Take better travel photos
People tend to take a lot of pictures when they travel or go on vacation. People explore new place, see new things and they want to have a visual reminder of their travels. The problem is that most of the time the photographs people take while traveling suffer from several problems, they can be boring, look like everyone elses photos of the same place and don't capture the real feel of the subject. There are a few simple things you can do to improve your photos on your next trip.
Lets first start with equipment. A lot of the time people will take small point and shoot cameras with them when they travel. This is not a bad choice, point and shoot cameras tend to be compact, light weight, easy to carry (all important considerations when traveling) and most of the point and shoot cameras on the market today take good quality photos. There are also small compact cameras on the market today that allow for more creative control than the basic point and shoot, while remaining compact, light weight and easy to carry. The Canon G10 and the Panasonic LX3 are just two examples of these advanced compact cameras. Many advanced compact cameras can yield great results that can give the best DSLR's a run for their money. More serious photographers may still opt to travel with a DSLR camera. Traveling with a DSLR may add some extra weight and baggage but for a serious travel photographer it can be worth it. However, most people can get by just as well with a good quality advanced compact camera. 
It is important to consider the zoom range of an advanced compact camera when choosing a camera for travel photography. You want a good range of zoom, wide angles for sceneic shots, but also a good normal to telephoto range for taking more intimate photos and portraits. Using a compact camera can also allow you to take street photos without being too conspicuious.
Regardless of what camera you are using, there are a few simple things you can do to improve your travel photography. The first and most important is to be famillar and comfortable with your camera and its functions. If you are using a new camera on your trip, get to know it first. It may pay to take a class to familiarize yourself with your new camera. Get to know the ins and out of your camera so you don't bumble around trying to learn how to use your camera when you are on your trip. Take practice photos at home and know what functions you like and how to use them. Read the camera manual and remember to take it with you on your trip for reference. Nothing worse than getting the opportunity for that perfect shot and missing it because you can't work your camera! Remember to bring enough memory card space with you, as people tend to take a lot of photographs while traveling. Also, don't forget extra batteries and your battery charger, keep in mind you may need a power converter when traveling abroad.
Once you are familiar with your camera and ready to shoot there are a few things you can do to improve your travel photos. One thing that happens with the photos people tend to take of certain things like landmarks and popular locations is that they tend to look like a lot of other peoples photographs of the same places. There is little to set them apart and make them more interesting. For example, see the three photos of the Eiffel Tower in Paris below, they are shot by three different people, on different days, however, they all look almost identical.
The key is to avoid taking the same identical photographs that everyone else takes and make your photographs more interesting and unique. The most basic thing you can do it to change your vantage point, don't shoot from the same location that everyone else is shooting from. Move closer to the subject and shoot from a different angel as in the photo below.
It is ok to not include the entire structure, the subject is still recognizable as the Eiffel Tower even though you can't see the entire thing. The shot is more interesting because it shows the Eiffel Tower in a different and more creative way than we usually see it. Showing even less of the structure with a subject like the Eiffel Tower can be more visually attractive as seen below.
The photo is still recognizable as the Eiffel Tower, but is more visually appealing and unique than the above examples. So simply by changing your location to a subject you can set your photographs far apart from typical travel photos.
In addition to shooting well recognizable landmarks when traveling, it can be interesting to shoot street scenes when traveling. Shooting interesting street scenes especially when traveling in other countries and cultures can yield excellent photographs that are not typical vacation snap shots. Using an advanced compact camera comes in handy for street photography. The small camera allows you to shoot without disturbing the natural flow of a scene and in some cases without disturbing the subject at all by making them aware you are photographing them. Look for scenes with interesting colors, or interesting people doing things that you may not be used to seeing at home. Make the photograph tell a story of another culture or way of life. See the photos below for examples.
These photographs are not of recognizable landmarks, but they are just as much, if not more interesting. They show people, culture, lifestyles, landscapes and can set your photographs apart from typical landmark based photos. So make sure to put some thought into your photography and shoot things that are all around you, not just when you are at a landmark, some of the best travel photographs are not of landmarks at all.
Keep these things in mind, be creative, have fun and experiment and you can come home from your trip with some excellent travel photographs!
