Travel Storytelling

Travel Storytellinghttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/create/learnTravel Storytellinghttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/create/learn/how-to-master-film-and-photographyNo matter how you create content, being able to shoot both photos and videos can give you more creative freedom and opportunities. 2023-10-20T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/create/learn/how-to-master-film-and-photographyhttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>Whether you want to document your own adventures, share your stories with others, or make a living as a content creator, being able to shoot both great photos and as well as film offers more creative freedom.</p> <p>It’s hardly a peer-reviewed study, but when we ask people “what would you really like to do with your life?”, the top response is “travel the world” or “experience different places and cultures”.  To us, travel photography and videography are two of the most interesting and rewarding ways to capture the beauty and diversity of the world and to live a life of incredible experiences. </p> <p>As <a href="https://www.travelshooters.tv/">Travel Shooters</a>, we started as photographers but soon realized the value and opportunities that understanding video unlocked and, in our view, being hybrid shooters creates the greatest scope and opportunity to live out your travel life goals.</p> <p>But how do you balance both mediums without compromising on quality or efficiency? How do you switch between taking stunning stills and captivating motion? How do you edit and manage your files without getting overwhelmed?</p> <ul> <li><a href="#gear">Choosing the right gear and accessories</a></li> <li><a href="#plan">Planning your shots and itinerary</a></li> <li><a href="#shoot">Shooting in different modes and settings</a></li> </ul> <p>In this article, we will share some tips and tricks on how to be both a travel photographer and videographer, based on our own experience shooting incredible projects on every continent. </p> <p>Key considerations:</p> <ul> <li>Choosing the right gear and accessories</li> <li>Planning your shots and itinerary</li> <li>Shooting in different modes and settings</li> <li>Editing and organizing your files</li> <li>Sharing and monetizing your work.</li> </ul> <h2 id="gear">Choosing the right gear and accessories</h2> <p>One of the biggest challenges of being both a travel <a href="/create/learn/photography">photographer</a> and videographer is finding the right gear and accessories that can handle both tasks. You want to have equipment that is versatile, reliable, lightweight, and practical.</p> <p>Here are some of the essential items that we recommend for any travel photographer/<a href="/create/scholarships/film">videographer</a>:</p> <ul> <li>A camera that can shoot both photos and videos. There are many cameras on the market that can do both, but some are better than others. You want to look for a camera that balances a modern high-resolution sensor, a fast and accurate autofocus system, a good dynamic range, a flip-out screen, a microphone input, and a decent battery life.</li> <li>A tripod that can serve multiple purposes. A tripod is essential for stabilizing your shots, especially when shooting certain videos or long exposures. However, carrying a full-sized tripod can be cumbersome and impractical for travel. That’s why we suggest a tripod that is big enough for the camera system you’re using and with carbon fiber legs. Some models have an interchangeable head that provides a video option. These are not as smooth as a dedicated video head, but at a fraction of the weight, they are a great solution.</li> <li>A gimbal that can hold your camera. A gimbal is a device that uses motors and sensors to keep your camera or smartphone steady while you move. It can help you create smooth and cinematic videos, as well as timelapses and hyper lapses. However, not all gimbals are compatible with all cameras, so you need to check the specifications before buying one. Learn to master the “gimbal ninja walk” and you’ll get some incredibly cinematic shots.</li> <li>A <a href="/responsible-travel/make-a-difference/participation/ethical-drone-photography-filming">drone</a> that can take aerial photos and videos. A drone is a great way to capture unique perspectives and stunning landscapes from above. However, not all drones are suitable for travel, as some are too big, too heavy, or too noisy. You also need to check the local laws and regulations before flying a drone in any country.</li> <li>A backpack that can fit all your gear and accessories. A backpack is more than just a bag; it’s your mobile office and studio. You want to have a backpack that can protect your gear from damage, theft, or loss, as well as provide easy access and organization. You also want to have a backpack that is comfortable to wear, durable, and stylish. The right bag will make life so much easier, just make sure that it’s the right size for airline carry-on requirements.</li> </ul> <h2 id="plan">Planning your shots and itinerary</h2> <p>Another challenge of being both a travel photographer and videographer is <a href="/create/learn/photography/landscape-photography-tips">planning</a> your shots and itinerary. You want to have a clear idea of what you want to capture, where you want to go, when you want to go there, and how you are going to balance and prioritize your photo and video captures.</p> <p>Here are some of the steps that we follow when planning our shots and itinerary:</p> <ul> <li>Do your research. Before you go anywhere, do some research on your destination. Look for information on the culture, history, geography, climate, attractions and events, of the place you are visiting. You can use sources such as guidebooks, blogs, podcasts, videos and social media to get inspiration and tips. You can also use tools such as Google Maps, Google Earth, and Google Street View to scout locations and routes.</li> <li>Make a list of your must-see and must-do items. Based on your research, make a list of the things that you want to see and do in your destination. Prioritize the items that are most important or interesting to you, and group them by location, theme, or genre. Travel shooting often means making choices about which place to visit and which to miss. We like to have our priorities established before we travel.</li> <li>Create a rough itinerary. Based on your list, create a rough itinerary that outlines your daily activities and goals. Include the time, place, mode of transportation, and what you are targeting at each location. This is like your own personal run-sheet. Taking a relaxing holiday is great, but if the goal is to capture some extraordinary photos and video, planning and structure will improve your results.</li> <li>Be flexible and adaptable. Yes, have a plan, but also be prepared to override this on the basis of unique and unplanned opportunities. Sometimes the best shots are the unplanned captures. You may encounter unexpected weather that may affect your itinerary or discover new people, places and events that may be better shoot opportunities. Be ready to adjust your plan accordingly, and don’t be afraid to improvise or experiment.</li> </ul> <h2 id="shoot">Shooting in different modes and settings</h2> <p>The next challenge of being both a travel photographer and videographer is shooting in different modes and settings. You want to be able to switch between taking photos and videos quickly and easily, without missing any moments or compromising on quality.</p> <p>Here are some of the tips and tricks that we use when shooting in different modes and settings:</p> <ul> <li>Use the same camera for both photos and videos, rather than carrying two separate cameras. This will save you time, space, weight, and hassle. You can use the same camera for both photos and videos by changing the mode dial or the menu settings on your camera. Better cameras will maintain your last-used individual setting in photos and video.</li> <li>Use the same lens for both photos and videos, rather than changing lenses frequently. This will save you time, space, weight, dust on your sensor, and hassle. You can use the same lens for both photos and videos by choosing a versatile lens that can cover a wide range of focal lengths. For example, you can use a zoom lens such as a 24-70mm f/2.8 or a 16-35mm f/4; or a prime lens such as a 35mm f/1.8 or a 50mm f/1.4.</li> </ul> <p>Being a travel photographer and <a href="/about/contributors/dan-avila">videographer</a> creates challenges with the extra weight of equipment and potentially splitting priorities between motion and still captures, yet it creates increased opportunities to improve the exposure of your work, great value for clients and as such, improved commercial prospects.  If you get the balance right, extraordinary experiences that lead to amazing content will increase the prospects of being paid to do the things you love.</p> <p><em>Dan is one half of the <a href="http://www.cakewalkmedia.com.au/">creative team</a> behind the TV series <a href="http://www.travelshooters.tv/">Travel Shooters,</a> which is shot on location around the world. Dan and his partner Zora were the mentors for the World Nomads 2023 Photo and Film Scholarship to Norway.</em></p>Dan and Zora Avila 0 Dan and Zora Avila on location

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/create/learn/how-to-be-a-content-creator-travelling-with-kidsAfter two years of building our business while traveling the globe with kids, Colin and Meg Mukri have learned a thing or two.2023-05-11T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/create/learn/how-to-be-a-content-creator-travelling-with-kidshttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#1">Planning is everything</a></li> <li><a href="#2">The parenting never stops</a></li> <li><a href="#3">Time is our most valuable currency</a></li> <li><a href="#4">Travel expands children’s world view</a></li> <li><a href="#5">Travel builds character</a></li> <li><a href="#6">How can I get started</a></li> </ul> <p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">Getting paid to travel the world as a family sounds like a dream, right? When we get to see wild elephants in the jungles of Borneo or walk along the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, it really does feel like we won the lottery. But it doesn’t take long before one of the girls needs a snack, or falls in the mud, or is just plain tired so we need to pivot and cancel our sunset content shoot to get home early. That’s a much better picture of our reality.</span> </p> <p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">So, why do we choose to continually put ourselves and our<a href="/explore/worldwide/guided-versus-independent-family-travel"> family</a> in new, often potentially stressful environments? Why not build a career that doesn’t involve keeping a 4- and 6-year-old occupied on a 16-hour <a href="/responsible-travel/make-a-difference/planet/your-guide-to-greener-air-travel">flight</a>? I’m so glad you asked.</span></p> <p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">The main reason is because we love traveling so much and we want to share this love with our kids. We want there to be stories we can share together for years to come.</span> </p> <p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">After two years of building our business while traveling the globe with our kids, we have learned a thing or two that may be helpful to those of you looking to pursue a similar career with your family. Here are some of the challenges and joys we have found as travel creators who travel with our kids. We’re <a href="http://colinandmeg.com/">Colin and Meg</a>, and here’s what we’ve learned about creating content with children in tow.</span> </p> <h2 id="1"><span lang="EN-US">Planning is everything</span></h2> <p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">Planning a trip is a skill to be mastered let alone <a href="/explore/worldwide/logistics-of-family-travel">planning with kids in mind</a>. Creating an <a href="/explore/worldwide/family-travel-how-to-plan-the-perfect-itinerary">itinerary that suits children</a> is a whole new ball game compared to how we traveled prior to having them. Car seats, strollers, meals, diapers, and where will the baby sleep? Will there at least be French fries? Before you even start packing for yourself, your suitcase is already half full of supplies.