Expert tips on taking holiday photos

TAKING photos are part of the fun of holidays, so we asked professional photographers for tips on taking good travel photos.

4 January 2010, 8:14 am

Queenstown, New Zealand. Photo: Ingrid Shakenovsky

DANNY GOCS

TAKING photos are part of the fun of holidays, so it is timely to offer a few tips on taking good travel photos.

And who better to ask for advice than some of the professional photographers whose work has appeared in The AJN over the years.

Edgar Asher is a photojournalist who founded the Isranet news agency in 1993 after making aliyah with his family from Britain in 1975.

His photos appear in newspapers and magazines around the world, including The AJN.

“Today’s digital cameras have opened up a new horizon to all amateur photographers. Although it’s possible to take hundreds of images without any extra cost, the best pictures are those that have been thought about before pressing the shutter,” he said.

“A photo of family members standing in front of a particular monument have their place, but usually lack imagination.”

Peter Haskin has been the AJN staff photographer for the past eight years, based in Melbourne. He has covered the Maccabiah Games and major sporting events, and well as communal and social photography.

A photo tip? To avoid blurred images or camera shake, use a tripod or utilise the self-timer setting on your camera.

Ingrid Shakenovsky has been taking photos for the AJN in Sydney for the past 12 years. A corporate and events photographer, she is also a qualified art teacher.

“By combining people with scenery, you get more than a postcard look in your photo,” she advises.

“Don’t be afraid to lie on the floor to get a more interesting angle on a subject.”

Former AJN staffer Joseph Feil works as a freelance photographer covering news, corporate and social clients. He is a member of ACMP (Australian Commercial and Magazine Photographers).

“Most photos are taken from eye level, so change the perspective to add interest. And you don’t need to understand the menu system of your camera to do it,” he said.

“Add some strong colour, good light, an interesting subject and you’ll find people start to say ‘wow’ to your photos!”

Here are a selection of the photographers’ favourite travel photos with their advice and comments.

QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND. Photographer Ingrid Shakenovsky comments: Take the gondola up Bob’s Peak overlooking Queenstown for spectacular panoramic photos. To capture the lake and mountain ranges, use a wide-angle lens to capture the sense of space.

QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND. Photographer Ingrid Shakenovsky comments: When a group of tourists arrived at the New Zealand hotel, they were greeted by Maori dancers. To get both the dancers and the faces of the guests in the photo, go behind the dancers for the best result.

QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND. Photographer Ingrid Shakenovsky comments: By positioning your subject next to an iconic symbol, the photo is instantly recognisable as having been taken in New Zealand. The pier in the background has an eye-catching perspective.

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA. Photographer Peter Haskin comments: Don’t be afraid of the dark. Some of the most dramatic travel photos can be taken at night. This photo was taken using available light and the camera’s self-timer.

WESTERN WALL, JERUSALEM. Photographer Edgar Asher comments: Look for the unusual in a setting. The Kotel is normally full of people, but here a youth sits alone and contemplates. The composition takes the eye from the lone worshipper to the ancient stone walls.

ACRE HARBOR, ISRAEL. Photographer Edgar Asher comments: The old harbour at Acre is a busy fishing port and a popular tourist attraction. The fishing boats and their reflections are picturesque and the eye is drawn to two fisherman in the foreground.

BEIT SHEAN, ISRAEL. Photographer Edgar Asher comments: There are three components that reflect the enormous size of the Roman columns. First, the three people in the middle distance. Second, the angle of view which shows the shape and decoration of the columns. And finally, the sky adds a dramatic view.

SHANGHAI, CHINA. Photographer Joseph Feil comments: A woman rides home with a basket full of fish in Shanghai. Most photos are taken from eye level, so add interest by putting your camera on the ground or shooting down from up high –- in this case from a balcony.