Sunday, November 30, 2014
5 Travel Experiences that Changed my Perspective on Life
It's getting a bit more personal today on the blog, so I hope you're up for it. Long before I had a dslr camera to capture everything around me I was traveling and exploring the world. That was back in the times of film cameras, Polaroids and point and shoot cameras. Still, different cityscapes and landscapes were in front of me that made a mark in my life.
Travel is undoubtedly a big part of me, and the wanderlust, as the Germans put it so nicely, sparks regularly. I think that I have, on some level, created this blog for myself as well. I wanted to have a place where I could collect all these moments. On the other hand, it HAS always been about sharing the beauty of this world with others.
So without further ado, here are the 5 Travel Experiences that Changed my Perspective on Life. Some on a larger scale, then others, but nevertheless they somehow influenced my desire to explore the world.
click on the images for a bigger view
1. Visiting the USA
This might come as a surprise to my dear American readers, but I have actually visited the USA. I never wrote about it on my blog, simply because the images I took were not that presentable. But nonetheless, visiting the USA has hugely influenced my travels today. I was part of a Youth Legacy Leadership Program that was funded my the US Government, and they flew 15 students from Bosnia and Herzegovina to the USA. I stayed for three weeks on the east coast, specifically Washington DC and West Virginia (Lynchburg and Roanoke).
In Washington DC, we visited the US Senate (we were given a private tour actually), the White House, the various museums, memorials and the botanical garden. I was never this far away from home, I had to rely on my knowledge of the English language, and actually speaking it there with nothing to fall back on, really helped me in mastering the language further.
I promise to do a full post with my images from the USA at some point. Maybe a new scan of the images will better the quality.
2. Korucla, Croatia
This might be a head-scratcher for some. I associate this wonderful small island on the Adriatic Sea, with my first travels, post-war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was at a time, that I still traveled with my whole family. We visited this place many times, and I even went back there, when I was older. Click here to read more about this beautiful island.
3. Cologne and Elsen, Germany
I have written about Cologne a couple of times (like the 10 Reasons why you should visit it this Winter, or the wonderfully charming Christmas Markets of the city), but during our stay there, we also visited Elsen, a small town where I lived for four years. Being back, brought up many memories and it was wonderful to walk to my old school and the apartment where my family and I lived.
My sister and I in front of our old school in Elsen
Selma and Jasmina on the Christmas Market
4. Trondheim, Norway
This was one of the first travels on which i went without people I knew before. I was still in high school when the offer to visit Norway with a group of other people came. I immediately said yes even though I was afraid of flying back then (still am a bit today). We stayed in a beautiful small hotel in Trondheim. I remember I had a room all by myself. We explored this wonderful little city in the north of Norway, and I was immediately gripped by its charm.
5. Istanbul, Turkey
I visited Istanbul with my school and It was one of those trips, that you wouldn't make today anymore in that fashion, but back then it represented a really great period in all of our lives. Somehow, when you leave for college, you get robbed of the innocence of youth and this was one of those moments where everything fell into place. Istanbul is a magnificent city, and one I explored on this blog previously in a three part photo series, that you can visit here.
Thank you all for stopping by.
What were some travel experiences that changed your perspective on life?
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Friday, November 28, 2014
Sunset at the Tower of Pocitelj
We made our way to the old town of Pocitelj, just as the sun was beginning to set. The grand walls of this old fortification were bathed in the pale orange glimmer and a soft wind was blowing from the north, bringing cold air to this rugged landscape.
Pocitelj presents one of few urban ensembles in Bosnia and Herzegovina preserved in their integrity to the present time developed through the several phases of the history, beginning with the medieval period.
Pocitelj presents one of few urban ensembles in Bosnia and Herzegovina preserved in their integrity to the present time developed through the several phases of the history, beginning with the medieval period.
Nevertheless, I think that late autumn is the perfect time for a visit. The weather is nice and you can really explore all the places Pocitelj has to offer.
click on the images for a bigger view
The tower of Pocitelj was built between the 15th and 18th centuries.
In the middle ages, Pocitelj was the administrative center of the region, and the westernmost point of the county, which gave it major strategic importance.
A grand view in front of the tower and fortification, shows the scope of this place.
Pomegranates are hanging from the trees, waiting to be picked.
The sun was giving off its last rays of light as I made some shots inside the walls.
Pocitelj was built on a rocky cliff sloping steeply down to the bank of the river Neretva.
The glow of the sunset was leading us back through the stone gates, as we were leaving Pocitelj.
Thank you all for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed these sights from days past, and another cultural site Bosnia and Herzegovina has to offer.
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Late Autumn Days in the Mountains
Late autumn brings with it a certain melancholy. Nature is going into the deep sleep and the days just keep getting shorter and shorter. Especially for people at work, it seems as if the days only consist of nights. While I fully enjoy winter as a season, I still like to linger in the beauty that is autumn.
