TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY

On The Road Again! — Part 1

When the Road Inspires Photography: The Road as a Subject

I am a fanatic of taking pictures of the road. From viewing spots or from the car (sometimes even as a driver… oops!), on foot or on bike, whatever the point of view, I am always fascinated.

Getting used to taking pictures in the car, I learned to prepare for a nice shot while examining the landscape. Maps help me to anticipate the shot as well.

Anticipate the contrast of getting in or out of a tunnel, the settings to zoom in on a castle perched on a hill in the distance, and the choice of colors of B&W photography depending on personal wish.

Taking time to observe the road on a viewing spot allows you to open to what comes your way in terms of colors, details, atmosphere, but also encounters.

Being inspired by the road itself, as a photographic subject, is interesting as well.

When the road becomes a photographic subject

The road offers many points of view from where the photographer can play with his camera.

Playing with the curved line of the road, with its matter (asphalt, pavement, sand, and gravel), and with its barriers or boundaries with the sidewalks, offers many elements to photography.

It can also reveal a detail of the landscape by contrasting with it, as in the picture below taken in Tenerife, a volcanic island of the Canary Islands, Spain.

The basaltic rocks are spotlighted even if not at the center of the picture.

The main interest for me is the way these lines, straight or curved, will structure the photograph, giving a specific dynamic to the picture.

In both pictures above, the road has a central place in the frame.

The first one was taken while driving, making the trees blur in the foreground. Between this blur and the one of the clouds, the road appears clearly. Its curve seems to link both blurry parts of the image.

In the second picture, the road represents one-third of the picture. But far from keeping all the attention, it leads the watcher to look toward the mountains.

The way they show off the landscape by adding visual effects gives an impression of scale and beauty.

But photography roads are not only asphalt in straight or curved lines.

You can read the second part of my trilogy about roads to discover other photographs revealing how the road is a call to travel and a different way to admire the landscape:

In the third part, you will appreciate other points of view (bus, bike, or foot) and the opportunity for encounters:

Thanks for reading.