Travel Photography How To

If the entries in our latest Time of the Season photography contest are anything to go by, it’s been quite the summer indeed. We received some absolutely stunning photos showcasing the essence of this wonderfully diverse season.

Something odd often happens when accomplished photographers take a vacation: They return from their trip with photos that look more like snapshots than the great images for which they are known. If that sounds like you, watch the video below and take travel photography seriously.

If you've never tried the exposure bracketing function on your camera, you need to bust it out right away because it can be a "lifesaver," according to photographer Pierre T. Lambert. This is particularly true, he says, when you're shooting scenes of high contrast, such as sunsets or in direct sunlight.

We all know that it’s ultimately the photographer—not the gear—that’s responsible for incredible images. But there’s no doubt that appropriate, quality equipment will make the process easier and more enjoyable whenever you head out into the field.

The craft of photography is full of long-held concepts and conventional wisdom that have proven helpful for years. But as technology, techniques, and editing software have evolved, some of these so-called "rules" deserve to be pushed to the wayside.

You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. Your camera, your lenses, your drone—if they’re not by your side and at-the-ready, they’re multi-thousand-dollar paper weights.

The two questions in the headline above have been debated for years, and the queries keep coming as new high-res cameras continue to be introduced with no apparent slowdown in sight. There's no one correct answer to either question, because it all depends upon the type of photos you shoot, how you typically use them, and a number of other key considerations.