In this article, I share an important concept I've learned through photographing more than 30 countries.
Recently, I returned from a 15-day journey to Sri Lanka. In my early days as a photographer, I would have tried to cram as many photo spots as possible into such a trip. By photographing sunrise and sunset each day with a few places in between, I would have tried to visit and photograph at least 30 different photo locations. Let me tell you that this was quite stressful at times.
Photograph Less, but Better
But 15 years as a photographer have taught me that less is more, especially when traveling. That is why I focused on only nine different locations in Sri Lanka. Some of those I had planned before the trip, and others I discovered through scouting.
This approach has several advantages. By planning several days at each location, you become less dependent on getting the perfect conditions each time. Take my photo of Lion's Rock, for example. I took it from the Pidurangala viewpoint during the second evening in the Sigiriya area. The first sunset I photographed was okay, with a lovely afterglow. But the absence of clouds made the result much less spectacular than the photo I got during the second sunset. There wasn't a guarantee that I'd get such conditions during my second evening up there, but I increased my chances by going there multiple times.
I also increased my knowledge of the area. The first day was mainly spent scouting and finding the best vantage point. I also learned when I would get the most intense glow. The exact time this happens differs for each travel destination, depending on latitude, season, and other factors. In Sri Lanka, I could count on the best glow to occur 20 minutes after sunset. I knew I could pack up if nothing had happened with the sky by then due to the clouds and weather conditions. But during my time in Sri Lanka, I never left before that time.
Another reason to slow down during travels and spend several days at each location is that usually, not everything will work out as planned. On day three, I got food poisoning, which knocked me out for two days. Had I not planned some buffer between the different locations, I wouldn't have been able to photograph Little Adam's Peak. However, how I spaced out my itinerary allowed me to recover between the various photo locations.
There was only one place where I would have loved to stay longer. I spent one day in a tented camp near Yala National Park, in an area where I hadn't seen many photos. I had two guided hikes through the wilderness, which proved to me that I had misjudged the potential of this area. Despite the heavy rain we encountered, the evening hike was already filled with many photo opportunities, while the morning hike was pure magic. This experience again taught me that switching locations daily is seldom a good idea. As the guides told me of the viewpoints in the area similar to the ones we had visited, it felt difficult to leave after such a short stay.
Arriving at the coast toward the end of my trip, I again planned plenty of time for exploration and photography. I spent four days in the Tangalle area. Through my research, I knew I would find many palm-lined beaches there. But based on the photos I had seen, their photographic potential wasn't yet clear to me. I could only find the most photogenic beach through scouting, which takes time. Once I had found the best photo spots in the area, I returned several times to capture them in the best possible conditions.
Usually, when you visit and scout several locations, a few photo spots stand out, and focusing on those will increase your chances of getting a great photo instead of ending up with great light in a less photogenic location.
Conclusion
Traveling more slowly and focusing on fewer photo spots allows you to become more familiar with the places you visit. You have more chances to photograph a location in ideal conditions, and because you have been to it multiple times, you know the best vantage points.
In the end, you will bring home fewer photos. However, these few images will usually be of higher quality than if you focus on quantity.
Aside from photography, the travel experience will also be more pleasant and less stressful. After all, unless you are a full-time photographer, those travels aren't part of your job, and you should be able to enjoy them and not burn out because you worry too much about capturing as many photos as possible.
