Top Tips
I have been taking photographs for almost half a century and photographed most countries of the world in the last thirty years.
During this time I've picked up a fair few tips and tricks to help with both photography and travel.
Photographic Tip
Even the most basic of cameras now have flash guns built in. Use this when taking portraits to lighten the shadows caused by hats and the like. This is called fill flash. If your camera allows it dial in an underexposure value of -0.7 to -1.5 (check the menu) so the face doesn't appear washed out. Alternatively hold a piece of paper tissue over the flash to soften it (but don't obstruct the lens).
Travel Tip
Toilet facilities in some countries can be a bit basic. It may be worth carrying a small packet of alcohol-free wet wipes, a small bar of soap (often found in hotel rooms) and a small packet of paper tissues.
Travel Tip
Put a photocopy of your passport in a plastic bag in your wash bag. If your passport is stolen then you will have all the information needed by the consular authorities to get you home.
Photographic Tip
Be careful when packing lenses in your bags or even in your camera bag. A knock can jam the lens diaphram. Store them in proper well padded lens cases, in a suitcase pad them with clothes. If they have a manual aperture setting then choose the widest setting, then if they do get jammed you can still use them.
Photographic Tip
If you are shooting using a digital camera remember to take the battery charger, mains leads and adaptor. Take either a big memory card or a storage device to download the files to, If the opportunity arises burn the images to a CD, then even if the card is damaged or the camera stolen you will have some of your images.
Travel Tip
Carry some emergency drugs such as loperamide, paracetamol etc with you. When you need them you can guarentee the hotel won't have them and the shops will be shut, Carry them in your hand baggage when travelling by plane. Having them in the hold when you have an attack of Montezuma's revenge doesn't help,
