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Tips For Getting Better Candid Portraits When You Travel
Ways To Take Better Candid Portraits When You Travel 
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Tips For Travel Photography
Taking Pictures of the Nice People Who Serve You |
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Hi ,
One of the things I enjoy most about traveling is taking candid portraits of people I meet. Some are grab shots, capturing people's expressions in a split second of time. But, many of my most effective portraits are ones I would call "posed candids."
My photos often reflect the casual friendships I form with people I ask to pose for me.
In this newsletter I'd like to go over some images, relate their background stories and illustrate ways travelers like us can take more effective photographs.
About These Pictures:
As you look through my photos I suggest you examine them to see some key portrait techniques I use regularly:
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Capturing an expression that shows the individual's unique personality.
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Integrating my "model's" picture into his or her surroundings, particularly as it relates to his avocation or job.
I hope you'll find these photographs and my observations useful for your travel photography.
Good shooting!
Dale
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People Who Serve You Directly |
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These Photos Illustrate How Easy It Is To Get Friendly People To Pose For You
Generally All You Need To Do Is Ask For Permission
Just remember that "no" normally means "no." The exception might be if the business' rules preclude or discourage photographs being taken. Then, you may get permission if you explain that you're going to be using the photographs to help promote their business or organization.
- Milton - Cruise Ship Butler on the Oceania
Riviera - Of all the people you'll find in the travel industry, professional butlers are among the nicest–and often the brightest. My photographic "story" was told though Milton's expression and formal attire. So, even with the blown-out background my point-and-shoot camera portrait still did a decent job.
- Wheelchair Attendant - Rome Airport: Dedicated men and women work every day helping handicapped travelers in the world's airports. Most of them have interesting personal stories ... especially since so many come from diverse backgrounds. This extraordinarily nice man in Rome's Leonardo DiVinci airport greeted and was friends with virtually everyone we passed in the terminals. He illustrated, in real life, the camaraderie that working people have with one another as they serve the traveling public.
- His innate friendliness comes through in this photo. Notice that I didn't take one portrait in this picture but two. I angled my shot so that I included the customs officer in the back booth. That ... and the signage on the booth ... established the airport location and story behind the portrait.
- This photo was shot on an iPhone.
- Hostesses - Hilton Hotel at Rome's Airport: These friendly girls initially declined my request to take a picture of them due to restaurant rules. But, when I showed them that their photo would be incorporated with other pictures I'd taken of food for on their restaurant's buffet ... and explained that I was planning to use all my pictures in a flattering TripAdvisor® review (and this newsletter) they were happy to pose. I snapped this photo ... as well as all my food pictures, used in my Five Star TripAdvisor review ... using an iPhone.
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Photographically Capture Their Pride of Ownership
A Simple, Honest Compliment About Your Enjoyable Dining Experience Is Guaranteed To Produce A Good Expression
- Watch Your Composition - The difficulty in taking quick, candid portraits like this one is that you'll be dealing with a lot of visual distractions. Notice how I made sure that the owner's head was framed by the doorway behind him ... rather than having a door post growing out of his head. Yes, there will be distractions like the other diner (the lady in the green shirt). But, they are just going to be part of real-life candid pictures.
- Use Signage to Help Tell Your Story - Try to incorporate the name of the restaurant and possibly a chalkboard menu as I've done here. They will reinforce your visual story.
- Angle & Motion Can Improve A Picture's Visual Impact - A slight tilt of your camera gives a portrait a very candid look. If you can shoot a sharp picture at a slow shutter speed you'll be able to get a feeling of movement into your shot. (See the owner's hand? In Livorno, as in most of Italy, half the language comes through hand movements!)
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People Working in Tourist Sites
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Professional Drivers Can Provide Nice Portraits
This man had an interesting avocation. The tropical garden on an island in the Azures was on a very steep slope. The entrance was literally hundreds of feet above the lowermost sections of the garden. He drove an electric cart that could seat four tourists up and down the hill for 5 Euros per person in each direction. The top of his car was a simulated Model T Ford. That car, his strong expression and the lush foliage behind him created an interesting portrait.
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The People Who Entertain You Are Attractive Subjects
One of the nicest parts of cruise vacations are their entertainment venues. These can range from classical quartets at tea time to Broadway style shows in the evening.
Assuming you shoot by available light, you can capture some beautiful semi-posed pictures or live action shots.
I find that a 400mm lens or a zoom that goes to 400mm is ideal for taking pictures like these. |
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The Point In All This?
Travel photography can be a lot of fun. Having a camera and being open with the people you ask to pose for you can lead to some very pleasant, friendly interactions. Photographers like us have a great advantage. We get to bring memories home with us in the pictures we take!
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Dale Laboratories is here to give you creative imaging options, the easy way:
Any of our
free programs will allow you to print your
photographs to perfection.
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Please visit our Laboratory Store if you live locally.
Our friendly photo experts will help you get the best prints ever!
Best regards,
Dale
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I hope you find these tips useful.
Please feel free to share this newsletter with friends.
Call us if you have any questions at (954) 925-0103.
We're here to help! Monday - Friday 10AM - 5PM
Saturdays 10AM - 2PM |
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www.dalelabs.com • info@dalelabs.com
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