Overview

Course No. 7951

Answer the travel challenge, “Pics or it didn’t happen,” with more confidence. It’s okay to brag, too. Great travel photographs—whether of a trip to a local zoo or a mountain village around the world—require the ability to tell a captivating story. It’s the same skill National Geographic photographers use to get their breathtaking shots, and it’s one photographers at any level can master.

In these 24 lectures, National Geographic photographer Bob Krist shares his insights with you, using the best shots from his broad career as a travel photographer. You’ll learn what it takes to get compelling pictures of landscapes, animals, people, landmarks, street scenes, and more. You’ll also peek inside the mindset of a working travel photographer and learn the practical skills required to take great pictures in unfamiliar places.

These lectures are packed with techniques and tricks you can use wherever you go: suggestions for shots that capture the hidden spirit of a landscape or animal; methods for getting unique shots of strangers, both alone and in crowds; tips on what lenses and equipment to pack for different travel destinations and subjects; ways to overcome common challenges that keep many travel photographs from becoming professional-level shots; and tips on how working travel photographers store, organize, and publish their photographs in print and online.

Stop taking so-so travel photos and start capturing the world the way a National Geographic photographer does on assignment.

Video Lessons

01: The Travel Photographer’s Mission

A sightseeing photographer stands apart from the culture. A travel photographer immerses herself or himself in it. In this introductory lecture, discover why an important part of good travel photography involves “being there.” Your case study: Mr. Krist’s assignment for a story on the French Quarter of New Orleans.

Duration: 26 min

02: Photographing for Story

Start thinking of yourself as a visual storyteller—not just a photographer. Here, learn what every travel photographer needs to cover to tell a complete story, including geography, people, culture, wildlife, food and lodging, and history. Then, see how it all applies to a National Geographic assignment in French Polynesia.

Duration: 24 min

03: Three Keys: Light, Composition, Moment

Every good travel photograph is built around three ingredients: light, composition, and movement. Study a number of travel photographs in terms of these ingredients to see if they have what it takes to be considered “good.” Also, ponder what happens when you only have two (or even just one) of these keys.

Duration: 25 min

04: Natural Light on Landscapes

What makes light “beautiful”? What makes it “ugly”? In this lecture, Mr. Krist takes you on an in-depth exploration of the many facets of natural light and how to use them in your own landscape photographs—just like the pros. You’ll cover side lighting, back lighting, twilight, and more.

Duration: 24 min

05: Natural Light on People

Explore great lighting options for photographing the people you meet while traveling. There’s backlight, which you find in fashion photographs. There’s open shade (the quality of light on the shadow side of buildings on a sunny day). You can even take good shots lighting your subject from the front.

Duration: 25 min

06: Composition and the Power of Lenses

Study composition through wide-angle and telephoto lenses. Learn why 28mm-300mm is such a popular focal length and an ideal travel lens. Explore some of the useful properties of a wide-angle lens. See why the telephoto lens’ compression of perspective is a useful property once you learn how to use it.

Duration: 26 min

07: On Location in San Miguel de Allende

Go out in the field and join Mr. Krist on assignment in Central Mexico to see how he puts some of the techniques you’ve learned into practice. By witnessing a travel photographer at work, you’ll discover why a proactive approach to travel photography yields much better pictures than mere inspiration.

Duration: 24 min

08: Gear, Packing, and Security

A hot topic in travel photography is what you bring with you and what you leave behind. From gear to clothes to preconceptions, learn how to find the coveted middle ground between preparedness and mobility so you can focus on what matters most: telling a visual story of your travels.

Duration: 27 min

09: Five Obstacles to a Great Photo

Bad weather. Language and logistics. Money and time limitations. Access. Overfamiliarity. Get a stronger sense of the most common barriers to getting great travel photographs. Along the way, you’ll look at some photo assignments—many of which feature more than one obstacle—to see how you might handle them.

Duration: 26 min

10: Capturing the Spirit of People

Explore pointed techniques for capturing the spirit in the people you meet. First, learn how to make breaking the ice (the hardest part of the whole process) a little less painful. Then, take a look at several methods for photographing people, including the candid approach and the up-close-and-personal approach.