</span> </p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/learn/colinandmeg-content-image-2.jpg" /> <figcaption> Meg with her two children. Photo credit: Colin and Meg Mukri </figcaption></figure> <h2 id="2"><span lang="EN-US">The parenting never stops</span></h2> <p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">We often look at other creators – who don’t have kids – and wish we had their images and videos because in the moments when we could be creating that too, we have our hands full buckling kids in car seats or making sure they don’t fall off a nearby cliff. It’s likely that as a creator with little kids, you will come away from a trip without creating everything you’d hoped for initially. If, like us, you vlog, you will be used to being interrupted mid-sentence for a snack. Add in the wild cards of jet lag, meltdowns, or a sick kid, and you need to lower your expectations.</span></p> <p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">Work needs to be woven in between travel experiences that your whole family can enjoy together. There are sometimes long stops at playgrounds or museums, we might choose to grab pizza one night over enjoying the local cuisine or decide to keep the cameras off for a day or two to be fully present with the kids and not have everything on the itinerary be for work.</span> </p> <h2 id="3"><span lang="EN-US">Time is our most valuable currency</span> </h2> <p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">We <a href="/explore/worldwide/expectations-and-realities-of-being-a-digital-nomad">work remotely</a> and homeschool our girls. This allows us the flexibility to travel whenever we can without having to adjust much but also creates a family rhythm of our daily structure that doesn’t change when we hit the road.</span></p> <p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">We are almost always together, and we’ve been able to create a tight bond with our kids that we cherish so much. People often tell us we are in the honeymoon phase of parenting, but we beg to differ. We hope that the foundation we have created with our young children now will guide us through the turbulent years ahead so that they would still choose to spend time with us when they don’t have to anymore.</span> </p> <h2 id="4"><span lang="EN-US">Travel expands children’s worldview</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></h2> <p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">Travel educates our kids and expands their worldview and social skills. They have played in playgrounds all over the world with kids that don’t speak the same language, have surprised us with their courage to take on new adventures, and are constantly tasting lots of new flavors through<a href="/create/learn/photography/7-ways-to-improve-food-photography-when-traveling"> local cuisine</a>. They are also exposed to all kinds of cultural differences that we wouldn’t find at home. This leads them first to curiosity and questions, and eventually, they can grow to be humans of understanding and peace. We want them to be built as a bridge, not as a wall.</span></p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/learn/colinandmeg-content-image-1.jpg" /> <figcaption> Meg with her two children. Photo credit: Colin and Meg Mukri </figcaption></figure> <h2 id="5"><span lang="EN-US">Travel builds character</span></h2> <p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">We often joke that travel has made our kids low maintenance. They don’t question a new place to sleep, instead get SO excited to discover their newest bed set up and what accommodation perks we will have for the night. Long travel days have taught them patience, and new cultures have instilled a sense of adventure. I am always taken aback by their courage to speak the few words of a new language they know to a local or try a completely new dish without hesitation. They are being shaped by our travels and I am so grateful for the opportunity to see them thrive.</span></p> <h2 id="6"><span lang="EN-US">How can I get started</span></h2> <p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">Find out what kind of travel suits your family and that will determine the kind of content you can create together. Are you focused on luxury resorts and experiences? Are you all about the outdoors? A mix of both? Make it a win for the whole family.</span></p> <p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">Take <a href="/explore/worldwide/benefits-of-slow-travel-with-children">longer trips</a> with rest days in between busy ones. You need a break and so do your kids. Put the cameras away, take days off creating and treat yourselves to a fun day at a resort at the end of the trip if you need to.</span></p> <p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">We don’t travel 365 days a year, and having a home base with<a href="/explore/africa/tanzania/tanzania-two-hills-one-goal"> community</a> and familiar rhythms will sustain your career and business in the long run. The world needs brave, bridge-building families that make amazing content that inspires us all to travel, so get out there, folks! You’re not alone in this.</span></p> <p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">———————————————————</span></p> <p class="Body"><i><span lang="EN-US">Colin + Meg are on a mission to travel to 50 countries with their kids. Follow along their journey on </span></i><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/colinandmeg"><span class="Hyperlink0"><i>Youtube</i></span></a><i> and </i><a href="http://www.instagram.com/colinandmeg"><span class="Hyperlink0"><i>Instagram</i></span></a><i>.</i><o:p></o:p></span></p>Colin and Meg Mukri 0 Colin, Meg and their daughters

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/create/learn/travel-writing/pitching-for-onlineHave an epic travel tale or know the best spots in France for brunch? Here’s how to get your work online so you can share what you know.2023-04-03T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/create/learn/travel-writing/pitching-for-onlinehttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#basics">Master the basics of pitching</a></li> <li><a href="#website">Find the right website</a></li> <li><a href="#editor">Find the right editor</a></li> <li><a href="#content"> Notice the kind of content that your favorite websites publish </a></li> <li><a href="#skills">What other skills do you need?</a></li> </ul> <p><span>When I was first starting out as a travel writer at <em>Outside</em> magazine more than 20 years ago, print media outlets were still rather baffled by the internet. Were websites a place to post old, print stories? New stories? Short stories? Long stories? One thing was clear. An online-only story was inferior to a print story, because, as we all wondered back then, who would ever read anything online?</span></p> <p>How quaint the predicaments of yesteryear now seem. We read entire books on our phones. Some newspaper travel sections now exist only online. Attitudes have long since changed, too. In 2000, you could hear the disappointment when you told a source the story would only appear online. Today, “will this be online?” is often the first question interview partners ask. And we all know why. Print-only stories end up in the recycling. Online stories live forever.</p> <p>This is great news for new writers. The odds remain significantly higher for an online commission versus one in print. There’s simply much more real estate in the virtual world. In 2000, there were a mere 17 million websites. Today there are nearly 2 billion.</p> <p>So, how do you pitch a story you hope will appear online? I spoke to four writers and editors working online today to get their tips. Here they are along with a few of my own.</p> <h2 id="basics">Master the basics of pitching</h2> <p>Don’t be fooled. Despite the internet’s limitless hunger for content, it is <em>not</em> a space for stories that aren’t good enough for print, says Alison Osius, a travel editor at <em>Outside</em>. “Most online stories do tend to be shorter,” she says, “but the quality is evening out.” In other words, you still need a strong story no matter what. (To see the difference between an idea and a story, see my <a href="/explore/guides/how-to-make-a-living-as-a-travel-writer-guide">travel writing guide</a>, available here.)</p> <p>That means you need to have:</p> <ul> <li><strong><span>A hook</span></strong><span> – the reason for doing a particular story now. A new kayaking tour is opening up; it’s the 100th anniversary of something; the World Cup is coming to town. </span></li> <li><strong><span>A mission</span></strong><span> – how are you going to report this story or have you done it already? Will you hike up to 8 hours a day over high mountain passes to get to this new backcountry lodge? Did you spend three days in Sapporo checking out sake distilleries? Do you have three examples of new things happening in a neighborhood that make the area more interesting to travelers?</span></li> <li><strong><span>A reason</span></strong><span> – why are you the best writer for this job? Have you published stories on other websites? Did you win the <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/create/scholarships">World Nomads Travel Writing Scholarship</a>? Have you traveled extensively in Argentina? Speak Mandarin? Let the editor know.</span></li> </ul> <p>Osius says even if you know your editor, it’s still worth including your bio anyway. “I forward pitches on to other editors all the time who might not know the writer,” she says.</p> <h2 id="website">Find the right website</h2> <p><span>Before you even <a href="/create/learn/writing/the-perfect-travel-story-pitch">pitch</a>, find the right website for your story and make sure they haven’t covered your topic before, says Cameron </span>Vigliotta<span>, an editor at <em>Forbes</em>. You’re not going to have any luck pitching a story about backpacking through Laos on $5 a day to a magazine such as <em>Robb Report</em> that focuses on the ultra-wealthy. If a website has already covered<a href="/travel-safety/worldwide/safe-scuba-diving"> scuba diving</a> in an odd location like Arizona, the editor probably isn’t going to assign another odd scuba-diving story.</span></p> <p>That said, don’t be afraid to adjust your idea to fit a website that might not seem obvious at first. Once, I really wanted to write about a “fondue king” in Switzerland. I could have pitched it to a food outlet but instead, I went straight to a skiing publication. What goes great with skiing? Melted cheese, of course! The editor agreed and off I went.</p> <h2 id="editor">Find the right editor</h2> <p>Be sure you know <em>who</em> you’re pitching as well, says Kathleen Rellihan, a former travel editor at <em>Newsweek</em> and now a freelancer for <em>National Geographic, Travel + Leisure</em> and more. That means finding the masthead to get names of editors, going online to look at their social media accounts and surfing around on LinkedIn to gather other bits of intel that will tell you who assigns what. You don’t want your pitch about learning to hunt to land in the inbox of the person who edits fashion stories. “It shows your reporting skills,” she says. “If you can’t find the name of the right person to pitch, then you probably don’t have the skills you need for the story.”</p> <h2 id="content">Notice the kind of content that your favorite websites publish</h2> <p>Most online articles tend to be more “service” oriented, meaning they’re less of a tale and more of a <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/explore">mini guide</a> pointing you to the best beaches, the weirdest restaurants or how to spend 36 hours in a city. There’s a lot of news out there, too. But unless you’re the first person to break a story, it’s probably best to find another way into it. If a popular national park is limiting the number of visitors this season, maybe you pitch a piece about “five other parks that don’t have limits.”</p> <p>A lot of magazines will have editorial calendars available online that will give you an idea of what they’ll be working on, which means the doors for writing online are opening, too. Pitch your story about riding around Ireland on an electric bike for the “Green” issue and you’ll look like a pro.</p> <h2 id="skills">What other skills do you need?</h2> <p>You don’t really need to know much about SEO or any back-end web development to pitch an online story, but Paulette Perhach, a writer who offers workshops and software for managing freelance assignments, adds you might want to add to your pitch some subheads you might use. Most online articles use them. (Notice how this article uses them). They give online readers a good point of entry.</p> <p>It also helps if you’re good at <a href="/create/learn/landscape-photography">taking photos</a> or shooting short video clips, so say that if you can. Some sites don’t care so much about this but for others, not being able to provide “art” can be a dealbreaker. Even today at <em>Outside,</em> which has a budget to buy professional photos and videos, editors often want their writers to capture multimedia “assets” to augment whatever else they can find.</p> <p>Lastly, keep your pitch short. Vigliotta says he wants no more than two paragraphs while Osius says no more than a page. “Editors are really, really busy,” Vigliotta says. “You’ll still hear 'no' a lot.” But keep after it. Good ideas are gold no matter where they land. </p>Getty Images / Westend61 0 Man writes notes in a cavern

