The Best Camera For Travel Photography

Today we'll take a brief photo tour of Alaska, and on the way we'll have a first look at the best camera for travel photography.

Canada Place - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada - The Gateway To Alaska

One of the comments that I see over and over again on photography blogs is the one in which a reader asks what kind of camera the photographer uses, on the premise that they'd like to buy one so that they can be a great photographer too. Hmmm...see the problem here? It's a rare casual photographer indeed that is actually being held back -- creatively speaking -- by his or her camera.

Harbor - Ketchican, Alaska

At the very beginning of my time as an underwater videographer, I sought out an experienced diver that made underwater films. I asked if he could give me any advice, and he said, "Try to hold the camera steady". I thought he was just being an arrogant jerk, and blowing me off with a flippant bit of obvious advice. It was only much later that I learned that holding the camera steady was one of the most difficult and important aspects of shooting underwater video. Without that skill (and it's not easy in the dynamic and dangerous environment that exists 120 feet underwater) your raw video is all garbage, and no amount of post production and editing will save it.

"Rough Cinquefoil" - Downtown Ketchican, Alaska

What he really meant by, "Hold the camera steady", was that I needed to start at the beginning and learn the basic skills first. I was talking to my friend Michael the other day about cameras. Michael is keen to become a better photographer, and his mentor is guiding him to learn the skills in the best possible way. He suggested that Michael use his camera only on the fully manual setting until he learns how aperture, shutter speed, and exposure control influence his photographs.

Mendenhall Glacier - Near Juneau, Alaska

Michael isn't worrying about post production techniques in Photoshop yet. He's learning how to shoot high quality photographs first. This is not how most people go about it, but it is the right way to learn, and it's working. Michael's photos show real promise, and an understanding of technique that most people may never realize.

Diamond Princess - In Port, Skagway, Alaska

Regarding the choice of equipment for travel photography, my sincere conviction is that the best camera to have is the one you've got with you.

Tulips - Jewell Garden, Skagway, Alaska

Which is to say that a camera that's easy to carry all the time is better than a huge Digital SLR with five different lenses (in a camera bag the size of an airline carry-on) that you can't be bothered to lug around.

Sightseeing Ship - Glacier Bay, Alaska

So you're probably already using a camera that is more than good enough, and that's easy to carry. A good photographer can make even the most basic point and shoot camera sit up, beg, and roll over, and that's because he or she understands the principles of photography.

Magnificent Marjorie Glacier - Glacier Bay, Alaska

If you want to improve, most people will get ten times the benefit from a $30 book about basic photography than they'll get from $3000 worth of new camera equipment. So in end, the "best camera for travel photography" is almost certainly the one you're already using.

The Awesome Beauty Of The 49th State - Glacier Bay, Alaska

We'll revisit Alaska again in later posts (we've traveled there six times, and it's a favorite subject for Vicky and me) and we'll cover some of the basic principles of good photography then, so you can get the most out of the camera you already have.

Dusk At Midnight - Near Whittier, Alaska

Note that none of these photographs of Alaska were shot with a DSLR camera. All were taken with a point and shoot.

Fox & Vicky