033 - Capture those Special Moments on your Next Road Trip
I had a few people contact me after last week’s episode, asking about how to document a road trip. They loved the thoughts on planning one but wanted to know more about what to do to capture those special moments while on the road and in between photo locals.
So, that’s what we are going to talk about this week! How you can capture those moments and memories that make a road trip special. The shots you are going to look back at for years to come with special memories attached to them. This will make sure that you are getting the most out of your next road trip.
Photographic road trips, like the one we talked about last week, are so important for building up specific shots in your portfolio and for crafting standout images.
But they are also invaluable for building memories and recording moments that you will treasure forever. So, how do you balance creating work and recording memories and how do you find those perfect moments to capture?
It starts with what we talked about last week, pre-planning your trip to know where and when you need to be places to create amazing work. If you want to learn more about the planning process, go check out episode 32 of the podcast.
Alright, so you’ve planned the trip and you’re hitting the open road! It’s time to document that trip. Some of this will depend on if you have others travelling with you (like people or pets) but most of it won’t.
Part of what makes a road trip awesome is the journey, so document that journey. Think those little roadside pullouts where you stop for a quick restroom break or when the kids are daydreaming out the window. This is where having someone to share the driving with really helps. Because you can keep an eye out for these little moments in time. These shots may not make their way into your portfolio but they will likely make their way into your heart. Some of the things to look out for when documenting the journey itself are:
Reflections in the car mirrors. Watch for how the landscape reflects in the side mirror of the car, or maybe you can see a kids arm flowing on the wind out an open window. Make sure to show off the mirror of the car and/or bits of the road flying by. Also, watch the review mirrors in the car itself (or the makeup mirrors on the sun shades), you can create some pretty amazing photos of people reading, sleeping, playing games, whatever with quick snapshots that show what was going on inside the vehicle. Often, we see lots of road trip photos from outside the vehicle. But those little moments inside are a huge part of the journey.
Sleeping People. I’ll be honest, this one sounds kind of weird but sleeping people can make for amazing photos. Especially if you’ve gotten everyone up really early to hit the road. That early morning light and some sleepy people can make for beautiful, softly lit portraits of your companions on the road.
What happens on the side of the road. When you need to stop for a quick second to stretch the legs, let someone run into the bushes, whatever, keep an eye on what is going on around you. Are there other vehicles that have pulled over? What are your other companions up to? Just look around at what everyone else is doing.
Ok, so first step to getting awesome photos on your road trip. Documenting the journey. So, what’s next? Well, you want to have a sense of adventure and pull off into every little pull out that you have time to spare for. These little roadside pullouts can be super hit and miss for photography. Some of them are amazing and some are just downright dreadful, but pull off into them all anyway because you never know what you will find. One of my favourite pullouts on Highway 40 in the Rockies looks like the view has been totally blocked by trees as you drive by. But if you walk through those trees you get to this amazing meadow that gently slopes down into a valley that breaks into an amazing view. You just have to walk for 2 minutes off the road. So, when you hit those roadside pullouts, get out of your vehicle and explore the area for a bit. Look around and see what is going on. Go for a walk through the trees or the tall grass, look behind buildings, just put your creative eyes to work. Even if there is an amazing view, spend a little time exploring the area and you may find an even more amazing spot to shoot from.
Speaking of getting out of your car, be ready to stop on the side of the road. I don’t know how many times my wife and I have seen amazing views and just had to pull the car over onto the shoulder to take some shots. Don’t just drive by going, oh that’s so beautiful and then continuing on wishing you weren’t driving so you could take a photo. Stop the car and go get that shot. Do this SAFELY of course and only if there is enough room on the shoulder to FULLY get your vehicle off the road. Don’t park on the road and cause a hazard just to take a photo. Be cognizant of everyone else around you and if you are putting yourself or others at risk of injury or accident. If you really can’t stop on that road, then find a place that you can safely pull over and walk back down the road to that spot (once again, if you can do so safely). Sometimes, this just won’t be possible. But when it is, be willing to stop that car.
On this topic, if you see wildlife on the side of the road, NEVER get out of your car to photograph them. It doesn’t matter if it is a predator or not, don’t get out of your car and approach wildlife. Bison or rutting elk are more likely to attack you than a bear munching dandelions and they can kill you pretty easily. Stay in your car when watching wildlife.
Alright, we’ve talked about plenty of pictures while you are on the road, now let’s talk about getting some pictures when you actually get to destinations. Of course, go looking for photos of the tourist sites or whatever attraction people like in the area. But don’t forget about the photos that show off that location itself. Pictures most other people won’t think to take but that are there to show what that town or area is kind of like beyond the tourist spot. I love these kinds of pictures. They get to the heart of a road trip, and to me, that’s part of the point of hitting the road. To see other places and to hear other stories. So go and look for what photos show off that area from your creative and artistic eye.
Finally, and this could be the most important way to get more epic, unplanned images, be nice to the people you meet. Be interested in their stories, their town, and what they want to show you. Ask them for their advice and their opinions and listen with an open mind. Actively listen to what they are saying and ask questions. You’d be amazed at how many people will want to show off their home town to you or their restaurant or just so many things. It can start with as simple a question as do you have any local areas that we should explore? Or, what are your favourite hikes around here? Or just any number of things that gets that person to open up about the area they are from. Connection is a huge part of the human experience and it is one of the things that binds us together as a people. So, be open and honest with those around you and listen to their stories. This should open up many amazing opportunities for you to see places that most tourists will never get to see. But, don’t be pushy about it. Be genuinely interested in the person and the photo opportunities will open up in front of you.
And that’s really it! That’s some of the ways I look for unplanned images while on a road trip. The last tip is probably the best of the bunch if you want genuine, connected photos while on the road. And if you are looking to see hidden gems. Beyond these tips for photos, one of the other things is not to get too lost behind your camera and just to enjoy the experience of being on the road. Let the photos flow out of you naturally as the situations arise. This will lead to much more genuine imagery.