Travel Photography…Make it Come to Life

Travel is one of the most uplifting things you can do for your soul. To see the way the moon kisses the sky goodnight on a mountain in Cinque Terra, Italy or the gentle way a mother holds her child in a small town in central China can forever change your appreciation for life. A photo will allow you to revisit the despondent way you felt sitting in a café in downtown Prague contemplating your fledgling career or the thrill of catching your first wave in a small village in Costa Rica. Remember, memories often whisper and can’t be heard by the reality of everyday existence, a picture is a megaphone. So treat them with care, love them as you love the memory itself.

I know many people who have subjected their friends to viewing travel photos via computer slide shows. I’ve personally dug through piles of miscellaneous pictures in a shoebox in order to find that breath-taking sunset over the Swiss Alps, I’ve spent hours searching through piles of unorganized Kodak envelopes in order to find a shot of my crazy tour guide through a South African Safari. I’m guilty, and I know I’m not alone. We spend months, sometimes years, planning, saving and dreaming of our long awaited getaways. We take roll after roll of film only to banish the proof of our adventures into obscurity. And perhaps the most dismal consequence of digital technology to date, a computer crammed with pictures that will never graze the soft skin of our fingertips. I know, I know, not all of us are as crude as this; there are those that have the decency to showcase their pictures in a drug store photo album. It is a great effort, but after viewing such a display I’m left with no sense of your experiences, no feel for the place you visited, and dare I say, a little bored.

A great alternative to the aforementioned atrocities of photography is to organize your pictures into a coffee table book. How is this different form a scrapbook? A coffee table book is something we keep displayed in our homes for guests and ourselves. It usually constitutes pictures of amazing scenery or documents interesting hobbies. Minimalism is the key to creating a coffee table book, whereas a scrapbook is filled to the brim with ticket stubs, quotes, and anecdotes. The definition between the two may seem obscure but is paramount to producing the desired affect of the book. You want to create a piece of artwork with your photos. Something that will enchant the eyes of guests and spark thought provoking conversation. The best part about it is you don’t have to be an artist, you simply must know what to look for while travelling and how to organize yourself when you get home.

Forget Collecting Everything
I will never forget the first time I boarded a plane to fly overseas. With my best friend by my side, filled with nervous anticipation we headed out to conquer the sites of Europe. I felt old and young, inspired and reluctant. We sat next to two travellers en route to Amsterdam after spending one month in Ecuador. I glanced through their passports with over a dozen stamps and felt a burning sensation of jealously rush through every limb of my body as I confessed my lack of experience as it pertained to travel. When I look at photos of my trip I am reminded of how I felt that day, I don’t need to save my plane ticket to remember.

Don’t worry about gathering minute paper details of your trip. I often do it unintentionally, but I don’t recommend making a conscious effort. Instead, buy a couple magazines or newspapers in the local language. If you are just travelling a short time this won’t increase the weight of your luggage significantly. For extended periods of time, you can find a post office in any city or town and mail it back with limited cost. Later I will discuss how to integrate these things into your book.

When buying postcards don’t just get them for others buy some for yourself as well. Avoid postcards with traditional tourist flavors. You can often find black and white photographs of local artists. Additionally many used bookstores in Europe sell old or used postcards with practically no expense. In a used bookstore in Prague I found a post card of Old Town Square from 1955. I was able to find a post card with a similar photographic perspective of Old Town Square in recent years. Side by side they offer a stunning contrast to the drabness of Communism and glitz of Democracy. Rummaging through a bizarre in Dresden, Germany I found a post-card dated December 14, 1944 complete with German writing on the back. It was under $1 U.S. Imagine yourself sharing a bottle of red wine with a friend when she asks where you got such a historical post-card. Not only can you tell her about the bizarre you found, but you can also discuss the feelings and thoughts the people of this time must have had. While showing my boyfriend the post-card we engaged in a conversation about the deferment of responsibility when faced with an authoritarian government in extreme times of atrocity. Additionally, focusing on acquiring such material will facilitate your ability to find the out of the way spots tourists usually overlook.

Taking Pictures
As much as we love to view the quintessential photograph of you and friend standing side by side with your arms flung around each others shoulders sporting an ear to ear smile, try to save this shot for a scrapbook or photo album. For your book, display a picture that leaves the viewer to marvel at the grandeur of ancient architecture in the absence of the proof of your existence in that particular location.

I like to stand back a few feet yards from the people I am travelling with. While they’re marvelling at an age-old pagoda in Beijing, China, oblivious to the present world, I snap my photo capturing both them and the scenery in the natural way in which they are experiencing it. Hand your camera over to a friend for a while and ask them to do the same for you. One of my favorite photographs of myself is a black and white my friend took while I was walking through Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, France on Halloween, unaware of being photographed. Look at any travel magazine or professional travel photography. You will rarely see an obvious pose struck by the inhabitants of the photograph.