That's why I chose to venture out again into nature, and search for signs that autumn is still in the air. And what better place to do this then the mountains.
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From afar there seems to be much color left in the landscape.
Coming up closer a different sight greets me. The once vibrant colors are giving way into the darkness.
But bursts of leaves that won't give up are also to be found.
We still have nice days here in south Bosnia and Herzegovina.
There is some solace in knowing that winter greens will stay throughout the winter months.
Soon, it will be sights like this next one, that will spread through the lands.
Thank you all for stopping by.
What does the transition of the seasons look like in your town?
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Monday, November 24, 2014
10 Tips for taking better Travel Photos
I get a lot of comments saying that people like to go on a photographic journey with me. Also, I get often asked how I take these travel photos that seemingly take you along. It's not easy when you are out and about. Especially on your vacations if you happen to visit places that get stormed by tourists. You want to come back home with images that make people who see them want to visit that place themselves.
You don't want to be one of the many, that takes the same shot from the same place over and over, that makes the obvious choice when it comes to framing etc. There are a couple of tips I go by when I'm on my travels, that seem to work out for me.
Today I'm sharing my 10 Tips for taking better Travel Photos. As with all rules or tips: make them your own and have creative freedom.
click on the images for a better view
This is the first thing you need to take care of. You don't want to travel with your whole gear and dismount lenses all the time. I usually go with a wide lens (like the Canon 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6) that takes care of landscapes and cityscapes for me, and then my trusted Canon 50mm f/1.8 for close-ups and various other shots. 1. Choosing the right lens for your Camera
2. Work locals and visitors into your Travel Photos
This is an easy tip to remember. Don't shoot monuments, buildings, cathedrals and other sights just by themselves. Try to work in the people that visit these places. I agree, it's nice to have a shot of the building itself, but take comparison shots and you will notice, how much better your images are with people in them.
3. Know What to Shoot
This is where research comes in. I'm a big believer in planing your vacation and spots that you want to visit before you arive. I don't want the local tourist guide taking me along. I want to experience the place by myself. Search on the internet what other people have been shooting in that particular spot you want to visit and go from there. Often times, the best destinations are found that way.
4. What to shoot on Bad Days
So here's the thing. You had your vacation all planed out, and then rain starts falling or the sky is overcast and your images won't turn out that good. Don't you dare to pack up your photo gear! There are so many things to shoot on those days. Try close-ups for example. Details that otherwise would go unnoticed. Like walls, streets, street displays, interior shots.
But then again, if the clouds that are rolling in are dramatic, go and shoot those landscapes. There can be a lot of beauty with a sky like that!
5. The Magic Time of day for Travel Photos
If you want that great shot of the city you are visiting, try shooting at dusk. Just about 30 minutes after the sun has set often gives the best light to create a dreamy travel photo.
6. Shoot at Night
Often, you go out and shoot tourist attractions all day, and then you come into your hotel room to get ready for dinner and leave your camera in the room, because you think you have taken enough photos for that day. This is where you might be wrong. The city transforms at night, and often times, it's the darkness that yields the best travel photos. This is especially true if you visit a city during the holidays, and everything is lit up. But other times too, exploring the night can be very charming.
7. Get the "Famous Views" Out of the Way
If you travel to a famous destination, get the shots of the most famous landmarks out of the way first. These are the photos everyone expects you to take (and on one hand you should actually make). So make your way through the landmarks and get those shots, so that you can have more time to take the more unique shots.
8. Shoot the Food
Take a look at any travel blog or magazine, and you will encounter food shots as well. And why wouldn't you. Some places are known because of the food. There are two tips for shooting food. Use a very shallow depth of field (the 50mm f/1.8 comes in very handy here), and use lots of natural light. Simply place your plate next to a window with light and shoot away. The 50mm can handle low light great and you can get away without a tripod. Or shoot food that is in displays and out in the city. It's a good thing to have in your travel photo collection.
9. Don't use flash, and shoot RAW
This might be a personal preference (but then all of these are). Don't use flash when taking your travel photos. Rather get the 50mm f/1.8 lens that is super in low light and shoot with a high ISO number. Also if you are using a dslr, shoot in RAW, this gives you so much more control later on (but it also takes space away on your camera, so keep that in mind). I travel with my laptop and usually transfer the shots from camera to a hard drive to keep them safe.
10. Shoot your Travel Photos from High Vantage Points
The average visitor or tourist will take their photos from the ground level, and won't bother with looking for a higher point. But I like to look out for spots where I can take shoots from a high vantage point. This gets you more professional looking images, that immediately take you in. Also you can cover a much bigger space that way.
I hope that I could help with these. As I said, have freedom and explore. I'm sure there are lots of other things that are great to do, but these here usually work for me.
Do you have any tips or tricks when it comes to travel photos?