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/create/learn/how-to-be-a-successful-content-creator-nomadasaurusAward-winning travel writers and content creators, Nomadasaurus, share the secrets to their success.2023-03-29T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/create/learn/how-to-be-a-successful-content-creator-nomadasaurushttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#niche">Find your niche</a></li> <li><a href="#good">Make your content look good</a></li> <li><a href="#value">Add value to your content </a></li> <li><a href="#numbers"> Don’t focus on the numbers </a></li> <li><a href="#skills">Learn new skills</a></li> <li><a href="#work">Be prepared to put in the work</a></li> <li><a href="#pitch">Pitching for work</a></li> <li><a href="#partners">Over-deliver for your partners</a></li> <li><a href="#consistent">Be consistent</a></li> <li><a href="#fun">Have fun and don’t overthink it</a></li> </ul> <p>Have you ever been scrolling through your social feed, came across a creator working with brands and getting paid to travel the world, and wondered how you could do the same? Is there a secret club you need to join to get these opportunities? Some kind of magic trick that all these influencers know and aren’t sharing with you?</p> <p>Never fear, future professional content creators, we’re here to break down exactly what you need to know to make it in this business.</p> <p>We’ve been fortunate enough to be working as full-time travel bloggers and content creators for 10 years, partnering with some of the world’s biggest brands and teaching others to do the same.</p> <p>Recently, we had the privilege of mentoring the four emerging creators who won the <a href="/create/scholarships/2022">World Nomads Content Creator Scholarship</a>, and showing them how to turn their passion into a career which has been a truly rewarding experience.</p> <p>Now, we’re sharing with you some of our biggest tips on how to become a professional creator so you can follow in the footsteps of our fantastic winners.</p> <p>If you’re ready to start #LivingYourBestLife, these are the 10 things you need to know.</p> <h2 id="niche">Find your niche</h2> <p>Here’s the thing, being a general ‘content creator’ isn’t enough these days. Competition is high and trying to get your work in front of the eyes of potential clients is difficult when establishing yourself.</p> <p>To stand out you need to be doing something different. Finding a niche as a content creator is incredibly important, and will help you position yourself in the market as an expert brands want to work with.</p> <p>Do you love hiking? Create a content series on your favorite treks, hiking tips and gear advice. Consider yourself a responsible traveler? Share posts on how to find the best eco-lodges, what to look for when picking hotels, etc. Being the go-to person in your field is far more valuable than trying to cover everything.</p> <p>Whatever you decide to niche down into, make sure it’s something you’re passionate about. Your passion will shine through in your content, making it attractive to your audience (and future partners).</p> <h2 id="good">Make your content look good</h2> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/create/jarryd-sunshine-meadows.jpg" alt="A hiker takes a photo of an alpine lake in Banff, Alberta." /> <figcaption>Jarred in Banff. Image credit: Nomadasaurus.</figcaption></figure> <p>Make sure that whatever you publish on your social media, YouTube or website looks fantastic. Having high-quality <a href="/create/learn/photography/taking-photos-to-next-level-in-post-production">photos</a> and videos is essential, and there’s really no excuse for sharing out-of-focus or dull content.</p> <p>Thankfully, this doesn’t mean you need to go out and spend thousands of dollars on specialized camera equipment. A modern <a href="/create/learn/photography/camera-or-phone">smartphone</a> is more than enough to shoot stunning <a href="/create/learn/travel-writing/pitching-for-online">content</a>, and if you learn the basics of photo editing and color grading you’re already going to be miles ahead of the competition.</p> <h2 id="value">Add value to your content</h2> <p>We live in a world that is flooded with an endless amount of content. So, what can you do to make yours worth engaging with? By ensuring every piece of content you publish is educational, entertaining or exciting.</p> <p>Teach your audience about something new, or inspire them to try something different. You can do this by telling them about a new attraction or activity in a particular destination, showing them something they haven’t seen before, or sharing tips on how to do something, such as taking a particular style of photo.</p> <p>If you’re not teaching them something, entertain them by producing work that makes them smile, laugh or think. A piece of content that your followers will rewatch or share with their friends is what you want to publish.</p> <p>The final part can be content that is just beautiful and exciting to look at. A clip of a stunning <a href="/create/learn/landscape-photography">landscape</a> at sunset, an animal behaving in a surprising way or a moment in time worth documenting is worth sharing with the world.</p> <p>If your content isn’t giving any value, don’t expect people to come back for more.</p> <h2 id="numbers">Don’t focus on the numbers</h2> <p>It’s very easy to get caught up in the number of likes, views, followers and subscribers you get, and this can have positive and negative effects on both your content and well-being.</p> <p>When you’re growing, you feel great. But when things stagnate, you often feel deflated, especially if you’re comparing yourself to other creators. Don’t worry, it’s absolutely normal, and every creator goes through this, even the biggest ones that you look up to and think are crushing the industry.</p> <p>As hard as it can be, it’s important to not get caught up in the numbers game. Otherwise, you may find yourself chasing trends that you don’t actually enjoy, getting upset over engagement, or worse, stop creating altogether.</p> <p>You’ll be much happier if you can ignore these numbers and instead focus on creating beautiful content that you’re proud of.</p> <h2 id="skills">Learn new skills</h2> <p>If you want to stay relevant you need to always be developing your skills and adapting to change to become the best creator possible. Photos are disappearing from social media feeds and being replaced by short-form <a href="/create/learn/film/video-editing-for-beginners">video</a>. Does that mean you should stop taking photos? Of course not. <a href="/create/learn/photography/how-to-master-drone-photography-and-filmmaking">Photography</a> is a very valuable (and enjoyable) skill to know. Does that mean though that you should start learning how to create engaging short-form videos? Absolutely!</p> <p>You don’t need to become the top Instagram reel producer on the planet. But, if you can confidently include this deliverable in your contracts with partners, alongside all the other skills you possess, you can upsell packages and become more valuable than the next person on the list who can only do one thing.</p> <h2 id="work">Be prepared to put in the work</h2> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/create/Alesha-penguins.jpg" alt="A traveler photographs penguins in Antarctica." /> <figcaption>Alesha photographing penguins. Image credit: Nomadasaurus.</figcaption></figure> <p>At the end of the day being a professional content creator is work. Yes, it’s the funnest, coolest job you’ll ever have, but it’s still a job.</p> <p>Working with clients isn’t just a matter of showing up to a location, posting a phone selfie to Instagram and collecting pay cheques (despite how we all make it look). A brand campaign can take days or even weeks of planning, storyboarding, upskilling, creating, collaborating, editing, engaging and reporting at all kinds of random times to present a finished product.</p> <p>If you want to do this professionally, be prepared to put in the hours, especially in the early days when you’re building your brand.</p> <h2 id="pitch">Pitching for work</h2> <p>How do you actually get paid work as a creator? Do you just post some <a href="/create/learn/photography/how-to-master-drone-photography-and-filmmaking">TikToks</a> then wake up to an email one day offering you a paid trip to Paris? For the very rare person, yes. But for 99% of the creators you see out there, the work comes from reaching out and pitching to brands.</p> <p>This doesn’t mean sliding into a company’s DMs with a<em> “Hey, want to work together?”</em> and expecting them to throw plane tickets and money at you. You need to learn the art of the pitch and do your own research on what the brand might need and why <em>you</em> are the right person to give it to them.</p> <p>Every business is different, so spend some time thinking about what you can offer a brand that would suit its marketing goals. This might be providing photos and videos in exchange for a product or giving them access to your audience (if relevant) in the way of social media posts.</p> <p>Consider your own brand as well and if it matches the company you’re pitching. If your account is about make-up, asking for a free hotel for a few nights in exchange for an Instagram post probably isn’t a good fit, no matter how big your audience is. It also doesn’t make sense to your followers, and you need to remain authentic.</p> <p>One day you’re going to grow to a point where you don’t have to pitch anymore and instead, brands will come to you with a constant stream of opportunities. But until then, pitch, pitch, pitch.</p> <h2 id="partners">Over-deliver for your partners</h2> <p>If you’ve managed to lock in a brand deal, sponsorship, trip or product review with a partner, go above and beyond for that client and give them the best return on investment (ROI) possible.</p> <p>It’s a real privilege to work with brands, and no matter how big your numbers are or how high the quality of your content is, it’s not something that should be taken for granted.</p> <p>Over-deliver for every client, whether that’s the number of posts you do or the production quality of your content, and ensure that your partner is happy with the exchange.</p> <p>Why? That client may work with you again on another, potentially larger campaign, they may recommend you to other people in the industry, you’ll create a fantastic portfolio to pitch to other partners, and you’ve left a good impression for the client to want to work with other creators in the future.</p> <p>And very importantly, always strive to be a pleasure to work with. Never be a diva.</p> <h2 id="consistent">Be consistent</h2> <p>To get better at your craft you need to be creating regularly. Get out and <a href="/create/learn/photography/camera-or-phone">shoot </a>as often as possible, and set yourself deadlines to get your content to the world.</p> <p>It doesn’t necessarily have to be publishing something every single day. Don’t forget you have a life outside of social media to enjoy too! However, sticking to a schedule, even if it’s one post a week, will ensure you get many more hours of practice in, as well as give your audience an idea of when to expect something new from you.</p> <h2 id="fun">Have fun and don’t overthink it</h2> <p>At the end of the day, the biggest piece of advice we can give is to just <a href="/create/learn/writing/5-tips-to-writing-a-winning-travel-story">have fun with creating content</a>. If you’re not enjoying yourself you’ll burn out very quickly, and your audience can tell if you’re not having fun.</p> <p>And remember that overthinking every little aspect of content will probably mean it never gets shared. Is the caption just right? Did I color-grade that clip perfectly? Are the transitions seamless?</p> <p>Chances are the elements you’re thinking the most about are things that the viewer will never notice, or if they do notice, isn’t enough for them to care about. Get the content as good as you can make it without spending too much time on it, then upload it for the world to enjoy.</p>Nomadasaurus 0 Nomadasaurus with their campervan

