Travel photo tips: before you go…

Travel photography begins long before you arrive at your destination. Our pro, John Quintero, offers this advice… Plan trips around seasonal highlights. I normally set my travels around the calendar of events/celebrations or religious ceremonies of the places I’m visiting. Find a local fixer who speaks your language and knows the area well. A good fixer can be the difference between great, unique shots or normal tourist snaps. They could also save your life in difficult situations. Make sure your vaccines are up to date and always carry those certificates with you. You can be denied entry to certain countries or areas if you fail to prove you are vaccinated. Obvious though it may be, it’s easy to forget to inform family or friends precisely where you’re going. It’s very important to let people know where you’ll be and for how long. Apart from local money, I always carry US dollars hidden in my belongings. You never know when you could find yourself in trouble and US dollars are almost universally accepted. Always carry your camera and lenses as cabin baggage when travelling by air (see page 63). Tripods can go in the hold, but bodies and glass should stay with you at all times.