Travel Photography Series Part 2 – Travel Means People

Two boys on a bike Copyright Carla Coulson My Amalfi Coast

I am off to Italy this week and already planning the menu and the photos I want to take. As I love to travel and so do you I have Part 2 of my Travel Photography series for you today.

Thanks for all your wonderful feedback on Part 1 of the Travel Photography Series – Travel Means Food. If you missed it you can read the post here.

Today I want to share with you how I always include people pictures in my travel stories and why magazines love this.

TRAVEL MEANS PEOPLE

I have worked for many travel magazines that have told me that if there isn’t a person in the shot the image won’t be published!

What does this mean? No ghost towns please…

People give images life, clues to the culture and they tell another part of the story that maybe the background or the cityscape doesn’t tell.

Why are people so important? Their clothes, their faces, how they work, eat, live and play tell the story of a culture. When photographing a travel story this is your aim to go a little deeper into the culture and tell us a story of that place rather than just a bunch of photos of buildings or empty landscapes.

Man Reading The Newspaper – Naples

Copyright Carla Coulson Italian Joy

HOW TO INCLUDE PEOPLE IN YOUR PHOTOS:

GOING ABOUT THEIR DAILY LIFE

People going about their daily life give us so many clues to a place. The two boys in the first picture were riding into a town on the Amalfi Coast and I couldn’t resist this taking this photo. For me it gives a sense of youth, freedom and vitality that a straight picture of the landscape would ‘t have given.

I adored the beautiful gallery in Naples with its 19th century architecture but it was an added bonus an elegant man decided to read the newspaper in front of a beautiful detail.

You can shoot people going about any type of daily life whether it be in the markets, on the streets, in shops, homes. Often I find a scene I love and wait for someone to enter it doing something interesting or dressed in a beautiful or typical way.

 Fish Vendor Sicily Copyright Carla Coulson Chasing a Dream

Little Girl On A Vespa Naples – Copyright Carla Coulson Italian Joy

PORTRAITS

I always love to get some very simple portraits in amongst other types of images including people. The above photo of the man was taken in a fish market in Sicily and I adored this man, his face, his clothes and the simple paper hat in was wearing. I asked him if I could take his photo and he kindly posed for the picture. When taking a portrait I ALWAYS ask the persons permission and that way they collaborate on the pic and bring their own creativity and knowledge to your photo.

And of course the little girl lying on the Vespa tells a story that know words could!

ENVIRONMENTAL SHOTS, CITY SCAPES AND LANDSCAPES

One of my favourite ways of taking a pic is to choose a beautiful piece of architecture or cityscape and wait for the people to fill the scene. In the above photo in Milan for Gourmet Traveller it was essential to get a shot of the Duomo but I wanted it with people going about their daily lives.

I noticed in the morning many commuters travel on the public bikes so I waited till one rode into my photo. This gives an additional clue to readers how people travel within the city.

Noto Sicily Copyright Carla Coulson Chasing a Dream

SILHOUETTES

Often when shooting a travel story you want to have a beautiful architectural shot without the interference of someones face or image. This is the perfect time to use a silhouette where  the person is simply an element in the photo. The above pic I took in Sicily and was freaking out when I saw the light. But the photo was nothing till this man and his shadow walked into the picture!

Rawlinna Outback Australia Copyright Carla Coulson Chasing a Dream

SPORTING AND CULTURAL EVENTS

Carla goes weak at the knees at the thought of a ‘real’ event. Where the real people in that place are doing what they do best! I always check the calendar wherever I go to see what is on whether it be music, sport or a religious festival. Makes for great photography. My heart was in my throat when I saw this sporting event in the Australian Outback. Aussie photographer chick heaven!

PEOPLE IN INTERIORS

The above photo was taken in Giorgio Armani’s restaurant in Milan. This is a classic travel interior shot where the magazine want to see the restaurant but by adding the waiter it gives it life, shows whether the restaurant is ‘smart’ or ‘casual’ and gives the image another dimension. I always ask the wait staff their permission to take the photos and they are normally willing to collaborate.

Rocco leaves Positano Copyright Carla Coulson My Amalfi Coast

 

Paris Metro Copyright Carla Coulson Paris Tango

TAKE THE PHOTOS YOU LOVE

Any travel story will have heart when you take the photos you truly love. My tips above are just that, always trust your instinct, your style and what makes your heart do somersaults. . Taking the photos you love will always connect others to your photography.

I hope this helps you on your way to taking better travel photos. If you missed Part 1 of this series on Food  or Part 3 on architecture you can catch it here and if you want my take on permissions and photo releases you can read about it here.

My Favourite Gear

Canon EOS 5D Mark III 

Canon EF 24-70mm 

Canon EF 35mm 

“No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.” Lin Yutang

 

 

P.S. Please feel free to share to anyone starting out in photography or who has the travel bug x