This summer I am sharing weekly information on documenting your summer. Whether you are a photographer who documents your family regularly with a dslr/mirrorless or a photographer who uses creates memories with their iPhone (no portrait mode allowed).
Today I am going to kick off sharing with Documenting Travel! I am completely comfortable having a camera in my hands at all times. My kiddos have grown up with a camera pointed at them so they are used to it. If you family isn’t used to it they will first look at the camera and smile. Or make funny faces. THAT’S OK!! If you are wanting more documentary style, simply tell them to not pay attention to you. They will get there.
Travel Tip: Airports.
Things to document:
Finding your flight
airport windows
waiting
the requisite out the airplane window shot
when your flight gets delayed
Some things to think about while documenting in airports. Try not to get in other peoples way. Thankfully most travelers understand people making photographs. But if someone looks uncomfortable, it’s ok to move.
What to use: If using a camera, go for a wide lens. Maybe an 11mm to a 35mm lens. And due to the low light conditions, go for as wide an aperture as you can get. The 24mm 1.4 would be my choice for any airport.
If using your phone, that makes it much easier to get these photographs and bring minimal attention to you and your family.
Travel Tip: On the Road
Similarly to airports there are many opportunities for photograph making.
Things to Document:
packing the car
when you are on the road
stopping for gas
rest areas
Some things to think about on the road
Safety first. I ALWAYS bring my camera gear bag into any rest stop, travel center, or gas station. The only time I will leave it in the car is if we tag team who goes in and who waits at the car. My bag is NEVER alone in the car. Also traveling can be a target for crime, make sure to watch your surroundings.
The first image below was on the metro heading into DC. I LOVED the light coming in on that side of the train, so I asked her to sit there. I focused on her and was hoping for some movement in the passing windows but am still happy with the image I made.
Photograph it all, even if it seems silly. I will photograph the sunrise in the rear view mirrors, the kids in the mirror (when we had a minivan our entire reasoning for the minivan was comfortable travel).
Travel Tips: Hotel Rooms
Hotel rooms can be a great place to make photographs. It can also be hard if it’s messy. When we travel from location to location I try to keep most of our luggage separated by days and locations. That way everyone doesn’t have to open every bag we take. We also are incredibly light luggage travelers. We spend 4/5 days in Hawaii and flew directly to Alaska with only two checked bags for 4 people.
The best places in hotel rooms to photograph will be towards the windows. If the morning sun comes in or the sunsets in your window, that is the simplest photograph to make. One of my favorite stops on the way to Colorado was this stop in Colorado Springs. Funny enough this was sunset and we had been traveling all day. I am also a ‘let them jump on the beds’ (if it’s not too late) so the bed in the image below is why the bed was messy. But I think it is worth it.
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