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Digital cameras make great
travel companions. They never complain, they love to visit the same
places you do, and they capture memories that allow you to relive your
trip for years to come. These ideas will help you add interest and impact
to your digital travel photos, wherever you roam. |
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Before your trip, review travel guides and
photos in books and magazines so you can make a list of potential shots
ahead of time. When you reach a photo location, scout the area to plan
your approach before shooting.
The right lighting is crucial to creating
stunning photos. Consider the best time of day for your desired shot.
For example, if you must have a photo of the Eiffel Tower while in
Paris, shoot just before sunset or shortly after sunrise. The light
during this time can lend everything a beautiful golden hue.
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Compose your shots carefully |
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Keep composition in mind, too. You'll want
your subject to fill the frame; ideal composition is 90 percent subject
and 10 percent background. Try to get within two to four feet of your
subjects, and avoid the urge to always center them. Off-center subjects
tend to make photos more interesting.
Before you shoot, make sure there are no stray objects that might
detract from your composition. If you see a piece of trash or a phone
wire, remove it from view. And pay attention to how background objects
interact with your subject. A castle spire that looks like a hat or
horn on your subject’s head can ruin an otherwise great photo.
Discover more ways to improve your photographic skills in Take
better photos: part one and Take
better photos: part two.
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A few posed travel photos are fine, but
remember to take spontaneous shots of your traveling companions enjoying
the moment and interacting, too. A picture of friends laughing and eating
gelato in North Beach is more poignant than a photo of them standing
stiffly in front of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Your photos should tell a
story. Eating, relaxing, leaning on street signs, and browsing roadside
markets are part of the adventure. And remember, you're using a digital
camera, so snap as many pictures as you like! Just delete those you
don’t want to keep. (Remember to pack an extra
memory card.)
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Experiment with shooting modes |
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A trip is the perfect time to try using
the special shooting modes on your HP camera. For example, beach mode
helps you capture bright seaside scenes with well-balanced highlights
and shadows. And you can discreetly shoot pictures indoors with no flash
or sound when you use museum mode.
Capture a grand landscape or large
group shot by using the HP in-camera panorama mode and in-camera panorama
preview option, which allows you to seamlessly stitch together up
to five images. This ingenious feature makes it easy to line up each
photo in sequence as you shoot.
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Try to get an unusual or interesting view
of familiar sites. Crouch or lie down and shoot upward to exaggerate
the height of Seattle’s Space Needle. Zoom in on a single statue
in the Trevi Fountain, or shoot a picture of the Grand Canyon from an
airplane window.
Give your photo more depth by surrounding the subject with windows,
arches, or other framing devices. Or explore some more abstract
views. Close-ups are a great way to create an appealing photo
full of pattern and texture. Learn more about capturing
close-ups.
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People give your photos personality. But
how do you photograph the strangers you encounter as you travel?
Try
to establish friendly communication with the person you want to photograph:
Chat with the fruit vendor in Genoa or buy a bag of lemons from her.
Learn how to ask for permission to take a photo in the native language,
or simply smile and raise your camera. Wait for a nod or other positive
sign. If you get a disapproving look, seek out a more willing subject.
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Turn a trip into a voyage of discovery
by keeping a travel diary, the perfect complement to your travel photos.
Include descriptions of food, people, and scenery, and jot down comments
made by companions and strangers. Add neighborhood maps, sketches of
surroundings, ticket stubs, brochures, and other memorabilia.
When you use your photos to create albums, slideshows, websites,
and other projects, incorporate memories from your journal.
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Save and share your photos |
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Also, make sure you save your photos
somewhere besides your camera’s memory card. Learn how to
create a digital archive by preserving
photos on DVD upon your return home.
And don’t forget to share your adventures with family and
friends. Read Sharing
photos online for tips and inspiration. You can even share
your pictures right away with HP
Instant Share.
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