Colin Smith, a 7-time traveler from Long Beach, CA, came onto our radar when one of our staff writers met him on Eastern Europe to the Black Sea, and was impressed by the quality of his photos. Always beware when that happens: You might find yourself in The Inside Scoop! Since a few of our readers have asked for practical tips about photography, we needed to look no further. Here are a few of his best photos, followed by some tips on how to get the most out of your photos—and your trip.
"Are you a professional?"
This is the question I am asked frequently when on a Grand Circle vacation. I can understand why: I carry the large SLR camera, multiple lenses, a camera bag, and I am taking pictures of everything there is. Yes, I suppose I have the look of a pro but I am truly just an amateur who loves taking pictures.
I am originally from London, England; I have been in the U.S. for 18 years, married and a proud U.S. citizen. I have always loved to travel, spending my early years visiting the U.S. as much as I could afford. In 2008, we discovered Grand Circle, and have traveled with them each year since. I have found that on these tours I have really been able to explore my photography because of such diverse cultures, landscapes, and architecture.
Photography for me, though, is more about memories than whether it is a Nat Geo quality picture. I generally take 4,000-6,000 pictures per trip. I use a Canon 5DII with an extra battery pack, which gives me three days without charging. I travel with a Canon 24-70L and a 70-200L zoom. I also have a 2x converter for wildlife and shots from the deck of the cruise ship. I sometimes carry a 17mm wide angle or a 50mm F1.8 fast prime, depending on the tour. I also carry a small laptop and a backup hard drive to unload the memory cards each night.
Here are a few of the pictures that have created some of the strongest memories for me during Eastern Europe to the Black Sea.
Port of Constanta: The morning this picture was taken, I got up really early before bidding farewell to the River Aria. I was admiring the tall ship in the harbor, when along came this unusual tugboat.
Novi Sad: Graffiti can be extremely artistic. This piece jumped off the wall with a meaning I’m not sure of to this day. With graffiti, I try to take the picture at an angle to give more depth to the image.
Church of the Nativity, Belgrade, Serbia: This picture brings back the feeling of entering this quaint church with its stunning frescoes. The wonderful voices of ministers singing added to the atmosphere.
Egmont Stefan: Egmont, who we met in Bucharest, is a survivor of the Romanian Revolution of 1989. The colors of the flag and the close-up of spent munitions bring back memories of our meeting.
Colin’s Photography Tips:
- Digital memory is cheap: Bring multiple memory cards.
- If you bring a new camera, make sure you understand it before the trip.
- A tripod is sometimes an awkward necessity.
- Consider using the RAW setting on the camera as well as the .jpeg file. This setting can recover some badly exposed shots, but does require lots of memory.
- Always have a camera with you, even if it is a small point-and-shoot. You never know what you’ll see on these tours.
- If you take multiple lenses with you, try to have a plan on which one to use by researching your trip.
- Digital is wonderful for instant results. Show local children their picture, and their reaction is priceless.
- When photographing children, do not look down on them. Try to sit down at their level, and as a photographer you’ll look a lot less intimidating.
- When you are at a natural or man-made wonder, do not forget to look behind you. There are sometimes some great shots there.
- Try to keep in mind that photographs are mainly for memories—but that great shot will come anyway.
- Embrace the early morning. Wonderful photos can be captured during this time.
- Embrace all weather. Gray skies and rain make wonderful pictures.
- It’s nice to be willing to share your pictures.
- Sometimes it’s best not to take a picture and just have the memory. You will know when this time comes.
See the inspiration for Colin’s photography in person during Eastern Europe to the Black Sea. For a different type of portrait, take a look at this independent video that we’ve curated to give you a glimpse of local life in Romania.
