Travel
Get to know the pro
Name: Stuart Dunn
Website: www.stuartdunnphotography.com
Photographic specialism: Travel
Stuart
Dunn , One industry insider offers his advice for travel photography.
Favourite location for travel photography?
India is always a pleasure
Where you most like to visit next?
Antarctica
Preferred kit? Canon EOS 5D Mark II with
Canon 24-70mm L-series lens
Mini bio: Stuart was born in Newcastle in
1977, he studied at the Northern Media School and gained a masters degree in
cinematography. Since then, Stuart has gained an abundance of credits in a
variety of publications and TV programmes across the globe
Stuart Dunn’s top six travel recommendations
‘Be brave and talk to people… Making
them feel at ease is quite an art’
Engage with people
Be brave and talk to people. Building a
rapport with someone and making them feel at ease is quite an art. Interesting
experiences will come your way once you begin to engage with people.
Get intimate
When focused on taking travel portrait
shots, try to avoid using a long lens. A 50mm lens or wider will give you
fantastic results with a more intimate feel.
Preserve your kit
Humidity is a huge problem when working in
the jungle. If your camera has condensation issues, place it in a dry bag with
several packs of silica gel, seal the bag and hang it out in the sun for an
hour or two – your kit will soon be working fine again.
Trust your instincts
Experiment with lighting and interesting
compositions. Sometimes you have to throw out the rule book and just go with
your instincts and what feels right.
Be inconspicuous
Try not to look too much like a
photographer, especially professional one. Being faced with big lenses and
expensive kit can often be very daunting for people.
While you’re out and about
Respect other cultures
Always be respectful of different cultures
and traditions. It’s important to research the way of life at your chosen
location.
Do your research
Plan ahead and work around certain times of
the day to visit popular tourist destinations. This way you’ll beat the crowds
and also know in advance of any scheduled events or ceremonies worth shooting.
Have a camera on hand
Always have a camera on you, even if you’re
taking a break from your serious shooting schedule. A compact or even a camera
phone can be handy and will ensure you don’t miss an impromptu shot.
Embrace motion
For photographing busy, popular locations
where tourists will frequently walk past, use an ND filter and tripod with a
long exposure. This will help to remove the people from the scene and create an
artistic trace of their steps instead.
Set yourself a challenge
Don’t be put off shooting the big tourist
attractions, it may have been done before but it sets you the task of finding a
new way to shoot. Start by finding a new angle.
Work with a zoom
Invest in a good-quality zoom lens that
offers you a wide angle and medium telephoto range, around 18-200mm. This way
you won’t have to worry about having to change lenses and missing any key
moments to get your image.
Store your shots safely
Take a portable hard drive with you, or set
up an online file-sharing account so you can upload images to free-up space on
your memory card. Ask a friend at home to download your shots for you so they
can be stored safely.
Work with RAW
Invest in a large memory card so you can
always shoot in RAW. This way you can adjust or correct white balance later in
post-production – a common problem when shooting under different lighting
conditions.
Check you’re covered
Before setting off on a trip ensure you and
your kit are correctly insured. It means you won’t have to worry if you have an
accident or your gear gets stolen.
Prevent pickpockets
To keep your kit safe, disguise it by
sticking duct tape onto your camera body. It will make it appear old and worn,
and much less appealing to any potential thieves.
Putting it into practice
1. Settings
On locations, the light can change
dramatically. To help ensure you get well-exposed images every time, set your
camera to Aperture Priority. This way you can control depth of field while the
camera controls the shutter speed.
2. Setup
Don’t be put off photographing often-shot
scenes, simply find new ways to get your image. Try shooting from a low angle
for more dynamic results; it will also give your subject more presence within
the frame.
3. The results
Think carefully about your composition when
framing the scene. Don’t forget to use lead-in lines and the rule of thirds, it
can really help to strengthen your final shot.
