1. Use a polarizer filter.

Daisetsuzan National Park in Hokkaido is the largest national park in Japan. All images courtesy Ryan Libre.

A polarizer filter takes away reflections when used at the right angles. By cutting out the reflection you can see the “true” colors. These colors can be more vivid than the human eye can see, but are very real. It especially works great on leaves, the sky, water, and skin tones.

2. Underexpose a little or a lot.

The Kachin Independence Army has been fighting for freedom from the Burmese military Junta since 1961. All images courtesy Ryan Libre.

Your camera’s built-in metering system tends to err on the side of lighter exposures. This leaves colors looking faded or washed out. If you underexpose your images the colors will be much richer. Try -2/3rds of a stop.

3. Adjust your in-camera saturation level.

If it’s an overcast day and you know the colors might be a little dull, you can adjust your in-camera saturation. Most every camera has this option. This has two advantages over photoshopping it later. One is you can see the colors in front of you and can select a more “real” saturation level than you can looking at your monitor in an office abstracted from the context of the photograph. The other benefit is that it just saves time.

4. Use your white balance.

The Manau Dance is the central festival that binds all Kachins together. The Kachins sing and dance for 3 days at the Mykitna Manau Festival. All images courtesy Ryan Libre.

Your in-camera white balance is an amazing tool for correcting different lighting and adding mood to your photos. Try taking a portrait on cloudy and auto, and you will see your camera auto WB generally shoots on the blueish side of the spectrum. Good use of white balance can improve a photo’s colors immensely.

5. Switch your color space.

Jo Jandai’s new adobe house. Jo Jandai and others started the Pun Pun center for self reliance outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand. All images courtesy Ryan Libre.

Your camera is set by default to SRGB, which only shows the colors visible on the web. If you switch to Adobe RGB, the color gamut is much wider and your camera can capture a larger variety of colors.

6. Shoot at optimal times of the day / year.

For example, if you want great fall colors, take your shots on just the right day and at just the right time. You will get amazing colors in your photos and the pleasure of seeing them with your eyes as well.

Community Connection

For more on travel photography, please visit our photography resource page.

Community Connection

For more photos of the Kachin Independence Army as well as a special look into life and spirituality there, check out Tim Patterson’s Kachin Christmas: Finding Faith in Myanmar.

Photo by Ryan Libre.

Enjoy more travel photography episodes and other podcasts by checking out the traveler’s notebook on iTunes.

Photo by Ryan Libre

Click on the Play button to listen along and learn more.

Along with Ryan Libre, the Matador community is filled with talented and passionate photographers. Delacouri has amazing shots from her time working with endangered monkeys in Vietnam. Veronica has incredible images of Patagonia. Rob has taken hundreds of priceless shots from all over the world.

Phishtopher has some amazing images from his life in Western China. And both Beija-flor and AsianInsights are experts at photographing people. Grady, MST and Reed Lindsay can give you tips on digital video production and goodman is without a doubt, one of the most gifted photographers on the Web.

Join them. Matador is blossoming…

Photo by Ryan Libre

Click on the Play button to listen along and learn more including patience, positioning, and how to approach your photography thematically.

Photo by Ryan Libre

“What makes a place special?” Ryan Libre questions in this podcast. “I think if you can find a good answer that question, a good photograph is sure to follow.”

Click on the Play button to listen along and learn more, including cropping, slow shutter speeds, and patience.

“What makes a good photograph?” Ryan Libre questions. “Simplicity. Showing everything you need , and nothing else.”

Click on the Play button to listen along and learn more.

Photo by Ryan Libre. www.idioimagers.org

You know you secretly want to be a National Geographic photographer. But it takes a lot more than hoping. Self-learning is fun and cheap, but takes discipline. Check out these nine steps and resources.

1. Study photo books. Go to the public library or local book store and look at photo books while asking questions such as: “What makes this photo great?” “Why are these photos side by side?” “Why does this photographer only shoot B&W?” If you do this on a regular basis it can dramatically improve your photography and is enjoyable!

2. Take notes. Self learning can lack focus unless you take notes so you can follow up on questions and ideas. I started with a list of specific things I wanted to learn about photography. “What is White Balance and how do I use it?” “How slow can I hand hold the camera without getting a blurry photo?” “What is the rule of 1/3?” etc. Many years later I’m still adding new questions to this same piece of paper.

3. Podcasts. Check out: Jeff Curto’s Camera Position Podcast and his History of Photography Podcast. The Magnum Photo Essay Podcast is a cooperative of distinctive photographers worldwide. A must see. Click here for more of of the best photography podcasts.

Photo by Ryan Libre. www.idioimagers.org

5. iTunes U Ever wanted to study “Photography as Inquiry” at MIT, or “Documentary Studies” at Duke, but don’t have the time, not to mention the money? With iTunes U you can put them on you laptop and study them at your leisure for FREE!

iTunes U is new and is adding courses all the time. Be be sure to search for “photography” and see what classes, guest speakers and MOMA events come up. If you have iTunes, you already have iTunes U, most people just don’t know it. These are real college classes and have a lot of good learning inside, but just like real college classes they aren’t always thrilling. Pick your classes and teachers carefully.

6. Self CritiqueThis is no doubt the hardest part of self learning. Self critique means many things. For example, when evaluating a specific photograph, asking “how could this be better?” can also be translated into “what have I learned in the last 6 months?” The nature of critique is that 2 ideas are better than one, and 3 better than 2. This is why no one is truly “self taught.” We need others’ ideas and opinions to grow.

