The best part about a trip might actually be looking at the photos after and sharing the stories behind photos with friends. And taking a photo in todays world has become extremely simple.
You can take one while you text your friend what time to meet you at a café. But dont forgetyou create a world through your images. Just like you monitor which personal photos you put up on your social media pages like Facebook and Twitter, in order to give what you believe is an accurate and complete depiction of yourself, you must take this same care with photos of others that you take while traveling.
The tiniest camera phone can be snuck into a sacred place. If you wanted to, you could take a photo of just about anything. But, as always, with freedom comes responsibility. Here are a few tips on being a responsible, ethical photographer while traveling.
1. Unless you are at a public performance, parade or somewhere where the individuals expect to be on display, always ASK to take a photo. Sometimes language is a barrier, in which case simply smile, present the camera, make a motion to take a photo and see how the subject responds.
2. Its tempting to pay your subjects to be in your photo, but this encourages a type of prostitution, so to speak. Individuals in that culture might then offer to pose for photographers in exchange for money, making their ordinary lives look more photogenic rather than portraying the reality of it.
3. Try to develop a relationship with an individual or a group. If you can just spend an hour or a week with them, they will grow a trust for you and usually want you to take photos of their life. Also, those photos will be more genuine because the subject is comfortable with you, and feels they are being in your photo, rather than imagining all the websites they may appear on.
4. If there is a sign that says no photos , that means no photos. Some travelers think that the no photos sign at a funeral or wedding only pertains to those in the funeral or wedding. Actually, the opposite.
5. Capture a large spectrum of images. Many photographers make the mistake, for example, of taking only desperate looking images when traveling to places that are reputed to be impoverished. And while it is good to spread that awareness, not everyone wants to be pitied. There are bright sides of life to such areas, and it would be unfair to not share with others that cultures ability to have fun and create an uplifting environment, even in the worst of conditions.
6. Whenever you post a photo to the internet include a caption. Many practices and traditions of one culture may look grotesque or just ambiguous to another culture. Portray the image honestly with a written explanation. You took the photo, now take the responsibility to deliver the message accurately.
7. Dont take photos of any illegal happenings you see. It may feel adventurous and journalistic, but you could put yourself in danger.
You should absolutely take photos of your travels so you can share those experiences with those who are not as fortunate to be able to have them. Just remember your life is multi-faceted and if a camera crew followed you around, you would want them to portray you in as honest and complete way as possible.
Read More On Ethical Travel
2011's 10 Most Ethical Destination Countries
Learn Outdoor Ethics with Leave No Trace
Is Your Hiking Jacket Toxic? Tent, Too?