THE TRAVELING PHOTOGRAPHER: Part 1
planning an overseas photography trip
The entrance to the church at Copacabana, Bolivia
If you’re at all interested in other countries, be it their landscapes, people and/or cultures and are also a rabid, sorry, an avid photographer then you have a particular set of criteria that need fulfilling to make for an enjoyable trip. You want to come back with some impressive images, not just shots of famous landmarks or buildings that grace many a postcard but something more original, maybe innovative and expressive even. This article is not about travel photography per se, but more about the organizational aspects for the less-travelled photographer thinking about taking a trip with photography as the main emphasis, and is a personal viewpoint on the subject based on experience which will vary from individual to individual.
Not all destinations are always covered on an organized tour.
Chilean Patagonia
Depending on your personal proclivity you will choose to either travel in an organized tour group or plan and prepare everything yourself, or maybe something in-between. The advice I have given here is probably more pertinent for the independent traveller but much is also applicable to those who choose the scheduled tour route, particularly if you have a few days extra to add a destination not included in the tour. Another option is to arrange most of the travel and destination details yourself and still support the local economy by directly using local tour companies when you arrive at your destination to supplement the rigours of self-organized travel - just remember that on any organized tour that is not specifically tailored for photographers, the amount of time you will have to take photographs and the time of day at locations is unlikely to be ideal. Overall I prefer to have a fairly relaxed itinerary (more like a set of possibilities in fact) and be prepared to change, rearrange, add or subtract from it depending upon on-the-ground information or conditions. On short trips of up to two weeks you have to be fairly selective and prioritize a lot more if you want to make the most of the time available, whereas on longer journeys of one to two months that I prefer, you have more chance to pick and choose and have days of chilling out and not going anywhere and still have ample opportunity for photography the rest of the time.
Accommodation can be a (pleasant) surprise
Puerto Fuy, Chile
So, where do you want to go and what do you want to photograph? Both these questions can precede the other if you have a interest in a particular subject and find out possible places where it occurs, or you have a curiosity about a particular country or region and want to capture whatever is there. Only you can know what interests you as a person and as a photographer, but research is the key to planning on what country or location is suitable, and research again once you have decided on a particular destination, on what to expect, even if you have had the desire to visit somewhere for years and can finally realize the dream. This includes finding specific potential sites that appeal to you, their accessibility, the best season to be there and any possible pitfalls you may encounter. No, you can’t account for every contingency (not by a long shot), but you can certainly eliminate some of the mistakes others may have made and being mentally prepared for what might occur helps when the unexpected does occur. Living in a tourist town as I do, I am constantly amazed at how many tourists don’t research their destination and then complain about the rain, for example, when it is the height of the wet season here in the tropics! In relation to the country (or countries) you choose to visit, my suggestion would be to not try and see the whole country in a few weeks but to decide on a few strategic areas where there are more possible photographic opportunities clustered together rather than spend half of your trip on buses or driving from one locale to the next. This not only saves valuable time but allows you to work from a base and plan the time of day at various sites a lot more easily than if you are rushing from one place to the next. Getting to know a few well chosen micro regions thoroughly will most likely be far more rewarding than the try-and-see-everything approach and also gives you the opportunity to revisit a location under more favourable conditions if necessary.
But don't expect the facilities to always meet expectations...
For general information on what to expect in terms of accommodation, currency, culture etc., travel guides are a very good starting point, as well as giving a basic rundown on particular locations of interest (Lonely Planet and Rough Guides are excellent but there are many others to choose from). However, don’t have too high an expectation built on descriptions from such guidebooks (the key word here is guide) as they are the subjective view of the writer no matter how good. All the ins and outs of carry-on luggage restrictions, strategies and solutions can be found on various web sites by photographers who travel on a very regular basis, so I will leave that for the individual to research for up to date information in this constantly changing area. Likewise, information can easily be found on the internet on topics of equipment reviews, storage options and safeguards for digital images, travel photography techniques (have a considered approach) as well as being an invaluable resource for finding out general, as well as very specific information about a location, its people and culture (including food) that you may be interested in. Travelling usually includes a broader range of subjects than you might ordinarily tackle or be interested in, so to my mind, versatility of equipment and photographer is the key - after all you probably won’t be going back to the same place too soon afterwards, so making the most of the time while you are there is paramount. Having a clear idea on what you definitely do want to photograph doesn’t automatically preclude being open to entirely new opportunities if and when they arise, so being prepared for many eventualities is a good strategy to maximise enjoyment and satisfaction with a good selection of images on your return.
And remember that transportation isn't always well-maintained in poorer countries!
Train graveyard, Uyuni, Bolivia
I always like to get out on foot into wilder places during a trip and for many destinations outside of the “developed” world, I would also recommend planning on hiring a vehicle and driver/guide for a trip to somewhere off the beaten track, away from the regular tourist haunts. Local buses will often go almost anywhere you wish to go (eventually) but if, for example, it is a weekly service it can somewhat limit your options plus there are some locations which simply cannot be reached without private transportation. Regardless of destination, having a guide who knows the area, the people and the conditions well (and who speaks the language fluently if you don’t) can greatly increase the chance of finding interesting and appealing localities. Be open to suggestions but if you have a definite destination in mind don’t be steamrollered into following someone else’s agenda. Although not cheap, I have used this form of transportation on many occasions and always found it to be money well spent.
La Paz, Bolivia
When travelling, especially in poorer countries, be sensitive to local customs and remember that your actions may be setting a precedent for future travellers and how they will be received by local people. You may not consider yourself rich, but it’s all a matter of perspective - even an inexpensive dSLR costs many times more than many people earn in a year, so try not to flaunt your “wealth”, intentionally or otherwise. If photographing people try to get permission first (or at least be surreptitious about it if you want more candid shots) and consider their wishes - no photograph is worth creating mistrust or disharmony. Look at everything around you with new eyes and you will find many subjects of interest that you may have otherwise missed. It is particularly this fresh mind that stimulates creativity and why I enjoy travel and photography both. So expect the unexpected - and take a photograph if you can!