TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY: Light, Location & Lenses

Where do I go to get the best shot of…?  When do I go to get that shot?  These questions have troubled travelers and photographers for years.  Travel photography is more available and affordable than ever.

Great travel photography boils down to three things: Light, Location and Lenses.  In the following short paragraphs I will share with you the prime basics I have learned over the last 30 years of travel photography.  Since the early 1980’s I have traveled to over 160 countries—yes, there are that many and still more to go!

Light.  Without it GREAT photography is difficult—even with the high ISO digital cameras of today.  Truly excellent photography begins AND ends with light and how you use, protect, manipulate and ultimately capture light.

Just as important as the primal light mother-nature provides is the light of your own imagination and eye.  The art of seeing light is a must for being able to visualize exactly how you want to capture the light you have to work with.

The key with travel photography, as with most other photography, is how you put yourself into position to capture the best light for the location you are working with.  This can vary depending on the location.

How do we combat or work with light?  Rise before the sun, and most people, to be out, set-up and ready to release the shutter on location before even the bell tower mice of Notre Dame are awake.  The best light of any day and any season is often the morning light.  The soft rays create hues and angles which even the novice can make look extraordinary.  In my opinion morning light is the most interesting and clean light of the day.  Of course, the often vibrant rays of the evening are inviting and awesome as well.

As always, before you begin clicking away, consider how the available light, weather, as well as lens selection and camera position will impact your shot.  Take some time to walk around your subject, if possible, while considering all of these elements. Take your time and look through the viewfinder (or even LCD screen) and be open to the unusual and the unexpected.

Location.  The world is such that many people have traveled and seen much more than even 20 years ago.  The classic sights—The Eiffel Tower, The Leaning Tower of Pisa or even a Bull Elk in Yellowstone National Park have been shot by MILLIONS of photographers.  Each of them has a killer shot of the site—right?  However, many travelers do not go back to a location to ever shoot it again.  Hitting sights in each of the four seasons brings them to life.  If at all possible return to favorite locations and shoot often—the Light is NEVER the same and your mood and imagination may bring you new discoveries.  Spending time watching locals interact and visit sites can add a layer of creativity and vision to how you approach and shoot it.  Find out as much as you can about your destination before you start traveling.  Use the Internet, travel books, maps and the phone to find out details about potential shooting locations and weather.  When you arrive on location take some time to look at post cards of the area to get ideas and locations.  If the schedule allows, scout a location to determine the best camera position for the next day—these are all things we do and provide in advance on a photo tour!  Putting yourself in the right place at the right time is a must to excellent travel photography.

Lenses.  Do NOT skimp on glass.  I would rather have a basic (read entry level) DSLR and GREAT glass than a fully-loaded pro DSLR with inferior glass.  Yes, we recognize that there is a lot of good glass out there.  Every maker has raised the quality level to deal with the specific needs of digital photography.  The key here is to take the time, effort and spend the money you can afford for the system AND desired results you want.  Our Imagination, Light and Lens (ILL) make SICK (read awesome) pictures!  When the three L-elements come together with our imagination the possibilities are endless and the creativity and beauty are as magnificent as the love of our life.

What are the answers to the above questions?  Get out and travel.  Take your camera and shoot.  When we couple travel & photography the world takes on new meanings and adventures.  The people, places and sights that are travel photography open our eyes and fill us with an appreciation for the privilege we have to document the Light & Location through the Lens, of not only the camera, but our minds and hearts.  As we say at M&M, “You don’t just take a photograph, you experience it!”

Contact me directly at: mikeg@mmphototours.com with questions about our tours, general travel questions, and of course anything photography related.  Thanks for all the support.

Restricted Photo Gear

A few times a year we find ourselves at different locations around the country offering travel photography seminars and presentations.  We discuss many different things, what to take, how to pack, how to travel efficiently, travel photo tips, and images from past trips…but one topic that people always enjoy is “Restricted Photo Gear”.

