Elīna Abroad

1. Road trip vibes

Let’s start off with travel photography ideas for road trip lovers. Just a simple photo from inside the car can look exciting! If you’re going on a trip by a car, make sure you take a photo of the roads and the views you’re getting. These photos can tell a lot about the place you’re travelling in. In the photos below, you can see India in the top picture. In the bottom photo, you can see the typical Icelandic landscape. Read more about my trips to India and Iceland here.

2. Long exposure photography in cities

This is one of my favourite kinds of travel photography! When you arrive at a city, look for light sources – lanterns, buildings, cars, beams of light etc. With long exposure photography, you can make the city look completely different and very lively, and make your photos stand out. For this type of travel photography, you will need a tripod to keep the camera still (see what equipment I use here). I am planning on doing a post on how to take long exposure photos, but for now I can let you know that I used the following settings for the photo below: 3s exposure, f/11, ISO 800.

3. Landscapes

Another great idea for your travel photography is taking landscape photos. If you’re going to a beautiful place in the nature, make sure you take some landscape photos. Aim to include what seems unique about the particular place. Here I took a photo in Iceland of houses on an Icelandic coast with mountains in the background. More photos from Iceland here!

4. Local people doing their thing

Make sure you not only include yourself in your travel photos, but also the local people, especially if they are doing something unique to their culture. Here in the first photo you can see local people in Srinagar, India, selling their products at a market on Dal Lake. In the second photo you can see a man making the traditional Kashmiri rug. In the third photo you can see an Egyptian man sitting by a temple in Egypt.

5. You in a hotel

But don’t forget to include yourself in photos! Capture moments of yourself having a great time at your hotel. This is such an easy travel photography idea because we all have to stay somewhere. Experiment with different areas of the hotel and your room. I took these photos at Dan Eilat Hotel in Israel. Read my review here! Of course, you can also get creative with your travel photos in hostels, campsites etc.

6. Dramatic sunset or sunrise

Sunset photos can either look very boring or very exciting. If you find a nice foreground, your sunset photo will look 100 times better. Some ideas for what to include in your travel photos when shooting sunset or sunrise  – rocky coast, ferries, other people and you!

I took the first two photos in Malta. The first one is a sunset photo with a man standing right under the setting sun. The rocky coast and the waves make the photo even more dramatic.

I took the second photo early in the morning when everyone was still sleeping. I jumped in the frame to make the photo look more interesting.

All the other photos I took in Santorini. I ended up playing around with silhouette photos as the sun was setting.

7. Cities as it gets dark

Most people leave the sunset spots right after sunset. If you stay longer, you can see views like this – the lights that start appearing and the colour of the sky changes.

8. Hiking photos

If you enjoy hiking, make sure you capture the views on the way to the top or whatever your destination is. And, of course, take a photo of yourself with all those beautiful views behind you. If you’re hiking alone, you will need a tripod to shoot photos of yourself. Learn more about how to take great photos of yourself when travelling solo here.

9. Long exposure waterfalls

A long exposure photo of waterfalls looks so much better than just a regular photo. You will need a tripod for this type of long exposure, too. Experiment with different shutter speeds to get the best shot. Read about what equipment I use here.

10. Show the perspective

In this photo you can see how tiny the truck looks agains the might Himalayas. And a camel in the vast Nubra Valley nearby. You can use this method for other types of photos, too. You can capture people in front of waterfalls, high rise buildings, etc.

Travel photography is a great way to capture the beauty of the world and the unique experiences you encounter while on the road. With these 10 amazing travel photography ideas, you can capture the best moments of your next trip, and document the amazing places you visit and the people you meet. From scouting out the perfect angle for your photos to experimenting with creative techniques, you’ll have the perfect photos to share with friends, family, and your social media followers. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional photographer, these ideas will help you take your travel photography to the next level. So, grab your camera, get out there, and start snapping away on your next adventure!

If you have anymore tips, feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you enjoy shooting when travelling!

It’s fine if you start out with more basic camera equipment. My first DSLR camera was a Nikon D90 and I absolutely loved it. You can still create amazing content with a cheaper camera, and upgrade when you feel like you need to – e.g., if you want to improve the quality of your photos. Same with lenses – the kit lens initially was completely sufficient for me, but as I started getting more into photography, I realised exactly what was missing in the lens and started buying new lenses and other camera equipment that is suitable for frequent travelers to improve my travel photos.

