The 50 Greatest Photo Ops

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Whether for an assignment or vacation, the first thing I do when
planning a trip to any new locale is to hit my bookstore's travel
section. I pore through one of the usual suspects like Lonely Planet
or Rough Guide, looking for opportunities that sound like they'd make
for interesting photography. And therein lies the rub. A site that's
fascinating to visit does not necessarily make for the most compelling
photographs. And even if you come across a location you're sure can be
a winner, getting that memorable shot can involve extensive
preparation and research. Where's the best vantage point? What kind of
access can I expect? Can I use my tripod? What time of day and weather
condition will work best? Which lens should I use?
Let's face it, your travels consist of many obligations other than
photography. The last thing your traveling companions want to do is
spend all afternoon watching you trying to frame that perfect shot.
There's a lot of specific information you need in order to come away
with a great travel shot. And very little of it is contained in the
typical travel guide.
That's where Course Technology's Fifty Greatest Photo Opportunities
series comes into play. Each guide offers in-depth coverage of a
single city, providing the most photogenic locations, helpful tips and
tricks that any photographer can use, and page after page of great
photography to inspire you. And here's the best part. You're given
step-by-step instructions so that you can duplicate the shots in the
book yourself. You'll learn where to go and when to shoot, along with
detailed lens and exposure information. What you won't find are hotels
and dining options. For that kind of stuff, you can choose from
plentiful offerings on the bookshelf. What we've put together are
travel guides written by and for photographers, chock full of detailed
information you can use on your very next visit. It's like having a
photo expert and location scout in your camera bag.

If you've found this blog, we hope it's because you have an interest in travel photography and in particular, the Fifty Greatest Photo Opportunities series of travels guides. Over the coming weeks and months, I invite you to spend a small part of your web-surfing day with us. You'll find information about current and upcoming books in the series, tips on travel photography, digital imaging and printing tutorials, plus some great photos supplied by the authors of these travel guides. From time to time we'll also invite special guests, top professionals in their fields, to talk about issues, techniques, and workflows that are relevant to to those who desire to take professional quality pictures when travelling. So sit back, relax, and enjoy what we hope will be stimulating and practical content that helps take your travel photography to the next level.