6 summer travel photography challenges

Challenge 1

Photograph stunning sunrise and sunset shots 

“Magical moods in your photos can truly elevate your work,” says freelance travel, outdoor and lifestyle photographer André Alexander. “To capture the enchanting moods of sunrise, sunset, fog or rain, timing and preparation are key, as is daily practice.”

André suggests shooting sunrise or sunset travel-inspired shots while on vacation, over a one-or two-week period, to witness a progression in your skill and artistic vision.

“It's the preparation that makes the difference,” Andre adds. “Use things like Google Maps and apps for sun location for planning your shoot.”

Top tip: Sun stars (or the starburst effect) add another layer of vibrancy to your photograph. Start your aperture at f/11 – you may need to close down to f/16 or f/22 – and position with the sun partially in view (although never point your camera directly towards the sun). The effect occurs as the light of the sun is split across the blades of your lens’ aperture. For best results, try in high fidelity light – in this case sunrises or sunsets on clear, bright days.

Challenge 2

Immortalise the wonder of water in all its guises 

“Go out and capture water in all its forms: vapour, liquid or solid. Water can add so much dynamic energy to your image,” encourages Roman Flepp, one half of the Swiss photography and videography duo Twintheworld. Roman’s counterpart, Valentin Manhart, adds, “When it’s solid, you can find amazing glacial structures and snowy landscapes. When it’s liquid, you can capture waves crashing on to the shore, waterfalls, rivers and suchlike. When it’s vapour, you can photograph amazing cloud formations or, during summer days, big thunderstorms. Always have your camera ready in your hand so you don’t miss any good moments, we often capture the best views along the way.”

Capturing water reflections: a windless, bright day at sunrise or sunset is often the best time to photograph water reflections. Experiment with camera height, trying both high and low angles, and create symmetry in your image. Keep your ISO low (100) for sharpness, set your aperture to f/11 for vast landscapes or f/5.6 to f/4 for smaller landscapes. Shutter speed will depend on the effect you want to achieve. A slightly faster shutter speed (such as 1/125) might show ripples in the water, while a slower shutter speed (1/10) will create a smoother reflection.

Read more: The essential guide to filters: what to use for snow, water and effects

Challenge 3

Where’s Wally?

Photographing family or friends abroad can often result in the same old, same old series of staged shots, cued cheesy grins and stiff poses in front of famous landmarks, so if you’re keen to evolve this type of image, award-winning architecture photographer Peter Li has the perfect challenge. “Take fun ‘group’ shots by incorporating them into the scene, almost like a real-life version of Where’s Wally?” he says, adding that this style of shot doesn’t need to be perfect or precise, just something “playful and comical”, which will not only elevate the image’s interest, but also your own creativity.

Peter’s top tip: “Consider how you can incorporate your interests into your travel photography. For instance, my cathedral work draws inspiration from my cherished memories of playing Japanese console games in the 1990s.”

Read more: How do professional photographers find inspiration?

Challenge 4

Give bracketing a try for tricky indoor spaces

Photographing grand indoor spaces is often challenging, as even pros like Peter will testify, particularly when a scene includes high contrast areas of light and dark. One tried and tested technique that compensates for this is bracketing. Simply decide how many shots you want to take in the bracketing sequence by pressing the BKT button, then hold the button again and turn the sub-command dial to choose the exposure increment.

“Bracketing gives us the flexibility to shape the light and balance the tones without major degradation to the final image,” Peter explains. “We can create the eye flow with the intent to draw attention to specific areas and bring a rhythm that takes the viewer through the photo.”

Peter’s top tip: “It’s difficult to create balance and harmony when a scene has pockets of extreme light and dark, so do some research on the location. Keep in mind that the final result might not match your initial vision, but the preparations will help you to better capture the essence of the place.”

Challenge 5

Shoot the same scene two ways

While vertically shot travel scenes can communicate a sense of scale and exaggerate height, landscape images are ideal for encapsulating expansive scenes such as vistas and interiors. Yet experimenting with both orientations for the same setting can throw up even more creative benefits, such as the ability to play with perspective, create new narratives and enhance flexibility when it comes to creating options in post. “Often, the first perspective you capture is not the one you end up liking the most,” says Roman from Twintheworld. “After finding a perspective you like, try using the foreground, framing or leading lines to give the image a special dynamic. By playing with vertical and landscape formats, depending on the place, these factors can vary greatly and offer interesting elements to work with.”

Twintheworld’s top tip: “Before taking any shot, first walk around the place and get to know it from many different perspectives to find the best ones.”

Challenge six

Use lines that lead the way

When it comes to shooting creative compositions of groups, André Alexander is a big fan of employing lines within a travel setting as they lead the viewer’s eye towards the subjects, something he says he’ll most certainly be doing when he explores the stunning natural landscapes and vibrant cityscapes of Georgia this summer. Challenging you to do the same, André suggests that “paths, rivers or fences are all great ways of using lines within the environment. This not only adds depth, but also interest.”

André’s top tip: “Arrange your group symmetrically or look for patterns in the environment that can frame your subjects. This creates a visually pleasing composition.”

Passport? Check! Camera and kitbag? Check! All six travel challenges complete? Check!

All that’s left to do is for you to tune in next season for a fresh edition of Photo Finish. 

The best lenses for travel photography

• For a beginner-friendly DX wide-angle lens add the NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR to your bag. For greater focal length versatility, try the NIKKOR Z DX 18-140mm f/3.5-6.3 VR.
• The NIKKOR Z 17-28mm f/2.8 is the most affordable full-frame wide-angle NIKKOR lens offering clarity and stunning rounded bokeh from its f/2.8 aperture. For those looking to upgrade and advance, the NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S or NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S are the top of the range, letting you take everything from epic views to frame-filling close ups. Our Nikon Creators favour the versatile NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S.
• For a perfect travel all-rounder, consider the NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S, the NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR or the NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S.

First image camera settings: Z6 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S, 24mm, 1/600 sec, f/5, ISO 500 ©Twintheworld