Camera

Let’s start with the camera, shall we?

As I mentioned in the introduction, my first camera was a Nikon D90 that I had for a few years before moving on to a Nikon D7000. I then had the Nikon D7000 for a few years until it was time to get a full frame camera. I now own a Nikon D750, and I love it.

Nikon D750 is an excellent 24.3MP full-frame camera. Some of my favourite features include the Wi-Fi, which is perfect for taking photos of yourself and quickly uploading photos onto your phone, and the tilting screen.

I captured the Aldeyjarfoss waterfall in Iceland using my Nikon D750.

Lenses

Lenses make a huge difference when it comes to travel photography or any other type of photography that you may enjoy. I used the kit lens – 18-105mm lens – that came with the Nikon D90 for years before getting the 50mm f/1.8 as my second lens. The 50mm f/1.8 lens is perfect for portraits as well as close-up shots of items like these ones I had in my hotel room in Eilat.

Some delicious fruit at the Dan Eilat Hotel in Israel shot using 50mm f/1.8 lens.

I eventually felt the need for a lens that would allow me to zoom in on distant objects, and animals in particular, so that’s when I got the 70-300mm lens.

My current bucket list for lenses includes a wide angle lens and a good zoom lens. A Sigma 14mm f/1.8 lens or another wide angle lens will be the next one that I get. And, hopefully, a 70-200mm lens or a similar one. So if you fancy buying me an expensive gift, there’s your ideas. No? Well, it was worth a shot.

Filters

ND filters are the filters used for long exposure photos. They are dark filters that can be attached to the lens that allow you to take longer shots. The ones that I currently use are Cokin ND filters.

I took this long exposure photo in Howth, Ireland, using Cokin ND filters.

Remote

As I mentioned in my post about taking photos of yourself, I love using remotes for that exact reason. If I travel on my own, using a tripod and a remote is all you need for taking beautiful self-portraits. I own this remote, which is perfect for beginners and this one which has more settings, including bulb mode with a timer which is perfect for long exposure photos.

Tripod

Tripods are essential for long exposure photos and when taking photos of yourself. I currently own a tripod similar to this Velbon one, and I currently don’t feel the need to upgrade.

Long exposure photo of the National Library in Riga, Latvia.

Camera bag

I have several bags that are essential for carrying all my travel photography equipment. The one that I use most frequently is my Gandys backpack. While it’s not technically a camera bag, it fits all my equipment nicely. My actual camera bag is from Lowepro and has a separate compartment for the camera, lenses and filters.

Using my Gandys backpack in Kaliningrad, Russia.

Other accessories

Cleaning kit – keep your camera equipment clean with a cleaning set.

SD cards – I currently have 2 SD cards – Sandisk 128GB.

Spare batteries – It’s always smart to take a spare battery with you. There have been too many times I have forgotten to charge my battery and then had to limit the amout of photos I could take. Silly me.

Photographing the amazing landscapes in Iceland.

And that’s it! OK, let’s face it, it took me years to actually purchase all this equipment, and there are still a million more items that I would love to own – more lenses, new ND filters, so that I can take even longer shots, camera stabilizers etc, but, hey, maybe in a few years I will be able to do an update post and have even more amazing equipment for travel photography.

What do you take your travel photos with? I’m always curious to learn what equipment other people use!

A photo I took in Ireland. For ideas for what to do in Dublin, click here.

What is long-exposure photography?

Long-exposure photography is a technique that allows you to capture images with long shutter speeds. This can be done by using a low ISO setting and a tripod, and by taking the advantage of natural light sources. With this type of photography, you can create some truly stunning images.

There are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind when it comes to camera settings. First, you’ll want to use a low ISO setting. This will help to reduce noise in your image. Second, you’ll need to use a tripod. This is because long exposures can cause your image to be blurry if there is any movement. Finally, you’ll want to take advantage of natural light sources. Sunrises and sunsets are great times to try out long-exposure photography, as the light is typically softer during these times of day.

With these tips in mind, let’s take a look at how to take long-exposure photos step-by-step.

