TRAVEL/ PHOTOGRAPHY SPECIAL .....The world through the lens..

The world through the lens

Picturesque destinations become excellent props for street photography. Now, you can take a memorable piece of the destination back home

 “The two most engaging powers of a photograph are to make new things familiar and familiar things new.” Going by William Thackeray’s quote, a fabulous vacation would be nothing without pictures. When we seek to refresh our old memories, we trust pictures to help us with it. Good photography, thus, turns out to be a true game-changer on your vacation. Photography toursand photo-stop tours have been around for a while now. The later, photostop tours are popular with people who are content with just taking a picture with the backdrop of their favourite monument. It terms of gadgets, the bulky camera has been long replaced with the cellphone. You now have the option to purchase add on lens for your cellphone camera too.

FOOD TRAILS AND LOCAL MARKETS

Holding up an ice cream cone to the streets and snapping a touristy image has come a long way. Capturing food in a plate is passé; the new trend is to accentuate the monument with the local delicacy as part of the frame. A picture of a pretzel has more value when captured with the towering Empire State Building. The fusion of travel and food photography does two things: it inspires wander lust and also sets the viewer salivating. This also helps preserve those memories long after a trip is over or a meal is finished. Culinary trails are perfect for those looking to delve deep and get a piece of the region’s food and highlight the diversity of local producers. These flavour-filled ways to experience an area are growing popular with those who are passionate about photography. Whether taking full-fledged cooking courses in Bali, hiking through vineyards of France or Napa Valley in USA or Kelowna in Canada and orchards for tastings, hunting down the best urban street food in Thailand, or scouring new farmers’ markets in Europe and Australia, tourists are increasingly fanning the globe to capture more authentic food experiences through their lenses. To discover the secret recipe, trails begin with a visit to the local market. This is the perfect place to capture the soul of the place. Apart from restaurants, local producers, farmer’s markets... even gastro pubs and brewers, provide visitors with a unique insight into the region’s lesser-known areas and offerings.

A PIECE OF HISTORY

The world is packed with intriguing elements, both natural and man-made. For a history buff, capturing a piece of these monuments can be an extremely fulfiling experience. The 3,000 years old pyramids of Giza have had the world curious to know how these gigantic structures were built. The pyramids of Egypt attract numerous tourists year round. This Wonder of the World serves as a perfect backdrop to capture quirky pictures. For an ardent history buff, capturing the finer elements can be of great interest.It is believed that the three pyramids align with the stars and the solstice. Besides, they also contain tons of chambers that still haven’t been (and cannot be) opened. Moving towards the east, Cambodia was once the center of the Khmer Empire which ruled over most of Southeast Asia. The glorious past of this empire is eloquent through its amazing temples and buildings that now sit in ruins. Ankor Wat, a popular temple of Cambodia, is lined with photographers who wish to capture that surreal charm during the sunrise and sunset hours. Much of Europe’s art, architecture and cultural treasures offer a chance to immerse yourself in another time period. Capture the superlative museums, monuments and landmarks or tour ancient ruins in cities of Rome, Paris and Berlin. The Jewish Quarter of Amsterdam, packs in impactful history from the World War II era. The beautiful canallined city offers a perfect mix of bothhistory and natural beauty, which translates into pictures too.

AWE-INSPIRING PHENOMENON

Capturing a rare natural phenomenon always remains a highlight of your trip. When it comes to truly unique and vibrant spectacles, nature displays the most awe-inspiring moments. Whether it’s the bioluminescence, annual migration patterns, or unique floral, these phenomena can often be devilishly tricky to predict and timing your trip to catch a glimpse is recommended. As we move closer to spring, brightly coloured shots begin to clutter social media feeds. If you are looking at capturing surreal phenomena that are not an everyday thing, the world waits to surprise you.

The fireflies in the Smoky Mountains

put up a dazzling and unpredictable light show. The popular Northern Lights or Aurora Borealisneed no introduction.

Visible from late September to March, photography enthusiasts are ready to battle the cold winter night to capture a perfect shot of the dance of lights in the night sky. Norway, Canada and Iceland are popular to capture this unique occurrence. River of Five Colours, Liquid Rainbowperfectly describes Colombia’s natural wonder. Flowing through northern Colombia, this stunning river has a bed of coloured aquatic-plants that provide a bright backdrop to the waters. The beaches that glow at night are another natural occurrence, which arouse curiosity. This natural phenomenon is caused by phytoplankton (a type of microalgae floating the surface of the ocean water) that glow after being disturbed by wave movements or nearby swimming fish. There are numerous beaches world over that suddenly light up. Although, certain beaches are always lined with a bright blue glow. The Maldives is famous for shining white beaches, a diverse marine life and beaches illuminated by glowing plankton at every island.

Compiled by Shireen Kanchwala
ET15MAR18