Key Takeaways
- Today, professional photographer Laurence Norah of Finding the Universe continues his five-part series on taking better travel photos. Photographs ar
- In the first post in this series, I talked about the key compositional rules that you can use to create better travel photos. If you’re new to this se
- Today I’ll be covering how to deal with challenging light and some introducing some advanced ideas for controlling your composition, including being s
Today, professional photographer Laurence Norah of Finding the Universe continues his five-part series on taking better travel photos. Photographs are vital for preserving memories, so Laurence shares expert guidance to help you elevate your visual storytelling. Part two of the series focuses on how to capture the perfect shot.
In the first post in this series, I discussed foundational compositional rules that help create more compelling travel images. If you’re new to this series, we recommend starting there.
Today’s guide dives into managing challenging lighting conditions and explores advanced compositional techniques — including selective focus and creative perspective control to make distant elements appear closer together.
We’ll also cover practical, scene-specific tips for common travel photography scenarios — so you can start applying them immediately.
Let’s begin with the most critical element of all: light. Midday sun may seem ideal, but it often delivers harsh highlights, deep shadows, and flat contrast — making subjects look unflattering. For richer tones and dimension, aim for softer illumination.
The optimal windows are sunrise and sunset — known collectively as “the golden hour.” During these times, light is warm, directional, and forgiving, lending depth and mood to your images.
Of course, you can’t always time your travels around perfect lighting. That’s why knowing how to adapt — and even thrive — in less-than-ideal conditions is essential. Here’s how.
12 Ways to Take Better Photos
1. Be Aware of the Sun
This is the single most important consideration. Ideally, position yourself so the sun is behind you — illuminating your subject evenly. When the sun falls behind your subject instead, you risk underexposed silhouettes or blown-out highlights. While intentional backlighting has artistic merit, most travel portraits benefit from front or side lighting. To achieve this, stand between the sun and your subject — as demonstrated in this New Zealand landscape:
2. Get Creative
Avoid repetition — experiment intentionally. Instead of avoiding midday sun, use it. Shoot directly into bright light to craft dramatic silhouettes, or stop down your aperture to generate starburst effects from sunlight. This Napa Valley balloon image shows how harsh light can become an asset:
3. Use the Weather
Don’t wait for blue skies — embrace atmospheric conditions. Overcast days diffuse light beautifully, softening textures and minimizing contrast. Clouds also add drama and scale to otherwise empty skies. In this Painted Desert shot, cloud cover transformed a potentially flat sky into a dynamic backdrop:
4. Seek Shade
When photographing people during peak daylight hours, move into shade — whether under trees, awnings, or building overhangs. This evens out facial lighting, reduces harsh shadows, and yields smoother skin tones. Just be mindful of ambient brightness and exposure balance. See this midday Sri Lanka example:
5. Master Depth of Field
Depth of field determines how much of your image appears sharp — and mastering it unlocks powerful storytelling tools. A shallow depth of field isolates subjects (e.g., wildlife or portraits), while a wide depth keeps entire landscapes crisp. In this monkey portrait, only the primate is in focus — drawing immediate attention:
Compare that with this New Zealand landscape, where a narrow aperture ensured foreground rocks, midground hills, and distant peaks all remained sharply rendered:
