Expert tips on travel photography

Whether snapping a souvenir of incredible landmarks like the Taj Mahal or Great Wall of China, or taking an impromptu pic of one of the many new friends you make along the way, a camera is something all travellers should take along on an overland adventure.

But, although anyone can point and click to take a decent image with a modern digital camera, to take a really memorable snap you might want to follow some tips from an expert.

According to travel writer and photographer Steve Davey, the key to taking top pictures while exploring a new country is to focus on the detail.

"Sometimes you get so blown away by the big picture, you completely overlook the details that sum up the atmosphere of a place," he wrote in an article for Wanderlust.

"For instance, the Taj Mahal is a mind-blowing building, but focusing on a single carving gives the best impression of the workmanship involved."

He suggests finding an interesting texture or repeating pattern for the perfect up-close shot.

"Rather than snapping a whole elephant, shoot a patch of its crumpled skin; instead of photographing a palm tree, focus on the shadows the fronds cast on the beach; a jumble of chillies can evoke India just as well as the Taj," he says.

To make sure you get the right focus on extreme close-ups, use a macro lens with a DSLR camera, advised the expert.

You can also experiment with the depth of field of the shot by selecting different apertures.

"Using a small aperture will render all of your shot in focus; a wide aperture (shallow depth of field) means only the element you actually focus on is sharp," explained Mr Davey.

Earlier this year, a survey by the TNT Travel Show found 90 per cent of travellers aged between 18 and 35 say that a standalone camera is their favourite gadget to take away with them.