Roads that start “wide” and end in a point (converging lines) give a two dimensional image three dimensional depth

It’s always fun to meet local people but how do you take their photo without them looking stiff and awkward?  First of all don’t immediately start taking photos.  Instead take the time to let them feel comfortable with you.  Have your cycling partner start a conversation with them. If you don’t have a common language – then try a bit of pantomime or check out a cycling map with them.  Then when they are relaxed and paying more attention to your friend then your camera – you can take their picture.

Try placing the horizon near the top or the bottom and not in the middle of your picture. For example in the first photo – the low horizon emphasizes the vast deep blue sky, whereas the in second picture your attention is drawn to the dry grey desert.

While cycling, good photo opportunities can happen within seconds.  You’ll see colorful locals cycling the opposite way, kids running towards you and even elephants that seem to appear from nowhere.  So keep your camera close by so that you won’t miss these shots by having to spend extra time searching through a pannier for it.

Of course you want to take pictures of camping in a beautiful spot.  Still many photographers are so entranced by their surroundings that they don’t pay attention to how their partner goes about setting the tent up.  Instead of kneeling down to adjust a zipper, tent poles etc. the friend bends over at the waist.  This action results in what I call “butt in air” pictures.  Since the friend setting up the tent can’t see what the photographer sees – the photographer should give directions such as, “don’t lean over, bend at your knees” or, “turn around a bit so that I can see your face”.

Always be on the lookout for humour!  It might not be funny at the time it happened, yet afterwards these pictures often turn out to be the favourite ones of the trip.

A bike is more than just a metal frame with rubber tires – it’s your travelling partner!  So of course you want to take pictures of it during your trip.  An easy way to do that is to be on the lookout for buildings with colorful decorations.  Then place your bike near or under the decoration / painting – preferably against a section of “plain colored” wall and take your picture.

Instead of just taking a landscape photo, try including your cycling partner looking at the scenery – it definitely gives a more “personal touch” to the photo and shows others the type of landscape you cycled through on your trip.