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CNET
5 days ago
- CNET
Want to Take Your Best-Ever Vacation Photos? My Pro Tips Will Level Up Your Game
Whether you're taking a big family vacation or planning a peaceful weekend away, you'll find great things to point your camera at while traveling. You don't have to be a professional photographer to capture all of the memorable experiences you'll encounter on your trip: Today's cameras make it incredibly easy to take great images. But simply pointing your camera towards a nice view and pressing the shutter button isn't necessarily going to see you coming home with award-worthy travel photos. Taking photos that you'll want to print for your wall or put in a photo book takes more understanding, but with just a bit of effort you'll be able to turn your everyday vacation snaps into stunning pieces of travel photography. In the first part of my two-part travel photography guide, I take you through the kit you should consider taking with you, whether it's a great phone like the iPhone 16 Pro or the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra or a dedicated camera like the Canon EOS R5 or quirky Hasselblad 907X. Read more: Best Camera to Buy in 2025 Now I'm going to take you through the tips I keep in mind as a professional photographer while traveling the globe. By knowing how to quickly operate my camera I was able to capture the fleeting golden light of this sunset in Scotland. Andrew Lanxon/CNET Get to know your kit Learning how to operate your camera will not only help you get better, more creative shots, but will help you snap those shots faster, as you won't have to fiddle around with settings each time. Some of the most exciting travel shots can come and go in a split second, so whether you're capturing the running of the bulls in Pamplona or wanting to snag the last of a beautiful sunset's light over Tuscany, you'll need to learn to shoot quickly. Learning how to use manual controls will allow you to get creative with slow shutter speeds. Andrew Hoyle/CNET Spend time with your camera in manual mode before you go away. Learn how to change shutter speed, aperture, ISO speeds and white balance and experiment with what happens to your images when you change these settings. A good camera will be able to capture some great shots in auto mode, but when you want to get more creative, you'll need to take control. Shoot in raw If your camera has it (and almost all cameras and even most phones do), shoot in raw format. Yes, it creates bigger files, but memory cards are so cheap now that it's worth carrying an extra few 64GB cards with you. Raw shooting allows you to change white balance after your shot and capture more details in the very bright and very dark areas, letting you tone down any blown-out skies or lighten some shadows in Photoshop. Read more: Best Camera Phone of 2025 Although it's always best to get the shot right when you first take it, raw processing gives you much more flexibility to rescue a shot that's not quite right. Local events can provide a wealth of photography opportunities, such as this sea-swimming competition in the Italian town of Vernazza. Andrew Hoyle/CNET Do your research Search for your location on Google and visit travel websites to find out more about where you're going. Not only will that help you make the most of your trip, you may find out about local events or particularly photogenic locations you may otherwise have missed. You might also find out about photography restrictions that may land you in hot water -- as a general rule anywhere, avoid photographing government buildings, and if you're unsure, ask permission. Shooting in raw allows you to fine tune settings like white balance after you've taken the shot. Andrew Hoyle/CNET Search for your destination on Instagram or on photography websites such as Flickr and 500px for inspiration on what to see. It's handy to get an idea of the shots other people have taken -- either to replicate them yourself or to avoid taking the same generic shot the internet has seen hundreds of times before. Composition is key Good composition will make or break a photo, and unlike white balance or color tone, poor composition can't be fixed in post processing. The morning light bouncing off that rustic church won't count for much if you've accidentally chopped off the spire in your hurry to take the shot. By finding a higher viewpoint, I was able to better capture the beautiful towers, spires -- and the castle -- on a stunning winter evening in Edinburgh. Andrew Lanxon/CNET A generic shot of a popular spot can be transformed into an unusual and creative artwork simply by changing your angle. Take a moment to look at the scene before you shoot and don't be afraid to move around to get the best angles. Struggling with a beach scene? Walk farther down the coast to find boats, nets or rocks that might add foreground interest. Shooting in the city? Get up a tall building for dramatic urban cityscapes. Even just kneeling down and shooting from below can make a difference. This view overlooking the beach in Barcelona is fine, but adding in the detail of this person in the denim shirt and hat really brought the scene together. Andrew Lanxon/CNET Find the details that matter Capturing a beautiful, wide view of the stunning European city you're visiting is great for a nice print to hang on your wall, but it's those smaller details that really tell the story of your trip. Maybe it's the food market you visited, a weather-worn old door, a vintage scooter or a shop sign that hasn't been repainted in years. All of these small elements will not only help capture the essence of the location you're visiting but also help bring back more memories for you when you look at them as each image will tell such a strong story. It's up to you to decide what those small details might be to look out for, but my advice is to always have your camera ready to shoot so when you see something that speaks to you -- a stack of lobster pots in a harbor, perhaps -- you're ready to take your