The Best Camera Settings for Travel Photography

Travel photography is one of the exciting things that you can do while taking a road trip. It not only helps you capture picture-perfect scenes, but it can also improve your photography skills. Taking photos outdoors is different from indoor photography. It is because you need different camera settings to achieve high-quality images. You should also consider various factors, including lighting. So, if you want to learn how to obtain better photographs, it's time to acquire the best camera settings for travel photography.

Travel Photography Settings to Consider

From portraits to landscapes, you may encounter different scenarios outdoors, requiring different camera settings. For instance, you may need to control how the white light is recorded in the images for sunrise, sunset, or during the blue hour. Although you may experiment with different camera settings and achieve the perfect one based on your preference, the following could be a good starting point for travel photography:

#1 Landscapes

Compared to other types of photography, taking landscape photographs are more comfortable to work with. You can manipulate the settings, but it is recommended to focus more on the field's depth. It is because you need to maintain the scenes sharp as much as possible. Shoot landscapes using a small aperture such as f/8 then increase it as you achieve your preferred depth for the field. But try not to use f/18 and above since it can negatively affect the photo's sharpness. Photographers suggest using a tripod so that the shutter speed will not be an issue. However, you have to ensure that the ISO is as low as possible.

#2 Sunrise and Sunsets

Taking pictures during the golden hour allows you to make scenes more dramatic. The beautiful colours in the sky can also add appeal to each photograph. That's why many photographers love to shoot during sunrise or sunset. When shooting during the golden hour, try to use a tripod to take pictures conveniently. Aside from helping you execute the shots correctly, you can also have a proper ISO with a tripod. Not only that, but you can also pick your depth of field using this camera accessory.

The camera settings for the sunrise and sunset depend on what you are shooting. For instance, if you need to capture a movement, the setting relies mostly on the shutter speed. You may use 1/200th sec and f/5.6 to f/10 for the aperture. But if the depth of field is more critical, then the shutter speed would be 1/60th or lower with a tripod. You can also use an f/8 to f/16 for the aperture.

#3 Traditional and Environmental Portraits

If you love travelling with your friends, they will surely love to have some pictures using Canadian locations as backgrounds. For any photography, you can do the traditional head and shoulder portrait. No matter what the background is, try to focus more on the subject. Keep the person's eyes sharp and the depth of field shallow. You can do this by blurring the background slightly so that you can draw the focus on the subject's face. 

If there is too much natural light, ask the person to a position where there is shade, avoiding shadows on the face. For the camera settings, try to use 1/100th sec for the shutter speed. You can use a wider aperture or use the range from f/4 to f/5.6/. Use the apertures priority mode and 100 for the ISO. But you can adjust it if you need to ensure the shutter speed.

Another type of photography is environmental portraits. This kind of photography showcases what the person is doing. For instance, you may want to feature people in a busy city or farmers in a remote area. You can use the camera as mentioned earlier for environmental portraits. But if the person is doing something fast, you need to increase the shutter speed to capture the movement. Besides, you have to keep the depth of field not too shallow so that you can feature clearly what the person is doing.

Important Terms in Travel Photography

As you read the recommended camera setting for travel photography, you have encountered different vital terms such as focus, ISO, and white balance. For sure, most of you know what they mean. But for those who are still learning these key terms, here are the things that you should know about them:

#1 Focus - You can determine whether the image is focused or not depending on its sharpness. For instance, if the subject is entirely sharp, you can tell that it is in focus. But it is blurred, then you can say that it is unfocused. 

#2 ISO - ISO in photography refers to the camera's sensitivity to light. The image sensor is said to be less sensitive to light if it has a lower number. As you can see, the image becomes more grainy as you increase the ISO. When changing the camera settings, you also need to consider lowering the aperture and shutter speed, especially if there is no light.

#3 Shutter Speed - The shutter speed refers to the measurement of the time when the shutter is open. It is usually shown in seconds or fractions of a second. Know that the faster the shutter speed in your camera, the shorter the image sensor's image will be exposed to light.

#4 White Balance - White balance in photography refers to the process of removing the unrealistic colour cast. The camera should have relative warmth or coolness for the white light. Adjusting the white balance eliminates the discoloration in an image.

Travelling is fun and exciting. But you can even make the most out of your trip if you can save some souvenirs from your out-of-town adventures. If you plan to take a road trip or have a backcountry trip, consider bringing a camera that you can use to photograph breathtaking scenes. Be it an action camera or a DSLR; you will surely enjoy taking the time to shoot Canada's picturesque landscapes.