10 travel photography tips

Whether you're heading interstate, overseas or enjoying a local break, chances are you'll be packing a digital camera on your next holiday.

The photos you take while travelling can't usually be repeated, so we've put together a quick guide to help y1. Take a step back
Not all cameras have ultra-wide-angle lenses like Panasonic's Lumix DMC-FX36 or Samsung's NV24HD. While these two shooters offer the convenience of capturing wide expanses of the scenery, you, too, can achieve that. Take a couple of steps back and you should be able to get more view in your frame, even if you are using a shooter with a conventional 35mm lens.
2. Rule of thirds
Position your subjects off-centre to create a more aesthetically pleasing picture. When snapping landscapes, try to place the horizon slightly to the top or bottom of the frame. This is to prevent splicing the image into two, and also to disrupt the symmetry of the picture which will provide a more visually interesting image.
3. White balance
Setting the camera's white balance to Auto is not a bad idea, but sometimes it can be fooled by tricky lighting. When capturing a sunrise or sunset, set the white balance to daylight to achieve a warmer tone for the picture.
4. Using scene modes
Most digital cameras now have scene modes that automatically optimise the settings to help you capture the best shot. Don't hesitate to use them — sometimes they can produce pretty exceptional results.
5. Find interesting angles
Don't just look straight ahead. What's at your eye level may look interesting, but sometimes getting down on your knees or going up that extra flight of stairs can provide a new perspective.
6. Keep the camera easily accessible
Don't miss the moment just because you are fumbling with your bag trying to find the camera. Keep it easily accessible — use a pouch and sling it across your shoulder or attach it to your belt. Remember, some moments happen only once and they may never appear again.
7. Direction of light
People tend to squint when they are facing the sun, so don't position your subjects where the light is falling directly onto them. Instead, place them so that the light falls on their side. This will create interesting shadows as well. Don't put the light source behind them as you will end up snapping a silhouette and that won't show who's in the picture.
8. Use a tripod
Night sceneries can be captivating but you won't do them justice if your shaky hands are going to produce blurry pictures. Bring along a mini tripod for your trip to stabilise the camera for long exposures.
9. Time of day
The light quality in other countries can differ at different times of the day. In Paris, dawn breaks at around 5.30am in winter and the light is warm and casts lovely shadows. So, research the place you're going and if you have to, get out of bed earlier if you want to catch the golden hour.
10. Know your gear
There's nothing worse than trying to figure out how to change the settings on your point-and-shoot while an event unfolds. By the time you're done, the moment will have passed. If you're bringing along a newly purchased camera, read the user's manual before heading out and familiarise yourself with the controls so you can spend more time taking pictures rather than figuring out what that button does.ou snap some great shots using your point-and-shoot.