Articles in Category: The Better Travel Photos Blog

Our blog is a source of photography advice and news about events. We focus of course on Paris and London, but much of our advice can be practiced anywhere.


Friendly Critique #2: Meditative Landscape

Friendly Critique #2: Meditative Landscape

For our second friendly critique we selected a photo taken by Henrik earlier this Fall. Henrik tells us his idea was to create a meditative image with the beautiful golden morning light and indeed, the combination of soft light, seascape and calm waters make for a very serene image. The image is well exposed to render the various tones correctly; the leading lines of the pier draw the eyes of the viewer towards the horizon and infinity, while the warm sky colours balance the cool tones of the water and pier...

How to “Tame” the White Balance on Your Digital Camera

How to “Tame” the White Balance on Your Digital Camera

White balance is a photography setting that many photographers have heard of but rarely use. Yet it is a simple and helpful tool not only to make your colour images look better, but also to give them an additional creative sparkle. As you might have already guessed, we are talking not about brightness or darkness of your photos, but about colours. We prepared this short guide to help you better understand white balance on your digital camera, and to use it in your photography for stunning results...

The Use of Model Releases in Travel and Street Photography

The Use of Model Releases in Travel and Street Photography

We often receive questions from tour participants about model releases in street or travel photography. Is a model release needed when photographing in the streets? If yes, how should you approach a person to get it signed, especially when you are after a candid shot and do not want to “spoil the moment”? These and other questions are often concerns for photographers. To help you consider your options, here are some throughts on street photography and model releases...

4 Tips for Finding Your Photography Muse in a New City

4 Tips for Finding Your Photography Muse in a New City

The plane has landed and you find yourself in a new place – a new city, a new country or maybe even a new continent. Your camera is charged and ready, lenses are wiped clean and you set off in search of amazing images. How to get inspired and to make the most out of a destination you have never visited before? Here are 4 tips on finding your own photographic Muse in a new city.

Useful Camera Addresses for Photographers Travelling to London

Useful Camera Addresses for Photographers Travelling to London

A major worry for travelling photographers is to have a faulty camera while on the road. While some problems can easily be fixed when on the go, sometimes a look from a serious professional is required to repair a damaged camera. If you happen to be in this unfortunate situation while in London, the city offers a number of good places to help out, whether you are looking for a simple fix to quickly recharge a dead battery, rent a tripod for some good night photography, or need to have a major repair job. We have compiled the following reliable addresses to quickly put you back in the photography saddle.

Friendly Critique #1: Landscape near Lourdes

Friendly Critique #1: Landscape near Lourdes

The image we selected for our first online critique was taken by Lou Alegre at the Museum of Lourdes in the south of France in May 2014. It is a landscape, showing a church bell on the left and another church in the distance, surrounded by greenery with a touch of yellow on the right. The light is even and light clouds add texture to the blue sky. The arch with a bell in the foreground adds depth to the scene, inviting us to explore further the hills and the church, as well as the architectural detail typical to the region...

What to look for in choosing a photo tour that meets your needs

Photo tours are increasingly popular activities for travellers looking for new ways to discover the places they visit. These may vary from city walks of a few hours through to expeditions of several days or even weeks to the most faraway corners of the planet. They may be tailored to anyone from complete beginners to advanced professionals. While we offer photo tours and workshops in Paris and London, we have also been on the other side and understand it can be difficult to pick one that suits your needs. Here's what we learned along with some points to keep in mind to help you choose a photography activity that you'll love...

BTP Awarded 2014 "Certificate of Excellence" from TripAdvisor

BTP Awarded 2014

It is always a little difficult to toot your own horn, but… We are happy to announce that earlier this year we received the 2014 Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor, which is the fourth year in a row we have received this honour. This award recognizes the efforts we make to ensure all of our participants have an exceptional photography experiences, whether it is during our photo tours, workshops or portrait sessions in Paris and now in London...

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Great Panning Images

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Great Panning Images

Busy cities, whether it’s Paris or London, Bangkok or New Delhi, provide lots of opportunities to create dynamic images. However, how can a photographer show fast motion in a still image? Here is where a photographic technique called panning comes into play. In essence, panning means moving the camera with the main subject while the shutter is open. This creates the sense of movement in the image with a blurred background and a relatively sharp subject. With practice you’ll be able to photograph moving cars, cyclists, running horses or anything moving! Try these six easy steps to create great panning images...

5 Creative Photography Ideas for Rainy Days

5 Creative Photography Ideas for Rainy Days

Are you a fair weather photographer only? Many might frown at the idea of taking their camera out when the weather turns wet. In a recent article we offered various solutions for protecting your camera from the rain. Now that you know how to keep your equipment dry, it is a good time to talk about some creative possibilities that the rain offers for your photography. Here are 5 ideas on how to use rainy days to your advantage and produce some great images.

Exhibits at MEP: René Burri, Pascal Maitre, Keiichi Tahara and others

Exhibits at MEP: René Burri, Pascal Maitre, Keiichi Tahara and others

Fall is back in Paris and the city is once again infused with life after long summer vacations. Photographic galleries re-open their doors to welcome visitors and prepare new shows for those hungry for visual treats. La Maison Européenne de la Photographie is no exception: it welcomes you with a display of seven photo exhibitions, including such masters as René Burri, Pascal Maitre or Keiichi Tahara, which makes a visit to this exhibition space more enjoyable than ever...

5 Options to Protect Your Camera and Keep Shooting

5 Options to Protect Your Camera and Keep Shooting

Rainy days may look grey at a first glance, but that doesn’t mean they are not suitable for taking some great photos! The light is usually even and the rain saturates colours. Shooting in the rain can be lots of fun and you definitely create images you would otherwise completely miss. The trick is to keep your gear well protected so here’s are some solutions to keep your camera dry even when the weather is wet...

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