How to f*ck up your holiday but end up with nicer pictures
In my last post, I promised to cover the topic of atmosphere in photos. It's a subject not only for aspiring photographers but also, and perhaps especially, for those who simply want to bring back nicer pictures from their vacations.
How to put your relationship to the test
I think everyone has heard the accusation that photos online are definitely photoshopped because they look too beautiful and so crowd-free. Cause in reality, there were about 150 people in line for pyramids, and 1,500 at the Colosseum. And it wasn’t nearly as picturesque as it looked on the website. Trash was scattered on the streets, and the mountains didn’t seem as majestic as in the photos. Hmm…
If every time you visit a place during a trip you feel slightly disappointed because it doesn’t look like it does on Instagram, yet you still take a photo that doesn’t look appealing enough to go viral—this post is for you.
But please note: I won’t help you to get your vacation photos going viral (because I haven’t figured out how to do that yet, all tips are welcome). But at least they’ll be nicer to look at. And the places you visit will come closer to resembling those you’ve seen on travel channels on social media.
There’s only one solution. No Photoshop needed. But a large dose of sacrifice and dedication is required.
Also, it’s only for people in very healthy relationships.
As you can see, aside from my love for odd numbers and attempts to nap in two-minute intervals, my waking hours are at least exotic, if not crazy.
But if you want to see something in all its glory, not being surrounded by the crowds, and snap a great photo, you unfortunately have to be there before everyone else (and before the sun).
That means little to no sleep.
How to win a game with your brain
I’m not going to try to convince you that this is the only right and easy way, because I struggle with it as well.
Around 3am, if my brain is even able to communicate with me, it usually suggests that it isn’t worth it, and really, nothing bad will happen if we just stay cozy in bed.
And indeed, many times, I was guilty of staying in bed instead of heading out for those early morning shots.
But every time I managed to get up, I never regretted it. I brought home not just photos, but more importantly, images in my mind that could never be recreated at any other time of day than just before sunrise.
Understand light and weather conditions
You’ve probably heard of the golden hour. It’s that time of day when the sun is low on the horizon, casting a golden, warm light. It’s a favorite time of the day among many photographers, especially landscapers.
There’s also a blue hour - personally, I like this one the most. It’s the time just before sunrise or just after sunset. The light during this period is incredible, and the sky, often lit from underneath, takes on orange or purple hues.
There are no better moments for outdoor photography.
But light isn’t everything. Just have a look.
The photos below were taken on the same day, only 2-3 hours apart. While the sun in the second shot is still low and gives a nice effect, the lack of fog causes the photo to lose much of its charm.
Morning fog in such magical light is something that even the smartest artificial intelligence can’t replicate - at least not yet.
These photos were taken in the same location, just 3 hours apart. The one with the fog isn’t particularly spectacular, but how much better it is compared to the one without the fog. The second photo is, essentially, about nothing:
There are many arguments for getting up early, not only the weather conditions and photography.
Other, more practical reasons to let go of those few hours of sleep are: no traffic when heading to tourist attractions, available parking spaces, and a general lack of people—not just in the photos but especially on the trails.
Just look. Instagram:
VS reality:
Source: The Times
These are photos from my night hike to the summit of Ben Nevis in Scotland, when I reached the top at sunrise; the photo from The Times is an image of what I could experience while descending on the way back.
Climbing this mountain, the highest peak in the UK, in the dark, accompanied by complete silence, was a very soothing experience; had I been squeezing through crowds of people, I would have likely given up quickly.
Here a photo from a summit:
And here as well, in the middle of the day:
source: Daily Mail
How to make getting up early easier
I’d love to offer you some advice on how to make getting up early easier, but I honestly don’t know it.
It’s always painful and probably always will be. Now that it’s autumn, and sunrises (at least in the Netherlands) happen at more civilized hours. However, it’s getting cooler, making it a tough game to leave a warm bed too. But, according to the ancient rule: no pain, no gain. Life’s too short to sleep through it.
Good luck, and houdoe! See you soon in the next one.