Familiarity breeds...better images.

Okay, that may not be what the 600 year old saying actually says but it’s still true.  This is a major topic early on when I lead travel photography workshops.  Frequently photographers share that they are not as happy with their travel images compared to photos they capture at more familiar environs around home.  I am reminded of this topic as I sit in the Sacramento Airport waiting for a flight.

To explore this more deeply during the travel workshops I use a little activity to drive this concept home.  Handing out for postcards of the State Capitol building in Sacramento, I ask the photographers what each of these images have in common, other than the obvious building as the primary subject.  The cards are passed around, some good guesses are made but I have yet to have anyone figure out the answer.  Then I tell them to turn the cards over and look for the photo credit (it’s not me by the way).  All the photos were taken by the same photographer.

The images are from different times of the year, from various angles and under a variety of lighting conditions.  The photographer clearly “worked” the subject and, in doing so, was able get the most out of the subject.  When we are traveling this is difficult at best, and often impossible.  After all, you can’t be in New England for fall color, in spring!

This is not to say that you can’t capture a good or even great photograph when you are just visiting an area.  It is just more difficult.  If you really want to return with better images I find it helpful to do some Internet research ahead of time.  Often times you can determine if a location is going to be a better morning or afternoon shot.  Sunrise/sunset times are also available for determining early and last light.  As you would expect, there is no shortage of helpful material online.

This image, I had to use Sacramento of course, was taken during a break in a dinner meeting.  I noticed the light was nice (often is at twilight) and I stepped out on the veranda for a quick image.  I have photographed the California Capitol several times but I had never spied it from this perspective.  As good as the postcards?  No, but after all, I was just a visitor.

Low Light = Better Images

I remember when I saw the light, or actually lack thereof.  While perusing images in various publications over the course of several months I seemed to end up looking at images captured in low light.  Nighttime, artificially illuminated interiors, campfires and my favorite – twilight.  This was way back…about a dozen years ago…when digital was just starting to grow.  Film, specifically slides or transparencies, was the media of the day.

So there I was walking around Manchester, Vermont at twilight.  There was a building with a brightly illuminated interior and appropriate exterior lighting to match.  The sky was turning the purply-blue of twilight just after sunset.  Took some light meter readings, set up the tripod, scribbled notes and clicked away.  This was the start of about six months of this cycle and a great learning opportunity.  Unfortunately the feedback took days or weeks while waiting to get the film developed.

Enter digital with instant feedback.  What took me six months to master would now be compressed into a much shorter time.  One of my favorite classes to teach is night photography.  Students walk away from an evening with some nice images of subjects after the sun goes down, after their cameras traditionally would have been in the bag.

The photo above was captured at Portland’s Yard, Garden & Patio show from one of the display gardens.  The lighting is kept low in this area to help accent fire pits, path lights and other “outdoor” illumination.  I found the different light sources intriguing; the fireplace, the spa and light highlighting the artwork on the wall.  I hope this inspires you to keep your camera out of the bag a little bit longer in the evenings.