IMMORTALISING LOCAL CULTURE: PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY ON YOUR TRAVELS
When we travel to a new place, we want to take more than just memories with us. We want to capture the essence of that destination, its colours, its people and its history. And one of the best ways to achieve this is through portrait photography.
A couple of weeks ago I shared some portrait photographs I took in Nepal and a colleague of mine wrote to me to tell me that she had always been interested in portrait photography during her travels but she didn't dare to do it because it meant bothering someone to be photographed and she didn't know how to do it. I had all these same doubts a few years ago, so if you are wondering how to take portrait photographs on your travels, here are some recommendations:
Use a bright lens
Not all the portraits you can take on your trip will be in broad daylight and with great lighting, sometimes, you find that portrait that transmits so much in a dimly lit shop or a restaurant. Carrying a bright lens with you will allow you to adapt to any circumstance and make the most of it.
Out-of-focus effect in the background of your portrait, YES OR NO?
Remember to stand at a safe distance from the background and use apertures that are not too wide. Who doesn't like the out-of-focus effect in portraits? It allows you to isolate your subject and intuit the background. Even so, I encourage you to look for portraits that include the setting in order to show the essence of both the place and the person you are going to portray. So... pay attention to the details!
Look for authenticity
Instead of focusing on the tourist attractions, go into the local neighbourhoods and look for authenticity. Talk to the locals, get to know their stories and ask permission to take their portraits. Most of the time, people will be happy to be photographed and share a bit of their culture with you. Many of the most striking portraits tend to be taken in low-income countries, so for the locals, a small tip as a thank you is always welcome.
Capture the essence
Don't settle for a simple pose. Try to capture the essence of the person and the place in each portrait. Observe their gestures, their facial expression and the elements that surround them. Look for the right light and play with composition to create fascinating images.
Details of a woman waving in the nepali village of Ghandruk
Be KIND & respectful
Always remember to be respectful and ethical when taking portrait photographs. Do not invade people's privacy and respect their wishes if they do not wish to be photographed. Ask permission and be grateful for the opportunity to capture their beauty.
Show them the portrait
You don't know how happy the people we take portraits of are when we show them the photo, even if it is on the camera. It's a nice gesture and will help you say goodbye with the best taste in your mouth.
Share the stories
When you return from your travels, don't just keep the pictures on your computer. Share the stories behind each portrait. Comment on the local culture, traditions and experiences you had. You will not only be sharing your passion for photography, but also promoting cultural diversity.
EXTRA TIP: EXPERIMENT!
When we thing in portraits we usually think about people but what about animals? Animals are so photogenic and you can show lot of the story of a place through their portraits. Experiment using different subjects and do not focus only in people.
Portrait of a monkey warding the city of Kathamndu from the Monkey temple in one of the highest points of the city
More monkey portraits we found in the Monkey Temple of Kathmandu
Portrait photography is a wonderful way to immortalise local culture on your travels. I invite you to venture out and capture the beauty of the people you meet on your explorations, and to share those stories with the rest of the world.
AUTHOR:
MARA DE LA TORRE
Professional travel & commercial photographer. Content creator spesialised in storytelling.
Lover of nature and capturing it through the lenses.
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