TOP 10 PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS

by Ewen Bell

1. Get closer
   The easiest way to improve your photography is to get closer to the subject. The world changes when you are closer to it.
2. Go Slow
   Take your time and you will take better photos. Rushing about gives you lots of shots that you might not want to keep, so maybe it’s better to go slow and enjoy the travel.
3. Shoot wide
   Get a wide-angle lens and get more into the shot. Many compact cameras shoot the equivalent of 24 mm wide, and that’s good
4. Look for the light
   Cameras shoot light not objects, so you have to practice seeing the light as your camera does. Lovely light makes for lovely photos.
5. Ask first
   Show respect for other people and ask permission before shooting. It avoids offending strangers and gives you a chance to better connect with the locals. Getting local is what it’s all about!
6. Get details
   Take photos of the little things along the journey, not just the big ones. The texture of a place can be revealed in detail photos.
7. Review your shots
   Every night, have a look through your photos for the day. It helps you to appreciate the effort you put into them, and can reveal some missing subjects that you can work on the next day.
8. Creative control
   Try taking control of the camera instead of letting the camera determine your photo. Exploring the craft of photography is about cultivating your own ability to be creative.
9. Shoot for love
   We fall in love with places as we travel, so let your passion for a place guide your photography. Ask yourself: what is it about this place that makes it special, and do my photos reveal that quality? 
10. People matter
    Travel is about people, and so should your photography. Your most treasured memories of a place are usually the people and the character, so try to get a little of them on film.

Ewen Bell is an award-winning photographer from Australia.

This morning we are catching up on the sites we missed in Rome as this is our last day in Rome and of our amazing adventure in Tuscany Bye Bye for now

Line up to get into the Vatican

Inside the Vatican the Pope’s had their own museum and now it is open to the public. The ceiling are outstanding

More amazing ceilings

This is Michelangelo’s famous Peita 1499 – Mary and Jesus. This is behind glass in St. Peter’s Basilica

On Wednesday the Pope will be addressing the people. Here they are getting the 8,000 seats ready. And thousands more will be standing

Tapestry hanging in the Vatican

Today’s tour is of the Vatican. It included the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’ Basilica

The Colosseum

Inside the Colosseum

AAWW dinner – pasta again but who is counting

We had the morning to ourselves and then we had an afternoon tour of the city.
We explored the sites of Ancient Rome including Plazza Venezia, Roman Forum and the Colosseum.

The New Rome

2000 year old stones around the Colosseum awesome

famous fountain Make a wish

Rome’s cafe

We took the train from Florence to Rome getting to see the landscape. Once we were there we took to exploring Rome. Amazing

morning coffee

Outside view of Uffizi

How paintings started

Medieval paintings

Leonardo view of painting

View of Ponte Vecchio from the Uffizi gallery

We visited the Uffizi Gallery and then had free time to shop. Shop and Shop

David

Cathedral Complex with the Duomo

Florence Fashion

We arrived in Florence. Took a walking tour inclding Ponte Vecchio, Santa Croce Church, Piazza della Signoria and the Cathedral Complex with the Duomo.
Dinner was way too much, the biggest pizza and the best tiramisu.

Celebrating Demetra’s birthday with a toast

Southern Tuscany landscape

Birthday treats

Tuscany home

Tower

Tuscany doorway

Southern Tuscany farmhouse cheese

Farmhouse dinner tasting cheese

Southern Tuscany offers a ver different, and no less spectacular, scenery. Today we enjoyed one of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful stretches of road as we drove south to Val d’Orcia. Here we found barren hills, dotted with cypress trees and stone farmhouses. We visited the remote, serene Abbey of Sant’Antimo . At this location we celebrated our guide, Demetra Fanetti’s birthday. We went to Montalcino, once an impregnable fortress and now the centre of Brunello wine production. We enjoyed a light lunch and wine tasting at Fattoria Caparzo wine estate. We strolled in Pienza. Then we the region’s famous Pecorino cheese at a local artisanal cheese maker and enjoyed dinner.

Waiting for our tour

Under the Tuscan Sun

Streets of Cortona

We enjoyed a full day excursion to Arezzo and Cortona today. We explored Arezzo and Cortona, made famous from the book/movie “Under the Tuscan Sun” It is a charming town enclosed by stone walls dating from Roman times

Picture this Janice and Susan

Chef Laura selected the fresh ingredients for today’s cooking class. In Laura’s home on the Querceto Wine Estate we cooked up a storm and enjoyed a grand luncheon. Laura shared her recipes so we can enjoy a Tuscan meal at home.  In the afternoon, we visited the Castle of Volpaia for a wine tasting and tour of the cellars. The village of Volpaia is dedicated to the arts and to winemaking