Story: Ten Essentials for the Travel Photography Enthusiast

Let's begin:

ONE: ALARM CLOCK
This may be surprising but it shouldn't be. One of the best ways to make your travel photos stand out from the "happy-snap" crowd is to capture them when most other people don't - and that means just after sunrise. The light is soft, muted and very photogenic. Those who've travelled in the tropics will relate to another plus of getting up early - the temperature's much more comfortable than the middle of the day.

TWO: DIGITAL SLR
Forget film unless you're a darkroom die-hard and/or have a years-old attachment to your film camera. Digital's just too convenient - I can tell you from experience that carrying a giant bag of film canisters is no fun. So why an SLR and not one of those smaller digital compact cameras? Three reasons: (1) shutter lag (2) autofocus (3) low-light performance. Compact cameras come up short in all three areas. That may change in the future, but for now, it's a no-brainer.

THREE: WIDE-ANGLE LENS
Beautiful landscapes and amazing architecture are two of the most common subjects in travel photography. Be it a mountain range or an ancient temple, you'll need a wide-angle lens to capture it all in its full majesty. How wide is wide enough? 15mm or less on a crop-sensor SLR, 24mm or less on a traditional 35mm sensor SLR.

FOUR: TELEPHOTO LENS
However, too many wide-angle shots get boring very quickly. Zoom in with a telephoto lens to isolate the details, or blur out the background when taking people portraits. If you can't be bothered carrying two lenses, then think about a high-quality zoom lens in the 18-200mm range. Quality telephoto lenses may be a pain in the butt to carry, but you won't regret it when you see the results.

FIVE: MEMORY CARDS (LOTS OF THEM)
How much memory? One way to figure that out is to think about how many photos you might typically keep from one day of shooting (say 100 shots) and multiply that by the length of your trip. Then figure out how much total memory you need based on the size of the image files your SLR creates.

SIX: SPARE BATTERIES AND CHARGER
Bring at least two spare batteries. This means that, at minimum, you can have one spare in the bag with you and one charging back at the hotel.

SEVEN: POWER ADAPTOR
The battery charger will likely be useless overseas unless you have the right adaptor. All-in-one adaptors without extra bits and attachments are best - less things to lose.

EIGHT: CLEANING KIT
Your gear will get dirty - guaranteed. At the minimum, carry a blower, brush and lens cloth. Make it a ritual to check your gear's cleanliness every evening after a day of shooting.

NINE: A GOOD CAMERA BAG / PACK
The bag or pack must be made of tough, durable material. Make sure the zips are strong and will stand up to constant use. Ensure the inside is sufficiently padded to keep your gear safe from knocks and falls. And most importantly, make sure the bag or pack, when fully-loaded, is comfortable to carry. Do a dry run before you head overseas - perhaps go for a two-hour walk - to make sure it's sufficiently comfortable. If it isn't, you'll always feel like leaving gear behind and your travel photography will suffer.

TEN: YOUR SMILE
Don't forget to bring your smile. People portraits are often the most memorable in any travel photographer's portfolio and you're not going to get fun or relaxed expressions from your subjects if you're carrying a scowl on your face. Smile, smile, smile! You'll be amazed at the difference this makes to your people photos.

Happy photographic adventures!