Many photographers don’t realize that certain locations have restrictions on photography gear whether it be size, type or weight. The last thing you want, for example, is to show up to Machu Picchu for your photographic adventure of a lifetime only to be turned away at the entrance because you have 200+mm lenses. It is very important to “know before you go” and for that reason we would like to share a list of restrictions in a few areas. Take note this is not a complete list, and you should research each specific location you will be visiting.

Australia
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (aka Ayers Rock) – Under Australian law, namely the EPBC Act of 1999 and EPBC Regs 2000, fines in the thousands of dollars can be imposed upon commercial photographers who take pictures in the national park without a permit or who take pictures of the ‘wrong’ parts of the national park. Some restrictions apply to amateur photography as well.

A person does not have the right to not be photographed in Australia; as Australia has no Bill of Rights in the sense that many other countries do, there is no guaranteed right to privacy. This does not however mean that it is a free-for-all. Be kind, courteous and aware of others. If you are on private property you must follow the rules dictated by the owner.

New Zealand 
Restrictions on photography come into play when it may be construed as “offensive” to a reasonable person.

Italy
The Sistine Chapel in Vatican City
– prohibits all still and video photography.

France
You can photograph anything in public but if you plan on publishing it the subject must give consent. Street photography has been essentially rendered illegal.

UK
You are allowed to take photographs of private property from public property, but once upon private property, the owner has ultimate control over whether or whether not you are allowed to photograph, even if it is publicly accessible.

Locations such as Trafalgar Square, Parliament Square, or any of the Royal Parks allow recreational or artistic photographs. Commercial photography of these locations is prohibited.

The UK forbids any photography that may somehow prove of use to terrorists.

United States
US National Parks – Permit requirements vary by park for commercial photography. Non-commercial or amateur photographers are free to shoot in the parks. You may be questioned if you are using tripods or other “professional” equipment. There are exceptions for “educational” groups. 

Alaska – Bush planes restrict weight of all equipment and luggage.  Check with your tour operator or M&M.

Peru
Machu Picchu – Professional looking large tripods and lenses are restricted in the Machu Picchu complex. There have been many instances where photographers where charged upwards of $300 for every large tripod and lens larger than 200mm. A possible way around this is to use “Tele-zoom lenses”. They are great to use at Machu Picchu instead of the prime lenses.  

Russia 
Authorities sometimes ask for “permit fees” for street photography of government buildings.
Police/Military do not like their pictures taken. Please contribute to making photographers reputations better by following their wishes.

Israel
While crossing the border sometimes authorities may restrict gear and/or demand a fee. 

In Islamic countries photographing women is forbidden.

China
Terra Cotta Warriors – No tripods of any size are permitted inside the buildings that house the Terra Cotta Warriors. If caught using one it will be confiscated without warning and will not be returned.

Authorities sometimes ask for “permit fees” for street photography of government buildings.

Chinese Police/Military do not like their pictures taken. Please contribute to making photographers reputations better by following their wishes.

Vietnam 
Authorities do not allow pictures of military installations and many government buildings.

Egypt
Anyone taking very expensive photographic gear into Egypt, particularly if they are professionals, should contact the Egyptian Press Office in their Egyptian consulate.  Equipment must often be registered, because the government does not want such equipment bought into Egypt and then sold without paying customs taxes.  They will check this gear upon arrival and check it upon departure.  CUSTOMS FORM 4457 is VITAL.

Photos cannot be taken INSIDE the pyramids, tombs and most museums in Egypt without a permit.  Your gear may be confiscated and you may be fined.

While crossing the border authorities may restrict gear and demand a fee.  Restrictions vary in Gaza areas depending on local activities.

Galapagos Islands 
Officials do not restrict any specific equipment but often limits the length of time you take to “set-up” your tripods and equipment according to wildlife, flora and access for others.  Common sense should rule the day.

Without a permit you are restricted to shooting during the mid-day hours. This is often solved by being with a tour group who has already acquired the appropriate permits.

Patagonia 
Flights into Patagonia (Argentina or Chile) restrict weight of all equipment and luggage. Check with the airline or M&M.

