Travel Videos & Photography
Travel photos and videos that document an areas landscape, culture, food, and people is one of the most beautiful and popular forms of photography to view. Not only does the photographer get to keep the memory of their travels alive through this, but they also capture the essence for viewers of what it is/might be like to visit certain regions.
With summer quickly approaching, this is the perfect time for travel and adventure videos! This post will be a great resource for anyone wanting to capture, share, and and look back on all their favorite experiences. In brief, I will highlight tips and tricks from experienced photographers, the best travel photography equipment for varying budgets, and include resources and examples for your personal research!
TIPS and TRICKS
There are various ways to record and edit your travel video, and the essence you would like to capture in your final product and the way you choose to do this truly depends on your personal travel experience. That said, there are certain basic tips that could be helpful to follow to make your videos more engaging and really encompass the experience. These tips are taken from various travel vloggers that create beautiful travel-based videos for a living.
capture the landscape fully and properly-
this can be a great way to introduce the region you’re visiting. Close ups capture the details beautifully, but to get a sense of place you, capture everything- use a wide angle and/or get as far back as possible
film people of places-
imagery of native residents and locals are the best way to encapsulate an experience. The type of people in an area shows a lot about the community and microcultures of an area. This can include how they dress, customs, food, recreation, and more. Be sure to be respectful with this:)
always keep a story in mind-
you might not know exactly what story you want to display until you’ve completed your trip, but as you record keep in mind how someone watching your video might view the content. And keep in mind the styles and types of shots you’re getting and of what things. Structure engages viewers.
remain consistent with transitions-
Shoot every shot with transition in mind (transitions are very important and can make or break your video). Choose something that is smooth and not jarring, for example high-fives between each shot, or a slow spin, and remain consistent. These should be no more than 3 seconds. For a good example of transitions check out “Around the World in 360° Degrees – 3 Year Epic Selfie” by Alex Chacon.
plan ahead-
planning ahead can be crucial for travel videos. If you want to make sure you get footage of a certain area or activity you’ll need to be prepared in packing your gear, memory cards, having electricity for charging available, or bringing extra batteries. It would also be helpful to plan shots ahead so that you don’t forget or miss anything, but be sure to plan time to just enjoy your time as well!
EQUIPMENT– Now I am not a professional photographer, nor do I have much experience (aside from making videos via my iPhone) with travel photography, but I have researched for you the types of equipment recommended by travel vloggers. Here’s what you might need:
For a lower budget- cell phone– your phone is always a great option especially for travel videos because its typically always in your pocket, ready to capture the moment! And iPhones and other cellphones are coming out with high quality cameras these days!
go pros– these are great action cameras for any activities you might find yourself doing. The small size is good for travel and they would be good for underwater footage, which I personally adore
A big lens for shooting videos- the same travel vlogger recommends the Cannon 24-105
A drone– obviously not necessary, but drone shots of a place are very breathtaking and can capture very wide, full angles. some options are the DJI phantom or the DJI spark drone
Point and shoot camera– for photos this is a great option, digital or film, that requires much less work and knowledge and can still produce worth while images- often you can even find cheap point and shoot film camera as antique or thrift stores!- a Holga or other plastic cameras can be good for this as they are not very expensive and lighter weight
Auto focus lens– Quick and easy. Will spend less time and worry on capturing focus.
Digital camera for recording- this video recommends the Sony 87.
Joby “GorillaPod” – a flexible tripod that acts as a handle and stabilizer.
EXAMPLES:
“MY YEAR 2018- Cliché Travel Video”
“OPEN YOUR EYES X CALVYN JUSTUS” – a great example on the effect a wide angle can have –
“Traveling the World for 2 Years! Chris Rogers”- breathtaking views with some incredible drone shots and unique transitions-
Great top see