An upcoming holiday may inspire or motivate the purchase of a new camera, while social media allows friends to chart your trip and see what you’re up to. A new e-book by travel photography professional Craig Ferguson sets about helping you better capture the moments and accurately freeze on ‘film’ the flavor of your travels.
Despite there being many books already covering the vast and diverse topic of photography Travel Photography Essentials adds something new and useful by focusing on this key and popular area of photography. Ferguson has found himself a niche that he is well equipped to speak on and is able to pass on his knowledge in an unintimidating and accessible book.
In Travel Photography Essentials Ferguson sets about answering the question most amateur photographs ask themselves when looking back at travel photos, by setting about helping his readers to improve their skills with a relaxed and informative tone. Ferguson offers a genuinely useful experienced driven account of how to get photos that match the mood, excitement or wonder of the trip.
The book can be divided into three segments, aimed as an introductory guide it would be remiss not to feature the mandatory bit about what the settings on your camera mean, and how you can use them. Speaking from experience he sets about providing the reader with advice that although may not be new to them, such as the importance of pre-trip research on your chosen destination, may not have occurred in relation to photography giving the reader the confidence to travel.
After this is where the book delves into the travel side of things and begins engaging with the unique problems of travel photography when you’re faced with having to consider social, cultural and political sensitivities as well as light levels before pressing the shutter. Ferguson covers different subjects or scenarios that are frequently encountered while traveling and talks through how to navigate the barriers to taking a good photo such as how to get the self-confidence required to capture market vendors spontaneously plying their trade. He also explains how to be universally respectful in places of worship and avoid alienating locals when taking photos of children for instance something which has become more problematic over the years.
The book finishes with some useful tips on how to organize and manage your photos which can be daunting for the unorganized and avoid becoming overwhelmed with photos. He also touches on what you can do should you find you have some genuinely new, artistic or stunning photos and how you may be able to fun another trip through selling your work. Usefully in this section Ferguson inserts cautions for those who would like to share their work to avoid being duped in their enthusiasm by unfair or exploitative photo competitions. Keeping the tone friendly to the end Travel Photography Essentials sets out to become a companion to the aspiring photographer and genuinely wishes its reader well not only by giving them the advice to succeed in taking great holiday photos but also to help develop the tools or skills of a photographer as well.
The 98 page e-book, Travel Photography Essentials, is $15 and available for download.