Eurotravel Planner

Section: Photography

Next Section: Digital Cameras on vacation

"There are no dumb questions."
Sure, why not? I've asked them all!

Owning nothing more than a Polaroid for much of my youth did not a photographer make. So I really had to think about what I wanted for a camera when I went to Europe.

Photography Quiz
I wanted a lot from my vacation and travel time in Europe. What, specifically, did I want the most? Primarily, I wanted to remember the trip, be able to share the excitement with friends back home, and maybe have an "oooh, ahhhh" picture or two to frame.

So, these are the questions I asked myself in preparation for purchasing photographic equipment. Try asking yourself the same questions!

First, what tangible results am I, well, shooting for?
a. Slide shows
b. Photo albums
c. Large reproductions (greater than 11inches x 14inches)
d. Small reproductions (8x10 and smaller)
e. Web / Internet-based albums
f. Archived copies
g. Share images with friends (physical copies, email/web digital copies)
h. National Geographic quality shots

It could be one or all of these, but the next two questions will help you decide what may be most important.

Second, how much work am I willing to put into my photos?
a. negative storage
b. boxing & labeling images
c. printing, developing and/or scanning images onto your computer
d. building photo albums / scrapbooking
e. putting together web pages with images
f. writing travelogues and captions to go with the images
g. re-sizing and emailing images

Finally, to what degree do I want my photography project to define and intrude on my Euro-adventure?
a. Artiste: waking up early and staying up late for the best lighting, dragging camera and accessories with me everywhere, it's a photo-shoot in Europe!
b. Journalist: camera always at the ready to catch the scene that defines my experience
c. Compensating for a bad memory: After the fact shots, "Hey, we were there!"
d. Just recapping the occasional highlight: Trying to get artsy, but not wasting a lifetime or rescheduling my day to get the right shot.

How I answered the questions...
So, how'd I do on this test? Check out the picture of Rothenburg's main square above.

First, I must admit that my answers have changed over the years. At first, I wanted everything, then realized there were problems.

If I got a Big, SLR, Professional Camera, it would be cumbersome, expensive, could be stolen, and would be a burden on the trip. I didn't want the camera to run my vacation.

So, I compromised, with a small light camera I could carry in my pocket, still providing good 35mm pictures. I stayed away from Advantix because the film is about 31mm, smaller output and grainier enlargements. 2004 update - Kodak has said they will stop selling new Advantix-style cameras, so they are phasing this product line out.

The Minolta Freedom Zoom 1000 was my choice and was nice for being both compact (about pocket-sized) with a good zoom range (28-103mm gives some wide-angle for closeups, and some telephoto for buildings).

I realized that the smaller your camera, the more theft-proof, and the more likely you are to take it with you everywhere, which is how you end up with those once-in-a-lifetime shots!

Regarding space, I figured to bring 5 or 6 rolls of film. Europe has plenty of film, so don't take up luggage space with it. Assume about 1 roll for every 2-3 EuroTravel days. I tend to not include international travel days, and usually have a down day or two without pix, so use this as a guide to determine total film needs. Consider 200 speed film as a good compromise for shooting both in- and outdoor pictures.

When done with the pictures, I simply shipped the rolls home to be taken care of when I get back — which saves space and saves the possibility that they'll be stolen, etc. This is important on longer trips (e.g. 1 month or more).

However, I will say that my last several trips have been with a digital camera. I'll never go back to film.

• Read here for more on digital cameras for vacation travel •

Travel Photo Tips
• Look for the humor. It's there, just waiting to be captured. The above photo was our first picture taken after touching down in England. An old guy walking next to an "Elderly People" crossing. Classic funny stuff.

• Take that extra picture - don't hesitate. If you love the scene, take 2 or even a few! I took the advice of a friend to shoot more than I thought, and was glad I did. Sometimes, only one of the pictures turned out, sometimes the light or framing changed between two shots, and sometimes I just got more depth by taking an extra picture or two of a certain building, sculpture, town, etc.

• ZOOOOOM IN. Everyone comes back from Europe and says, damn, how did everything become so small? Let stuff bleed outside your lens, get close, zoom in. I can't stress this enough. Get closer than you know you can, it'll turn out great. Better colors, more of the subject you want, great pix! Your first instinct is often to try and capture "the whole scene." Don't bother, or take one wide shot and then zoom in for great details.

• Take pictures of people, not just buildings. I've done both, and the buildings become boring after a while if that's all you have. If you take enough building shots, they blur together in your memory and it becomes difficult to remember which country you were in when you took them!

• Fun pictures mean great memories. Take the stupid stuff, be stupid in the pictures, and smile a lot (or frown, or dance around, or jump up, or whatever!).

• Ask other travelers or locals or waitstaff to take pictures of you both. The first time you ask it's embarrassing, but you'll end up much happier and you'll be glad you got past your reticence.

• Morning and evening pix always come out better - it's the angle and color of the light. Noon pictures tend to get washed out and lose the shadows which give a perception of depth.

• Frame your pictures. Doorways and windows are obvious frames, but other items work as well. The side of a wall, a tree, or even a close-by statue will serve as a frame for a wider image. Try a few, you'll really like the results and it gives your pictures a really professional, artistic look.

• Do a fun series of shots. Get you jumping in front of famous buildings. Get a series of pix in front of windows or colorful doors, anything'll do. I once did a series through Europe sitting on children's merry-go-rounds and toys. Whatever!

• For more tips, check out Fodor's travel photo guide.

Digital Camera FAQs
• Q: Where can I get info on researching, buying, and using digital cameras for my vacation and travel photography?

• A: Read on for great digital photography tips and usage.

Finally, if you have questions about digital cameras, please feel free to send me an email at photog@travelpete.com.

Next Section: Digital Cameras