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Travel + Photography. To many people they go hand in hand, and taking dozens of rolls of film, or filling up countless memory cards with your travel images is a must.
Keeping that in mind, we've got some expert tips, and a list of recommended trips for photo enthusiasts in this edition of bridging the gap! Plus, did you know we're sponsoring the "Travel Photographer of the Year" competition, in addition to our own photo contests? Anyone can enter to win some amazing camera and trip prizes, but the deadline is coming up soon!
On a final note, we have squeezed an amazing amount of adventure into our next brochure line-up and trips for next year. The best news is that we now have a winner for our "Create Your Own Adventure" challenge, was it you?
Red Hunt, Editor,
bridging the gap
The Most Photographed Places on Earth
What is the most photographed place on earth? The question is of course impossible to answer and one can only muster a guess. Countless places lay claim to being the most photographed place in the world, including Paris, the Taj Mahal, Walt Disney World, Niagara Falls, Angkor Wat, and the Acropolis to name just a small handful.
The only thing that is widely accepted, is that the Sun is the most photographed object (sunsets and sunrises seem to be universally irresistible). But sticking to "planet earth", let's take a look at some of the most photographed subjects around the world. Judge for yourself if you consider them "photogenic".
Here is a checklist of sorts, for people, places and things to photograph on your travels. Some of them are famous and fit well with our current "Icons & Groupies" photo contest, while others may seem a little odd. Either way, whether it's a bridge or a toilet, some places get all the photographic glory! (Please keep in mind there is no way to verify the following claims.)
- The Africa "Big Five" (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo) are considered the most photographed animals in the world.
- La Digue island in the Seychelles claims to be the most photographed island in the world.
- Santorini is the most photographed island in Greece, and often considered the most photographed island in Europe.
- The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is considered to be the most photographed event in the world.
- Table Mountain is the most photographed landmark in South Africa.
- Princess Diana was considered to be the most photographed person in the world.
- Den Lille Havfrue (the little mermaid) from Copenhagen is the most photographed statue in the world.
- The Golden Gate Bridge is the most photographed US landmark, and most photographed bridge in the world.
- Designed by Frederick Hundertwasser, the Kawakawa public toilets in New Zealand are the most photographed toilets in the world!
- Neuschwanstein castle in Germany claims to be the most photographed castle in the world.
- The Eiffel Tower is considered the most photographed structure in Europe.
- The Evangeline Oak in Louisiana and the Lone Cyprus tree in California are each touted as the most photographed tree in the world.
- Ayers Rock is the most photographed sunset in Australia.
- Abbey Road is often considered the most photographed streets in the world.
- Niagara Falls may be the most photographed waterfall in the world.
Whew, that's a lot of photos! To learn more about one of these famous places (Santorini), read our "Slowly in Greek" story.
G.A.P Adventures Top 5: Travel Photography Tips
We asked veteran G.A.P Adventures Adventurer, and photographer, Paul Teolis to tell us what he thought were the 5 best travel photography tips to offer our travellers.
G.A.P Adventures travellers all want to preserve their travel memories to share with friends and family. Whether you are simply taking snapshots or looking for that special moment that truly captures a location you've visited, here are my Top 5 Travel Photo tips to help get get that shot!
#1 While everyone is eating you should be shooting.
Sunrises and Sunsets provide you with the best time for long shadows,
incredible light and a multitude of colour. If you have picked out a location its best to arrive at first light and watch the shadows and colour palettes change as the sun peaks above the horizon.The same applies during "magic hour" a 15 minute period once the sun dips below he surface at sunset, creating warm, soft light. Remember to always use a tripod or rest your camera on a stable surface like your backpack, to avoid camera shake resulting in blurry photographs.
#2 Don't be a "Snap & Dash" photographer.
Photography is about patience, great pictures are about capturing a moment that takes time to reveal itself. Stop, look around you, look some more, then shoot. Wait for crowds to clear, the sun to come out. shadows to reveal themselves. Look at what you want to shoot from all angles. Keep things simple to draw your viewer into a main centre of interest.
#3 Remember the Brady Bunch: The Rule of Thirds.
Imagine your film frame divided into thirds. Placing your horizon in the top or bottom third of your frame makes for a more visually dynamic photograph. Where you put your center of interest within this will create harmony and symmetry in what you take. There are always exceptions to the rule, but horizons dead center make for a lacklustre image. And remember, make sure it's straight!
#4 It's all about composition
Consider these design elements when shooting: line, textures, negative space, perspective, balance, unbalance, framing within a frame, colour, people, contrast.
#5 More More More - This might be a once in a lifetime travel experience, so don't run out of what you need the most. Bring more film than you think you will shoot, extra memory cards if you are shooting digital and plenty of batteries to keep flash and camera devices working. Always remember test your batteries before leaving home. Know a little about your destination beforehand to prepare for areas that might bring themselves to more picture taking.
Bonus Tip: SAFETY FIRST - Avoid theft, don't show off equipment, or let cameras dangle around your neck as they can be easily snatched away. Always have one camera strap securely around your arm and when on a bus, loop your backpack strap around your leg.
Paul A. Teolis is a professional animator, photographer and has been travelling with G.A.P Adventures since 1993. His penguin photo entitled "Graffiti Penguin" won grand prize at Toronto's CONTACT 2006 Photography Festival. It was taken on a G.A.P Adventures trip! To see more of Paul's work visit: www.fieldandscreen.com
Postcards from the Edge: Slowly in Greek
Some places are naturally photogenic. One of those is the Greek Islands. An Aussie photographer friend of ours, and G.A.P Adventures traveller, Ewen Bell, sent us this re-cap after enjoying our 15-day Greek Islands Adventure.
