression as a key component of all their offerings; move your creative side to center stage.
Do something for yourself this year and…
- Stimulate your creativity.
- Invigorate your passion.
- Expand your skills.
- Discover new ways of looking at photography as an expressive medium.
- Find your voice through creating images.
- Learn to use the latest digital imaging technology.
For more information call 505-983-1400 or visit www.santafeworkshops.com.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
For over 100 years National Geographic has worked with the world's greatest photographers and published many of their best images.
Their storied lab with its unique expertise and service can now be YOUR photo imaging resource - helping make your images as good as they can be.
Send them your files or film, and their world-class experts will work with you to bring out the best in your digital or film photography. They can scan existing film or color-correct your camera-raw files. They can print and even frame the images of your choice.
Very cool! To learn more contact National Geographic Imaging at 888-647-5227 or online at www.ngimaging.com.
SOURCE: National Geographic
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".