Photography advice from 8 top travel influencers

“The world seen through the lens of a camera is a world worth sharing. And remember, everyone starts somewhere…” – Canon, Through My Lens project

It’s easy to get discouraged when looking at the top travel photographers and influencers of today, to think you’ll never be that good – but these photographers didn’t just land at the top, they worked their way there. A fact Canon is bringing to light with its recent Through My Lens project – a photographic journey with eight of the world’s top travel photographers/influencers.

With a combined Instagram following amassing over 2 million+, these eight photographers have perfected their craft through a combination of hard work and lessons learnt along the way. And today, we’ve joined up with the Through My Lens project to share some of these lessons.

Below, we take a look at the insider insights and trade secrets of eight of the best to help learn from and be inspired by their journeys.

Kristina Makeeva | @hobopeeba
“I’m self-taught and continue to study every day. All the information is out there; you only need to be able to find it and apply yourself. This is, of course, easier said than done – but you’ll get a lot out of it if you invest the time and stay patient. A bit like being an athlete, you need a good work ethic. You need to study, to work, to seek out information. That way everything will work out.”

Emilie Ristevski | @helloemilie
“The most valuable thing you can do is to discover the photos you want to capture – and why. Playing with different mediums and styles of photography is a good place to start. Things often don’t go as planned on a shoot, but make the most of the valuable time you have – these mishaps can often lead to a project going in an even more exciting direction than originally planned.”

Scott Rankin | @othellonine
“Practice your craft. Take as many photos as you can. When travelling, look for the little things happening around you and the way objects interact with the environment. Try to capture that interaction in as many ways as you can. Take inspiration from your favourite photographers and practice incorporating aspects of their images into your own photos. This could be editing style, framing, subject matter, use of light and shadow, etc. If you do this with a variety of photographers and styles you are inspired by, it can help you create a look that best represents your own vision.”

James Relf-Dyer | @jamesrelfdyer
“It’s a rite of passage for any start-up photographer to learn how to avoid camera shake. Use a fast shutter speed and make sure the camera has solid support, like a tripod. As a rule of thumb, keep your ISO between 100-500 when shooting outside. When shooting inside, try to stick to 1600. And at night, keep your ISO lower than 1000, employing a longer shutter speed and using a tripod as a counter balance.”

Jessica Bubb | @rusticbones
“Just start shooting! Practice makes perfect. If you have a DSLR, stop shooting on auto and learn manual settings – you have much more control over the end result.”

Loïc Lagarde | @loic.lagarde
“Wake up early to get the best light and atmosphere, regardless of whether you shoot landscapes, cities or even people. Shoot in RAW file format – especially if you’re a beginner – you will then be able to edit your photo and make corrections to them if need be.“

Harry Sinclair | @harrysinclairphotography
“Don’t leave your location until you are happy with your shot. Tell yourself there is something to be created and it will come to you. And when it does, you’ll get that feel-good buzz.”

Carmen Huter | @carmenhuter
“Use the light. While you can still take a great photo in the middle of the day, the hours before and after sunrise and sunset give you the best chance of taking amazing photographs. While it might sound counterintuitive, put down your camera once in a while and experience a location with your eyes before you look through your viewfinder.”