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/create/learn/landscape-photographyFinding beautiful landscapes is part of travel, but if you want to remember them forever, creating stunning photos is one way to do it.2023-01-31T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/create/learn/landscape-photographyhttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>Landscape photography is a fine art and, unlike other photography genres portraying the beauty of the vast outdoors, it doesn’t give you the opportunity to create your scene or even to manipulate it at your best convenience. When photographing <a href="/create/learn/photography/a-pro-photographers-guide-to-photographing-the-northern-lights">Mother Nature</a> you are, more than ever, a witness of your subject. </p> <p>However, taking the time to connect with the environment, pushing your creativity, and polishing your skills will allow you to use the power of nature in your favor. These are some tips that are worth keeping in mind to capture the magnificence of outdoor scenes in a compelling way. </p> <h2><strong>1. Take the right gear with you </strong></h2> <p>In contrast to many important decisions that as a photographer you will make in the field right before pressing the shutter, there is one game-changer choice that you should make at home when packing: picking the right gear. </p> <p><a href="/create/learn/photography/camera-or-phone">Phones</a> are not the best option for landscape photography instead, a 35mm DSLR or mirrorless camera will not only improve the quality of your images but will also broaden your options to explore exposure possibilities by playing around with as many manual settings as you may need. Combined with a set of high-quality wide lenses, this is a great starting point. </p> <p>On top of it, you will need to think about key accessories to bump up two fundamentals of landscape photography: <strong>contrast and sharpness.</strong> Add-ons such as filters, a tripod and a remote shutter are always at hand in the bag of a landscape photographer. </p> <p><strong>Polarizers and ND filters</strong></p> <p>To maximize contrast and add drama to your shots you should screw a polarizing filter onto the front of your lens. This filter will improve the colors and overall look of your photo while also helping you reduce invasive and unwanted glare or reflections. </p> <p>Neutral density filters reduce the light coming in through the lens and allow shooting at wide apertures, high ISO levels, or slow shutter speed. They are super handy to have on bright days.</p> <p><strong>Tripod and remote shutter</strong></p> <p>More than ever, these are two must-have accessories in photography. They will both work together to assure <strong>zero camera shake</strong> no matter the weather conditions or camera settings you are photographing at extra slow shutter speeds, heavy wind days, and uncomfortable shots, they are all blur-proof if you are using a strong tripod in tandem with a shutter release.</p> <h2><strong>2. Get technical</strong></h2> <p>Now that your gear is ready, it’s time to get to the field! You should focus on technical settings to achieve your desired <strong>exposure, motion, grain </strong>and<strong> depth of field.</strong></p> <p><strong>Exposure </strong></p> <p>It’s the amount of light in your photo and the result of the combination of three different settings: shutter speed, aperture and ISO. All three of these settings influence the exposure, but while <em>shutter</em> speed also determines <strong>motion</strong> (the slower shutter speed, the most movement in the shot), <em>aperture</em> establishes <strong>depth of field</strong> (the wider the aperture, the less depth of field) and <em>ISO</em> defines the <strong>grain</strong> of your photo (the bigger the ISO value, the more grain). By adjusting these camera settings you will give more or less of an artistic look to your landscape photos.</p> <p><strong>Motion</strong></p> <p>When you choose a shutter speed you set the time that the shutter remains open and this creates the dramatic effects of freezing action or blurring motion. For example, you can take two completely different photos of the same waterfall shooting with your camera in the exact same position, set the shutter speed to around 3 seconds and you will recreate the movement of blurred water falling down opposed to the sharp still waterfall that you will have by taking the same photo at 1/1000s.   </p> <p><strong>Depth of field</strong></p> <p>Landscape photos don’t have to look all the same, shot with wide lenses and great depth of field, with every detail of a never-ending landscape in focus. Sharing your own point of view of a certain subject is what photography is about, so customizing your shots to a variety of focal lengths and depths of field to get original results is also an interesting choice.</p> <p>All you need to know is that adjusting the aperture to a higher aperture number, for example, f/11, will mean getting more of your photo in focus than if you set it to a low number like f/2. A shallower depth of field can be used in landscape photography to make a certain part of the landscape stand out, for example, a blossomed tree which you want the eye to focus at first. On the other hand, a deeper depth of field will show everything in focus and will invite us to travel around every corner of the place.</p> <p><strong>Grain</strong></p> <p>Selecting higher ISO levels adds grain to the film. Many would not go for this option as you lose image quality but others love giving this artistic look to their photos. </p> <h2><strong>3. Take advantage of the best light</strong></h2> <p>Every photographer knows that light is essential to photography. As a landscape photographer, you should also keep in mind that you won’t be able to artificially illuminate your subject like you might do when taking photos in a studio. When outdoors, the sun is your main light source and to make it your ally rather than your enemy, you will need to plan ahead. </p> <p>To avoid getting frustrated with harsh shadows and overexposed highlights, take your time for some pre-production research. Get to know the places where you will be taking photos, if possible visit the place at different times of the day and get involved with usual and extraordinary weather conditions—all this will help you skip surprises and shoot when the light is best for your subject. <br /><br /></p> <h2><strong>4. Where to focus?</strong></h2> <p>When watching a photo the eye immediately looks for the point of focus. Therefore, in photography, focusing is another tool to build the story you want to tell. If Wally (Waldo) would have been focused at an f/1.4 aperture he would have not been able to travel the world without being noticed. But he was <em>photographed</em> at a narrower aperture to be told as a lost guy in the middle of multitudes.</p> <p>That being said, in landscape photography, it is often nice to get a good portion, if not most, of your photo in focus. To do so, shoot at a higher f-stop, which will allow greater depth of field. You can start by trying values between f/7.1 and f/16. You can contrast your results and keep experimenting with higher and lower f-stops values.</p> <p>What really matters about focusing is getting your subject – whatever your subject is – accurately in focus. Nowadays you can do a lot of fixes in post-production, like correcting light, cloning and stamping different areas of your photo, you can even completely change its colors, but if your main subject is slightly out of focus your photo might be ruined.</p> <h2><strong>5. Push your creativity</strong></h2> <p>If landscape photography was only about visiting <a href="/create/learn/photography/how-to-master-rainforest-photography">beautiful places</a> and photographing the scene in front of you, all photos of a certain destination would look alike. The key here is creativity. </p> <p>You can look for elements around you to nourish your shot. Look for leading lines that guide the watcher’s eye to your main subject; add blurred foreground elements like rocks, flowers or branches that create an extra layer in front of the background; try panoramic shots or unexpected points of view; bring a character into your frame; play with patterns.</p> <p>While all these techniques might enrich your photo, pushing your creativity to its limits will make your work unique, it will add a personal stamp and will make it recognizable as yours. </p> <h2><strong>6. Create drama</strong></h2> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/create/learn/photography/landscape-photography-in-copy.jpg" alt="Two hikers look out over water and mountains." /> <figcaption> Two hikers look out over a view in northern Norway. Photo credit: Getty Images/Marco Bottigelli</figcaption></figure> <p>Drama is a great value in photography and if you know how to achieve it you have half of the work done. </p> <p>A pretty straightforward way to do it is by introducing a human element among nature. It could be people, animals, or human-made objects such as cars or boats. Actually, anything that we can easily recognize its dimensions will work well to show scale and give a dramatic look and feel to your picture.  </p> <p>When adding this kind of element to your landscape photography, make sure you give them some extra power by positioning in an interesting point of your frame and by having them hit by good light. <br /><br /></p> <h2><strong>7. Use water reflections to your advantage</strong></h2> <p>No matter its dimensions, any form of water, from a small pond to a river or lake, can be used in your <a href="/create/learn/photography/pro-tips-long-exposure-photography">landscape</a> photos to create mirror effects. To get the best results, try different points of view, and don’t miss going low with your camera as close to the water as you can, setting your camera next to the water source will give your photo a bigger area of reflection. </p> <p>Not to forget: to create this effect you should be aware that polarizer filters neutralize reflections. Better avoid using them when trying to create this mirror effect.</p> <h2><strong>8. Expect the unpredictable</strong></h2> <p>Photographing outdoors means putting yourself in the hands of nature, and this could be a challenge. </p> <p>From sudden weather changes and extreme temperature conditions to the encounter of wild animals or an invasion of insects- anything can happen in the wild. Before you hit the road you should plan ahead and get ready for every possible scenario. Think about the weather, clothes, light hours, communication, and even a plan B to spend the night safe on the road if needed. </p> <h2><strong>9. Leave no trace</strong></h2> <p>As <a href="/create/learn/photography/landscape-photography-7-pro-tips">landscape photographers</a>, and as travelers too, we should move around and behave according to a priority responsibility: to protect the planet we live in. This means understanding the environment, learning about the place and cultures that we get to know, being responsible about what we share online, and NOT being a disturbance of any kind both to nature and local people.  </p> <p>If we as photographers learn how to take amazing landscape photos while leaving no trace, then we will be double satisfied. </p>Getty Images / Matteo Colombo 0 Road runs to mountains on horizon

