Ohotography

 

Tips for Unforgettable Maldives Pictures

Maldives pictures make for impressive photos – even the amateur photographer with the most basic camera can end up with jaw-dropping images thanks to the abundant sunlight that throws off sharp shadows.

While the scenery quite stunning, actually being here to see it all for yourself is quite something else, and it is just wisps of memories that you take away on film or digitally.

Everyone can get a few good snaps, but there are a few tips that will enhance the look of your Maldives photos closer to those National Geographic style photos:

Take lots of photos: Different angles, different poses, the more you take the more likely you are to get a great shot.

Use the Burst Mode: If your camera can take successive photos quickly, then all the better. Some stunning moments like random dolphin sightings last only for seconds and you don’t want to miss them, fumbling at the settings on your camera!

Just don’t forget to look away from the camera and enjoy the moments with your eyes as well.
Use Natural Light: While pictures during early morning or late afternoon look absolutely stunning with a broad range of reds and oranges in the light, daytime pictures especially on the beach may look overexposed due to the high reflective index of the seawater and the gleaming white beaches. Adjust your camera accordingly to make up for the additional light, and you’ll be able to take photos with lots of sharp, dramatic shadows.

Light seeping through palm trees and making dappled patterns, or other unique reflections can make for a one-of-a-kind shot, or if you can find an interesting angle you’ll end up with something special. Sunsets are something special as well; get your camera out at dusk for some colorful sun scenes.

Protecting the Camera: Getting the perfect Maldives photos to cherish forever is an easy thing but taking care of your camera while on the beach is not that easy. The biggest enemies of your cameras are water and sand. Sand can scratch the lens and can even grind moving parts inside the camera. Even for waterproof cameras, sand and water can destroy an expensive camera if you didn’t follow instructions.

Digital cameras suffer the most in brine. Ziploc and other zipper seal plastic bags come in handy to stow away your camera while you’re travelling. If the camera isn’t waterproof, wipe it immediately if it gets splashed, and leave it in a dry, warm place to evaporate any moisture.

Lotions and sun creams can leave greasy blots on your lens, so be careful to keep freshly coated hands or greasy towels away from your camera. Try using a special lens wiping cloth along with the waterproof bag as a saving grace for your camera.

Underwater Camera: This may sound expensive, but modern technology is getting cheaper and vastly more affordable. An underwater camera will come in handy while snorkeling, to take photos of coral reefs and the many sea creatures and fish species. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a sophisticated model; grab a disposable one just for the trip. Underwater life is so abundant in the Maldives that you may be disappointed to miss these great underwater photo opportunities.

For underwater photography note that, the lower the angle between the water surface and the sun’s rays the more light is reflected. Also, the refractive index of water needs to be taken into account, as everything appears slightly magnified underwater. For great underwater shots at midday always keep a distance of 1 to 1.5 meter from the object. Keep a distance also when taking photos of your friends or partner underwater to capture them with the surrounding underwater marvels.

Panorama: Some cameras have the capacity to take panoramic photos and Maldivian seascapes are simple stunning and ideal for a panorama. Play with your cameras settings and see what you can do. Surrounded by so much beauty a single photo is sometimes just not enough to capture it all.

You make your own panoramic photo if you don’t have such a setting, by holding the camera at the same height, angle and distance from the scene and taking consecutive photos, turning bit by bit for each photo. Make sure exposure and white balance is on manual mode before you start. You can later edit the photos into one amazing scene with a photo editing program like Photoshop or even online tools available on Google Chrome.

Know your camera: The more familiar you are and quick you are with maneuvering the different settings the less likely you’ll miss a great shot. If you buy a new camera just before the trip, take lots of pictures with every single function on it before you leave, and get the hang of using it.

An Important Tip: Check and wipe the lens regularly. You don’t want to get home and find that a series of great photos was ruined by a blurry water drop or grains of sand that could have easily been wiped off!

 

Getting More Technical

Fill Flash: If the background is too bright the people you photograph will have shadows on their face. Useful at dusk, fill flash will illuminate people and the foreground to compensate for the lack of light nearby.

Spot Metering: Spot metering enables you to tell the camera, which part of an image you want to be well exposed. This helps you reduce exposing problems. Spot metering also helps you photograph even colored scenery like shrubbery or a background that blends in with the subject.

Polarizing Filters: Polarizing filters is very useful as in the Maldives sunlight is extremely bright and reflections can become overpowering. Increase contrasts and reduce reflections with these filters and bring a variety of effects to water the sky. You can make the sky appear almost dark blue with these filters.

UV Filters: UV filters are good for beach photos to filter out the ultraviolet light, cut back atmospheric haze and protect your lens. Your photos will look sharper and clearer, with crisp colors.

Black and White and other Effects: You can do some postproduction photo editing and make your Maldives photos black and white, sepia tinted or add special effects. You can do pretty much anything from giving them a different mood to making them into postcards or collages. Free online services like Picnik.com are easy to use and can transform even a mediocre photo into a Maldives picture to impress.

 

To Sum Up

While it’s easy to get great random Maldives pictures, a little bit of care and proper use of camera equipment will help you avoid silly mistakes and will enhance your photos. Remember to put down the camera and enjoy the sights with your own eyes as well, but your photos will be great mementos to share with friends and family. They’ll definitely be jealous of your Maldives holiday!