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 Greetings Fellow Photographers!
Summer is in full swing! This time of year, many families hit the open road on vacation, making memories along every mile that are cherished for years to come. So gas up the car, grab your camera, and check out these tips for photographing theme parks, scenics, and the road!
Theme Parks
A family day at a theme park has infinite photo opportunities, but dusk is usually the best time for getting a great outdoor shot because of the combination of natural light and light from the attractions. Also, use a wrist strap on your camera to keep it safe; taking pictures of your family on a roller coaster is fun and exciting...until you drop your camera! Speaking of keeping your camera safe, make sure your camera stays dry on water rides.
Many theme parks will also point out great photo locations throughout the park, so take advantage of those as they are usually well-groomed spots. Manual mode settings are important, too; learn how to use the manual mode settings on your camera, and get ready to change quickly. On an indoor ride, use a higher ISO, a slower shutter speed, open your aperture, and pop your flash. Then, change back to your outdoor setting once you go back outside. Finally, most theme parks do a fireworks display at night, so be sure to read my email from last week about photographing fireworks (and don't forget to include a landmark in the shot).
 Scenics
No summer road trip is complete without a few scenic views along the way. The best time to shoot scenics is during the sun's golden hours: sunrise or sunset. When you are framing your shot, it is usually best to avoid placing your subject dead center in the photo. Instead, place it on the left, right, top, or bottom, and the photo will be much more interesting (this is called the "rule of thirds"). Make your shot more personal by adding a family member, your car, or another object. A picture of the Grand Canyon is great, but putting a family member in the shot makes it much more personal. Another fun technique to try is using a different point of focus, like focusing on a blooming flower in the corner of your shot with a canyon or mountain in the background.
On the Road
One of the best parts about a road trip is the trip itself; getting there is half the fun! So, don't put your camera away just because you are on the road (of course, leave the driving to the driver and the picture-taking to everyone else!). Capture the feel of your trip. If it is hot and dry, figure out how to capture the heat in your photos, like including empty water bottles or sweaty foreheads. Use humor as well; the kids sleeping in front of a beautiful scenic view or landmark will make a hilarious shot later. Slow shutter speed pan shots are another fun thing to try when you're on the road: use a slow shutter speed, press the button, and pan the camera to the side as it is taking the shot. A good resulting shot will be focused on one thing with blur and movement surrounding it. Finally, get candid pictures of the car's interior. After all, it's where you spent most of your time!
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