photo copyright by Jim Zuckerman
I learned a long time ago that when you see a travel photo opportunity, don't pass it up thinking you'll come back to it later and take the picture. Almost certainly, it won't be there. It doesn't matter what it is, if you don't make the effort to capture the moment, more than likely it will be gone forever when you decide it's finally time to go back and take the shot.
A case in point is this photograph from India. I was leading a photo tour and my group and I were driving past this temple complex in Jaipur. I spotted this group of women on the balcony and I thought to myself it was a great shot, but we were on our way to a restaurant about 3 blocks away.
I knew it would be a lot more convenient to reach our destination and park, and then after lunch walk back to the temple to grab the shot. I also knew, though, that this scene could very easily evaporate. Upon our return the graphic architecture would still be nice to shoot but the women might not be there. So, I asked the driver to stop in a very inconvenient place and we all got out of the vehicle and quickly took the picture.
It pays to push yourself to get the shot. A missed opportunity sticks in your mind forever, and you remember the incident with a bittersweet sting.
Note: For more travel photography tips, check out Jim Zuckerman's online photo tutorial: Eight Steps to More Dramatic Photography. In addition, BetterPhoto.com's digital school of photography offers photography instruction in all sorts of exciting subjects and for all skill levels.
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