Traveling to new locations provides incredible opportunities for unique and memorable photos. Yet, small mistakes can quickly turn a promising trip into frustration, causing you to miss great shots or even run into trouble with local authorities.
Coming to you from Jason Row Photography, this insightful video highlights essential travel mistakes to avoid. Row emphasizes the necessity of researching the culture and laws of your destination, especially regarding sensitive subjects like government buildings, military personnel, and drone photography. For instance, while Cuba is friendly toward photography, capturing images of military personnel or official buildings could bring swift trouble. The importance here lies in being informed—checking government and local tourist websites can save you from hefty fines or losing expensive gear.
Row further advises photographers to respect cultural sensitivities, particularly in religious spaces or when photographing locals. Temples, mosques, and churches often allow photography, but capturing images of worshippers without permission is typically frowned upon, sometimes severely. Similarly, while countries like Cuba encourage photography, many Asian cultures are more reserved and require explicit permission. Row suggests learning basic local phrases or using simple hand gestures to communicate your intentions, ensuring a respectful interaction.
Gear management is another major focus of the video. Row warns against relying too heavily on your phone for photography during significant trips. Although smartphones are handy, they fall short for specialized shots like long exposures or telephoto images. Balancing your gear is also critical—too much equipment becomes cumbersome, while too little could mean missing crucial shots. Row personally travels with a versatile zoom lens, like a 24-105mm, and a fast prime lens, ensuring versatility without excess baggage. Additionally, airline restrictions can complicate gear packing, making careful planning indispensable.
Backing up your photos during travel is also highlighted as a critical step many neglect. Loss or theft can happen unexpectedly, and Row shares his personal strategy: using multiple hard drives and cloud services for nightly backups. This simple precaution safeguards your irreplaceable photos from potential mishaps.
Avoiding tourist clichés by exploring side streets and interacting with locals can significantly improve your photo portfolio, according to Row. Popular spots often yield predictable, overcrowded images. Instead, Row suggests creative approaches, such as photographing iconic landmarks through unique framing or foreground elements. His project "Glimpses of London" exemplifies how creative compositions can reinvigorate familiar locations.
The video covers additional practical tips about avoiding common scams, shooting at optimal times, and efficiently managing your photos post-trip, so check out the video above for the full rundown from Row.
