Category Archives: Travel

Back to the grindstone

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I am back from Aruba (the roundabout way, via Caracas, Bogota, and back via Panama City, Orlando) and I am blogging again. About, of course, travel photography; what else.

When I shoot some pictures (an this was not a picture trip: rather, a vacation with some pictures), I think “what is the character of the place”. So I think, when I think of Aruba, things like “the trip”. I will spare you all the photos, but it is important to get these “B-roll” photos: the ones that tie together the photos of the trip. Travel Photography is storytelling.

So you include shots like this, of Bogota, Colombia, by the airport (I travelled to Aruba via Caracas and Bogota):

And of Aruba arrival:

When I get to my destination, I think “beach”:

..and I think “sites”: the lighthouse…

Oranjestad…

Charlie’s Bar, San Nicolas:

Dutch heritage:

The way ordinary people live:

And yes, of course I do also think of sunsets:

And one more thing—I am always happy to offer the people I meet a memory, as well. Like the young couple in Charlie’s Bar:

And the couple next door:

…I mean, why not? They can’t take photos like this, so I’ll do it for them. A very small effort, but it does require some equipment (bounced flash in the first one; off-camera flash with a Honlphoto softbox in the second one).

More about this trip, and in particular about its photography, in the future, but now to unpack my stuff. A week of 31C, now followed by freezing again. But the photos last, and that of course is why we like to take them.

 

Let it be told…

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My last evening in Las Vegas; old Las Vegas, Fremont East, and I shall let these pictures tell the story. I like this part of Las Vegas more than the strip, for all its glitter.

The last image there is from the Heart Attack Grill (where you get the “octuple bypass burger”, and if you weigh more than 350lbs your food is free).

Want to do the same? You can. More storytelling techniques in the new Impactful Travel Photography book.

 

 

Through a haze, clearly

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Here is the city I shall leave again when the airline has seats in a day or two:

You will notice some technique here:

Haze and foreground: I made the two houses in the foreground part of the picture. Anything hazy is OK is there is something sharp in the foreground. (I discuss this in the Impactful Travel Photography book, of course).

Panorama: I cut off the top and bottom to emphasize the strip, and to use the Rule of Thirds. (This too in the Travel book).
Enjoy your day. I am about to enjoy the last day of Nevada before I try to get on a plane, which is proving surprisingly difficult.

 

Fire

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Yesterday’s trip was to the Valley Of Fire, Nevada. Just an hour outside Las Vegas and the most stunning landscapes I have ever seen–and I have been around the world countless times. I can only compare it to Ayers Rock (Uluru) and the Olga’s (Kata Tjuta) — except better (sorry, Oz friends) and bigger.

I have never regretted not having two cameras as much. Every other shot needed a lens change. The above shot was taken with the 70-200 lens. This one with the 16-35:

That National Geographic “wrapping around me” feeling that only a wide lens can give you.

And the crisp, undistorted feeling a long lens delivers:

What was critical in the shot above? Yes, time. I had a few minutes. In 30 seconds, the sun was gone. What happens in mountains under a clear sky.

One more from the wide lens:

And the sun eventually sets.

Not that the fun stops after the sun sets. Beautiful colors come out:

And here finally is the native gas station that I drove a Korean college student, her mom, and her two kid sisters to yesterday, after they had a flat tire in their Kia rental. And I am here to tell you that those “temporary fix” kits they use now instead of a spare tire do NOT work. (the kits that comprise a compressor plus some substance). After the “fix”, 6km later it was flat again. Fortunately, I had a van so was able to drive them 15km to the gas station, where they waited for the rental company.

I could spend a week in that park and only scratch the surface. Instead, I use photography and I am quick.

This country is so beautiful, I am thinking more and more I belong here, the southwestern USA.Now all I need is a green card and an income…

___

More travel photography tips: Get my e-book Impactful Travel Photography today. Need to learn your camera? Then buy Mastering Your Camera too.

Solitude

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As those of you who read my new Travel Photography book know, solitude is well expressed by using “negative space”. Like here, in a picture I made today at Zabriskie Point in Death Valley, California:

I am utterly delighted to have driven there. Stark landscape, which I remember well from the eponymous 1970 movie that showed the turmoil of the 1960s so well. In the image above, the landscape plays little role, but its starkness is well shown. In the following image, it’s all landscape–but with a person to give it size:

There were, of course, other tourists. See how a slight change in viewpoint makes for a very different (but still good) image:

And here are the tourists I helped by taking a picture–one of whom is reading this, if she kept my business card, and I bet she did, and I hope she buys my all-new Camera Manual, so she learns all about operating her camera:

Did you notice all those were made with the long lens (70-200 f/2.8)? Sometimes it just works better that way.

Zabriskie Point. Meaningful for me because of that movie. Meaningful for the tourists because they were together there. Photography is such a great gift.

 

Travel

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Took me from here Friday…

…to here yesterday:

Today, Red Rock canyon, I think, and perhaps even The Strip, we shall see. And in a few days, back to this:

…but I prefer not to think about that yet.

All these made with my wide angle lens, 16-35mm. My favourite travel lens, usually.

 

Weather the weather

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Weather is important to us. But it is a misconception to think, as we did in the “Kodak Instamatic days”, that we can only make nice photos on sunny day. See the photo of a dreary day in the Netherlands. above.

