5 Quick tips for capturing scenic travel photos
When we travel, it’s only natural to want to capture the things we see and remember details about the places we visit. While on a recent trip to Queensland I had the opportunity to photograph the luscious rainforest, gorgeous coastline and the majestic Great Barrier Reef. There was no shortage of breathtaking views, it truly was a photographer’s paradise!
View of beautiful Green Island by helicopter. GBR Helicopter Group.
Exploring the Mossman River and Daintree Rainforest. Such a tranquil and relaxing place to be.
5 Quick tips for capturing scenic travel photos:
1. The technical stuff - First thing to consider when taking scenic photos is the equipment you’ll use. Wider angle lenses are ideal because they allow you to fit more of the view into your photo. A tripod can be a useful tool especially when photographing in lower light situations, to help eliminate camera shake. Since you’ll be photographing in the outdoors, a sturdy camera backpack is recommended to protect your gear.
Peaceful Cape Tribulation with it’s beautiful beaches, relaxing waves and the rainforest nearby.
It’s also important to consider your camera settings when taking scenic photos. Most cameras have an automatic landscape mode or you can manually change your camera settings to accommodate a larger focus area. With scenic photography you want more in focus since you are photographing expansive areas, as opposed to portrait photography where you want your subject to take centre stage. A small aperture {larger f-stop} is best when photographing landscapes as more will be in focus.
The view of Cairns harbour by helicopter. You can also catch a glimpse of one of my favourite places to see in Cairns, The Esplanade. 
View of the flowering sugar cane fields and scenic Queensland mountains at sunset.
3. Quick corner check - Have a look at the composition of your photo before releasing the shutter. I like to do a quick look in all four corners of the view finder and check:
- A) If there are there any distracting elements that take away from the scene eg. a light post or brightly coloured sign;
- B) If my horizon is straight;
- C) If I’m using the rule of thirds to help make my photo more visually appealing.
See the photo example below illustrating the rule of thirds. Basically, you divide your photo into three sections horizontally and vertically and you want to place your horizon line or other point of interest in your photo, on one of these intersecting lines.
Flying over the Great Barrier Reef at sunset.
4. Try unique angles - Don’t forget to switch things up a bit when photographing scenery. Try some different angles to add interest and variety to your photos. Take a picture from behind a plant, laying down on the ground, or from above. Experiment and have fun with different vantage points.
Also, include some point of reference in your photos to give relationship in size and a sense of perspective. Instead of zooming out and including only what is viewed from afar, include something from the foreground to add perspective. This will give your photo added depth and scale.
View of the beach from the road on the way to Port Douglas.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this little tour through scenic Queensland and were able to gather a few photography tricks to help you on your next travel adventure. For more photography tips and inspiration please visit me on my blog Simple as That!