Duration: 23 min

11: People in Performance

One of the richest opportunities for photographing the people you encounter in your travels: during a planned or impromptu performance. Mr. Krist offers important pointers for photographing people in situations like tango dances, blues clubs, ballet performances, and more. Plus: consider the somewhat sticky problem of tipping for pictures.

Duration: 23 min

12: Using Flash on the Road

The electronic flash is perhaps the most misunderstood—and badly misused—piece of gear in a photographer’s arsenal. Discover how a shoe-mounted flash can open up new worlds for you as a travel photographer and can be your best friend in situations that would be un-photographable otherwise.

Duration: 26 min

13: Capturing the Spirit of Landscapes

A good landscape shot not only shows what a place looks like but what it feels like. Join Mr. Krist for a deeper dive into shooting landscapes to capture what one travel writer called the “spirit of place.” Strategies include altering your horizon line and suggesting a sense of scale.

Duration: 24 min

14: Special Techniques for Creative Photos

Get creative in this lecture on special techniques to employ when you’re feeling a little “out of the box.” Some are subtle (shooting in black and white). Some are controversial (high dynamic range, or HDR, photography). All can, when applied judiciously, give your travel photography a boost.

Duration: 26 min

15: Capturing the Spirit of Wildlife

Start creating more interesting wildlife photographs with these tips and techniques to use whether you’re at the zoo or on safari. You’ll gain insights into getting a great animal portrait without having to spend all day in a blind in the jungle—as well as the best gear to pack.

Duration: 21 min

16: Animals in Action

Turn the hardest and most prized photos for even seasoned travel photographers: animals in action. First, learn the pros of using fast and slow shutter speeds. Then, get tips on telling a story involving people and wildlife. Finally, go underwater to practice animal photography in aquatic environments.

Duration: 25 min

17: Architecture and Skylines

How can you make a city skyline, many of which have already been photographed to death, original? From varying your point of view to waiting for unusual lighting conditions, Mr. Krist offers a variety of ways to take photos of architecture and cityscapes that aren’t stiff, formal, and cold.

Duration: 26 min

18: Festivals, Parades, and Special Events

Every traveler loves festivals and parades, and the same is true of travel photographers. Here, be more proactive about how you approach celebrations of cultural heritage, whether it’s arriving early for unique shots, searching for new angles, or exploring the perimeter of a special event.

Duration: 26 min

19: Street Scenes and Neighborhoods

No travel story is complete without shots of what a neighborhood—and the life on it—looks like. How can you make day-to-day life look as interesting as a massive spectacle? How can you give viewers a real feel for what life is like on the streets you travel through?

Duration: 25 min

20: Workflow on the Road

A critical component of travel photography involves mundane work: securing and organizing your photographs. Join Mr. Krist for an exploration of the nitty-gritty details of workflow on the road. Remember: the more organized you are in the field, the easier it will be to share your images at home.

Duration: 23 min

21: Photographing a City: Philadelphia

Go on another case study to see how the techniques of travel photography look in real life. Your destination in this lecture: the City of Brotherly Love. From City Hall to cheesesteaks to Rittenhouse Square, discover ways to capture these and other Philadelphia icons in exciting new ways.

Duration: 28 min

22: Photographing a Region: Tuscany

Go behind the scenes to learn how Mr. Krist set about capturing photos for the New York Times bestseller, In Tuscany. It’s a beautiful Tuscan adventure that demonstrates how a great travel photographer tells the story of a region—and the many lives within it.

Duration: 27 min

23: Working with Video

Get a taste of what it takes to make the transition from stills to video. Topics include the five shots for creating a visual story with depth; how to shoot for a sequence; how to build a simple story structure; and what you need to start shooting short video stories.

Duration: 26 min

24: Sharing Your Stories

You’ve taken the best photographs you can possibly take. Now it’s time to share your visual stories with friends and family. In this final lecture, consider ways to share and publish your unique stories on both print and digital platforms, from coffee table books to online magazines.

Duration: 25 min