10 Travel Photography Tips
Exploring the beach at Stanley in Hong Kong
Who’s Behind The Camera?
In case this is your first visit to our blog, a quick introduction is in order. We are a couple in our mid-fifties. In early 2020, we reached a bucket list goal and wrapped up travels to 50 countries in 50 months.
Fortunately, we crossed the finish line just in time before the pandemic completely changed the world and the travel scene.
As travel is finally getting easier again, we want to share some of our travel photography tips in this article so that you can set yourself up for a good adventure with your camera.
Morten at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon. Check our travel blog from a 5-day road trip in Iceland
Camera Size For Travel
The choice of camera size comes down to individual preference, and at times, smaller compact cameras that normally would be recommended for travel will not be up to the task.
For instance, if you are a wildlife photographer or plan to cover fast-paced action photography during your travels, you may not worry too much about weight or bulk.
If you are a dedicated landscape photographer, you will pay attention to your choice of a proper tripod more than worrying if a camera will fit in your pocket.
However, if you are looking for a camera for travel photography in general, I find that less is often more. Consider the weight of the camera and lens combination for a day-long sightseeing walk in the city or a hike in the mountains.
In my experience, every ounce counts, and packing too much gear will be cumbersome in the long run.
For travel, pick a camera size you are comfortable carrying around all day.
After years of shooting with Canon digital SLRs and heavy, high-end lenses, I decided early in our travel project to sell everything and switch to the Fujifilm X Series. Lower cost and weight, along with easier editing/post-processing, were the main factors in this decision.
I decided on the Fujifilm X-Pro2 as my do-it-all travel camera. I cannot complain about the image quality produced by this camera, and it is a midsize mirrorless option, not too big, not too small, and very reliable/durable.
Fujifilm has since released a Fujifilm X-Pro3, which may top my list if I were doing our travel project again.
If you want to travel even lighter, I suggest the Fujifilm X-E4. For a heavier jack of all trades option, I would suggest the Fujifilm X-T4. If you can live with a one-focal-length camera, the Fujifilm X100VI is hard to resist.
The Fujifilm X-Pro2 with the small XF 18mm f/2 R makes for a compact travel companion.
Lenses for Travel
I had various lens setups during our 50 months of travel, but for the majority of our travels, I settled on four prime lenses: an ultra-wide-angle Fujifilm XF 14mm f/2.8 R, a moderate wide-angle Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R, a standard Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4 R, and a telephoto Fujifilm XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR (the links will take you to reviews of these lenses)
Other than in transit or for road trips, I rarely carry them all at once. I often set out for a hike or sightseeing in the city with just one or two lenses.
My favorite lens has been the Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4 R, which produces wonderful, magical photos in any situation. It would be a good fit no matter which Fujifilm camera you pick, as it will not add much bulk or weight to your setup.
Update:
Look out also for the new Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR, which was announced in September 2021.
My setup for our 5050 Travel project. Fujifilm X-Pro2 with XF 35mm f/1.4 R mounted. From left to right; XF 14mm f/2.8 R, XF 23mm f/1.4 R, XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR
I have chosen to travel with prime lenses as I find they offer a little bit of extra punch in color and sharpness across the frame. Zoom lenses may also be on your radar if you want to cut back on bulk, and the quality is remarkably close to prime lenses. I suggest you look at a lens such as the Fujifilm XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR.
Fujifilm has an excellent line of f/2 prime lenses, which should be near or at the top of any travel photographer’s list. Lenses such as the Fujifilm XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR, Fujifilm XF 23mm /f2 R WR, Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2 R WR, and Fujifilm XF 50mm f/2 R WR are compact, weather-resistant, of high build quality, and will not break the bank.
These lenses have near-silent autofocus and will take up very little space in your pack or pocket for a day hike.
It’s important to mention that Fujifilm does not sponsor me.
The Hong Kong skyline and Victoria Harbour captured from the Peak. The photo is made with a Fujifilm X-Pro2 camera and XF 35mm f/1.4 R lens, mounted on a travel-friendly Manfrotto Befree tripod.
Batteries
I have been shooting with film cameras lately and have enjoyed leaving the house without having to check battery levels and without one or two batteries in my pocket.
Batteries, unfortunately, are a necessary evil of digital photography, and I travel with four in total.
My first tip is to get a dual battery charger. I found one on Amazon, the Newmowa Dual USB Charger for Fujifilm NP-W126 and NP-W126S batteries.
