If you’re like me, then your passion for photography is only exceeded by your passion for traveling. You spend your days dreaming of breathtaking landscapes, stunning cities, and endless air miles. Unfortunately, dear reader you’re suffering from the desire to travel with your camera and I’m sorry say that it’s not curable.
It’s easy to be depressed over your inability to look and take pictures of everything at the moment. There aren’t enough hours during the day, and for the majority of us, there’s just not enough money in our bank accounts. One thing that prevents me from taking action is thinking about my next trip.
The planning is easy however the most difficult part is deciding which destination to visit. You may be overwhelmed by all the possibilities So here are some things to think about that could assist you in selecting the perfect destination for your next travel photography trip.
Check out Your Own Backyard
The first thing to remember is that your next trip doesn’t have to be an epic trip across oceans to destinations like Iceland and Patagonia. I’m always looking for ways to visit the major bucket-list destinations I’m sure I’d like, but sometimes choosing to stay closer to home could be a better choice.
If you don’t live on an island that is in an ocean in the middle, it’s probably a place nearby which you’ll be able reach earlier to fulfill your wanderlust.
Is there a place within driving distance of yours that you’ve always wanted to go to or an area that you’ve heard people have been telling you to go to? Perhaps in your backyard that other people spend hundreds of dollars and many hours of travel to visit? You might have been before but would like to return to see if you can capture better photos. The advantages of looking at your backyard are numerous.
Create a Bucket List
Most likely, you already have an idea of the locations you’d like to go to and capture. If you want to me to help, I’ll give you a list of places I’d like to visit. If you haven’t done it, create an outline and record it. It is possible to make more than one list , both international and local.
My bucket list contains several sub-locations that are nested within each one since I am constantly seeing new places within a certain country I’d like to visit.
I also recommend that you look beyond the popular tourist destinations. You should definitely add them to your list I have certainly done but there’s plenty more in the world other beyond Iceland, New Zealand, and Yosemite. These are places that are extremely well-known, which means they’re difficult to access and, often, you’ll have to compete with massive crowds.
Instagram is an excellent site to get ideas however, it is important to explore more than just the most popular locations. Try asking friends who enjoy traveling for suggestions. I’m always willing to offer suggestions if you’re not sure of ideas.
Talk with Your Travel Buddy
Which person will you be traveling with? Have you got a friend who you travel with? Talk about ideas and create an agenda that is shared. Are you a solo traveler? This allows you to explore wherever you’d like. You might want to consider having a travel companion to give you a break. There are numerous benefits of traveling with someone who is not your own or with a group of people.
If your travels are usually as family trips and plans, then you will require a lot of work as well. Try asking your children what they would prefer to visit for your next family vacation? They may suggest something that you’ve never thought of. Do you know of a place your partner always dreamed of visiting but never thought of?
Multi-Task
Are there ways you can take two birds off in one go? There are many ways to justify travel you haven’t thought of. Do you have relatives somewhere you can visit? Perhaps an old friend you’ve not seen for a while?
Most people aren’t able to travel to work however, if you are able to are there ways to add some personal travel at the conclusion of a business excursion? If you’re creative, you might be able to convince your boss to cover the cost for you to attend an event somewhere. If you don’t ask , the response is usually “No”.
Consider photography workshops too. While it’s focused on photography, you’ll invest into your art. Workshops can be costly however if you can find an affordable one near you, it will help keep expenses of traveling low. Photography will benefit greatly from a workshop more than through a visit.
Budget
The most significant obstacle facing the majority of us is the cost. If money was not an issue I’m sure that many photographers would be spending longer traveling as opposed to staying at home. However, traveling is expensive, so it is something that needs to be taken into consideration.
Based on the location you reside and where you are, you can make use of seasonal variations to help select your next destination. Everywhere in the world will have both a high and low season. These seasons can affect the cost of travel substantially, which is why it’s worth looking to determine the most suitable place to visit during a particular season. The opposite side of peak season (shoulder season) tends to be cheaper however, the weather remains acceptable.
It’s also worthwhile to consider exchange rates since they could vary a lot. If your currency in your home country is doing well in comparison to another nation’s currencies, then it may be worth considering a trip to that country in order to gain more value for your dollars. I’ve planned trips on very short notice several times because of an extremely favorable exchange rate and I’ve saved many dollars.
Increase Your Portfolio
It’s worth looking at your travel pictures and deciding if there’s something in particular or a medium you’d really like to include. Perhaps you have a lot of pictures of oceans and beaches and would like to diversify your photography by moving in the mountains?
Do you mostly shoot nature but could be stretched by spending a few days photographing urban landscapes? Have you always wanted to experiment with an astrophotography technique? Spend one or two dark nights as free from the light source as is possible.
I’ve always had a dream of taking my camera underwater, and next month , I’ll spend several weeks at Queensland, Australia exploring the Great Barrier Reef.
We photographers naturally look for subjects we are drawn to and feel comfortable with. However, it’s always worth trying something new at times. Picking your next location in relation to the subject or the medium you’re looking to capture is an excellent method to discover something new and perhaps go to a place that you would not normally go.
Time of availability
I’m a huge advocate for slow travel. You will experience an area in a completely different way when you stay several months there, instead of a few days or even weeks. But most people don’t want to quit or is able to leave their job to in a new location for a couple of months.
It’s important to consider the amount of time available for your next adventure. If you’re traveling for one weekend, you’re probably not likely to travel for 20 hours around the world in each direction. If you’re planning to spend an entire month, you would rather be stuck in a town that is just further down the road. Use your time wisely.
There are some places I’d like to go to that I wouldn’t enjoy in a rush. Therefore, I’m leaving them to when I am able to explore it in my own time. There are plenty of places where I could happily stay for several nights and feel satisfied.
Plan it as an Road Trip
It’s not easy to beat a great road excursion. You are free to travel wherever you like whenever you’d like. You don’t have to rely on public transportation or an schedule.
You could also stay in your car and sleep should you wish and drive out of the way of the crowds. Explore as much as you can in the time available.
A road trip can open the door to a variety of opportunities for photographers to travel. One location can transform into several. I’ve always wanted to visit Yosemite National Park in California So I took an incredible roadtrip across all of west-central USA.
Then, I wanted to explore The Canadian Rockies, so I drove across the country from Vancouver to British Columbia, into Alberta and the Rockies and then back down to northern Washington. I saw more during these roads than I could have seen by flying or taking a bus between places. Perhaps a road trip could be the next thing to your bucket list?
What’s Next?
It’s likely that you won’t be able to put your bags in the car and be off the road today However, choosing the right trip location for photography can provide something to be excited about and get ready for. I hope this article has helped you consider different possibilities and narrow your choices.
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