Tips for capturing other cultures

For those who take the camera with them on a trip, they have to deal with someone else's culture and the associated norms and values. With cultural photography you will therefore notice that a lot can be achieved with mutual respect. To help you on your way to achieving this, we'll give you a number of tips and examples.

Immerse yourself in other people's culture

Preparation is essential on any trip. And by that, we don't mean looking up nice sights or holidays, but delving into the culture and faith there, such as their norms and values, but also their customs. For example, when photographing the Masai, it is customary to dance and sing to someone to thank them. This may seem a bit uncomfortable at first glance, but it is actually a form of gratitude. There are also some cultures that believe that a piece of their soul is taken from them the moment they are photographed. Then it is often wise to ask permission in advance. Such handy do's and don'ts can already be found online, so make sure to use them.

Cultural photography tips

Cultural photography is mainly about the interactions between the photographer and the subject. Earning the respect is therefore more important than the result. That is also the added value of this type of photography, where you mainly make personal images. Often people have a certain pride at the moment you show them their photo, something that is not at all self-evident for many in certain places. These kind of beautiful moments that you share with each other often make the best memories. We are therefore happy to give you a number of tips if you want to get started yourself;

• Be respectful. You are, as it were, a guest, so don't be too pushy and don't cross other people's boundaries. Not everyone appreciates when pictures are taken of them, better luck next time.
• Ask permission from the person you want to photograph. If you don't speak the language and there is no interpreter, it comes down to using your hands. Make contact with the person and point to your camera, often with a small gesture they let you know whether or not they want it.
• Always go to the people with the pictures taken. Not only is it nice to show them and thank them, but this is also how you make contact and who knows, there may be a very nice story behind that person. As a thank you, a little extra such as money or food is often much appreciated.
• What if you took photos without permission, for a spontaneous moment, but they don't want that? Then it is best to delete all photos on the spot and leave it at that. This can, for example, occur with the people who, as mentioned earlier, believe that a piece of their soul is being taken away.
• Cultural photography often consists of portraits. Focus on the eyes and make sure you capture that person in their own unique way as beautifully as possible. The emotion in their faces makes the picture, which is why it's so important that the eyes are sharp. To ensure that there is a nice contrast, the challenge is to look for a calm background in the chaos. That way the subject comes into its own.
• Storytelling is something that a good photo meets. With street photography, for example, there is something to say about everything, it is often an intimate insight into someone's daily life. For example, in the photos below. This woman had not yet realized that photos were being taken, so you can see her counting her last money with all her belongings on the street. Such a series of photos can tell so much without any prior knowledge, and that is precisely the art of storytelling.

Want to learn to photograph or gain experience?

Would you like to learn more about photography and your camera yourself? Or gain more experience during one of our photography trips? All Travelmarks workshops and trips are in small groups and accompanied by a professional photographer. For more information, take a look at the many workshops and photo trips and sign up.

Till clicks!