India
Allowed gear: 1 camera with film rolls (up to 20 rolls), 1 video camera/camcorder with accessories as personal items.  M&M works with in country vendors to ensure we do not have any issues upon arrival.  FORM 4457!

Ethiopia 
May restrict any/all of our camera gear into the country.  The Ethiopian government has a reputation for locking up camera equipment and not giving it back until the owners leave the country.  The government fears any media that may make them out to be corrupt or irresponsible.  Our ground vendor takes care of our “permits” in advance so we do not have any issues. FORM 4457 is a must for Ethiopia as well.

Japan 
Tripods are no longer allowed (signs are posted) at the following Temples/Shrines in Kyoto: 
Kiyomizu Temple
Ginkaku Shrine (Silver Pavillion)
Kinkaku Shrine (Golden Pavillion)

North Korea
Please be aware that tourists are under very strict regulations as to what they can and cannot do and this is not negotiable. For example, you are not free to wander around on your own, there are photographic restrictions and video cameras are generally prohibited. There have been serious problems in the past with journalists and therefore they are not welcome.

Generally you are only supposed to take pictures of what your appointed guides allow you to. The public is obliged to report all photography.

Your are restricted from taking photographs of: soldiers, check points, poverty, sneaked photos, while driven around and close ups of people.

Do not take your camera with you if you are alone and without a guide.

Any lens over 150mm is not allowed in the country.

Most Countries
You are almost guaranteed to find trouble if you photograph anything that could be perceived as being of military or security interest — including bridges, airfields, military installations, government buildings or government vehicles. This could result in being detained and questioned, along with hefty fines and confiscation of the camera.

In Conclusion
The best option for anyone out there is to join a photo tour who has already obtained the proper permits, can provide you a list of restrictions and advise you while you are out shooting.

If you ever need any help you can always call M&M Photo Tours. We are ready and willing to help.  Also feel free to email us (info@mmphototours.com) with any inquiries. To stay informed of changes ask to be signed up for our news letter.

Kyoto, Japan

There are many places on earth we love to photograph.  Near the top of the list is Kyoto, Japan.  There is a charm and sensibility to the city that lends itself to pure enjoyment.

As the ancient capital of Japan, Kyoto is packed with photographic charms – temples, shrines, Maiko and abundant natural wonders.  One could spend months here and not be able to enjoy all that the city has to offer.

Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, who argued to save the city, spared Kyoto WWII destruction.  His insistence is our reward.  Thanks to him the city remained for us to discover and enjoy.

We spent 2 days in Kyoto and tried to focus on the key sites that interested our group.  Those would be – Toji Temple, Silver Pavillion, Golden Pavillion, Kiyomizu Temple, Tofuku Temple, and Maiko.  Of course, we enjoyed some fantastic cuisine in Kyoto to boot.

We hope you enjoy the following shots.

Canon 24-105L @ 24mm 1/45 f8 ISO 100 w/ Tiffen Circular Polarizer & 2 stop Grad ND filter

Sigma 70-200 @ 200mm 1/60 f2.8 ISO 6400

Sigma 70-200 @ 157mm 1/90 f2.8 ISO 6400

Canon 24-105L @ 32mm 1/125 f6.7 ISO 200 w/ Tiffen Circular Polarizer & 2 stop Grad ND filter

Canon 24-105L @ 105mm 1/250 f8 ISO 200 w/ Tiffen Circular Polarizer & 2 stop Grad ND filter

Canon 24-105L @ 24mm 1/45 f8 ISO 100 w/ Tiffen Circular Polarizer & 2 stop Grad ND filter

Canon 24-105L @ 24mm 1/60 f8 ISO 100 w/ Tiffen Circular Polarizer & 2 stop Grad ND filter

Canon 24-105L @ 84mm 1/750 f6.7 ISO 200 w/ Tiffen Circular Polarizer

Canon 24-105L @ 24mm 1/180 f4 ISO 100 w/ Tiffen Circular Polarizer & 2 stop Grad ND filter

Kamakura, Japan

Kamakura is a coastal town in Kanagawa Prefecture, less than an hour south of Tokyo.