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/create/learn/photography/taking-photos-to-next-level-in-post-productionTaking good photos isn’t just about pressing the shutter button. The work you do in post-production can be a real game-changer.2022-10-21T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/create/learn/photography/taking-photos-to-next-level-in-post-productionhttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>Thinking about how to improve your photos of your next trip? Taking good photos isn’t just about pressing the shutter button – even if you pay attention to technical details like composition, exposure, and lighting when taking your photos, there is game-changing extra work to be done in post-production that will take your shots to the next level.</p> <p>Here are some tips on how to approach the post-production stage.</p> <ul> <li><a href="#pre">The importance of pre-production</a></li> <li><a href="#formats">Camera formats</a></li> <li><a href="#RAW">Must-know tips for shooting RAW</a></li> <li><a href="#better">The better the photo, the better the post-production results</a></li> <li><a href="#story">Mind the story</a></li> <li><a href="#classify">Use classifying tools to rank your photos</a></li> <li><a href="#color">Color-correcting your photos</a></li> <li><a href="#details">Final touches on details</a></li> <li><a href="#metadata">Captions and metadata</a></li> <li><a href="#export">Exporting your photos from Lightroom</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="pre">The importance of pre-production</h2> <p>Post-production always starts in pre-production. Actually, every single decision you make when packing <a href="/create/learn/photography/camera-or-phone">your photography equipment</a> will have an impact – positive or negative – on the final results of your post-production process.</p> <p>As a golden rule, bring on your trip the gear you are familiar with. Buying a new camera or fancy accessories prior to a trip may sound exciting, but while many would think that new equipment will directly improve the quality of your photos, it could mean serious risks too: exploring never-ending menus and complex settings of a new camera during a short trip might leave you missing some precious opportunities for amazing photos.</p> <p>On the other hand, feeling confident with the camera and lenses that you have been using for years will keep you fast and agile during the shoot, letting your mind focus on what really matters: identifying what each scene requires to get the best shot possible.</p> <h2 id="formats">Camera formats</h2> <p>Your <a href="/create/learn/photography/camera-or-phone">camera</a> setup plays a key role in what you will or won’t be able to do with your <a href="/create/learn/photography">photos</a> in post. Nowadays cameras offer a great variety of formats that you can choose from, JPEG and RAW being the most popular ones. The results of your editing process will be highly conditioned by the format you shoot with.</p> <p>JPEGs are small-sized, highly compressed files where camera settings strongly affect the image, giving you limited recovery options in post. These lossy compressed files are easier to share, they can be opened in most devices, take less space in your memory cards or hard drives, and can be easily uploaded to social media. Sounds tempting, right? They are the perfect choice, but only if you don<span>’t </span>plan to edit your photos.</p> <p>To work in post-production, RAW is your best editing-friendly option. RAW files are uncompressed and contain unprocessed data from the camera sensor. When you shoot in RAW, the sensor of your camera captures tons of unseen details in the highlights and shadows as well as a much higher dynamic range, both of which will allow you to bring back those details in post. This kind of file is many times larger and requires post-processing, but the extra data recorded opens up a new world of possibilities when being processed with software like Lightroom.</p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/learn/photography/post-production/morocco-scholarship.jpg" alt="A photographer walks through an ornately tiled building in Morocco." /> <figcaption>Shooting in RAW helps you capture all the details of your subject. Image credit: Richard I'Anson</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="RAW">Must-know tips for shooting RAW</h2> <p>One of the most important tips, if you are planning to shoot in RAW, is to plan ahead and bring enough storage space to your trip. Extra memory cards and even an external hard drive are always a good idea for RAW photographers.</p> <p>Once in the field, “expose for the highlights”: RAW files have incredible detail in the shadows, and you will always be able to develop shadow details in post. However, overexposing the highlights means that details are burnt, there is no information recorded, and therefore it is impossible to recover any details.</p> <h2 id="better">The better the photo, the better the post-production results</h2> <p>No matter if you plan to edit your photos, always take the best photo possible. Leaving all the magic for post-processing is a bad idea as you will only be able to adjust in Lightroom what you have already created with your camera.</p> <p>The flexibility that you get by shooting RAW is great but also limited. You will be tweaking parameters to get the best out of the information that you have already recorded when shooting.</p> <h2 id="story">Mind the story</h2> <p>Once you have imported all your content to Lightroom and before you start playing around with the different adjustment sliders take your time to connect with the story you wanted to tell when you took the photo. Lightroom is a super-powerful editing tool that provides your creativity with unlimited possibilities, but always remember that by manipulating the temperature, contrast, noise, and colors of your photos you will be affecting your story. This way you will avoid over-tuning that could end up betraying the story you hoped to tell.</p> <h2 id="classify">Use classifying tools to rank your photos</h2> <p>In the digital era, only a small percentage of the photos we take are actually worth <a href="/create/learn/photography/5-tips-to-create-a-winning-photo-story">editing</a>. Thus, good photo processing starts with a conscious selection of the photos we will be working on. Use Lightroom’s classifying tools like stars, flags and colors to create a ranking of photos within your library. It doesn’t matter if you have taken too many photos and the task feels overwhelming; if you are picky you will end up with a short selection of your best photos. Just remember to keep the 5-star ranking for those photos you really love.</p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/learn/photography/post-production/stars-ranking.jpg" alt="Image ranking and classification tools in Lightroom." /> <figcaption>Image credit: Andrés Brenner</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="color">Color-correcting your photos</h2> <p>Now that your selection is done it is time to start playing with basic corrections. Over the right margin of your “Develop” module in Lightroom you will find the “Basics” adjustments panel.</p> <p><strong>Temperature:</strong></p> <p>You can start by tweaking the temperature of your photo. Pull the slider towards the blues if you want to create a cold atmosphere for your shot or pull it towards the right for a warmer image.</p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/learn/photography/post-production/temperature.jpg" alt="Adjusting the temperature of a photo in Lightroom." /> <figcaption>Image credit: Andrés Brenner</figcaption></figure> <p><strong>Exposure and contrast:</strong></p> <p>With the exposure slider, you can adjust how bright and how dark an image is. Use the contrast slider to add some drama to your photos as dark areas become darker and light areas go lighter. Both these sliders will adjust the overall look of your shot.</p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/learn/photography/post-production/exposure-contrast.jpg" alt="Adjusting the exposure and contrast of a photo in Lightroom." /> <figcaption>Image credit: Andrés Brenner</figcaption></figure> <p><strong>Highlights, shadows, whites, and blacks:</strong></p> <p>These four together are another way to adjust the exposure and contrast of your photo but, instead of tweaking the overall look, by tweaking these sliders you will be adjusting just certain areas of your photo.</p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/learn/photography/post-production/highlights-shadows.jpg" alt="Adjusting image highlights and shadows in Lightroom." /> <figcaption>Image credit: Andrés Brenner</figcaption></figure> <p><strong>Texture, clarity and dehaze:</strong></p> <p>The texture slider works on medium-sized details and is useful when working, for example, with hair. Move it all the way to the left and then all the way to the right to understand how it decreases or increases the texture of a photo while keeping fine details.</p> <p>The clarity slider can be used to add pop to your photo, which will also create a more dramatic atmosphere. Technically what it does is increase or decrease the edge contrast in a photo.</p> <p>The dehaze slider is useful to restore color and contrast to a washed-out image but be careful not to use it too heavily as it can make colors unrealistic.</p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/learn/photography/post-production/texture-dehaze-clarity.jpg" alt="Adjusting image clarity and texture in Lightroom." /> <figcaption>Image credit: Andrés Brenner</figcaption></figure> <p>There is no “good” or “bad”, “right” or “wrong” when editing: some people may like saturated images while others prefer to go for a more natural look. Whatever looks good to you is OK as long as you are happy with the final results and you feel they represent the story you wanted to tell. If you doubt any of the adjustments you have done, you can go for the safe option and make them a bit more subtle.</p> <h2 id="details">Final touches on details</h2> <p>For fine details like color-correcting a very specific area, all of the previous features can be applied selectively. Click the mask button (right below the histogram), choose from the brush, graduated or radial filter and select the area you want to work on. Then apply your adjustments using the same sliders mentioned above.</p> <p>On the panel below the histogram, you will also find extra features like red-eye correction and a stain remover. All the way on the left of the panel there is a tool that will allow you to crop and straighten the horizon of your photos.</p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/learn/photography/post-production/mask-tools.jpg" alt="Adjusting fine details on an image in Lightroom." /> <figcaption>Image credit: Andrés Brenner</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="metadata">Captions and metadata</h2> <p>The last step before exporting should be adding key information to your files. This should be done in the “metadata” panel of the “Library” module. You can type specific information for each photo, or you can adjust all your photos together by creating presets. To do so, click the “presets” drop-down menu, go to “edit presets” and choose “save current adjustments as a new preset” on the first dropdown menu. Then go back to your library, select all the photos you have been working on and apply the preset you have just created to your selection.