shot. Amazing things can happen in the dark. Andrew Lanxon/CNET Don't be afraid of the dark Just because the sun has gone down, it doesn't mean your photography needs to stop. It's a great time to get creative with slow shutter shots. Long exposures blur motion, turning regular car headlights on a city street into creative, abstract light trails, streaking through the darkness. Use a narrow aperture -- around f/12 -- and a long exposure to turn points of light into gorgeous starbursts. You'll need to secure your camera firmly in place -- with a tripod -- and if you're playing with exposures longer than a few seconds, you'll need to be careful about the breeze or people walking by adding any vibrations. If you want to do long exposures in the daytime, you'll need a dark neutral density filter, such as the Big Stopper by Lee Filters, to let you take minute-long exposures in the middle of the day. If you're shooting on a modern camera -- especially with a larger, full frame sensor -- then you can also likely increase your ISO speed above 3,200 without seeing too much degradation from image noise. Coupled with a wider aperture of f/2.8 or more, you may have more luck shooting handheld scenes in low light. If this is a priority for you, cameras that also offer in-body image stabilization (like the Canon EOS R5) should be on your list; this stabilization lets you use slower shutter speeds without needing a tripod. By visiting this busy Saturday morning market in the French town of La Rochelle, I was able to capture this street photo that packs in great elements including the flowers on the barrel, the man dipping his hat, the people having a conversation and a woman peering out from inside the building. Andrew Lanxon/CNET Be a people person It's often the people you meet as much as the places you see that makes traveling and exploring so interesting. People make fantastic subjects to photograph, whether they're wandering the streets, relaxing or hard at work. Naturally, not everybody will want to be photographed so, out of politeness if nothing else, it's a good idea to ask the person's permission beforehand if you're trying to take a portrait of someone. It'll help if you do your research and learn a few key phrases of the local language to not only ask permission, but be able to understand the response. If they say no, it's important to respect that. Otherwise, heading to busy areas like local markets will allow you to take more street-style photographs with candid moments of people going about their day. Again, it's still important to respect peoples' space here and keep in mind that some countries may have laws around this type of photography, so research is crucial if you don't want to land yourself in hot water. I loved capturing this moment on a trip to the Scottish seaside, and I think it really helps tell the story of the sort of community you'd find there. Andrew Lanxon/CNET Set your alarm The middle of the day may be the nicest time to wander around Tuscan streets, grab a hot chocolate on the mountainside or order a third cocktail on the beach, but the midday sun doesn't usually offer the best light for dramatic photographs. It's the early morning light, casting its long, golden shadows that will really make a place look its most beautiful. Setting your alarm for sunrise on holiday may seem like the worst thing in the world, but it's worth trying -- even just once -- to see what sort of shots you get. Scout out locations beforehand to make sure you don't waste the precious early hours trying to find somewhere to shoot. The other benefit is that you'll likely be out and about in your location long before other tourists get up and start flooding the streets. With the area to yourself, you can find photo opportunities that you simply couldn't take advantage of at busier times of day. By coming back to this tower later in the day, I was able to catch the sunset in the background. Andrew Lanxon/CNET Revisit the scene When you stumble upon a particularly picturesque scene, don't just visit it just the once. While a bay may look delightful in the daytime, it will look different again at night, with all the lights of nearby buildings stretching out across the water. If you know a great spot, do your best to come back to it to find out when it looks best. Sometimes a punchy black and white edit can really add to the drama of a scene. Andrew Lanxon/CNET Play with processing Although you should always try to get the best shot you can when you first take it, some well-placed post processing can turn a good photo into a great one. If you're shooting raw files, you'll need to process them anyway, so it's worth trying out a few of the sliders in Adobe Lightroom while you're at it. With your raw files, the first thing you'll need to do is correct the white balance. Have a play with the color temperature slider and see what tone suits best. Summer evening shots will benefit from a warmer color tone, while chilly February city streets might look best with something a bit cooler. Toning down the highlights can help keep a bright sky under control, while lifting the shadows will help make darker areas more visible, without affecting too much of the rest of the scene. It's important not to go overboard on this, as it can make your images look a little unnatural. From that point on, have a play with your editor of choice and see what you like. There's no one right way to edit your shots -- no matter what anybody says -- it's all about what you prefer. A high contrast black and white edit makes this image from a London tube station really stand out. Andrew LanxonCNET Do your own thing Sure, rules such as "take the lens cap off before shooting" should always be followed, but never be afraid to try an unusual angle, play with your settings or experiment with new editing techniques in Lightroom. If everybody always followed the exact same format, everybody's photography would look the same. Use these rules as guidelines and play with angles, settings and editing as much as you want to find what works for you.