Kamakura became the political center of Japan, when Minamoto Yoritomo chose the city as the seat for his new military government in 1192.  The Kamakura government continued to rule Japan for over a century.

After the decline of the Kamakura government in the 14th century and the establishment of its successor, the Muromachi government in Kyoto, Kamakura remained the political center of Eastern Japan for some time before losing its position to other cities.

Today, Kamakura is a small city of under 200,000 but it remains a popular tourist destination among Japanese and foreign travelers.  Sometimes called the Kyoto of Eastern Japan, Kamakura offers numerous temples, shrines, and other historical monuments.  Kamakura is also known among Buddhists for being one of the cradles of Nichiren Buddhism in Japan.

We had a great time in Kamakura and spent the majority of our time at 2 locations – The Great Amida Buddha & Hasedera Temple.  Hope you enjoy some of our shots from these 2 memorable sites.

Canon 24-105L @ 28mm 1/60 f9.5 ISO 100 w/Tiffen Polarizer & 2 stop Grad ND filter

Canon 24-105L @ 105mm 1/45 f8 ISO 100 w/Tiffen Polarizer & 2 stop Grad ND filter

Canon 24-105L @ 35mm 1/90 f4 ISO 800 w/Tiffen Polarizer

Canon 24-105L @ 105mm 1/90 f4 ISO 800 w/ 2 stop Grad ND filter

Canon 24-105L @ 45mm 1/45 f8 ISO 100 w/Tiffen Polarizer & 2 stop Grad ND filter

Canon 24-105L @ 73mm 1/60 f8 ISO 100 w/Tiffen Polarizer & 2 stop Grad ND filter

Hiroshima, Japan

Hiroshima is home to over a million people.

When the first atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima the city became known worldwide for this unenviable distinction.  The destructive power of the bomb was tremendous and obliterated nearly everything within a one mile radius.

After the war, great efforts were made to rebuild the city. Predictions that the city would be uninhabitable proved false. Destroyed monuments of Hiroshima’s historical heritage were reconstructed.  In the center of the city a large park was built and given a name that would reflect the aspirations of the re-born city: Peace Memorial Park.

Next to Peace Memorial Park is the Atomic Dome – the most striking symbol of the terrible destruction and one of the most widely photographed buildings in Japan.  We’ll only share three images from Hiroshima – all of the Atomic Dome.

Given the current situation in Fukushima, Japan and all the surrounding areas these images stand as a stark reminder of the immense power of mother nature and what can happen when man harnesses that power.

Just as Hiroshima has blossomed into her modern form we expect our dear friends of Japan to overcome the difficulties of the recent devastation in Tohoku and thrive once again.  The last image is an expression of that hope.

Canon 24-105L @ 28mm 1/60 f8 ISO 100 w/ Tiffen Circular Polarizer & 2-stop grad ND filter

Canon 24-105L @ 28mm 1/60 f8 ISO 100 w/ Tiffen Circular Polarizer & 2-stop grad ND filter (manipulated in CS4)

Canon 24-105L @ 24mm 1/45 f9.5 ISO 100 w/ Tiffen Circular Polarizer & 2-stop grad ND filter

Toshogu – Nikko, Japan

1/20 f5.6 ISO 400 Canon 24-105L @ 45mm

Nikko is a magical place northwest of Tokyo about 2 hours.  It is a beautiful setting with mature trees, a large lake nearby, and it attracts millions of Japanese and foreign tourists every year because of its main site – Toshogu.

Toshogu is the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled Japan for over 250 years until 1868.  The lavishly decorated shrine complex consists of more than a dozen Shinto and Buddhist buildings set in a beautiful forest. Initially much smaller, Toshogu was enlarged into the massive complex of today by Ieyasu’s grandson Iemitsu during the first half of the 17th century.  Hope you enjoy some of our favorite shots from our visit.