I have a set routine while traveling. As soon as we return to our hostel, hotel, or Airbnb from a day of exploring, I charge two batteries and then switch to the other two before bedtime. This way, I am always ready for the next day of exploring.
An aerial photo flying over a Glacier in Eastern Greenland en route to Iceland. This photo was captured with a Fujifilm X-H1 and Fujifilm XF 35mm f/1.4 R It was easy to keep my batteries warm from the comfort of my seat on a commercial flight :)
Consider that as your batteries age, they will become less efficient at holding a charge. I have my newest batteries ready, and shoot these first to reduce the number of times I need to switch.
Only once did I run out of power during our travels, and luckily, it was at the very end of a long day at Inle Lake in Myanmar.
In cold weather climates, I never leave my batteries in my backpack as it reduces their capacity when they get cold. Keep them in your pockets or an inner jacket pocket where they stay nice and warm.
If a battery dies in the cold, put it in your pocket to warm it up, and you should be able to squeeze a few more frames out of it later.
Sunrise in Bagan, Myanmar. This photo was made with a Fujifilm X-Pro2 and XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR
Back-Up During Travel
Everyone has a horrible story about failed backups. I will lead this segment with a story about what not to do. I was on an assignment in Northern Alberta, Canada, taking photos in the woodlands for a company in the forest manufacturing industry.
Upon my return, one of my photo backpacks was covered in mud, so I emptied it—or thought I had emptied it—and put it through the laundry.
Afterward, I hung it to dry and discovered I had put one of my portable drives through the washer. Perhaps needless to say, it died!
Bagsmart large travel case cable organizer with backup drives, cords, mini tripod, filter, SD cards, card reader, dual battery charge, and filters.
The story has a good ending due to my travel backup routine, which includes backing everything up to two portable Western Digital 2TB drives.
After the backup, I always place the drives in two different bags in case one is lost, a bag is stolen, or I decide to launder my data.
Portable drives for RAW files are a must during travel, as cloud-based backups are almost always challenging on the road. Slow upload speeds in most parts of the world make it impossible.
Whenever we stay with friends or family during travel, or if we have accommodation with a solid internet connection, I upload my high-resolution edited JPEG files to my Smugmug site. This way, I am sure to always have my photos come what may.
The Hungarian Parliament Buildings on the Danube River in Budapest. The photo was made with a Fujifilm X-Pro2 and XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR.
The newer Fujifilm cameras allow instant transfer/backup of your photos to your mobile phone or tablet via Bluetooth. Mind you, they will be JPEGs, but at least you will have something to show in case you lose your camera or it is stolen.
I lost one camera and had another one stolen during our travel project, and this backup feature would have been handy. I also lost all my photos from a day trip to Macau, and unfortunately, you will never see any photos in the blog from our second day in Rome.
I am not sure this is a feature I would use permanently, as it is bound to reduce battery life on your camera, but if you find yourself in a once-in-a-lifetime destination, it may be worth considering covering all bases.
You can take this one step further and have your mobile phone upload automatically to cloud-based storage if you have a data plan wherever you travel.
A couple of fishing boats float along between the limestone rocks on Lan Ha Bay in Vietnam. This photo was made with Fujifilm X-Pro2 and XF 35mm f/1.4 R.
Editing Photos During Travel
It can be tricky to find time to edit your photos while on the road, but I am quite diligent about this task. Because I take so many photos, I do not allow myself to get too far behind.
I also find that I am more motivated when the experience is fresh in my mind, and I most often edit the same day as the photos are captured.
The trick is not to let a mountain of photos daunt you into neglecting the process of selecting and editing them.
For travel photography, I have been using Capture One Express for Fujifilm. Capture One gives me great results without requiring me to spend several minutes editing each frame.
Often, I get by with levels, exposure, and white balance adjustments, but if I want to spice things up further, I will apply one of Fujifilm’s excellent film simulations.
Check this article: Fujifilm Film Simulation Samples.
At the Louvre in Paris, France. This photo was captured with a Fujifilm X-Pro2 and Fujifilm XF 23mm f/1.4 R lens. I have used the Fujifilm Acros film simulation.
Photos are then exported as full-size JPEGs with minimal compression. If an image needs further editing, I will do this in Photoshop.
Editing options on mobile phones are becoming quite powerful, and I frequently use my iPhone for travel photography.
I suggest using VSCO to edit your mobile phone photos. VSCO’s filters or effects are often based on old film stock, and I can usually find one that pleases my eye.
Tbilisi St. Trinity Cathedral in Georgia. This photo was made with a Fujifilm X-Pro2 and XF 14mm f/2.8 R lens.
Sharing Your Travel Photos
Picking which travel photos to share can be like choosing photos for a portfolio, and you usually select too many.
I go through my photos several times before I select a few favorites, which typically amounts to 10-20% of the photos captured on any given day.
Later, I will decide how many of these will end up in our travel blog. Even fewer images will go on Instagram. Some photos are uploaded to a stock photography site, and some are shared with friends and family via Messenger.
However, sharing photos is different for everyone. You may not share your work online and will instead have a folder with photos reserved for a nice frame and a spot on your wall when you return home, or perhaps you are planning a travel book.
A happy travel photographer in the desert outside Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates. In this photo, I was using a Fujifilm X-T1 and XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR.
Finding Your Style
The majority of the content in our travel blog is street or landscape photography. I try not to go overboard with the post-processing, and I want the photos to be true to what I saw. You will also find a few posts with black-and-white photography on our blog.
Whatever your style is, I recommend you do not second-guess it. If you are a hardcore landscape photographer and pride yourself on immaculately captured images, processed to perfection, and captured with high-end gear, stick with it.
If you are a die-hard black-and-white street photographer, stick with it. Whatever brings you joy, stick with it. To quote the old Ricky Nelson song, “You can’t please everyone, so you’ve got to please yourself.”
You can also gather inspiration from other photographers, books, photography forums, social media, or even movies to help you find your style. I have also heard of photographers creating their own style. How about that for a concept? :)
Onboard the Poseidon sailing around Symi Island in Greece. The photo was captured using the Fujifilm X-Pro2 with an XF 14mm f/2.8 R and the Acros film simulation.
Composition
I took a design class years ago, and as part of the curriculum, we read the book “Design Basics” by David A. Lauer and Stephen Pentak. The book came with a CD-ROM, which should indicate how long ago it was.
But here is the thing: Design basics have no expiry date, and studying the basic composition types can help tremendously with any genre of photography, not only travel photography.
I flagged sections on Unity, Focal Point, Balance, and Rhythm in the book as particularly helpful for photography.
You may have heard about the “Rule of Thirds” as one of the more popular composition tricks. I frequently use the rule of thirds while keeping the other composition types in mind.
Using the “Rule-of-Thirds” in this photo from Mont Saint-Michel in France by placing the tower in the left third of the frame. The photo was made with a Fujifilm X-T1 and XF 14mm f/2.8 R.
Respect
There is a fine line regarding street photography in how far I am willing to go to get a photo. I try my best to strike a balance between respecting my fellow citizens and attempting to get a meaningful photo.
It is important to me that a street photography scene is unforced. If things do not play out naturally, the image is lost to me. It demands that I be inconspicuous in my approach and hopefully go completely unnoticed.
If I encounter a scene where people appear upset about a photo being taken or about to be taken, I feel that I have crossed a line. The moment is gone, and the photo will never see the light of day.
A street scene from Marrakech, Morocco. The photo was made with the Fujifilm X-Pro2, XF 35mm f/1.4 R using the Acros film simulation.
If I see an opportunity for a photo that requires me to get closer to people, I will ask for consent. At other times, I will just move on, depending on how brave I feel or what mood I am in. I try to respect my surroundings as much as possible when capturing street photography images.
The same can be said about photos of my family and friends. During travel, you may capture many images of your friends and family, but they may not share your enthusiasm for photography and do not want photos posted online. I usually ask if they would mind me posting photos before I do so.
Last but not least, we have witnessed polluted places worldwide. Respect and care for our planet while you are with the camera. Never litter, recycle, and travel responsibly.
Sliema Beach in Malta. This photo was made with a Fujifilm X-Pro2 and XF 35mm f/1.4 R
FOMO - The Fear of Missing Out
With the above nine points, how can you relax when traveling with your camera? And what if you do not capture it all with the right gear? I am certainly guilty of over-analyzing travel photography. I run a travel blog with a camera review section. I am pretty much doomed.
We often snap so many pictures and scout out scenes that we forget to stop and smell the roses. At what point are we missing out on the real experience?
I left my camera in the hotel safe in Phuket, Thailand, for almost a week. I will admit that does not happen very often.
As much as I love photography and my life revolves around it, when traveling, I always stop and marvel at the beauty that surrounds us.
I actually stop, put the camera down, take a deep breath, and sometimes physically pinch myself to remind myself how lucky we are.
Diana and Morten Byskov, travel bloggers at 5050 Travelog, in the desert of Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates.
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