Exposed! :: Holiday Picture How-to ::

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Contents

• The Challenges
• Prioritize
• The Family Pictures
• Take Photo Time for Yourself!
• Homework: The Equipment Challenge
• Pro Perspective
• Final Frame

Summer! It's time for a holiday. Whether that means Disney World, mountain biking in the Rockies or exploring the French Riviera, most vacationers like to bring a camera. And that can cause a quandary. I once had an audience member from a photo presentation ask "I love hiking with my girlfriend while taking photos of the scenery. 'Jennifer' gets bored, though - how can I do both on our trip?" That's a tough task! And exactly what we will cover in this month's edition of Exposed! - Tips for Vacation Photography.

The Challenges:

You're going on vacation with a loved-one and/or kids.

• You love photography. They don't.
• You love photographing the family fun on vacation. They hate posing for the camera.
• You love to capture the stunning scenery. They get bored silly waiting for you.
• You love your extensive collection of fine cameras, lenses and accessories. There is a luggage limit.

Your holiday can quickly get heated, inviting Grumpy to join the family.

Prioritize

First things first! My advice to the audience member, above, and his girlfriend, Jennifer, was to decide what the hiking trip was about - hiking with Jennifer OR a photo safari while hiking. Choose one or the other! If a family vacation is the priority make it a family vacation first with the chance to take some photos second. If you want a photo safari vacation plan a photo safari vacation! Be clear about your priorities, especially with those with whom you are traveling!

Guess who took a vacation this month?!

The Family Pictures

Groan! "Do we have to?" Few people like posing for the camera even though they like seeing the pictures after the trip! Family photos are important. But instead of corralling the family for the painful posed picture, practice a photojournalistic style and capture your family while they naturally enjoy the fun. Be sure to zoom in or get close to your subject to fill the frame with smiles. In the short term you may get more mistakes but, with practice, you can get better family photos without the cheese.

Take Photo Time for Yourself!

If you really do want some quality photo time on the family vacation - don't drag the family along when you pull out your camera. Take an hour or half a day to explore with your camera while the family is at the pool, enjoying the show, or still in bed! Let the family know where you are going and when you plan to return. You will get your photo fix without hearing "Can we go yet? I'm bored!"

Homework: The Equipment Challenge

There will probably be more groans if you pack more camera equipment than clothes for the trip. If this is a family vacation it's time to make some choices and sacrifices for the family. There is a silver lining and a challenge brewing! On a family vacation, or anytime luggage is limited, force yourself to minimize your camera equipment. This fits nicely with your vacation homework:

Choose one camera body and one focal length lens for your trip. If you choose a zoom lens pick one specific focal length (ie 50mm). No tripod. No filters. No flash. For your whole trip you may shoot using that camera and that 50mm lens - ONLY! Your challenge will be to compose and capture stunning pictures with your chosen, limited equipment - and nothing else!

Easy? Report back in two weeks! Achieving your task (of composing and capturing stunning pictures with a simple camera and 50mm lens) will keep your camera juices pumping. You will really need to use your creative brain to capture the award winning photo - it IS possible with very little equipment. This exercise will make you a better photographer if you explore ways to make it work. Your family will smile, too, because they will not be lugging your arsenal of camera equipment!

Pro Perspective

I love tasting Belgian chocolate with Caitlin, telemark skiing and photography. Sometimes, on trips, my friends are astonished - "Harry, where's your camera equipment?" Everyone else is clicking but I am on vacation!! I love photography but, sometimes, I have to let my skis ski and my creativity recharge.

Like you, I have to prioritize. Is my priority skiing, Caitlin or photography (work)? I have to be clear so I keep enjoying whatever I do.

Final Frame

Have a great vacation! Do your best to balance the family and photography! And don't forget to check my photo workshops and photo critiques!

Take photos. Have fun!

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