Microstock Photography Forum - General > General Photography Discussion

ideas for photos on big trip

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m@m:
qwerty, I dont know what part of Spain you will be visiting but if you're in the area, Costa del Sol is like the French Riviera, some very nice beaches and coastal towns, Madrid, Paseo park, the Escorial is a must, the architecture and statues are incredible, for city shots La Gran Via specially at night...I could go on forever in every city... like Barcelona, Sevilla, Andaluzia...you'll be taking a very nice trip enjoy!

qwerty:
I like shooting travel stuff like architecture,landscapes,local markets,close in details of certain things. You know all the stuff that doesn't sell on micrstock.

bank robbers ? I imagine that trying to get a model release might be hard. It would go something like this.

Microstock photographer:-
"hey mister can I take you photo of you robbing that bank ? I need you to sign this form and put you address and phone number. It will be posted on the internet.

Robber:-
huh ?

Robbers Gun:-
BANG BANG

M@M
For Spain the plan is Barcelona fly Madrid then overland south and the west to Lisbon, probably stop at places like toledo,ciudad real,seville,cadiz on the way. So southern coast is looking like on the path.

null:

--- Quote from: qwerty on January 10, 2009, 00:57 ---bank robbers ? I imagine that trying to get a model release might be hard. It would go something like this.
--- End quote ---


Do you think that Yuri Arcurs breaks into real business meetings?
Stage it! Fully model released: The Mugging.



As to cities and landscapes, yes they sell on condition you shoot recognizable stereotype landmarks.

Hint : if you pass by my beloved Andalusia, certainly include Granada where you can make great overview and detail shots of the moro (Muslim) Alhambra. Those would be very salable (1). If you go soon, there will still be snow on the Sierra Nevada (nomen est omen) in the background. There is also the palace of Charles V (Generalife), our Flemish emperor Charles I, great architecture with Arabic-style gardens. Islam-related shots are very en vogue now on stock. Avoid the European Easter school break periods since those landmarks can be very crowded then.

While you're in the area, visit the unique Arab-Spanish old city of Ronda, its magnificent (barely known) canyon/cleft plus bridge, and the oldest vintage bullring of Spain. Close by in the mountains is the vintage Spanish-Arabic mountain village Mijas with restored houses, that you can see on all postcards. And finally, pass by classy coastal Marbella with its yachts and inevitable Moro (Arab) quarters and strongholds. A bit lower is Gibraltar, always good for stock with its English-Spanish architecture mix and breath-taking views along the rock. The apes on the rock are very domesticated and they love to pose.

I got it all on film... as till 1995, I spent all my summers there. Stay in a cheap coastal pension or B&B around Malaga. All these spots are a daytrip away by (rental) car.

Caveat. The area is one of the two major routes of illegal immigration in Europe, especially from nearby (over the Strait) Morocco. Many illegals hang around in the area and will target your camera gear. I lost my analog Nikon and all my lenses there in front of our apartment in 1995 to a Moroccan mugger. Always be at your guard, especially along the coast.

Por favor  :P
-------------------

(1) Arab architecture is very secluded for the (hot) sun in summer, so take a tripod. But hide it going in, since the guards like to sell their slides. Of course take a wide-angle lens.

Gannet77:
Spain is great, both for pictures and generally!  Your best bet for picture ideas is to search the micro sites and see what others have taken, see what sells well and then try to come up with your own slant on it.  Not necessarily just the tourist sites, local colour and detail often works better.

Japan is great too, the temples are wonderful.

As said, travel stock doesn't sell that well, but I find it can give steady sales and you enjoy photography anyway don't you?

I don't know about the other micros, but iStock has model releases in Spanish and (I think) in Japanese;  might be worth printing some copies in case you get friendly enough with anyone to want to use them in a picture.

A note - Barcelona is a wonderful town and has great architecture (Gaudi), but take care.  It's known for pickpockets and muggers.  Not violent, but bag snatchers and the like.  Especially around Las Ramblas.  Look after your camera gear.  And, anywhere in Spain, do not leave items visible in cars.  Any items, not just the valuable stuff.

In Japan however, it's said you could leave your camera on a park bench and come back next day to find it still there.  Not that I'd recommend putting that to the test!

Enjoy.

madelaide:
I agree with Flemish about Andalucia, it's very beautiful and it has great places to photograph.  I only knew Sevilla, Granada and Cordoba though, but I read very good comments about Ronda.  Madrid and Barcelona are great for both day and night shots.  Although I liked Toledo, I prefer Segovia. 

In Portugal, I only know Lisbon and some places nearby.  The Aquarium is a very nice place to visit and it is located in a recent urbanized area full of restaurants that make a pleasant end of the day.  The old parts of Lisbon are very charming, don't miss Saint Jorge fortress, a fado show in Alfama (try to get some recommendation from locals, avoiding the most turistic places - it will be a rewarding experience, as fado singers are very passionate about it), a stroll in Chiado.  A must-see is also the Tower of Belem, the Monument to the Discoveries and the Hieronymites Monastery.  Don't miss the famous "pastel de Belem", a sweet that is found anywhere in Portugal, but in Belem (which is a suburb of Lisbon) you will find them in a cafe over 100 years old, close to the monastery.  Also not to miss is Sintra, with the exquisite Pena Palace, and the city itself is very pituresque. 

The tourism office of Lisbon produces a small brochure with all the cultural events in the city, a lot of them are free in open spaces.  When I was there last time there was a fado concert up the Saint Jorge Fortress.  Religious festivals can also be a very interesting thing to attend and photograph, and they are big events even in large cities like Lisbon and Porto.  If you haven to visit Porto region, there are great opportunities to photograph vineyards up the Douro River.

Regards,
Adelaide

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