REPOST: L.A. Times Travel Show: 14 photo tips to remember for 2014

Photo pundits share tips on how to capture ravishing places that you’re planning to visit this year.

Image Source: latimes.com

You’ve come home from your trip and you’re looking through your photos, but they’re not as dynamic as the destination you’re remembering. Our photo experts and editors gathered a list of 14 tips for making those memories as good as those in your mind’s eye.

You can pick up more tips Saturday and Sunday at the L.A. Times Travel Show from photographer Mark Boster and writer Chris Reynolds, also an accomplished photographer. They’ll be speaking at 1 p.m. both days on the L.A. Times Stage.

Herewith, from members of The Times’ Travel staff, some photo tips:

1. Use a camera. That may sound like a no-duh, but as much as we love our camera phones, using a camera gives you some technical advantages — especially if it allows you to adjust for light, subject and other factors — and also encourages mindful picture-taking, not just quick snaps (not that there’s anything wrong with those either).

2. Move — yourself and your subject. Varying the angle from which photos are shot — bend at the knees, for example — lends variety to the pictures. Move your subject if there’s something distracting in your picture — a light pole that appears to be growing out of his head, for instance.

3. Wake up early or stay up later. Morning light is usually gentle and allows you to paint your pictures with early-morning sun. Conversely, the light just before sunset — and depending on the time of year, that could be 5 p.m. (we know you stay up later than that) or 10 p.m. in some areas of the country during Daylight Saving. The softer, warmer light flatters your subjects, human or otherwise.

4. Use a tripod. You don’t have to spend $200 on a tripod unless you’re a serious photographer. Buy a little Gorillapod that allows you to shoot sharp pictures with a minimum of fuss. You can brace against a vertical wall for support as well.

5. Shoot informational signs. What could be duller than shooting a sign that says “West Emma Creek, Kansas”? A photo that has no information with it. Photographing a sign before your shot tells you where you were and allows you to differentiate it from your next shot (which could be the Middle Emma Creek).

6. Don’t forget details. If you’re going to an outdoor market, shoot overall pictures of the activity but get close-ups of, say, the grains and spices, which add variety to photos and, of course, to life.

7. Shoot with the sun at your back. If you shoot into the sun, chances are you’ll end up with a silhouette, which is great if that’s what you want. Your camera will read that light and not the light on the subject. Best way to avoid that is to move your subject, if that’s possible. Also don’t shoot at noon (see tip three); the light will be harsh.

8. Re-read the manual that came with your camera. Learning or relearning the settings on your camera as you’re executing probably isn’t optimal. Think of this as a mini-refresher course. You might also pack your manual or download it from your camera’s website to peruse while you’re getting where you’re going. It is good information and it passes the time productively.

9. Pack some extra gear. Take extra batteries (if your camera uses those). If your camera uses a battery charger, make sure you have it and the right cord for it. If you want to use your camera a lot, take an extra battery, charge it during the day you’re out sightseeing and then swap out the one you’ve just used. That way you don’t enter the battery dead zone. Also pack an extra SD card or two, just to make sure you have enough.

10. Know what your camera flash can do — besides ruin a picture if it’s set wrong. Experiment with your flash to make sure you don’t “blow out” your subject (too much flash). If you have a detachable flash, experiment with bouncing the light off the ceiling or a wall for softer illumination. The ceiling or wall must be fairly close (6 to 12 feet) and must be white or nearly so for this to work.

11. Unless your camera has a macro setting, don’t get too close to food you’re photographing. It will be out of focus and will look like a hot mess. Be especially aware of composition; badly composed food shots can be very unappetizing.

12. Shoot a lot. That’s one of the perks of digital and why carrying extra SD cards is so important. Various exposures and slight framing adjustments can make a world of difference. You can delete your mistakes, of course, and make yourself look like a genius.
13. If you’re not sure what to shoot, visit a drugstore or newsstand and check out the postcards. You’ll see destinations, of course, but you’ll also see possible angles from which to shoot your photo. After all, they don’t use ugly pictures on postcards.

14. Remember these three elements: lighting, composition and moments. The correct combination of those three elements will give you a lasting memory that you can show your friends and say, with understated cool, “Yes, I did shoot that.”
Louis Habash loves writing travel stories and taking photos of the beautiful places that he visited. Follow this Twitter page for more updates on his journey.

REPOST: When to Use a Travel Agent

Is it more beneficial to book with a traditional travel agency rather than organizing your own trip? Find out the answer in this HuffingtonPost.com article.

