The Art of Storytelling Through Travel Photography
It’s safe to say that most of us want to document our travels, whether we’re spending a weekend in a neighboring county or traveling to an exotic destination halfway around the world. We need to capture memorable moments and spectacular sights for our enjoyment and to share with our friends, family, and coworkers a glimpse of what we’ve experienced.
There are two primary approaches to travel photography.
One is to click away without putting much thought into what we’re doing, and the other is to tell a story that makes a lasting impression on the viewer.
The second approach is what we’re interested in, but how do we get it right?
Keep reading to find out how to get to grips with the art of storytelling through travel photography.
Travel Photography and Storytelling
You may wonder if there is a significant difference between good travel photography and storytelling photography. There is.
Travel photography boils down to documenting your experiences as a traveler. You capture your journey and the people, architecture, local food, culture, and landscapes of the places you visit.
Storytelling takes this a step further.
A photo that tells a story presents a narrative that creates an emotional connection with the viewer, transporting them to a different time and place. It’s about distilling the essence of that scene, whether the subject is the play of afternoon light on a lush green landscape or one of the locals backdropped by an ornate temple. Getting this right requires some knowledge of your camera settings and how to approach storytelling travel photography, as well as a bit of luck.
You also need to be flexible and patient, as the perfect photos seldom, if ever, happen on command. You might be faced with unforeseen circumstances, sudden changes in weather, or a crowd of people in what you thought would be a quiet place.
While these and similar factors can be challenging, they also offer opportunities to capture unique perspectives and striking photos.
Tips for Storytelling Through Travel Photography
Now that you know what you should be aiming for, let’s explore a few tips that can help you tell incredible stories through your travel photography.
First, Be an Observer
While there are times for shooting from the hip, the first thing you should do when you want to take a photo that tells a story is to observe the scene quietly for a few moments. Look with your eyes, rather than through your camera’s viewfinder.
This gives you a chance to spot details or a more interesting perspective that you might not have noticed if you started snapping away immediately. Once you’ve found the right moment, you can start taking photos.
Experiment with Different Angles and Perspectives
Never assume that your first position in front of something or someone you want to photograph is the best. If possible, walk around your subject, paying attention to how it looks from different sides.
Take this further by changing your angle of view. Stand on a step or bench, get down on one knee, lie down, or place your camera on the ground, angling it up slightly. Take photos through a hole in a balustrade or fence, through a window, or under a table or chair. Get creative and prepare to be surprised by what you capture!
Pay Attention to People
You’re bound to meet some of the locals when you travel, whether they’re friendly strangers on a bus, a bartender making cocktails, someone making a popular street food, or a musician busking on a sidewalk. No matter how interesting the architecture or dramatic the landscape of a place, it’s always the people who make it memorable.
Chat with the locals you meet and, if you feel comfortable doing so, ask them if you can take a photo of them, especially if they’re doing what they do for a living. Choosing a person rather than an object as your subject is a great way to take photos that tell a story and create a human connection, and chatting to locals is a great way to find out about hidden gems off the beaten path, which could lead to photos that are better than you could have imagined.
Use Light to Create Mood
Light is one of your best allies when it comes to creating storytelling travel photos that convey mood. Before taking a picture, pay attention to the quality of the light and ask yourself what mood it might convey. If you’re familiar with your camera’s settings and have it in manual mode, adjust the aperture, ISO, and shutter speed to suit the light, whether it’s sunlight, candlelight, or streetlight shining down like a spotlight.
It’s worth remembering that the best times to take photos are the so-called golden hours in the morning and evening, when the light is a gentle golden yellow. If you want to take pictures around midday, especially when photographing people, try to find a shady spot where the light is evenly distributed.
Visit the Same Place at Different Times
The same place can look vastly different at various times of day. Whether it’s due to the number of people, the activities taking place, or the light, the exact location can have innumerable different moods, atmospheres, meanings, and unfolding stories. If you have the time, visit the precise location in the morning, afternoon, and evening, and dedicate those visits to observing and exploring.
When you know what time of day and which spot offers the best opportunity to take photos that tell a story, revisit it and use that opportunity to take a few pictures. Capturing the same location under different conditions is also an excellent way to sharpen your skills and ability to interpret a place from multiple perspectives.
If you enjoy shooting landscapes, this is also the ideal way to build up your portfolio. It gives you the chance to deepen your connection to the location while elevating the storytelling power of your photography.
Tell Stories With Your Travel Photos
Traveling is one of the best ways to have experiences that leave you with unforgettable memories and enthralling stories to tell. Whether you’re ticking off a bucket list destination or camping locally, the tips above will help you master the art of storytelling through travel photography.
In doing so, you can add so much more to your journey, capturing not just places but the emotions, people, and moments that bring your travel stories vividly to life.