Equipment needed.

Let’s start off with one of the most important things – your equipment. When it comes to long-exposure photography, good equipment is very important and there are some things you cannot go without. A camera is a given and so is a tripod. For more information about the equipment I personally use, click here.

Camera

To take photos you will need a camera, and, sorry, but your iPhone camera won’t be good enough this time. DSLR cameras are best for long-exposure photos because of their advanced features and manual controls. DSLRs allow you to control settings such as shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, which are critical for achieving stunning results in long-exposure shots. Bulb mode in DSLRs is also incredibly useful for controlling shutter speed. I personally currently use a Nikon D610.

Tripod

Next, you will need a good steady tripod to make sure your photos are sharp where they need to be. This is the one I use. For more information about the equipment I use, click here.

Remote

Remotes in long-exposure photography are mostly useful for two reasons: you can time your exposure precisely and it reduces camera movement and, therefore, makes the photos sharper. You can buy a wired or wireless remote, or even use your smartphone as a remote shutter release. However, for long-exposure photos, I recommend this remote or any other that has a timer on it. It will be super helpful for when you need to adjust the time for the exposure. If your photo comes out too dark, make the next shot longer.

Filters

ND filters, or neutral density filters, are invaluable tools in long-exposure photography. They allow you to achieve longer shutter speeds, which are useful when capturing motion blur effects in subjects like long exposure waterfalls or clouds. These filters are also handy when shooting in bright conditions, as they reduce the amount of light entering the lens, enabling you to use longer shutter speeds even during daytime. 

How to take long-exposure photos step-by-step.

Now that you have your equipment ready, it is time to start taking some photos.

Step 1: Decide what you want to photograph.

Find a location where you think you could take some nice long exposure photos. It could be a long exposure waterfall, city lights late at night or a place with moving traffic. This will determine the long exposure photography settings you’ll need to use. For example, if you’re photographing a moving object, like a waterfall or a train, you’ll need to use a slower shutter speed. If you’re photographing a static object, like a building or a landscape, you can use a faster shutter speed.

Step 2: Set up your tripod.

Next, you will need a good tripod to make sure your photos are sharp where they need to be. This is the one I use. For more information about the equipment I use, click here.

Set up your tripod and attach your camera. Make sure the tripod is stable. Use a remote shutter release or self-timer to avoid shaking the camera when you press the shutter button.

Step 3: Select manual focus.

First, set your camera to Manual mode (M), so that you can use your long exposure photography settings, and then select a low ISO setting (e.g., ISO 100) to reduce noise.

Autofocus can be tricky to use in low light or when there’s not much contrast in the scene. In these cases, it’s best to switch to manual focus so that you can take your time to get the sharpest image possible.

Step 4: Choose the right settings for long exposure photography.

– Choose a wide aperture (e.g., f/8 or wider) to control depth of field.

– for long-exposure photography, it’s best to use a low ISO setting so that your photos are as clean and noise-free as possible.

– A good rule of thumb is to start with a slower shutter speed (1/4 second or longer) depending on what you’re taking your photos of and then increase the speed until you get the desired effect. The shutter speed will depend on your subject matter. 

It’s a good idea to set your camera to Bulb (B) mode, so that you can adjust shutter speed easier depending on the desired effect.

Step 5: Take the photo.

Once everything is set up, it’s time to take the photo! If using a remote shutter release or self-timer, make sure not to touch the camera while the exposure is being made.

Step 6: Review your photo.

Don’t forget to review your results and make adjustments as needed to achieve the desired outcome.

After taking your photo, review it on the LCD screen. Check for any blurriness or other imperfections and make adjustments as necessary before taking another photo.

Make sure you experiment with different long exposure settings, compositions and subjects to unleash your creativity and capture stunning long-exposure images with captivating motion blur, light trails, or dreamy effects. Happy long-exposure shooting!

Read about my own camera equipment here.

Long-exposure photography is a great way to capture amazing images. By following the steps and tips outlined in this blog post, you can take stunning long-exposure photos that will wow your friends and family. Make sure you experiment with different settings – adjust your shutter speed and aperture to see how it changes the look of the photo, and have some fun with it. So get out there and give it a try! 

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