We’re all going to get older and the moments we have experienced are going to get further away, that’s one reason that when you’re traveling one of your best friends should be your camera.
You might not feel confident with your photography skills, something we will come on to below, but capturing key moments as you explore the world will prove to be something you cherish for many years. This ability we have in the modern day to capture a moment so freely should not be underestimated, a photo can be used for so many things so let’s look at a couple.
Memories
Preserving memories through photography is something we shouldn’t lose sight of as cameras become more and more accessible. Smartphones and the like have made taking pictures easier than ever before but ask yourself, what are you doing with that camera?
When you’re traveling, you’re going to come across so many moments that are unique to you that preservation through photography is going to incredibly helpful. But taking pictures for the sake of it is going to distort those memories.
A photograph should bolster your memories, it should be a single image or a small collection of images that awaken thoughts and feelings inside you rather than the memory being only what you have seen in picture form.
Conversation
Your photos will be part of any conversation you have about traveling. They can guide you through a journey or be a visual aid as you attempt to describe the indescribable. Taking the time to learn how to use your photography for storytelling will help you when you sit down with loved ones or friends to pick out the images that are best suited to what you want to share.
We’ve all sat down for the dreaded holiday snaps slideshow, seeing the same photograph over and over again. But, with your traveling photos you can lead a conversation with the beauty, the unusual or the fascinating things that you have seen.
Remember, there are certain images that will mean something to you that will be hard to express to others, so bear that in mind when you are preparing a story. The accessibility we discussed above to stored images also help you with conversations that happen off the cuff, your going to have experienced things that words alone just won’t do.
Don’t be concerned if you aren’t a confident photographer, the more you practice the better you will get. However, there is help out there with some of the more technical aspects such as a Flash Photography Tutorial or guides on the terminology of photography.
Hopefully, this will have encouraged you to take your camera with you next time you’re exploring. Captured memories are both personal to you and useful when discussing your experiences with others. Take a picture with its purpose in mind and remember, in many years to come you’re going to want to look back on these moments.
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