Ah, holidays. Removed from everything. Sleep late. Read magazines, visit new places... and in a day or two you'll be up for a challenge. For those of you who always want to achieve something, even on vacation, here are some tips for creating the most creative vacation photos.
First, consider what you can do to emphasize the unusual. If you take the same photo in front of the Grand Canyon as everyone else in the world, where's the creativity? Can you try it from a new angle? Consider what the image would look like from above or below. And through a door? Focusing on something specific, like intricate carvings or a beautiful window, can make all the difference. Another idea is to try and photograph that classical monument at an unusual time of day. What does the Eiffel Tower look like at sunrise or sunset?
You probably have a lot of photos of your kids at the beach. Consider honing in on the details: Are your five-year-old's hands putting sand in his sandcastle or holding the crab he found? How are those flip flop tans coming? Instead of focusing on the fireworks themselves, how about the look of wonder on your child's face as they watch them?
Candid snaps are a great way to capture what really happened on your vacation. Sometimes unusual backgrounds make for the best images: A favorite family photo shows two girls reading books in lawn chairs with two giant potties in the background. It's an image that no one else had and it made everyone smile.
Once you've got a few candid shots, consider going the other way with fun poses. Yes, that picture in front of you with your husband trying in vain to straighten the Leaning Tower of Pisa may be commonplace, but if you are, enjoy it. See the sunset on a beach? That sunset will fit right into your nearly empty ice cream cone and create a great picture to remember. Children playing on the beach during sunset? You can place them so that the fixing sun becomes a ball and so on. Are there many statues in the city you are visiting? Some people have posed with them to create witty images that turn the statue into a flirt, an anachronism using your iPhone, or anything else you can imagine.
By playing with distance and perspective, you can create fun camera illusions. Some ideas: make a helicopter and an ant look the same size in your drink, take a photo that looks like you're reaching out to squeeze a cloud or that skyscraper. Maybe a giant with a beach bucket is going to cover your two “scared” kids… let your imagination run wild.
Finally, there are many technical ways to get really creative vacation photos. The Canon camera series has several creative filter settings: the miniature effect, for example, makes a life-size landscape look like a miniature train. Browse the camera settings or available apps if you're shooting on your phone. There are hundreds of possibilities to take panoramic photos, make your photos look old-fashioned or 70s-style, whiten your teeth - the possibilities are endless.
One of the best ways to ensure creative photos from various perspectives? Make sure everyone on the trip has a camera, and consider giving a prize for the most creative shot. You will have unique photos and a vacation to remember.
Comments