</p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/learn/photography/post-production/metadata.jpg" alt="Adding metadata to a file in Lightroom." /> <figcaption>Image credit: Andrés Brenner</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="export">Exporting your photos from Lightroom</h2> <p>Once you have finished all your hard work, on the export panel you will find the final adjustment options including export format (now is the time to choose JPEG), quality (always pick the best possible) and size of the image among others. Make sure you change the resolution to 72 dpi when exporting for screens (including social networks) or 300 dpi when sending to a printer.</p> <p>And that’s it! Now you’re ready to share your photos with the rest of the world.</p>Andrés Brenner 0 Andres Brenner A smiling woman on a bus in India.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/create/learn/photography/7-ways-to-improve-food-photography-when-travelingWhen traveling, food is a huge part of the adventure. When telling stories about travel, food photography is a great way to share. 2022-06-30T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/create/learn/photography/7-ways-to-improve-food-photography-when-travelinghttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>Traveling and eating new things go hand-in-hand, and discovering local food is a great way to connect with locals and understand their traditions. </p> <p>These tips will help improve your food <a href="/create/learn/photography">photography</a> results, but always keep an eye out for new approaches to shooting your dishes and let your imagination be your guide. <a href="/explore/southeast-asia/food-in-vietnam-cambodia-and-laos">Food</a> photography takes dedication. But when it comes to getting great photos of food, the bad news is that dedication to achieving the perfect shot might mean eating your food once it’s gone cold.</p> <ul> <li><a href="#2">Food is the story</a></li> <li><a href="#3">Make it look good enough to eat</a></li> <li><a href="#4">Light it right</a></li> <li><a href="#5">Be original with framing</a></li> <li><a href="#6">Choose the right lens</a></li> <li><a href="#7">Useful extra tools</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="2">Food is the story</h2> <p>When taking a photo of the pad Thai you just got at a local <a href="/explore/eastern-asia/japan/best-japanese-markets">market</a>, you are shining light on part of Thailand’s rich culture and legacy. The art of cooking is sprinkled through stories of colonization, war, independence, and migration along with the spices, ingredients, tastes and textures from around the world mixed in a single dish.</p> <p>Take advantage of everything that you have at hand to create a context for your dish: objects such as cutlery, glasses, grinders, tablecloths, cups and jars will tell a lot about the location or region where the recipe comes from. If you add some of the key ingredients and dressings to the frame, you will be giving clues about the origins and variations of this delicacy.</p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/LearnImages/food-photography-in-article1.jpg" alt="Thai street food in Bangkok, shrimp tempura with vegetables" /> <figcaption> Thai street food in Bangkok, shrimp tempura with vegetables. Photo credit: Getty Images / lechatnoir</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="3">Make it look good enough to eat</h2> <p>Once you get your food order, the first thing to do (yes, before you try a bite) is to find the main subject of your photo and to make it stand out by creating a background that works together – but does not compete – with it. The trick is to set up the table in a way that you get the best out of textures, colors, patterns and lines.</p> <p>There are no rules of thumb, but great contrast can be achieved by positioning your dish over dark or neutral backgrounds, while patterns and lines can be smartly used to drive the eyes to the main object. Bright colors will catch the eye so it’s wise to keep them to the center of attention of your composition.</p> <p>When introducing complementary items to tell your story be careful not to oversaturate the frame with too much information – you still need your dish to be the protagonist.</p> <h2 id="4">Light it right</h2> <p>Food is enjoyed by your eyes first. To achieve a great food photo, it’s essential to understand how light interacts with, and affects food. A photo of food with poor light can make the best dish look unappealing.</p> <p>If you are traveling, you might not have packed your fancy lighting equipment so rather than your camera flash or phone torch, natural light will be your best ally. A good strategy to get interesting and soft natural light on your subject is to place it close to a window and, at the same time, protect it from being hit by direct hard light. You can use any kind of diffuser that you may have close by, for example, a white curtain. Avoiding deep blacks is also important to make the dish stand out: any other white object – such as a sheet of paper – will work to reflect light into the shadows.</p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/LearnImages/food-photography-in-article2.jpg" alt="Rustic Italian Pizza " /> <figcaption> Rustic Italian pizza. Photo credit: Getty Images / Michael Barrow Photography</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="5">Be original with framing</h2> <p>Once you have the light you want for your shot, it’s time for action. Play around with as many frames as you can. Try the popular overhead, from-the-table and side shots but also get creative and locate your point of view at different angles. Whatever shot you try, keep an eye on getting the horizon leveled. Always remember that food photography is not just about the dish, but also about its story and where it comes from. A rich set of wider shots that put things in context will result in more powerful details.</p> <p>And keep in mind the <em>less is more </em>rule: get rid of anything that adds noise or distraction to the story you want to tell.</p> <h2 id="6">Choose the right lens</h2> <p>When it comes to lenses and traveling you should also think about weight.</p> <p>Generally speaking, prime lenses are the best: they are faster, sharper and lighter than zoom lenses. They will allow you to achieve a shallower depth of field which for food photography looks amazing, but at the same time, they offer just one focal length per lens. This is a big downside when traveling unless you are up for carrying a lot of weight distributed in various prime lenses, which would be the only way to achieve cool details but also wider context shots.</p> <p>On the other hand, a zoom lens such as a 24-70mm f2.8 will offer you a great variety of possible shots still with a beautiful and fast aperture in just one lens, meaning less weight and less hassle – no need to change lenses, no worries about potentially getting your camera’s sensor dirty.</p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/LearnImages/food-photography-in-article4.jpg" alt="Sashimi bowl" /> <figcaption> Freshly made sashimi bowl. Photo credit: Andres Brenner</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="7">Useful extra tools</h2> <p>Besides your camera and lenses, there are some other light and affordable accessories that can help you overcome unexpected situations with style.</p> <p>A tripod is always handy to avoid <a href="/create/learn/photography/camera-or-phone">camera</a> shake, especially if you are shooting with low light during dinner. If that’s too heavy, you can always look for the lighter option of a mini tripod but just make sure it’s strong enough to support the camera you will be shooting with.</p> <p>ND Filters can be attached to your fast lenses to be able to shoot at a low aperture like f1.4 even in bright conditions. By taking a couple of ND filters with you on your trip, you will make sure you can shoot at a shallow depth of field no matter what.</p> <p>Depending on where you travel to, a camera raincoat could be a must especially if you are going to a tropical area and don’t want to come back from your trip either with no photos at all or with a sunken camera.</p>Getty Images/Nazar Abbas Photography 01271294789

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/create/learn/photography/camera-or-phoneFormer World Nomads scholarship winner Andres Brenner shares his tips on whether to use your smart phone or camera to capture your travel memories.2022-05-04T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/create/learn/photography/camera-or-phonehttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>Traveling is one of the most beautiful and meaningful ways of spending time, taking you to <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/explore">incredible places</a> that will blow your mind and to unexpected situations that help you connect with yourself.</p> <p>Once back home, photos and videos are arguably the best way to recall how all that felt and to bring all experiences back to life and live them again.</p> <p>The dilemma of whether to take a camera on your trip is a very personal one. Each traveler will have their own arguments in favor or against it, but the truth is that nowadays it looks like the discussion won’t be about choosing between taking a camera or a phone, but more about adding a camera to your backpack. Your phone is always with you, while a camera is now an extra. To pack or not to pack is a decision to be made based on each traveler’s needs.</p> <ul> <li><a href="#1">Phone or camera?</a></li> <li><a href="#2">What will you be taking photos for?</a></li> <li><a href="#3">What sort of trip will you be photographing?</a></li> <li><a href="#4">How easy will it be to travel with camera gear?</a></li> <li><a href="#5">What quality are you after?</a></li> <li><a href="#6">What level of performance do you want?</a></li> <li><a href="#7">What format do you want?</a></li> <li><a href="#8">Connecting to Wi-Fi</a></li> <li><a href="#9">Battery life</a></li> <li><a href="#10">Lenses and accessories</a></li> <li><a href="#11">Image editing</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="1">Phone or camera?</h2> <p>Every traveler wants stunning photos of their trips, but things get blurry when it comes to deciding between packing a bulky camera or just freeing up some extra memory space on your phone. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing between a phone or a camera for travel photography.</p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/LearnImages/camera-or-phone-in-article-4.jpg" alt="Smartphone phone taking a picture" /> <figcaption>Taking a photo with a smartphone. Photo credit: Getty Images / Csondy</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="2">What will you be taking photos for?</h2> <p>In the last few years, phones have evolved so much that their image quality certainly competes with some of the best consumer cameras. One of the first questions that will definitely help is knowing what you will be using your content for; is it to share with friends on your social networks? Are you an aspiring content creator and would like to increase your audience with outstanding images? Is there a chance that you will need your shots to be included in a professional project in the future?</p> <p>Answers to these questions will start to tilt the scale towards one or the other side, but it is the combination of this first factor and many others that will give you a certain idea of what best fits your needs.</p> <h2 id="3">What sort of trip will you be photographing?