There have been trips where I’ve returned with an armful of McPhotos.
What is a McPhoto?
A McPhoto is a photo of you in front of an iconic landmark, be it the Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal, Great Wall or Leaning Tower. You think it is a special photo until you realize it looks exactly like everyone else’s travel photos.
But I love my Eiffel Tower photo…
Of course you do, and you should. The point is that you can take more original travel photos if you wish.
How?
1. Change the angle
Instead of just pointing and clicking, stoop down and point the camera up, or get in closer. Suddenly you have a much more alluring shot from an original perspective.
2. Change the lighting
If you can get up earlier, your shots will be less crowded with a more gentle light.
3. Put people in the picture
Often we shoo people out of the way so the way to the landmark is clear, but people in a shot can create more atmosphere and often juxtapose the size of what you are photographing (eg. the Grand Canyon)
4. Photoshop
A couple of basic Photoshop tricks can do wonders, like adjusting the brightness and cropping. And here’s a step-by-step guide to adding effects.
5. Look around
Of course you want to photograph the Eiffel Tower, but don’t miss the fabulous photo opportunities all around you.
6. Click away
The wonders of the digital age mean it’s free to take as many pics as you want. Don’t be afraid to photograph like there’s no tomorrow. Take risks. You’ll be surprised at what you can achieve, even if it’s only by luck.
There is nothing wrong with McPhotos but it is gratifying to have a range of pictures, not just one type.
July 25th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
I find that the blurry and out of focused pictures sometimes are the most artistic. Just kidding. Although if you look at some of my pictures of Monoco from the coast you may think they were taken from a impressionist painter on acid.
Good tips though. Unique angles do help. And moving the camera very fast while taking the picture does create a very unique picture.
July 25th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
I agree, what might be considered ‘mistakes’ can end up looking ‘arty’. I forgot to mention getting drunk first! Just don’t lose the camera
July 31st, 2007 at 11:56 pm
Vacations is not complete until you have some souvenirs to bring home. Pictures is a great way of doing that, armed with a camera, you can produce a souvenir in an instant capturing that moment forever.
October 27th, 2010 at 5:52 am
This is most interesting. People often neglect the importance of testing thetemperature of food. It is not onlyimportant for cooking uncooked food but also for re-heating where you need to make sure the bacteria are killed