Introduction
This website allows me to display my work and offer advice on taking "travel photos." Additional advice, photos, reviews, and experiences can be found at my photo blog - http://www.trekkingexposures.com. I hope you enjoy this site and my blog.
Travel photography presents special challenges to any non-professional photographer. When I shoot a wedding or a local event, I take two camera bodies, off camera lighting, and numerous lenses. When I travel, I do not have the luxury of taking all of my equipment (mainly because I have not figured out how to get paid for my travel shoots). Furthermore, when you travel, you do not have time to wait around for the perfect weather conditions. In short, you have to make do with limited time, non-ideal weather, and limited equipment.
The galleries in this website are divided into two classifications: (1) Travel and (2) Tips. Photographs from various trips are displayed in the travel galleries. In the "tips" galleries, I discuss some practical advice and tips learned over the years. Hopefully, others will find these tips useful. If you have specific questions, feel free to contact me through my other website at http://www.naifehphotography.com.
I have also produced a few “self published” books of my photographs. These are primarily used as gifts to family and friends. However, I found that they are also a great way to document trips. My books may be previewed and purchased at http://www.blurb.com/user/bnaifeh
In preparation for my first trip to Europe, I attended a non-credit photography course given by a local university. The instructor was a professional. He was very good, but, he gave us horrible advice for taking travel photographs. (He had, by the way, never traveled outside the U.S.) I ended up buying and carrying way too much equipment. Nothing can spoil a vacation in Europe like carrying and looking after 20 pounds of photography equipment.
My instructor knew that good photography takes time. He also knew that having the right equipment is crucial to good photography and he was a perfectionist. Consequently, he told us what he would do. It was good advice, but it was not practical advice for a tourist.
It takes time to set up and use camera equipment. The more equipment you bring, the more decisions have to be made and the more time it takes. When you are sight seeing (especially with others who do not share you passion for photography), it is hard to find the time to change equipment. As a tourist, you simply do not have the time or the resources to do a professional photo shoot.
My approach is to find a balance between quality and convenience. I do not use a full range of “professional equipment" when I travel. While traveling, I simply do not have the luxury of devoting the time I would if it were a professional shoot.
On the other hand, I am a perfectionist. My goal is to take the best photograph that I can under the circumstances. I have learned a few tricks over the years which allow me to strike a balance between equipment and quality.