</h2> <p>Admiring the <a href="/create/learn/photography/a-pro-photographers-guide-to-photographing-the-northern-lights">Northern Lights</a>, sunbathing at the <a href="/explore/southeast-asia/indonesia/exploring-west-papua">Raja Ampat</a> archipelago or hiking in the <a href="/travel-safety/southern-asia/nepal/nepal-mountain-safety">Himalayas</a>? Every trip is different and there is not a general rule of thumb or a professional consensus about which kind of gear is best for a certain trip: your itinerary will give you its own clues. Destination, weather, and the kind of activities you will be performing during your journey are key to deciding your photo equipment. Does your device match these conditions?</p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/LearnImages/camera-or-phone-in-article-3.jpg" alt="Photographer on mountain" /> <figcaption>Photographer on top of a mountain. Photo credit: Getty Images / Witthaya Prasongsin</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="4">How easy will it be to travel with camera gear?</h2> <p>Think about the weight and size of your chosen tool, combined with the means of transportation during your travels, which are crucial to your comfort. If you are taking a gap year to backpack around the world traveling light will be a priority, but if you’re going to a beach for a week and moving around by car or taxi, weight and size of a camera will be something that won't bother you at all.</p> <h2 id="5">What quality are you after?</h2> <p>Most phones deliver excellent photo and video quality, and most of us won’t be able to tell the difference between footage taken on a phone versus a camera. But other functions, such as sound recording, grain, and dynamic range, will be superior on a digital camera.</p> <h2 id="6">What level of performance do you want?</h2> <p>When it comes to performance, there is a lot to keep in mind, both in phones and cameras. While a camera’s image stabilization has been considerably improved with 5-axis image stabilization built-in that lets you zoom, snap close-ups, and capture night scenes with great clarity, the digital stabilization of high-end phones looks astonishing, too. However, if you also want to access manual shooting, being able to play with focus while filming, wide opening your diaphragm, setting detail your white balance, and meticulously choosing your shutter speed you might need to go for a camera. Also, with a phone, you might never match a camera in low-light photography.</p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/LearnImages/camera-or-phone-in-article-6.jpg" alt="Smiling photographer" /> <figcaption>High-performance photography equipment. Photo credit: Getty Images / Westend61</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="7">What format do you want?</h2> <p>Both phones and cameras allow you to film or take photos in a great variety of formats, but if you are planning to create videos for social networks, such as IG or TikTok, you might find it much easier and more comfortable to film in a vertical format (9:16) with your phone. Turning your camera 90 degrees just feels odd.</p> <h2 id="8">Connecting to Wi-Fi</h2> <p>Although most cameras have Wi-Fi connection to download your photos directly to your phone, if you are a content creator, influencer or just a devoted Instagrammer or TikToker, it will always be easier and faster to share what you have natively created with your phone. Also, for live streaming, a camera won’t be able to help.</p> <h2 id="9">Battery life</h2> <p>It’s not only about how long batteries last but also about how many batteries you will need to bring with you and how bulky camera-battery chargers are. While your phone may last all day without needing to be recharged, taking extra batteries for your camera plus a battery charger might be a pain if you are traveling for a long time or to remote areas.</p> <h2 id="10">Lenses and accessories</h2> <p><a href="/create/learn/photography">Photography</a> is all about light, and before getting to the sensor light travels through a lens. The quality of your lens and its inner composition will define the sharpness of your image, will let you play with different depths of field, and will be responsible for a beautiful bokeh. These days, phones incorporate several good quality lenses to give the photographer various options that are more than enough for the average traveler, but if you are looking for an artisan look there is nothing like an interchangeable lens camera.</p> <p>The bigger and heavier the device, the bigger and heavier its accessories. If you are a keen photographer, you might also consider taking filters, a tripod (for your camera) or mini tripod (for your phone) and a stabilizer and microphone if you think about shooting some videos too. All these accessories – and their weight – should also come into consideration when choosing your preferred photo device for your trip.</p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/LearnImages/camera-or-phone-in-article-5.jpg" alt="Camera and accessories" /> <figcaption>Camera and accessories. Photo credit: Getty Images / Aramyan</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="11">Image editing</h2> <p>Your photo isn’t finished yet when you hear the click of the shutter, that’s why editing capabilities of the files you captured are vital for flexibility in post. Phones include built-in editing tools that are good enough to share amateur content on social networks, but unless you have a high-end phone, cameras will offer a greater variety of professional formats for both photo and video files.</p>Getty Images/ArisSu 0 Person holding a camera

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/create/learn/film/using-sound-designHow well thought-out sound design will elevate your travel video from good to great.2022-03-16T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/create/learn/film/using-sound-designhttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#design">The importance of sound design</a></li> <li><a href="#plan">Plan ahead</a></li> <li><a href="#pace">Setting the pace</a></li> <li><a href="#atmosphere">Creating atmosphere</a></li> <li><a href="#missing">The sound of missing sound</a></li> <li><a href="#dialogue">Voiceover and dialogue</a></li> <li><a href="#recording;">Recording sound</a></li> <li><a href="#libraries">Using sound libraries</a></li> <li><a href="#post">Post-production sound editing</a></li> </ul> <p>The time has come and you are finally traveling to that destination that made you dream of shooting an amazing travel video with stunning visuals that everyone will love. You have packed your <a href="/create/learn/photography/a-pro-photographers-guide-to-photographing-the-northern-lights">camera</a>, a nice set of prime and zoom lenses, a bunch of batteries, a lightweight tripod, a pocketable drone, and even a gimbal. You’re all set. Are you all set?</p> <p>If you are not taking a good microphone with you, you are not fully packed. Sound is essential to storytelling and a powerful video needs not only eye-catching images but also meticulously crafted sound design. </p> <h2 id="design">The importance of sound design</h2> <p>Sound design (SD) is the art of creating a world for our story through sound. How much detail and dedication we build that world of sounds with will mean either the step up to our ideal video or the slide to an audiovisual nightmare. </p> <p>In short: we might watch to the end, or even enjoy, a video with poor image quality but distorting or inaudible audio will hurt everyone’s eardrums and make our followers block us forever on their social networks. </p> <p>So, we need to work on SD.</p> <h2 id="plan">Plan ahead</h2> <p>Leaving SD to be 100% done in post-production can be tricky. Especially now that we know that sound dimension is key to <a href="/create/learn/film/travel-filmmaking-are-you-doing-it-right">film</a> production, why not get to the field with a nice and clear goal that we can keep in mind while filming? </p> <p>You should always plan your sound design in scriptwriting. This will allow you to choose the correct location for your shots and to re-shoot any scene where you identify unexpected noises that will ruin the desired atmosphere. In the end, thinking about sound design during pre-production will always mean saving a lot of time in post.</p> <p>A good SD plan for a travel video should consider music, ambient and background, sound effects (SFX) and voice-over and dialogue, all of them part of the sound dimension of any video.</p> <h2 id="pace">Setting the pace</h2> <p>Music will be your first tool to set the pace and mood of your story and should be chosen wisely. The process of finding the right music track for your video might take hours of diving into music libraries, so patience is key. Many times you will find tracks you like but that don’t match the current project – it’s always a good idea to use those as spare tracks to build a personal music library that will save you time on future projects. </p> <p>Can you look for music in post-production? Definitely, but finding the correct music track before the shooting can help you understand what the final mood of the video will be and, therefore, to get your shots and your talents to match that epic, romantic or emotional mood.</p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/create/andrés-brenner.jpg" alt="Andi Brenner on location." /> <figcaption> Author Andi Brenner on location. Photo credit: Brian Rapsey</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="atmosphere">Creating atmosphere</h2> <p>Ambient and background sounds will dress up your story. Every space has a sound that belongs to it, and you can even recreate it in your mind places through subtle sounds that will transport you directly to the spot where you first heard them. That’s why it’s so important to have a list of sounds to be captured in the field and that will mean the world later on in post-production to create a unique atmosphere for your location. </p> <p>As a general rule, take your time on location to recognize sounds that you might not have thought of when building your to-record list, and always capture as many sounds as you can: the more you record, the less you will need to spend on copyrighted sounds from music libraries. </p> <h2 id="missing">The sound of missing sound</h2> <p>Can you think about an action or situation that creates no sound at all? If you imagine someone sleeping, you might hear the sound of their snoring. Think about an empty room of a house and you will notice the noise of a car passing by. Even when your subject is completely silent, the sound of their breathing will be there. All these sounds are essential to the actions they are the product of and not having them in sync will only create noise in our minds.</p> <p>Yes! Naked actions make noise, so adding sound effects in post-production is a must. It’s all about timing and common sense: make sure they sound like what they are (a big truck sounds completely different to a small car), and in sync and you will have the work done. </p> <p>And always remember: missing sound could be the noisiest.</p> <h2 id="dialogue">Voice-over and dialogue</h2> <p>Voice-over and dialogue are powerful tools. They are not only key elements in the composition of sound – as they need to stand out from music – but they are also essential to drive the plot of your story. They also allow you to add diverse points of view and reflections to what you are showing with images. </p> <p>To get the best out of these tools, it’s important to have a clean capture of voices, avoiding background interference of unwanted noises. Once in post-production, making them stand out is as easy as lowering the level of the music track. Another technique is applying a low-pass filter to the music track while the voice-over or dialogue needs to be prevalent. </p> <h2 id="recording">Recording sound</h2> <p>Knowing the elements of sound dimension is basic, but none of the above would help if you don’t pay attention to details when recording your sounds. Here are some tips to make them sound nice and crisp.</p> <ol> <li>Choose the right mic. The camera's built-in mic is never the right mic. Just like when you spend extra money on a fast prime lens to improve your image quality, you should also invest in a good mic. You don’t need to take a loan to get the fanciest mic in the market, a shotgun like <a href="https://www.rode.com/microphones/videomicproplus">this</a> is always reliable and should do the trick for a travel filmmaker that needs to get interviews, ambient and to travel light.