Travel Photography for the Digital Photographer

A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.

All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such, we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.

The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work, including the final exam.

Lesson 1

Before You Go

The first lesson is an overview of the equipment you'll need to pack before you head out on the road. You'll look at cameras, lenses, and tripods, as well as other options for stabilization. You'll be ready to go before you know it!

Wilderness Work

In this lesson, you'll look at a number of different ways to photograph the wilderness. You'll explore ways to carry your equipment, keep it safe from rain, and power it up on a long trip away from home. The lesson will discuss some of the basic rules of composition and how to put them to good use, as well as focal points and getting the depth of field that best suits your subject.

Animal Antics

In this lesson, you'll concentrate on animals and how to capture their essence, whether they're in the wild or protected in cages. You'll look at equipment for zooming in and camera options for the best quality images. It's easy to get up close to a captive animal, but when you're in the wild, you'll need to know how to merge with nature so that you can observe natural behavior, so this lesson will discuss that, too. The lesson will also go over shooting fast-moving animals like birds in flight and show you how to use your camera to its best advantage.

Beaches and Aquariums

Even under the water, light is the magic that makes the photographic process work. So, in this lesson, you'll look at how to manage light when you're under and over the water. When you finish this lesson, you'll know how to work with backlighting, reflectors, fill flash, and spot metering. You'll also see how to use lines in an image to set off your subject as you improve your composition.

Nights and Lights

Sometimes, you'll find that there isn't much light when you're traveling and you'll need to know how to accommodate low light and mixed light situations. In this lesson, you'll work with settings on your camera like the white balance, ISO, and flash options to make sure you get the pictures you want. You'll also see the power of shooting in RAW and the options available with digital editing. As you finish up this lesson, you'll even explore some options for cave photography, lightning, and fireworks!

Hot and Humid

Visiting warm climates is a big part of many travel experiences, so in this lesson, you'll see how to protect your equipment from condensation and heat. You'll also see how to work within a rainforest environment. With the added control that manual exposure settings give you, you'll find the Sunny 16 Rule a great help. You'll also take a look at macro work and how to get the best shots of the details wherever you are.

Cold and Wet

In this lesson, you'll move from warm climates into winter settings. Snow and ice make great backgrounds for dynamic photos, but they can present some exposure challenges, and this lesson will discuss how to solve those kinds of problems. You'll also look at shooting indoors, freezing action, and how to make the most of bad weather. When you finish here, you'll have a good idea of how to photograph star trails and the Northern Lights as well.

Sailing the Seven Seas

Welcome aboard! As you move into this lesson, you'll investigate the many advantages of cruising and being at sea with your camera. Lighting can be confusing at sea, but with easy solutions to exposure latitude issues, you'll get the shots you want. To finish off the lesson, you'll receive a photo assignment where you'll document your journey with all the tools at your disposable. Bon voyage!

Up, Up, and Away!

It's time to rise above everyday sightseeing and shoot from the air. In this lesson, you'll have a chance to learn many techniques for working from a hot air balloon, a helicopter, or an airplane. The lesson will talk about histograms and blinkies and how they can help you improve your shots as well as how to use exposure compensation to quickly correct exposure problems. You'll see the importance of perspective from the air and how to shoot through hazy skies.

Cityscapes

Big cities are a part of many trips, and you won't want to miss the action! This lesson will introduce you to sightseeing tours, safety precautions, and making the most of your time in the city. You'll also see how to shoot in fog and use various metering options and handheld light meters. Many cities have amusement parks, so you'll spend some time learning how to put panning, long exposure, and light painting to work to bring home images of all the fun.

Beyond the Border

As you near the end of the course, you'll see how to make the most of a trip across the border. You'll look at international travel, power concerns, and customs issues so you can make sure you get back and forth across the border easily. You'll also have a chance to explore the mysteries behind model releases and selling your work. Since you won't want to leave home without a passport, the lesson will spend some time discussing how to take a great passport photo, too!

After You Get Back

Welcome home! In the final lesson, it's time to get your images organized so you can share the best of your images with friends and family. The lesson will conclude with information on cleaning your camera so you're ready to go when the next opportunity arises. By the end of the course, you'll have mastered a wealth of techniques that will change your pictures forever!