Never forget to pack a couple of black and white rolls of film with you. It lends an old world style to a modern picture and is great for shots of people. If you have a digital you can either purchase a picture program for your computer, which allows you to alter your photograph or simply tell the people at the digital processing center you would like your picture in black and white.

Take pictures of the locals! I can’t stress this enough. This works best if you have a good zoom on your camera. If not, simply make your self as inconspicuous as possible and snap your photo while your subject is unaware. Chances are they won’t mind, even if they do you’ll never see them again so don’t worry about being embarrassed. I once took a black and white shot on a crowded subway in Munich, the flash went off and I got tons of dirty looks, but the picture came out great so it was worth it. Go out of your way to catch the locals in their environment. If you are in New York City cruise down to the financial district in the morning or during lunch. Take pictures of businessmen in power suits on cell phones walking to work. If you’re in Soho snap a shot of an ultra trendy fashion slave shopping on Bleeker Street. Remember when you travel it is not only about the sites, it is about the people who call your destination home. Don’t neglect them in your photography.

Most of us are not professional photographers but that doesn’t mean we can’t take great shots. I took a photography class at a local community college in between trips abroad. I can’t remember every detail I learned, as photography is an intricate art. But, one simple technique I was taught altered the quality of my pictures ten fold. When photographing people avoid the tendency to shoot him or her in the center of your photo. Put the subject to the far right or left of your photograph. This allows for the viewer to know where the person is headed and what they are seeing. This also works well for buildings and scenery.

Don’t forget to experiment with your photography. This includes changing perspectives such as standing on a park bench looking down at your subject or crouching down real low for the opposite effect. I have a friend who loves to take pictures of people’s shadows and it looks great. If you’re with three or four people place the camera on the ground and set the timer while you gather around the top of the camera. It’s a great alternative to standing in line formation. Take close ups of interesting details, interiors of restaurants, and lodgings. If you have a manual option on your camera learn to adjust your shutter speed and aperture settings to create depth of field or freeze action. It’s easier than you think and only takes a couple of minutes of on-line research to learn the basics.

Making Your Coffee Table Book
Upon returning from your adventure get your pictures developed as soon as possible. Experiment with different sizes, not just 4x6, as well as both glossy and matte composition. Black and whites look great in matte. Go to a local bookstore and purchase a hardcover scrapbook. It may take a while to find a book suits your desired artistic goal, but be patient, you will know when you find what you’re looking for. The book will be for display, so choose a one that matches the décor or your living room or den. Have enough blank pages for everything you want to include. Remember, this is not a scrapbook per say, so there will be no writing tid bits in the margins. Let the pictures speak for themselves.

Once you have your pictures and book, begin by compiling your photos and post cards in the order in which you want them to appear. Chronological usually works best and helps to convey a story. This is just to get organized, don’t be afraid to deviate from your order if you decide a picture looks better in different location.

Purchase heavy construction paper in basic colors and framing templates, which can be found in any craft store. Glue the construction paper to the outer wall of your picture creating the illusion of a picture frame. Experiment with different colors of construction in framing depending on what hues you want to be draw out to the photo.

The first page should have the picture, which most conveys the spirit of your trip. Enlarge this picture, frame it and paste it on the first page. Never put more than two or three pictures on a page and continually isolate beautiful shots.
Try to establish a rhythm to your book. Maybe a page of two pictures then three pictures followed by single shot, a post card montage and back to the single shots. You can create a section devoted to the local people you photographed or sprinkle them in with the pictures of your friends and family. The same is true for scenery and architecture. Whatever you think looks best.

The magazines and newspapers you purchased can be used to frame a picture with the local writing, or can be made into an interesting collage to contrast the photography throughout the book. If you purchased small local artwork you don’t want to frame in your house add this to your book as well. These details help to convey the mood of the place you visited.

These are suggestions that will help you begin your book. Don’t be afraid to deviate from what I’ve told you. This is your book; you may do as you please. The important thing is you are making it. Once you begin you will be amazed at how beautifully your pictures come to life.

For those of you who simply do not have the time or seriously doubt your creative potential, there are plenty of other options available that will produce a similar outcome, such as My Publisher, Book Maker. This company allows you to download a computer software program and organize your book by selecting from 60 different templates. After completion they professionally bind your book and send it to you within 7 days. You will sacrifice your authentic details such as postcards, magazines and newspapers, and the experiences finding these things brings. In addition this option is somewhat impersonal and less artistic. However, it is certainly offers a professional, polished look and is less time consuming.

“Without new experiences, something inside of us sleeps. The sleeper must awaken.” Frank Herbert

Creating this book and having it displayed for all to see will not only remind you of how important travel is, but may serve to remind others as well. So put aside your lackadaisical attitudes towards displaying photography and make something you can be proud of. And don’t forget to never stop experiencing!

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