My whole life I had wondered exactly what it would be like to holiday in the Greek Islands and why photographers love it so much. Now I understand what all the fuss is about.
I had read novels where people lose track of time and life as they immerse themselves in a world of questionable retsina. The experiences invariably seemed to have been born of a need to escape the known world in favour of something unfathomable. For this reason I had failed to comprehend any sense of scale or balance for these mystical islands. I was arriving with and without pre-conceptions.
From a distance the water is blue, the islands are barren, but getting closer to any little island reveals a whole new measure of character. The sparsely populated hills and cliffs become dotted with little white houses and churches, the bunches of herbaceous shrubs are interspersed with roaming goat herds, and the waters themselves reveal enticing colours ranging from royal blue to jade green.
Most of the year tourists are few and far between. The very height of summer does yield masses of travellers, but in the pleasantly warm months on either side the islands you're free to enjoy company of locals and other sailors, as you sail from island to island.
The key to enjoying the travel in these islands is to leave the schedule behind. Very little happens at great pace, and even less happens on time. You never seem to travel to a particular destination but edge your way closer to it. Slowly, slowly. It is often better to sit back and enjoy where you are.
In this way you have the time to enjoy a drink other than retsina, to enjoy the locals who are far friendlier than you might imagine, and take a peek into the relaxed life one can enjoy in the Greek islands.
Ewen Bell is an Australia-based photographer. This is an abbreviated account of his adventures in Greece. For more information on his photography and writings go to: www.ewenbell.com
Winner: Create Your Own Adventure Contest
We did it, we've crammed an unprecedented amount of adventure into our line-up for next year! Some of the new adventures in Spain and Portugal can be attributed to some great ideas sent to us by Cort Richer, who submitted a trip idea titled "Cultures of Northern Iberia".
Congratulations Cort, your ideas have helped put together not one, but three trips for next year, so you will have your choice to travel on one of 3 trips for free!! (Excluding airfare). Our reservations team will be in touch. As for everyone else...you will have to wait until later this year to find out more about all our new trips for 2007! Thanks to everyone who sent in their ideas for this year's contest.
Where in the World?
I am the big winner from our last newsletter, since nobody correctly guessed both images! But since I can't claim the prizes, we're going to give you a second chance.
Many people guessed the first image from last newsletter was our G.A.P Adventures office in Quito, Ecuador but nobody got the second image correctly.
Image #2 gets a second go-around, and if ur going to guess both of these images correctly, you'll realize they have something in common.
Try this issue's "Where in the World" for a chance to win a G.A.P Adventures discount voucher and a copy of National Geographic's "Action & Adventure" photography field guide. Just guess where these images were taken! Don't forget to include your mailing address along with your submission, or you won't get your prizes!
Travel Photographer of the Year
G.A.P Adventures is pleased to be a sponsor of the international Travel Photographer of the Year (TPOTY) competition in London, England.
TPOTY is hosting a free outdoor photo exhibit displaying 75 spectacular winning images from this prestigious photo competition. Visitors stopping by the popular tourist attraction British Airways London Eye can view the exhibit, which will run until the end of August.
The overall winner of the TPOTY 2006 competition will be off on a 2-week African safari, courtesy of G.A.P Adventures. For more information on this competition go to: www.tpoty.com
Last Minute Departures - 20% off
This promotion is valid for new bookings only, and is not valid in conjunction
with any other offer. To qualify for the discount, please quote
Promo #LM060721. Valid until August 4th, 2006. Bookings must be made online at www.gapadventures.com or through your travel agent. A listing of preferred travel agents can be found on our website.
South America
Peru Hike, Bike and Raft (no Inca trail) Sep 17 to Oct 2
Amazon and Atlantic (Caracas to Rio) Sep 26 to Nov 6 and Dec 21 to Jan 31
Highlights of Peru Aug 31 to Sep 20
North America
Rocky Mountain Hike, Bike and Raft Sep 30 to Oct 13
Vancouver Island Adventure Sep 17 to 29
Central America
Cuba Hike, Bike and Kayak Sep 2 to 16
Colonial Mexico Sep 10 to 24
Mayan Explorer Sep 15 to 30
Mayan Adventure Sep 2 to 23
Cuba Colonial Sep 16 to 30
Europe
Italy Hike, Bike and Raft Sep 16 to 30
Costa Brava Explorer Sep 10 to 17
Ireland Walk and Cycle Sep 23 to 30
Africa
Mozambique & South Africa Adventure Oct 2 to 15
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NEW - "Icons & Groupies" Photo Contest
Our newest themed photo contest is now online, with some great prizes from National Geographic and Shutterfly.com
Featured Photo:
Rachael Walker sent us this iconic, group image of her G.A.P Adventures group in front of Mt. Fitzoy in Patagonia.
Enter & Vote now!
Great Adventure People TV series
Our complete TV schedule is online. Check it out here.
Selected TV shows:
Aug 25 @ 6:00PM EST
CTV Travel - 'Spain'
Aug 27 @ 10:00PM EST
CTV Travel - 'Spain'
Aug 29 @ 1:00PM EST
CTV Travel - 'Nepal'
Sep 2 @ 1:00PM EST
CTV Travel - 'Morocco'
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Peru Uncovered testimonial:
"The trip was fantastic. I have been on many tours before, and found this one the most enjoyable. The tour
leader was great and the local guides were equally impressive."
- Amil Bera, USA
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