The Independent
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Support your creative journey with the gear that fits your vision
As a photographer, your journey is always evolving. From the people and places you capture to the way you frame them, your creative vision keeps growing and your gear should keep up. With MPB, you can buy high-quality, sustainable camera equipment that's both affordable and reliable. Every camera, lens, and accessory is carefully inspected by experts and backed by a free warranty- so you can focus on the next shot with confidence. Wherever your creativity takes you, MPB helps you stay ready to tell your story.
CNET
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- CNET
The Three Types of Camera I Learned Every Photographer Needs to Have
I've been a professional photographer for over a decade, shooting everything from editorial photo stories, to product photography and landscape, travel and street photography in my personal work. In that time, I've learned there are three main types of camera that all photographers need to own. And I'm not talking about brands, like a Sony or a Canon, or even sensor types, like a full frame or an APS C. I mean a deeper level of camera selection -- the types of camera that offer fundamentally different ways of taking photos and allow you to create your best work, no matter what genre you like to dabble in. And while these types could be three physically different cameras, they could also be represented in two cameras, or even just the one. I'll explain, so let's dive in with camera type number one. The workhorse This is the camera that gets stuff done. It's likely packed with modern camera technology. It's fast to use, shoots at high speed, has lightning-fast autofocus, possibly image stabilization, and almost certainly uses interchangeable lenses. It may well be full frame. It's the camera that pros the world over use for all kinds of photo shoots -- just like I have -- from weddings to cars to products to pets ... whatever. It's a jack-of-all-trades camera that you can trust will do anything you need it to any time you need it to do it. I've used my Canon R5 on numerous professional shoots for photos and videos. It's a high-performance all-rounder. Andrew Lanxon/CNET For me right now, that's the Canon R5. Fast, high resolution. Tons of features. A flippy screen. And it shoots awesome video. Endless lens and accessory options. It's the camera I trust for most of my professional work because I know it can deliver and I know I can deliver when I'm using it. Previously it's been the Canon 5DIV and before that it was the Canon 6D. For you, it might be the Sony A7RV, the Nikon Z8 or the Panasonic Lumix S5II. It might not be the latest model around, but whether it was launched in 2025 or 2005 it'll tick all the boxes you need for a busy day of photography whether you're a professional or an enthusiastic amateur. The workhorse is a camera that'll do everything and it'll do it well. But it's likely also quite big and probably quite expensive. While it's great that there are so many lenses to choose from, maybe sometimes you don't want the burden of choice. So that's when you need... A compact, fixed-lens camera like Fujifilm's X100VI is great to have with you, always ready to shoot. John Kim/ CNET The everyday carry It's a small digital. A compact point and shoot, ideally. Almost certainly a fixed lens. The Fuji X100VI or the Ricoh GRIII. Even the relatively ancient Sony RX1R or the Leica Q3. The Q3 isn't that small really but I actually love my Q3 43 as an everyday carry. It'll be the type of camera you can quickly grab when you're heading out in a hurry without thinking about lenses. When you don't want a backpack full of gear when camping, but do want lots of fun shots of you and your mates around the campfire. It's the camera you can always carry. It's the social camera you don't mind getting in among the chaos of life. It could feasibly even just be your phone camera. Read more: Best Phone Camera in 2025 It's probably the lightest camera you own that allows you to comfortably wear it around your neck while you're walking around the streets of some old Italian town. It's maybe even small enough to slip into your pocket when you go into a bar and easily slip back out when the light comes in beautifully through the pub window and you want to catch a quick shot. Having my Leica Q3 43 always with me allows me to snap scenes whenever I see them. Andrew Lanxon/CNET It's a camera for quick shooting and for social shooting -- maybe even grubby from-the-hip or spray and pray shooting. It's probably the camera you've captured the most memories on but it's also probably not the camera you've used to take your favorite fine art photos. Oh no, that'll be this