The above quotes made me think of what kind of pictures I take on my holidays as I always take my camera on my travels, and not only my mobile phone camera.
A few weeks ago I was asked by an old friend to upload a series of my travel photos for 5 day period. The title of this photo challenge was “Travel Photo’s Memory”. Then my mind went wild, thinking of what is Travel Photography? What kind of photos should I include in this genre photography, or it is not an actual photography genre? Should it be a photo about me on my travels or my selfies with all the famous landmarks as the background; as a proof that I’ve been there! The downside is those pictures were either my face only with a tiny bit of the “famous background” or a good proportion of both but taken by others… not the picture I took. While it is nice for my own memory to see myself that I’ve been to those places, but I think it’s not my style to brag to people that “it’s me in front of a so and so landmark…”.
Apa sebenarnya subjek utama dari travel photo? Apakah diri kita sendiri dań menjadikannya foto selfie atau temat-tempat yang kita kun jungi sebagai subjek foto kita pada saat traveling?
To me it is the story that is more interesting. The photos could add to the story with or without me in it. Besides, for me it is the passion of taking a good picture of my travels that is more important as it creates the memory and the story behind every picture I take that provides the memory for me.
The Landscape:
So, I think I am into the other interpretation of Travel Photography, and that could be about photographing the nature of my destination, such as the seaside, or the landscape of a safari park or even the affect a wonderful waterfall I visited or as simple as the Elements and skyscape. Do I need to in the picture..? Well I think that could spoil the Landscape Photography genre. Besides, the challenge is taking the picture as you travel, not only selfies….


The Built Environment:
City breaks are an easy escape to another city, either for a dirty weekend to a nearby city within the country I live or another city abroad, thus ‘Urban Landscape’ is a genre of photographing while travelling. In this genre all theories of photography could be implemented: the lines of the buildings, the city street, the scale of the landmark on humans, or the history of ancient sites or even the city light that could give me a good memory of my travels and I will be able to tell stories of each and every visit to those locations.


Everyday detail and close-up

While you are in the city, sometimes its the little things that tell the story of where you are, the everyday life of the place that gives you a sense of different places in the world, not necessarily having yourself in the picture or having the whole portrait.
One will know exactly where this photo was taken as it’s the Turkish flag represented on one of the bowls. As well as this picture, as only the Moroccan cooking their dishes using this type of pot.
That includes the hand that holds their food or even the the lettering of the street signage or the items they sell in the market it all adds the picture from your travel that tells a story.
Wildlife

When you go on safari, of course it means that you go traveling. But safari means you are encountering wildlife and I believe wildlife does not necessarily want to pose for you or even with you…. so the challenge is to get a good picture of the wildlife and get the experience chasing the animals and still get a good picture.

Having said that, one doesn’t need to go on safari to take a wildlife picture. As simple as taking pictures of birds in your garden is already a challenge and to me, by ‘traveling’ to your window from your snug to get the garden bird picture is already an achievement.

I love the above picture, as it shows interaction of different species, without having human in the frame spoiling the picture… 🙂
People
I like to take candid pictures of people; however, nowadays you need to ask permission to take their picture and it may not be a candid picture anymore. As I am not really a people person and chatting up to strangers is hard for me, and I think this is why I don’t really like to photograph people, and that includes taking pictures of friends, let alone a selfie.

On the other hand, I do understand that the most rewarding area of photography is taking pictures of strangers in strange places and strange occasions.


Mode of Transport:
Most of our travels involved transportation and this is an easy object of to recognise and memorise our travels. This type of picture could be taken from the vehicle or picture of the transport mode. Transport mode could be anything and everything, from daily commuting means of transport to exotic transport and it could be either as simple as bicycle to the unusual animal for transport.


There are many other genres of photography that could be inside the category of “Travel Photography” that doesn’t involve a selfie, and to me, it is more rewarding to show off a good quality of my own photoshoot, compared to having myself in the picture.
Having said all that, which one are you as a travel photographer?

Happy traveling… and keep on snapping… 🙂
Gorgeous photos Nina.
Alison
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Alison
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nina, this post of yours about your travel captures is just a delight. Travel photography can be dissected into many genres, as you said, but I think it just simply up to the beholder of the eye. That’s how I personally view my work in travel photography. I Can’t wait to see more of your beautiful creations.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, by the end of the day, its up to the beholder and up to the traveler, weather they prefer to be in front of the camera or taking control of the camera… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful photos of your travels all around the world, Nina. I agree with you on traveling and taking photos. Every photo you take on a trip is a story and it can be a more meaningful story when you slow down and take photos with intention. Like you I prefer taking photos of the background as opposed to just selfies. When traveling, I like to live in the moment and taking photos forces me to be more focused of my surroundings – observing the places I pass and then taking photos of scenes that speak to me 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
True… that’s why, keep on taking picture… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Stunning series of photos, Nina. The beauty of travel is creating and experiencing the stories of the area. Briliant.
LikeLiked by 1 person