First, the weather is part of the story-like the hurricane winds in St Maarten in the photo here:

Second, you can always make photos work somehow: there is no “impossible weather”. You may need high ISO, or a tripod, or rain gear, or even a flash, but every weather type is usable.

And third, sometimes “bad weather” is good for your photos. A grey sky, for instance, allows flower colours to pop much more than a sunny harsh sky. Rain can convey mood and give you soft lighting! Grey skies, too, and the resulting low contrast can be very good. Not every picture needs to be super contrasty, as a cloudy and wet Jamaica shows here.

This tip is a small part of my all-new Impactful Travel Photography e-book, published yesterday. $19.95, or a special price of $49.95 for all three books. Head on over: www.michaelwillems.ca/e-Books.html – just in time for Christmas, Just saying!

 

NEW RELEASE: “Impactful Travel Photography” e-book!

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I am proud to announce, just in time for the winter travel season, the release of my long awaited book: Impactful Travel Photography (ISBN-978-0-9918636-3-1)

This is a downloadable e-Book (that is: you pay, and I send you the link by return, usually in minutes, certainly within a day), in convenient PDF format:

This 123-page PDF lays out, in a very logical fashion, everything you need to know about travel photography.

“I find this one is almost like you are there explaining it in person. It makes me want to go out and try what I have just read”. – Lisa J, Timmins, ON

Many years practice in both doing and teaching travel photography, and my having worked in 38 countries to date, resulted in what I think is the perfect way to convey my knowledge.

You judge – $19.95 for this 123-page e-book, packed with information, and richly illustrated with photo examples. Buy here.

Chapter titles/page numbers:

Introduction 8
Preparing For The Trip 12
Camera Basics 23
Choosing The Right Lens 31
Resolving Common Challenges 48
Composing Better Images 60
People And Culture 95
After The Trip 107
Conclusion 112

This book will change the way you do travel photography! Instead of coming back with thousands of “blaah” images, you will come back with great compositions that you are proud to show off.

This book will demystify travel photography. The things you never thought were easy, actually are. Years of experience will help you quickly learn the do’s – and the don’ts. What’s more, you will frequently say “Oh… I should have thought of that”.

This will make you creative. Creativity is often hampered not by lack of thoughts, but by lack of knowledge. Knowledge and ideas are what you need: Problem Solved!

This book will allow you to get results from your current camera. Even if you only have simple equipment, I will teach you how to use it well. You do not need a huge SLR to apply the lessons in this book!

This book will give you practical checklists. There are many good rules of thumb, starting points, and “to do” lists included. This is often the secret to learning quickly.

The eBook format has some unique advantages for you:

  • CONVENIENCE: this is an Electronic Book formatted for reading on iPad and on your computer.  I do not addle you with “Digital rights management” restrictions like most book authors. You will never see “not authorized on this device”. You can copy and read it on all your devices, forever. I trust my customers.
  • COST: Because I self publish my books, there’s no Middle Man like Amazon, Google or Apple to take a large portion of the money. That means I can keep the cost down for you. Comparable books on similar subjects cost three or four times more.
  • FUTURE PROOF: It’s digital. There will be a second edition soon, no doubt, with any misconceptions explained and errors fixed and new material added – and when that happens, you are entitled to the new edition at no extra cost!

Many years of travel photography knowledge for just a few dollars: head on over to http://www.michaelwillems.ca/Buy_Book.html and get your copy. And take pro shots on your very next trip!

NEW: There is also a special offer for the Bundle of ALL THREE e-books. Head on over to http://www.michaelwillems.ca/Buy_Book.html and check it out!

 

Detail, detail

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This season, whether you photograph your family get togethers, or vacation trips, or any other story: make it a story. And you do that in large part by adding detail pictures.

Like this, for example:

On a trip to Jerusalem, you would of course photograph the “big” things. But the small details, interspersed with the big things, tell the story much more clearly. A hebrew Coke bottle, and menu with shoarma, kebab,ash tray, and so on. Or signs at the entrance to the western wall site:

Look for anything that helps tell the story with detail. Anything you notice.  And then you can shoot the “big things”.

But that “B-roll” of supporting detail pictures makes it come alive.

Look for my upcoming Impactful Travel Photography e-book, out soon. Details here as soon as it is ready to go – I am aiming for December 24.
 

History

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I am in the city of Utrecht, which is generally thought to have been founded around 50 AD. And tonight I walked around a little in the dark. And, as you would expect of me, I brought my camera.

To do this, I used a wide angle lens – the 16-35 (on a full frame camera, so it would be the 10-200 for you).

Why wide angle?

  • For the composition;
  • So that I can shoot at 1/15th second handheld (no tripod);
  • So that I can shoot at f/2.8 while still getting extended DOF.

I needed 3200 ISO or more to achieve that, but that is fine with a modern camera like my Canon 1Dx.

What do you look for? Local things. Typical local things. Like the car above, or this lingerie shop window:

And things that show context and age, like the cobbled stones. With angles that emphasize your subject:

And light, like the lit Dom church tower (which since a tornade in the 1600s is separate from the main body of the church):

Even on a short walk through town you can come home with some nice pictures – provided that you bring a camera and use your knowledge of aperture, shutter, and ISO (and perhaps, unlike me, bring a tripod).

And do remember to, when in The Netherlands, shoot pink bicycles.