one. The artful one It might not technically be your best camera. It might not have the most features. It might not be the smallest, the fastest or the easiest to use. But it's the camera that inspires you the most. It's the one that makes you feel creative just by looking at it. It's the one you choose to take when you drive for hours to one location in the slim hope that you might have good light that evening. It's the camera that makes you slow down and think about the art in your images rather than rattling off a thousand mediocre snaps. It's the camera that's responsible for the work you're most proud of. The Hasselblad 907X -- an amazing, quirky camera. Andrew Lanxon/CNET This camera could be a lot of things. It could be a film camera, be it 35mm or 120 medium format. That alone would slow you down and make you take a more methodical approach unless you're happy to spend a fortune on film. Or maybe it's something like a modern digital medium format like a Fuji GFX or my personal favorite, Hasselblad's 907X 100C — that weird little box gave me such a buzz when I used it that it was genuinely difficult to part with it when I had to send it back. I found the Hasselblad's X-Pan panorama mode incredibly inspiring. This image was even shortlisted for a major UK photography award. Andrew Lanxon/CNET It's a camera you might not even own yet and maybe don't even know you want. I didn't know I was at all interested in film photography until only quite recently, yet the other day I gave a man a fistful of cash in a car park to buy his medium format Mamiya 645 Pro, which I'm very excited to put to use. Life throws things your way sometimes. So maybe this camera is one you'll need to be a bit open minded about. But it's also the one you might be most glad you got in the years to come. Three types, one camera Between the workhorse, the everyday carry and the artful one, you have yourself covered in any aspect of photography, no matter what genre you like to dabble in. I took my Canon R5 to Sicily where it performed all the roles of workhorse, everyday carry and inspirational camera admirably. You don't necessarily need three separate cameras. Andrew Lanxon/CNET Of course, some cameras can be two things. Hell, some cameras could be all three. And that's absolutely fine -- as long as that one camera ticks each of those three boxes for you. It's really up to you to interpret whether your camera is small enough to be your everyday carry or inspiring enough to be your artful one. But this rule certainly doesn't mean you need to go out and buy two additional cameras. My Canon R5 with a compact prime on it certainly can be all three. It was a great everyday carry on a trip to Sicily and it inspired me to take artistic photos that I later licensed to go into a luxury travel book meaning it was also my workhorse. So on that one trip alone it ticked all three boxes. But it's not always all of those things for me. My Leica Q3 43 was a superb everyday carry camera on my recent travels to the Swedish Arctic and Barcelona. It was the camera I took on multiple ferry trips to various remote Scottish islands and it was the camera I took when I went to hang with my brother for his 40th birthday. And yeah, it too is also a camera that excites me, that inspires me and urges me to be more creative with my shooting. Because it's a damn Leica and what photographer doesn't feel excited to take photos when they're holding a Leica? My Leica Q3 43 was an amazing everyday carry and professional workhorse on my assignment in Sweden. Did it also inspire me creatively? You bet. Volvo But it's my recent forays into film that have taught me even more about slowing down and crafting an image and the culmination of that has led me to getting this Mamiya 645 as my artful camera, which completes my personal holy trinity. And sure, as my work and my style develops and other cameras come and go, that trio of cameras will likely change over the years but the basic building blocks of workhorse, everyday carry and the artful one will always need to be met by whatever cameras I have.
The Independent
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Change your gear, evolve your story
A photographer is a visual storyteller. But as your creative journey evolves, so does your vision - from studio to street, portraits to landscapes, day to night. New chapters often call for different gear, and that means parting with the old. With MPB, selling your camera gear is simple and seamless. Just enter your item to get an instant quote, choose free home pickup or local drop-off, and send it on its way. Once your gear is received and inspected, MPB will confirm the price - and if you're happy, you'll get paid right away. Because your next story deserves the right tools to tell it.
