Travel & Aviation

            Last month I mentioned that as a travel photographer I specialize, but in very different areas: Travel, Aviation, Flowers & Wildlife and Railways. These areas inevitably overlap, so this month I will outline what Travel and Aviation mean in practical terms.

Travel

            I believe the key to creating images that make money is to be active and alert to opportunity, backed up with research about where I am going. Today this means trawling the Internet as well as reading tour guides and background books. Once in a location, I shoot what I think will have a good sales chance first, the obvious, then move on to interpret the place in my own way. The former is where most commercially-minded photographers will overlap, even shoot near-identical pictures. The latter is where all photographers differ.

            We all see things in a different way, and with travel the opportunities come at a fast pace when you are on the move. This is where that research pays dividends; you are looking to the next opportunity while shooting the current one.

AVIATION

            Most of my travel is abroad, so when I get to the airport I start working.

            I have been through London's Heathrow so many times it almost seems I've covered it so well I wouldn't need to bother, but inevitably I see opportunities, so I always take advantage of them. Airports around the world have differing standards of security, and some make it very difficult to get good images of aircraft. Adequate snaps can be taken through several layers of tinted glass, but high quality images are something else. Apart from the colour shift of the tinting, the main problem is reflections, not on the pane you put the camera up to, but the outer one. Try holding up a dark coloured coat or similar material to mask the reflection, and sometimes it is possible to lose them. The colour shift can be sorted out in subsequent scans, but the process does not make the images very amenable for stock libraries to accept. Thankfully some airports have viewing platforms, which can afford good opportunities, but the drawback is you can only get what everyone else has done. If the chance arises, get to such a place at sunrise or before sunset, both great times to shoot image pictures rather than textbook ones.

            Taking pictures of military aircraft around restricted zones can have dire consequences for the downright stupid photographer. I would like to take such pictures, but never relish the idea of a night in a police cell, so this is one opportunity I pass up on. Look for warning signs and don't be tempted to shoot unless you are absolutely certain you have the right to do so! If you have an overwhelming desire to shoot military aircraft, go to an airshow where you can do so with impunity.

Next month, Flowers & Wildlife and Railways as part of travel photography.