Author: Mark Edenbr
Source: articledashboard.combr
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How many times have you come back from a trip disappointed with the images youve taken? How many times have you though to yourself If only Id been there an hour early. If only Id known that event was on today. While it is true that hindsight makes everyone smarter, and no one can control the weather, it is possible to maximize your chances of success just by doing a little homework.

Plan your trip
There is a major difference between planning to take photos on your travels, and traveling to take photos. This will be evident in the images you produce. Spend some time researching your destination and its photographic potential. Is it a place affected by the seasons? If so, when is the best time of year to go? How are you going to get there? What is the public transport like? Should you hire a car? Answering these questions can take you a long way to a successful shoot. For example, you may be grateful you decided to get that international drivers license once you get back and look through those beautiful sunset shots you took off a beaten track a few miles from town because you were able to hire a car and drive out there.

There are numerous resources available on the internet and in print, most of them free. An hour or so online can provide a wealth of information, not to mention inspiration. A pocket travel guide can also be an invaluable investment as a reference to have at your fingertips as you go.

Make a shoot list
Think about the locations you want to shoot. Which landmarks do you want to visit? What time of day do they appeal to you? Are you interested in capturing your locations architecture or its culture? Or both? Deciding all of this in advance can give you clear goals to aim for on your trip, rather that simply wandering the streets and shooting whatever you come across that you find appealing. This may prove successful but is more about luck than anything else.

Be flexible
What happens if you get there and the weather suddenly turns sour? Do you wait it out in your hotel room hoping it will pass before you are due to return home? What a waste of time that would be. If you are planning to travel somewhere that can be greatly affected by weather, you might want to think about how you can use this to your advantage. Some subjects can be greatly enhanced by sudden changes to the weather, or even just the threat of it. Imagine missing out on a sweeping panorama of a storm rising over the bay because you were sitting in a room cursing your bad luck.

It is possible for anyone to point a camera at a subject and take a picture. Not all can use that camera to tell a story or teach something to a viewer. Apart from technical skills and, to a much lesser extent, equipment, the difference comes down to planning. The most important factor in the success of your photographic journey is the goals you set for yourself and the steps you take in achieving them./pbr
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Author: Larry M. Lynch
Source: download

Granted, you’ve accepted and applied that shooting your own “art” to accompany your articles and add depth to your queries is an essential tool of the article writer. Perhaps you have a slant or two specifically in mind. But why not add even greater range to your efforts “on location” and explode your options and possibilities for writing? In part 1 of this two-part article, we looked at slants for shooting people pictures in a variety of ways. Here we’ll consider other options to help bolster your multi-media research package. Use these ideas to expand your photo essay shooting range.
Food
While you’re on assignment for goodness sake, don’t eat at the hotel restaurant everyday. Get out there and sample the local fare. Check out farmer’s markets and supermarkets too. Shoot food platters, local fruits and vegetables. I’m shamelessly notorious for taking photos of not only everything I eat, but shots of other people’s meals on occasion as well. If you don’t know the local foods chances are your readers won’t either. While you’re at it, get a few recipes too. Talk to the cook or chef. And yes Bunky, get their pictures. If you discretely record your conversation, these interviews can fuel personality pieces for trade and technical publications dealing with that locale or theme area. In Oaxaca, Mexico, I actually had people coming up asking me to photograph and interview them. It provided me with enough raw input, quotes and photos to write more than 20 articles and shorts from just that one trip.
Architecture
A variety of local architectural styles might make for a good photo shoot. Architectural, building supply and construction publications are potential markets. Flower-adorned porches, balconies and staircases, decorative plants, gardens, leaves and blooms can all add a splash of nature to your portfolio. Storefronts or displays of goods can be editor-pleasing shots too.
On a recent trip, I noticed that an overwhelming number of houses were made of wood, from the most expensive-looking ones to the shabbiest and poorest abodes. I started shooting examples of different types of wooden homes along with architectural details of stairs, doors, balconies and trim winding up with scores of interesting shots that included a two-story house designed to look like a boat. The resulting multi-media package can be milked from now on without the need to travel again to the exotic location I shot from.
Nature
Visit the zoo, aviaries, wildlife preserves, gardens and other promoted sites. Use a fresh eye and your inquiring mind to generate questions, elicit opinions and capture quotations. I almost never miss a chance to spend time in the local zoo. When I heard of an “Iguana Park” in Cali, the Salsa music capitol of Colombia, I couldn’t resist. From Ambato, Ecuador to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania I’ve ogled animals of all types with photo ops leading to numerous assignments on creatures from Ants to Iguanas to Three-toed Sloths. Features and shorts for children’s magazines, animal lover rags and educational pieces with an “on location” flare await you on your next trip or vacation.
Talk with curators, animal keepers, biologists, environmentalists, horticulturalists and gardeners, local green thumbs – anyone who could add depth to your proposed articles. Don’t forget to photograph everyone you can – preferably “in action”. Get their contact information to expand their quotes and bios if you need to later.
So article writers, if you are traveling this summer, by all means, take a camera or two along on your next trip or vacation as part of your article writing research equipment. Shoot high-resolution digital photos. Shoot color slides and some prints too. Photograph people, food, nature and architecture. Record those interviews and quotes to flesh out and deepen your resource pack materials. Offer editors a multi-media package that includes art and article text. You’ll find that your acceptance rate just might start changing – for the better.
Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an ELT Teacher Trainer, English language learning expert author and university professor in Cali, Colombia. He has published more than 350 articles and academic papers and presented at numerous EFL teacher training and TEFL conferences throughout North America, South America and Europe. For comments, questions, requests, to receive more information or to be added to his free TESOL articles and teaching materials mailing list, e-mail: lynchlarrym@gmail.com