 

Image Source: huffingtonpost.com

 

It’s an assumption you’ve heard before: Travel agents are a dying breed. Many people presume that the rise of do-it-yourself booking engines like Travelocity.com and Expedia.com all but wiped out travel agencies — Yahoo recently declared a career as a travel agent a “dead-end job.” But that’s not necessarily the case. Travel agents still have their place: In fact, members the American Society of Travel Agents book more than 144 million vacations a year, and ASTA reported more than $17 billion in revenue for 2012.

In an attempt to change consumers’ views, John Pittman, a vice president at ASTA, said the society prefers to use the term “travel professional.” This term describes the profession more broadly as today’s booking agents do more than act as the go-between for travelers, airlines and hotels. Travel professionals now work across multiple platforms (even using DIY sites) to help clients book a wide variety of vacations. “The truth is, travel agents have adapted to the changing environment, and they are relevant and they are meeting a consumer need,” Pittman said.

Jeff Klee, the CEO of DIY-booking website CheapAir.com seems to agree: In June the site announced it would begin offering every customer who purchases a plane ticket access to a CheapAir.com travel adviser who can be reached directly by email or phone. The adviser can help you make modifications to your booking, deal with trip delays or cancellations, or organize additional elements for your booking, like car or hotel reservations.

Even still, there are certain instances where it’s more beneficial to book with a traditional travel agency rather than to attempt to organize a trip on your own. Pittman cites five examples as optimal opportunities to use a travel agent:

International travel

In addition to providing some destination-specific advice, travel professionals can negotiate international hotel and flight packages for you to help trim the costs on a trip overseas. Pittman also stressed that things can get tricky when traveling abroad, especially if you’re visiting a nation with complicated visa or passport requirements. Not only can you get a better value when you use a travel agent, but you also have the peace of mind that you won’t get stranded in a foreign country.

Honeymoon travel

You’ve got enough on your plate when it comes to organizing your wedding — let someone else plan the honeymoon. Not only can a travel agent get you discounted rates, but they can use their established relationships to provide you with special honeymoon perks like room upgrades, welcome amenities and candlelit dinners.

Large group and corporate travel

Thanks to their industry contacts, travel professionals can help you negotiate large-group discounts and organize all of your itinerary details so your family reunion or your corporate retreat goes off without a hitch.

Cruise travel

Planning a cruise may sound easy, but you have to consider a lot of variables. What itinerary is right for you? Will you be spending an extra night in the departure or arrival port? Do you need to book a hotel room or car rental? What shore excursions do you want to sign up for? A travel professional can help you sort out all of the intricacies of your cruise and use their connections to secure unadvertised deals. If you’re hoping to use an agent that deals exclusively with cruise travel, you can search for one through the Cruise Lines International Association CLIA offers an Accredited Cruise Certification for agents, which means travel professionals with this credential have gone through extensive training in order to better match travelers with the right cruise itineraries.

Theme park travel

Theme park vacations can get expensive quickly, especially when you factor in daily park expenses like tickets and food. Though places like Disney World routinely advertise package discounts to entice vacationers, a travel professional can help you distinguish between a good deal and a deal that’s too good to be true. He or she can also find you those under-the-radar discounts, such as special family or group rates.

If you decide that your upcoming vacation requires an expert planner, choosing the right professional is key. Pittman offered five tips to help you narrow down your choices.

Look for an accredited agent

ASTA is the only professional association that represents travel agents, and it’s the only organization that has its own code of ethics (meaning ASTA members are required to respond to customer complaints). Many travel agencies include the ASTA badge on their websites, but you can also search for an ASTA-accredited professional on the association’s consumer website, TravelSense.org.

Ask your friends

As with any investment, it’s helpful to get advice from your family and friends. Ask for agent recommendations from people you know have used travel professionals in the past. Pittman reiterates that the best travel professionals strive to create long-lasting relationships with clients that go beyond a single booking experience.

Check credentials

If you can’t tap friends or family for recommendations, rely on the industry’s accreditation system to guide you to the right agent. Some travel professionals are Certified Travel Counselors, which they’ve earned through The Travel Institute (the certification body for the travel professional industry). Agents can even become “destination specialists” through the program, meaning they become experts in a given region. Some of these certifications can be attained through remote course study, while others earn the title through extensive first-hand travel experience.

Ask about fees upfront

After your travel professional supplies you with a vacation package estimate, make sure to ask if there are any additional fees and if the cost of an agent’s service is included in the quoted vacation price. If the sight of “service fees” has you rethinking the use of an agent, keep in mind that an agent’s on-ground contacts and affiliations can likely score you more free extras and discounts that you wouldn’t necessarily be eligible for if you made the travel plans yourself.

Check the agency’s record

If you decide to book through an ASTA-certified agency, you can be sure that the agency adheres to the association’s code of business ethics. If you go with an agent that isn’t connected to the ASTA, you can still check up on its business practices through the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against the agency or individual you’re considering.

 

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