Photo by Ryan Libre. www.idioimagers.org

7. Getting Kind but Critical Opinions Luckily there are good places to get feedback and opinions about your work outside of learning institutions. A good place to start is someone close to you, someone you trust to be honest and kind but also critical. Another good option is the internet. There are many photo-sharing communities, such as Earth Trek that offer quality and critical feedback for your photos for free. Another good option is posting your photos to a travel community such as matador and begin a dialog with other travel photographers whose work you admire. The best option is to find a professional who can give you personal attention. Try a local camera shop or even look in the phone book for photographers in your area.

8. Workshops as reinforcement. Nearly everyone who is serious about photography takes workshops from time to time. This includes top pros! There are only 2 ways to be finished learning about photography, give up or die. It’s this ongoing struggle that keeps us engaged and youthful and it’s never too soon nor too late to take a workshop.

9. Let the Path be your Guide Don’t wait till you are ready to start being a photographer. Let the path tell you when you are ready. Start showing your work in shows; start trying to get it published today. You will get rejections and make mistakes, but it is without a doubt the fastest way to learn.

_________________________

Matador’s expert on Hokkaido, Ryan Libre is a freelance photographer based in Japan and Thailand. Please visit his online gallery at www.idioimagers.org and join him for a photo workshop in Chiang Mai.

Photo: charliegentle

Digital SLRs are very popular items these days, especially among travelers. This article will explore the fundamental differences between a DSLR and a compact digicam, plus the facts on what a DSLR can and can’t do. We will end with a quiz to test if you’d be better off with a lighter pack and a point & shoot.

Advantages Of An SLR

1. You can see the image just as it will appear (through the lens).
2. You can change the lens. Number one is no longer exclusive to SLRs. Every digicam on the market today has a large LCD that lets you see “live” what you will take. In many ways they are more advanced than DSLRs, (Example: Allowing you to actually see the change in brightness or White Balance before you ever take the photo.)

So now we are left with changing lenses as the only fundamental difference. If you got a DSLR would you buy, and carry, multiple lenses?

The major things a DSLR can do for you:

1. Wide angle. Some compact cameras go as wide as 28mm, however that is just the starting point for wide angle on a DSLR. I shoot over 50% of my photos between 15-28mm. (extra lens needed).
2. Rapid adjust without taking your eye off your subject. Any decent DSLR has physical buttons on the body to adjust all but the most advanced features. I only look in my menu a few times per month, yet make 1000’s of changes to my camera settings.

   The advantages of this are enormous. Because they are so accessible I can actually use them. Some compact cameras have lots of adjustments accessible through the on screen menu, but out of sight means out of mind and even for the few who still use these features it’s at least twice as time consuming. Which translates to missed shots and bored friends.

3. Depth Of Field. This is the DSLR / professional look that many people are spending for, then only part of the image is in focus, as in the example here. Compact digicams are very bad at this, putting everything in near perfect focus, often leaving you wondering what the subject is.

What a DSLR can’t do…

1. Make you have a good eye for composition.
2. Make your subjects act natural.
3. Get you out of bed at 4am.
4. And make you a good storyteller.

These are the things that make great photography, and spending $1,000 – $5000 on a DSLR won’t change one of them.

Is it worth buying a Digital SLR for your travel photography?

A DSLR and a 18-200 Zoom is a nice entry level kit. But if you stop there, is it really worth the investment in terms of money and carrying the extra weight? There are many compact digicams on the market that have the same zoom range that are ½ the price and ¼ the weight.

When you can really start making use of your DSLR is when you carry several lenses. However this requires further investment of space in your travel bag and money from your travel budget. Also with a DSLR, now you need a better and bigger tripod, more batteries, and a special bag just to carry it all.

So before you take the plunge, take this quiz and see if you are ready. Ten questions: answer yes, no or maybe.

The Quiz: Should You Buy A DSLR For Your Travel Photographyt?

1. If I got a DSLR I would purchase and bring several lenses even though it would cut into my travel budget and add pounds to my pack. Yes, No, Maybe

2. I often make use of the setting available on my compact digicam. Yes, No, Maybe

3. I know how aperture affects a photograph or I’m interested to learn. Yes, No, Maybe

4. I often miss a shot because I’m looking through the menu trying to adjust a setting. Yes, No, Maybe

5. I sometimes take a photo and think to change some settings and shoot it again, but don’t because it takes too much time to find the setting I wanna change. Yes, No, Maybe

6. I’m interested in photography as a serious hobby and maybe even a part time job. Yes, No, Maybe

7. I’m often not satisfied with my photos when I come back from a trip. Yes, No, Maybe

8. I secretly wanna be a National Geographic Photographer. Yes, No, maybe

9. Having good photos is more important than traveling very light. Yes, No, Maybe

10. I spend more time window (internet) shopping for a DSLR than using my compact camera. Yes, No, Maybe

Give yourself 1 point for all No answers, 2 points for all Maybe answers and 3 points for all Yes answers.

And for the results….

11-15 Take the $1,000 you saved for a DSLR and go to Thailand for a month with your point and shoot ^_^

16-22 First borrow your friend’s DSLR for a few hours or days and see if it’s really worth the investment. If you like it, sleep on it and then consider taking the plunge.

23-28 Go for it feeling pretty confident that your investment will pay off with practice.

29 or 30 Start shopping today and consider a mid to high range model that your serious interest can grow into.