Recently, the good folk over at fstoppers published a piece where their writer asked the question, “Do we need to travel to take better photographs?”. On the face of it, the question might sound like an incredibly simple premise – after all, “need” is a very strong word. However, when one starts to consider the wider context of the question, perhaps there is more to the proposition than meets the eye.
There is little disputing that Australians love to travel. Whether it is the alluring cultures of Europe, the mysterious appeal of Asia, the comforts of North America, or far beyond, you’ll find an Australian travelling in just about every corner of the world. What this often means, is that many Australians take for granted the marvels of their own country. But is this to be confused with a lack of curiosity?
On the contrary, this trend suggests Australians are increasingly curious, albeit towards the learnings of other countries and their respective cultures. In turn, among travelling photographers this can only be defined as an inquisitive approach to photography, where they seek to explore, understand and question the content they’re shooting. Additionally, the dynamism and versatility associated with taking photos in varying environments is a skill that cannot be overlooked. With this in mind, one could argue the approach associated with travel photography can certainly add value to the work of photographers.
However, while one might have greater appreciation or interest towards what they’re shooting in a foreign environment, given it is completely new and novel to them, does that necessarily translate into ‘better’ photographs? Well, the simple answer, is no. Understanding what constitutes ‘better’ is of course highly subjective, but it is just as likely to be influenced by a photographer’s ability to convey the story of something they are familiar with. In these instances, because the photographer truly understands the content which is being conveyed to viewers, they can often create compelling images.
It’s also worth noting, that if one doesn’t have the technical nous, vision or creative flair to produce great photos in one environment, there’s little to suggest this will immediately change in another context. Sure, famous landmarks and sights might help you produce some nice photos, however, what’s important is to see a photographer’s unique vision and ability rather than work being driven by cliché content of the Eiffel Tower.
After all, because your audience is likely to be Australian viewers, there is a chance they may have a predisposition towards also being intrigued by photos from abroad. But if your audience were to comprise of foreign viewers, Australia’s wonderful scenery and landmarks would no doubt be just as effective to deliver great photos. What’s more, the obvious needs to be said – being able to take great photos abroad doesn’t translate into being a talented wedding photographer.
While the role of travel can certainly help develop a photographer’s skills and further their experience, any implication that you ‘need’ to travel doesn’t quite stack up. In the end, the quality of one’s photos will always depend on the connection they’re able to form with their audience, and sometimes even the simplest of shots produce the most impact.
