London, Paris, Rome, New York. City trips offer you a unique opportunity to explore the culture and culinary delicacies of a country. In addition to the magnificent sights, the parks and cafés, it is the charm and the characteristics of a city that make a trip like this so interesting. Of course, the camera cannot be missing to capture and share the flair and vibrancy of the city. Here are our tips to make your pictures stand out from all the others.
The ‘Blue Hour’
After a stunning sunset, the sky will appear in a deep blue color and enters the ‘Blue Hour’. Historic monuments which are diffusely illuminated, buildings or the city in general will be lit up with all different kinds of lights with different color temperatures, creating a magical scenery. Unfortunately, due to different seasons, the Blue Hour can differ from season to season. Therefore, planning is key! Find out about suitable sights in advance and put yourself in a good place to get the most out of the Blue Hour.
Change Perspectives
The Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Tower Bridge in London or the TV Tower in Berlin there are hundreds of images from all three sights. All look basically the same because they are usually captured from similar angles. Now it is time to mix it up a bit. Have a more detailed look at known monuments and think about interesting details you may see or objects surrounding the main motif which might support the visual appearance. Having a look at pictures online and getting inspired to develop these photographic ideas further can help to explore new perspectives as well.
Skillfully Avoid Mistakes
Taking a picture of a tower which looks like falling behind on the actual image or similar. So called ‘falling lines’ is the unpleasant effect when the camera is not aligned parallelly with the motif and the object has parallel edges. The slight inclination causes ‘falling lines’ which can be bothersome. Consequently, it is important to choose the angle carefully to avoid this mistake. If that is not possible, finding a suitable location and then using the falling lines creatively is essential. For example, photographing a skyscraper steep from below, which will emphasize the high of the building. This makes your photo more dynamic and transforms it into an eye-catcher.
Blur People
Visiting sights in different cities always leads to crowds of people standing in front of one building or statue, which makes taking great shots almost impossible. In order to still have the motif playing the main role, there are two options to do so. Either visiting a sight early in the morning or late at night, or reach into the bag of tricks. With an exposure time of 1/15s or longer, motion blurs are created. This blurs the masses of tourists and puts the building back in the foreground. Very important: Use a tripod.
Capture The Skyline
Let’s be real. We all LOVE it. A city’s skyline can be magical for most of us. From an elevated viewing point, it is possible to experience a breathtaking sea of lights, which account for a photo that is rich in contrast. Depending on the location, there are some things to think about. When photographing the skyline through a window, it is important to stand as close as possible to the window to avoid mirroring reflections. Using the flash in that occasion can cause a white dot on the window and should be turned off. Making use of a tripod helps to take sharp photos.
Now you are prepared for the next city trip and awesome memories captured through your camera.
Header Image © Daniel Malikyar
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