Release at Will
HOW
TO SHARPEN THOSE VACATION PHOTOS!
Top 10 Tips From The Travel Experts at USTOA
Photography and vacations go hand-in-hand, according to the U.S. Tour Operators Association. In a recent USTOA - Popular Photography & Imaging Magazine online survey, 89% of respondents rated taking photos on vacation as extremely important or very important.
A recent Travel Industry Association of America (TIA) survey of 1,300 traveling adults also points to the importance of taking photos on vacation. Of those surveyed, 44% purchased new cameras or other equipment specifically for their trip.
To help travelers capture their best photos, USTOA– whose members send 10 million people on vacation annually – asked its tour operators to provide the top 10 tips for getting great shots.
Keep shooting. Don’t try to save film or memory on your card. Remember that one out of every 100 shots may be worth keeping. (Cruise West)
Bring more film than you they think you will shoot. Digital users should stock up on memory cards or find a way to download images during the trip. (Lindblad Expeditions)
-
Keep your camera in a convenient place and always be ready for the unexpected Always have your camera ready to shoot, and don't hesitate to take a shot --you may not have the opportunity again. (Maupintour and Travel Connection)
-
Bring an adapter for charging digital batteries. (Isram World)
-
Be less concerned about equipment and more concerned with capturing well composed, interesting images that will record what you feel was important about your trip.(Abreu Tours, Inc.)
-
Practice with your equipment prior to traveling so you can set up quickly and not miss an opportunity. (Country Walkers)
-
Buy all your film, etc. before leaving home. Film can be expensive aboard and you are never sure what will be available. (Rail Europe Group)
-
Many cruise ships now develop film onboard avoiding the possibility of having film ruined by airport security machines. Digital photos can also be developed and placed on a CD. (Royal Celebrity Tours).
If you’re traveling on a safari or other “once in a lifetime” trip where you will be shooting wildlife:
-
Bring more than one camera in case of a malfunction and include a long lens, and sun filters to block glare or heat haze. Wind reduction filters are useful for video cameras. Stock up on various film speeds to adapt to light conditions (from ASA100 for bright outdoor daylight to 1,000 for night shots). Protect equipment in a dust-proof case or sealable plastic bags and use an air brush to keep equipment clean. (Abercrombie & Kent)
-
Patience is important, especially for wildlife photographers. Don’t rush from one wildlife encounter to another, madly snapping and ticking the animals off your “must have a photo of that list”...let them interact as nature intended, to shoot great memories. (Goway Travel, Inc.)
Bottom line: A great photo does not depend on where it was taken, as much as it does on where the photographer’s heart is.
Many tours and packages include ample free time for shooting, and knowledgeable guides and tour escorts can point out the best places and time of day for photography. For full information on photo-friendly tours and vacation packages worldwide, from companies that have met the travel industry’s highest standards, log on to www.ustoa.com. Prospective travelers can search for vacations by destination, activity, or personality preference (the interactive USTOA Vacation Personality Quiz, designed by psychologists to help travelers identify the best type of tour or package for them, is on the web site). For a free copy of USTOA’s “Smart Traveler’s Planning Kit,” phone 1-800-GO-USTOA (468-7862).
Press Contact:
Linda Kundell
Kundell Communications
(212) 877-2798 phone
(212) 877-3387 fax
LRKPR@att.net or LRKPR@aol.com
For all other inquiries about USTOA, please contact USTOA.