         1/90 f4 ISO 800                                  1/350 f2.8 ISO 400
         Canon 24-105L @ 24mm                Sigma 70-200 @ 147mm

1/15 f4 ISO 400 Canon 24-105L @ 24mm

1/45 f4.5 ISO 800 Canon 24-105L @ 28mm

1/45 f8 ISO 500 Sigma 70-200 @ 70mm

1/45 f4 ISO 800 Canon 24-105L @ 28mm

Japan Cherry Blossoms

                        Sigma 70-200 @ 200mm f/2.8 1/3000 ISO 100

One of the major reasons we visit Japan at this time of year is to see the Cherry Blossoms in bloom.  Particularly this year the Cherry Blossoms have a special meaning to the Japanese after the devastation of a month ago.  To the Japanese Cheery Blossoms represent hope, new life, and a coming of something better.

This year is no different but with a heightened meaning and awareness.  We visited and shot a few of the key places for Cherry Blossoms and the Japanese were out celebrating the coming of spring and the hope of their future.  People may not be out shopping, entertaining or otherwise spending time out in Tokyo but we found a fair number enjoying the blossoms.

 
Canon 24-105 @ 80mm f/4 1/125 ISO 800

 

There were people gathering donations for those left homeless after the quake & tsunami and then there were the radicals driving around in their trucks with loud speakers announcing, to anyone who’d listen, that Japan was being punished for her pride, policies and treatment of others.  We will not focus on those but rather on the beautiful Cherry Blossoms.  We shot both the Imperial Palace gardens and Ueno Park.  We’ve chosen to show shots from the Imperial Palace gardens first.

                                  
Sigma 70-200 @ 200mm f/10 1/250 ISO 320

Canon 24-105L @55mm f8 1/125 ISO 200

Traditional Japanese Wedding at Meiji Shrine

While we were wandering the grounds of Meiji Shrine in Tokyo there was a wedding going on.  When they saw us with cameras they got excited so Mike G asked in his fluent Japanese if it would be OK to take a few pictures of the bride and groom.  Luckily they agreed and even posed for a few shots.  This is an example of fun, unexpected things we run into on tour.  Being able to watch and shoot un-staged events like this is what we mean when we say: “You don’t just take a photograph, you experience it!”

   1/90 f9.5 ISO 1000                            1/90 f9.5 ISO 1000
Canon 24-105L @ 35mm                 Canon 24-105L @ 105mm

                                           1/90 f9.5 ISO 1000 
                                      Canon 24-105L @ 50mm

                                          1/90 f8 ISO 1000 
                                     Canon 24-105L @ 40mm

                                         1/125 f4.5 ISO 1000
                                   Canon 24-105L @ 105mm

Hello from Japan

Hello from Japan.

I was wondering what I’d encounter here after the devastation of a month ago.  Arriving at Narita left me with little doubt that Japan is hurting.

Narita International Airport was a virtual ghost town – only a handful of workers, only 2 Customs & Immigration lines open and very few passengers on the flight arriving the same time as mine.  My flight only had 62 passengers on a plane that holds nearly 300!  Out of respect I did’t take any pictures.

Getting into the city I further saw how the Japanese are handling their recovery efforts.  Lights out all over the city and nobody (compared to my past experiences) out in the evenings and traffic looked like Moab, Utah in the winter not Tokyo in April.

We did venture out to shoot “Piss Alley” which is a group of narrow alleys that house small food stalls – some in the group were looking forward to this.  They were not busy at all.  The folks that were there seemed focused on their futures (from the small talk I overheard) and what was next.  Here are a couple shots from Piss Alley:

f/5.6 1/60 ISO 2500 Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 @ 128mm

f/8 1/60 ISO 3200 Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 @ 70mm

As we wandered a little further we ended up in Kabuki-cho – a red light district.  Again, nobody was out and about and business did not seem as usual.  We did run across this sign that in short reads “The water we are using in the store was brought in from Osaka.  You can enjoy our tea and other drinks without worry.”  A somber message addressing the radiation fears of the water supply in Tokyo.

f/10 1/60 ISO 2500 Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 @ 70mm

Stay tuned for more.