When we travel, most of us love to document our experiences with pictures. I know most people use cell phones now, and that's fine. But do you print those images, or create an album to have something tangible to look back on? Or, are those images stored on your phone or in the cloud?
My wife and I recently traveled to Italy. I brought my camera along in hopes of getting some amazing images, but also to preserve our memories of a-once-in-a-lifetime trip. Our first stop, Palermo, Sicily.
The first thing I like to do when I arrive at a hotel is look out the window. It's usually a better view than what I see outside my window at home. I like to document that view with my camera so I can remember it. The view above is outside the Grand Hotel Igiea Palermo.
When you see a scene that moves you, don't hesitate to capture it on camera. If you don't get it at that moment, you may pass it and never see it again. In most cases, it will only take a second or two. Don't make the mistake of not having enough memory so that you have to take pictures sparingly. Have extra SD cards and battery backup so you don't have to decide which photos to take or not. The images above are also in Palermo. Next stop: Rome.
It's important when taking scenic shots to keep your horizons straight. For sunsets, I recommend bracketing exposures; meaning change your settings, either shutter speed or aperture while taking multiple shots of the same scene. The photos above are in Rome. Our next destination was Porto Venere.
From Porto Venere we could take boat rides to the Cinque Terre, 5 villages along the Italian Riviera. We hiked from one town to another, and then a boat ride back to our hotel. I was amazed by all the breathtaking views of this incredible region. Our final stop was in Venice, where the waters rose higher than they have in over 10 years.
There may be a scene that you really like in the day time, but if you have a chance to go back and see it again in the evening, you will have a totally different look and changes ones whole perspective. I did this several times throughout our trip. Below is just one example, same scene, different times of day.
The most important thing I want to convey, is to document your travels. Selfies are great, I took several myself, but it doesn't convey the beauty of the locations with a couple heads in the way of the scene. Happy trails to you all and safe travels on your journey through life. Remember, when opportunities arise, take your best shot.
3 Comments
Dec 18, 2018, 9:26:24 AM
Roberta - These are really Great pictures. May I use them as a potential source for my watercolor paintings ?
Dec 15, 2018, 11:28:56 AM
Chuck Billiot - Scotty, fortunately, your iPhone can capture great scenics like this. The phone cameras have come a long way. I don't own an iPhone, so I am not sure if super large prints are an option with phones, which is what I plan to do with my images. But I would love to see one printed from a phone. Let me know if you have ever done so.
Chuck
Dec 15, 2018, 9:15:00 AM
Scotty Chabert - Wow. Great captures Chuck. What a great trip to Italy.
You have inspired me to bring the big camera to Hawaii this summer and not just the iphone camera. Thanks!!