Take Better Travel Photos This Summer With Less Gear

Summer is officially here, and many of us will be taking the opportunity to travel. And you know what that means? Yep, we will all be taking along our favourite camera and lenses in the hope that we can enjoy a little travel, landscape or street photography at the same time. But if you’re travelling with family or friends, you probably don’t have the luxury of bringing every single lens that you’d like to. In fact, with current airline carry-on limits, it’s likely you’ll have to choose just one or two to bring.

Luckily, you can still take great photos with just one prime lens, the nifty-fifty. Pro travel photographer Richard Gill shows us how it’s done in this video. Here, he gives his best tips to make the most out of minimal gear. You’ll still be able to take fantastic photos and save your back in the process

Embracing the Light (No Matter the Conditions)

Richard’s first tip is to work with the light you have, not the light you wish you had. He faced harsh sunlight, shifting clouds, and strong winds on a bright midday shoot in Blackpool, UK. Instead of waiting for golden hour, he adapted.

• Observe light direction: Shooting into the light can create dramatic silhouettes, like his shot of Blackpool Tower backlit by the sun.
• Use shadows creatively: Harsh light casts strong shadows, which can add depth and contrast to compositions.
• Don’t fear imperfect weather: Wind, clouds, and even flat light can be used to your advantage if you adjust your perspective.

Why Less Gear Means More Creativity

While some photographers lug around multiple lenses, Richard keeps it simple. A 50mm prime or a 24-70mm zoom forces him to think creatively. Without the luxury of ultra-wide or telephoto options, he moves his feet instead, adjusting his position to frame the shot just right. This constraint, he says, actually boosts creativity. When you’re not distracted by gear choices, you focus more on composition, light, and storytelling.

• Zoom with your feet: Moving closer or farther changes composition without needing multiple lenses.
• Simplify your shots: A single focal length encourages minimalism, cutting out distracting elements.
• Stay flexible: A 50mm (or a 24-70mm zoom) is perfect for portraits, landscapes, and detail shots, making it ideal for travel.

Camera Settings for Dynamic Travel Shots

Richard shoots mostly in Aperture Priority (A/Av mode) but keeps an eye on shutter speed to avoid blur. His go-to settings are:

• Aperture: Around f/8 for balanced sharpness and depth of field.
• Shutter speed: Fast enough to freeze motion (like a cyclist passing through shadows) or slow for creative blur (like panning with a moving tram).
• ISO: As low as possible (he drops to ISO 50 in bright conditions).

Pro Tip: Panning for Motion

Without an ND filter, Richard slows his shutter to 1/15s and pans with moving trams, creating a sharp subject against a blurred background. This technique eliminates clutter and adds energy to the shot.

Composition Tricks for Unique Travel Photos

Tourist destinations are often cluttered with distractions like street signs, crowds, and random objects that ruin an otherwise great shot. Richard’s solution is to simplify. He looks for strong lines, symmetry, and framing elements that cut through the chaos. In Blackpool, he crouched low to use the promenade’s geometric patterns as leading lines, then waited for a cyclist to ride into the frame, adding life to the composition.

Richard also plays with perspective. Shooting from a low angle makes ordinary scenes feel grand, while looking down from above can turn a busy street into an abstract pattern. The key, he says, is to move constantly, don’t just stand at eye level and snap the same shot everyone else takes.

• Shoot low or high: Changing angles removes distractions. A low angle makes foreground elements pop, while a high vantage point simplifies the scene.
• Use leading lines and symmetry: Blackpool’s promenade offered strong geometric patterns, which he framed with a cyclist for added interest.
• Frame with foreground elements: A close, out-of-focus object (like a railing or foliage) adds depth and draws the eye into the shot.

Tell a Story, Not Just a Postcard

The biggest mistake amateur travel photographers make, Richard says, is focusing only on landmarks. Instead of just photographing Blackpool Tower head-on, he looked for ways to make it part of a larger story. An old fairground ride became his foreground, adding nostalgia and context. He waited for people to walk into his frame, turning a static scene into a moment.

His final piece of advice is to think like a photojournalist, not a tourist. Capture the details: the peeling paint on a vintage sign, the way light hits a cobblestone street, the laughter of a street performer. These are the images that will make your travel photos feel alive, long after the trip is over.

• Wait for the right moment: Instead of just photographing Blackpool Tower, he included an old fairground in the foreground for a fresh perspective.
• Look for human elements: A lone cyclist, a tram passing by, or even shadows of people can make a static scene feel alive.
• Think beyond landmarks: Details, details, details!

Less Gear, More Vision

Richard’s approach proves that great travel photography isn’t about having the best equipment or the most dramatic light; it’s about working with what you have and seeing the world with fresh eyes. Whether you’re using a 50mm prime or a standard zoom, the principles remain the same: simplify, observe, and tell a story.

So, leave the heavy gear behind next time you’re on the road. With the right techniques, a single lens, and a creative eye, you can capture travel photos that stand out, without sacrificing the joy of the journey (or annoying your travel companions!).

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