Jim Eagles: Give holidays your best shot

One of the most enjoyable aspects of covering travel for the Herald has been the chance to develop my photographic skills.

Photos are usually the best souvenirs you can bring back from a trip but, while even a bad picture will spark happy memories, they rarely do justice to the marvellous experiences, fascinating cultures and beautiful scenes you'll encounter.

It can be very frustrating to see what a real photographer is able to achieve - the impact they can extract from an often simple scene just through picking the right angle, composing the elements to best advantage and making the best use of the light plus, sometimes, having the right gear.

I have been fortunate because I've been able to discuss my pictures with the Herald photographers and - after the regulation sneering at my pathetic efforts - they've offered plenty of helpful advice. As a result of putting their tips into practice and buying a better camera one of the photographers even said of my recent Antarctic pictures, "I've seen worse" ... which is high praise indeed.

My wife and I decided that as our souvenirs of that Antarctic trip - one of the most amazing we've had - we'd eschew fridge magnets, tea towels and fluffy penguins and just frame a few of the best shots and hang them on the wall. They look pretty good even if I do say so myself.

Having the right camera certainly helps. My Antarctic photos were made possible by getting a digital with a good zoom lens and minimal shutter delay.

I now plan to get a back-up camera with a good wide-angle lens which will help to produce better urban photos, in particular.

But the most useful thing I've learned from the experts is just to take a few moments to think about the photo before taking it - how the light is falling, which feature I want to highlight, what angle will produce the best effect, and how the various elements fit together.

On my recent rail trip across Eurasia, for instance, I spent three hours in Red Square waiting for the best light to photograph St Basil's Cathedral.

I also went out walking in St Petersburg near midnight to get the sun setting behind the Peter and Paul Fortress across the Neva River.

The results were definitely worth the effort.

Obviously, not everyone has the chance to get advice from professional photographers but, fortunately, books are available that do the same job.

Earlier this year Lonely Planet published Landscape Photography by Peter Eastway and the company has just produced Urban Travel Photography by Richard I'Anson (both $34.99) which have masses of useful information and ideas.

I'Anson's book, for instance, has some great examples of how to improve a photo by changing your angle, waiting for the light to change, using a different lens, altering your settings or focusing on some evocative detail rather than on the wider picture.

An even more impressive example of what I'Anson can achieve is provided in Australia 42: great landscape experiences, also just published by Lonely Planet ($119), which contains more than 300 magnificent photos of our transtasman neighbour's weathered, arid, ancient landscape.

It is particularly interesting to look at his landscape portfolio after reading the book on how to achieve better photos because it helps to understand how he has achieved the amazing effects.

The landscapes are beautiful, and several cross the line where pictures become photographic works of art.

If you want to hear I'Anson talk about his work and his experiences as a travel photographer, he's in Auckland this week and will give a free seminar at the Auckland Art Gallery 7pm-10pm tomorrow. I'm certainly going to hear what he has to say.

But, be warned, you'll need to book through World Expeditions (ph 0800 350 354 or online at World Expeditions) and I'm told places are filling up fast.

I'm afraid I'll never be able to match the sort of results achieved by professionals like I'Anson because I simply don't have the same instinctive eye for a great shot.

But by studying their work and thinking about it I fondly imagine my pictures are improving ... and, anyway, it's great fun trying things out and seeing the results.