Ancient Roman Ruins at Umm Qais, in northern Jordan.
From this vantage point the Sea of Galilee is visible.

Let’s face it, ever since 9/11 air travel has become much more difficult and expensive for everyone. As traveling photographers it’s put additional burdens on already difficult circumstances. We are faced with ever tightening restrictions regarding carry-on luggage, restrictions on the types of equipment that can be carried on board, and security personnel who may be confused by our photographic equipment. On top of the physical burdens associated with traveling, we also have to contend with aesthetic considerations as well. It’s hard to concentrate on taking photographs when you are wrapped up in the details of travel.

In this article, I would like to share some practices that I have found over the course of my travels that have made the process of air travel easier and less stressful as well as making my trips more productive and enjoyable.

GETTING THERE

Great, you’ve purchased your tickets and started preparing for your trip. Where to begin? First let’s do some proper planning to get ready for your trip.

Pre-Trip planning. I consider this step to be the most important step in any trip preparation. Begin by making a list of the photographic potential hotspots your destination has to offer; for example, parks, cities, zoos, natural landmarks, lakes and rivers, just to name a few.

Next, find a good travel guide to help you lay out the route and to learn a little about the local history and culture. I highly recommend the DK Eyewitness Travel Guides. They contain a wealth of pictures, drawings and maps of most major travel destinations. I will generally purchase or borrow several guides before any trip and carry one or two of the best.

Carry only the minimum equipment needed. Consider your photography equipment. Do you really need the latest 300 mm 2.8 lens? While it might make sense photographing the Serengeti, it probably doesn’t make much sense in the cities and towns of Europe. Remember anything you bring has to be carried, and has the chance of being stolen. If you find that you are unable to carry all the equipment that you absolutely need for your trip, consider shipping it by commercial carriers, such as FedEx, DHL and UPS to your hotel.

Try keeping your choice of film down to one or two types, if at all possible. This means less film to carry and less chance of returning from your trip with a lot of unexposed film. I generally carry a mixture of Fiji Velvia or Kodak VS100 as my primary film, and Fuji Provia F 100 for photographing people, or for those situations where a less saturated film is called for.

This is not the time to try new equipment. Thinking about buying a new camera or a new lens? In a word, don’t. If you need a new piece of equipment, consider purchasing it one or two months before your trip; enough time to run a few rolls of film through it. Doing so will help you learn about your new equipment so using it becomes second nature; save your trip for concentrating on the images you are making, not about learning how a piece of equipment works. This applies to film choices as well; each brand and type of film has its own characteristics, so it’s a good practice to learn what they are before you leave.

Remove film from its original packaging. As traveling photographers, the film we are carrying is of primary importance; it only makes sense to protect that it as much as possible. If you are shooting 35mm film, take the film out of the original packaging. Some people recommend also removing the film from their plastic canisters, but I have found that leaving film in the clear, Kodak or Fuji canisters is acceptable. I lay out the film, in the plastic canisters, in two rows of five canisters inside a small sandwich sized bag, labeling each with the type of film inside. Additionally, I place a small label on the film canister itself, so I can later match which roll of film was taken in a given location.

Never store your film into checked luggage; always take it in your carry-on luggage. The X-Rays employed in scanning luggage will destroy your film. The X-Rays on the hand check line are fine, and shouldn’t harm your film, unless you are using very high speed film (E.I 800 or above). In the United States, FAA rules still permit photographers to ask for hand checks.

Arrive early at the airport. Did you know that the most likely place at an airport for a thief to strike is at the security screening station? For this very reason alone, I always strive to arrive at the airport with plenty of extra time to spare before my flight. Then I wait until the lines at the security screening station are empty. It’s better to be extra early than take a chance of getting your equipment stolen.

However, if you don’t have the luxury of arriving early, or there are unavoidable lines, you should delay putting your equipment on the conveyor belt until you're sure you'll be the next person through the metal detector. And, as you move through the detector, keep your eyes on the conveyor belt and watch for your equipment to come through (as well as keeping a 'sharp eye' on what those in front of you are picking up). Additionally, consider asking for a hand inspection; it will slow the process of going through security, but the screener will be handling your equipment and watching you. It’s better to be safe, than sorry.

Sunset over the Dead Sea

Know where your equipment is at all times. Losing track of your equipment is the quickest way to end your trip prematurely. If you set it down, it will be stolen or lost. One sure way to keep tabs on your equipment is to purchase a camera bag that doubles as a backpack. Since, I’m always wearing it my equipment pack as a backpack, never carrying it by the shoulder strap, I know where my equipment is at all times.

Place one of your business cards, or a piece of paper with a home or business address on it inside each bag. Additionally, write the name of your hotel on the card, so in case you and your equipment do get separated, there is a chance, however slim, that you may be reunited with it.

ONCE YOU ARRIVE AT YOUR DESTINATION

Now, you have arrived, you’ve checked into your hotel, perhaps had a quick nap and are preparing to head out; don’t forget, the hard part is not over yet. You still have to contend with making quality images. This applies, regardless of whether you are making a living at photography or simply seeking to document your travels.

Don’t begin taking pictures right away. Once you arrive at your location, take the time to walk around, get your bearings and observe your surroundings. Look for the neighborhood coffee shops, the parks, the churches and mosques; anywhere that people gather.
 

Take notes. Arguably, one of the most valued, but easily overlooked aspects of a photographic trip is the necessity to take notes. How many times, have you looked at a slide, and wondered what or where the image was taken? Just recently, I came upon an image of a beautiful, blue sign in Arabic, and I have absolutely no idea what it means.

For this reason, I suggest carrying a small notebook, a Pocket PC or Palm Pilot; so you can jot down notes about what you’re are seeing or feeling. I have found that one of the cheap consumer digital cameras makes an excellent supplement to a notebook; I use it to take pictures of signs, etc.

Don’t stand out. When traveling it is better not to stand out from the crowd. Don’t carry your equipment in expensive, labeled bags. Instead, opt for a nondescript bag, such as a backpack.

Don’t forget people. I’m guilty of this one myself; given that I’m primarily a landscape photographer, I’m uncomfortable taking photographs of people, but at the same time I realize the human element brings life to travel images. Cities and landscapes are not just to be admired, but lived in; don’t forget the people who live in them.

FINALLY

It’s easy to get caught up in the physical aspects of your trip; gathering equipment, film, and then packing for the trip. The physical aspects of traveling don’t end once you arrive at your destination. With so many things to remember and so many things to think about, it’s easy to lose sight of why you made the trip in the first place.

Try to remember, what was it that drew you to the beauty and magic of photography in the first place. Photography is the method that we, as photographers, use to communicate what is important in life. Ansel Adams once remarked:

“A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed.”

Make your photographs from your trip a mirror of what you felt while you were there.

[Note: all the photographs in this article were taken in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on Fuji Velvia film, using a Nikon N80 camera.]