</li> <li>Keep it to -6db to make sure your peaks never distort. You can always adjust the gain in post. </li> <li>Record many takes, then choose the best.</li> </ol> <h2 id="libraries">Using sound libraries</h2> <p>You might do your best to capture great ambiance and sound effects in the field but many times the context just doesn’t help. This is when sound libraries become your lifesaver. You can use the built-in filters to organize your search by mood, genre, instruments, length, etc.</p> <p>These are some paid and free user-friendly sound libraries that are worth checking:<a href="https://www.universalproductionmusic.com/"> Universal</a>,<a href="https://elements.envato.com/es/audio"> Envato</a>,<a href="https://freesound.org"> Freesound</a>.</p> <h2 id="post">Post-production sound editing</h2> <p>The last part of the magic happens in post. This is when you give life to your sound design and to do so, start by syncing clips and music: it makes everything look nicer. Just add markers to your music track to indicate beats and bars of your music track and then adjust the beginning and end of your clips to match the markers. </p> <p>You don’t need your voice-over to exactly match your image on the screen. Actually, it’s always nice to have it start a few seconds before the image, kind of letting us know something about what is coming next. A sudden cut of the music is another way to emphasize a segment of voice-over or dialogue. </p> <p>Once you’ve done these, start layering all the other sounds that will be part of your video. Use as many audio tracks as needed: that’s the way you will build your sound dimension with rich depth. You can also add SFX to your transitions to give them an accent. </p> <p>Your music track might be longer than the total length of your video. In this case, you can go to the end of the music track and cut the last couple of bars to be pasted wherever you need the video to finish. Make sure you respect the times of the track when pasting it, but this will give a natural smooth ending to the video. </p> <p>Once you have finished your sound mix, take your eyes off it, go for a walk, rest, and then come back later to listen to it again. You might find subtle adjustments to be done if you listen to it with fresh ears. </p> <p>It’s also a good idea to listen to it on different devices (computer, phone, speaker, etc) to make sure the sound is good in all of them. </p> <p>Travel video storytelling is the art of combining all your available resources to make people travel when they are actually not. To do so, the ultimate sound design will take you to the next level, offering a faithful experience for people watching your videos.</p>Brian Rapsey 0 A filmmaker with a camera and microphone films from a car.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/create/learn/how-to-create-a-podcastYou love traveling. Your love telling stories about your travels. So, why not tell the world with your own podcast? 2021-11-16T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/create/learn/how-to-create-a-podcasthttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#audience"> Who is your audience? </a></li> <li><a href="#format"> What's your format? </a></li> <li><a href="#recording"> Recording your podcast </a></li> <li><a href="#editing"> Editing your podcast </a></li> <li><a href="#host"> Where to host your podcast </a></li> <li><a href="#promote"> Promoting and monetizing your podcast </a></li> </ul> <p><span>The boom in podcasting has opened a whole new world for people to share their passion for travel and to share their tales from the road. And it’s not as difficult or as expensive as you may think.</span>  </p> <p><travel is="" a="" pretty="" broad="" subject="" but="" the="" most="" successful="" travel="" podcasts="" tend="" to="" focus="" on="" particular="" href="https://www.armchair-explorer.com/"><em>Armchair Explorer</em> features guests undertaking great adventures. Gemma Thompson's podcast is <a href="https://www.girlsthattravel.com/"><em>A Girl’s Guide to Travelling Alone</em></a>.  And <a href="https://thedish.podbean.com/"><em>The Dish</em></a> reveals the secrets behind the world’s most famous meals.</travel></p> <p>So, what's <em>your</em> angle? What are <em>you</em> passionate about?</p> <p><span>Maybe you love a good curry. Maybe you’re into diving. Maybe you’re an expert on every kind of auto-rickshaw used around the world. </span></p> <p>Whatever your passion is, own it. You’ll need a memorable name for your podcast. Keep it short, punchy and relevant. And check that no one else is already using it.</p> <h2 id="audience">Who is your audience?</h2> <p>Who is going to be interested in listening to your podcast and why? <span>I present a podcast called <a href="https://www.petermoore.net/podcasts/no-shitting-in-the-toilet-the-podcast/"><em>No Shitting in the Toilet</em></a> that celebrates travel in all its tarnished glory. I produce another one for the <a href="/explore/caribbean/antigua-and-barbuda">Antigua & Barbuda</a> Tourist Board. People planning a once-in-lifetime trip to the Caribbean don’t want to hear about madcap adventures where buses break down and toilets don’t work, but the listeners of <em>NSITT</em> do.</span> <span>Give your audience the information, stories and guests that they want to hear. When it’s a subject you’re passionate about, they are probably the same things you’d be interested in if you were a listener.</span></p> <h2 id="format">What's your format?</h2> <p>Will you be presenting the podcast on your own or will you have a co-presenter? Will you interview a special guest each episode or will you have several segments? There is no right or wrong answer. You simply need to figure out what works best for your topic and what you have the time and resources to do. Keep in mind that a variety of voices will make your podcast more engaging. <br /><br />I have a segment on my podcast where I read out listener emails. In the first episode, I did it solo and it was a bit flat. Now I use a guest to help me read them out – often one of the listeners who’ve sent a story in – and it not only sounds better, but it is also a springboard for more stories, more banter and more laughs. Your podcast can be as long or short as you want, but you should aim to keep it snappy enough so your listeners don’t lose interest. Better to keep ‘em wanting more rather than switching off with boredom. <br /><br />Whether you publish your podcast daily, weekly or even monthly, make sure to keep it regular. Leave it too long and your listeners may lose interest. <span>Personally, I like podcasts where the presenters are friendly and personable. So, my advice is to jot down some bullet points of what you want to say and just go with the flow. The beauty of a podcast is that it is all pre-recorded. If you fluff a line, just do it again. Or simply fix it in the edit. </span>However, if you’re interviewing guests, research first and have a list of questions. It will lead to a more relaxed and engaging interview.</p> <h2 id="recording">Recording your podcast</h2> <p>To record a podcast, you need three basic items: a mic, headphones and a recording app. Chances are you’ve got everything you need right there on your smartphone. Just open the voice memo app, plug in the headphone/mic that came with your phone and you’re good to go.</p> <p>Of course, the better your equipment, the better you’ll sound. I’d advise investing in a decent USB podcasting microphone. Check out the various buyers' guides online and choose the best mic for your needs and your budget. If you want to record in the field, you’ll need a portable recorder. Anything by Zoom will do, but there are guides on YouTube to the best of these as well. For recording guests ‘down the line’ you can use a conferencing program, such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Skype, which allows you to record your interviews. As you get more proficient you might want to look at services such as Zencaster and Riverside that record each person in higher quality and as a separate track which is a great help when editing.</p> <p>Always make sure your guests wear headphones. If they don’t, your recording will be blighted by feedback that will make it unusable.</p> <h2 id="editing">Editing your podcast</h2> <p>Even with the simplest of podcasts, you’ll want to trim your interviews, add intros and outros and mix in music. The good news is that the two best options for doing this are completely free. Audacity, which works on any platform. And GarageBand, which comes free with every Mac.<br /><br />Both programs work the same way. You import each element of your podcast as a separate track and then cut, trim and move them around to create a single audio file to upload to your host. You can also adjust levels and apply filters to make your voice sound more professional. They can seem a little overwhelming at first but there are plenty of great ‘How to’ videos on YouTube to take you through every step of the way. Just search ‘How to edit a podcast in Audacity/GarageBand' to get started.<br /><span><br />If there’s one thing that will immediately elevate your podcast it’s music. It sets the tone, captures a mood, and immediately adds a sheen of professionalism. </span>It is also the quickest way to get yourself into trouble. Music publishers will subpoena you before you can hum the chorus to Ed Sheeran's <em>Galway Girl</em>. YouTube has an audio library of free music and sound effects. Other services like Premium Beat and Artlist offer royalty-free music for a small fee.</p> <h2 id="host">Where to host your podcast</h2> <p>Podcasts need to be hosted somewhere, and there are many companies offering their services. Prices range from as little as $US5 a month, depending on the amount of storage you need and the services you want. Most companies offer a hassle-free listing of your podcast on all the major streaming platforms such as Spotify, Google and Apple. But, if you want detailed statistics, which is vital for monetizing your podcast, or a dedicated webpage, which is useful for listing your episode notes, you’ll pay more. Choose a hosting plan that suits both your needs and your budget and gives you the option to upgrade as your podcast grows.</p> <p>Eye-catching cover art is essential. Look at the cover art of your favorite podcasts for inspiration, then brief a designer at sites such as Fiverr and Upwork. Prices are surprisingly reasonable and the results are much more professional than you’d be able to produce yourself.</p> <h2 id="promote">Promoting and monetizing your podcast</h2> <p>As soon as you’ve decided on a name for your podcast, set up accounts on all the major social media platforms to help promote it. Promotion can be simple as a post saying ‘Hey, the new episode is now live’. Or you could post an audio excerpt from the episode to whet listeners' appetites. Some podcast hosts give you the tools to create these excerpts as part of your package. And there are plenty of YouTube tutorials on how to do it, too. Networking with other podcasters is another great way to raise your profile. Get in touch with similar podcasters and offer yourself as a guest. Or better, still, have them as a guest on your podcast. Chances are they’ll spread the word on their social platforms, especially if you make it easy for them by providing cover art, audio excerpts and so on for them to post. <br /><br />Contact any publication – online or real-world – that publishes ‘Best podcast’ lists or focuses on subjects similar to yours and let them know about your podcast so they can in turn let their readers know. Realistically, unless your podcast is hugely successful, the options to make money from your podcast are limited. Sponsorship is probably your best bet, especially if your topic is specialized. Even a small listenership is valuable if it is exactly the right kind of customer businesses are looking for. You probably won’t make much money at first – maybe just enough to cover your costs – but as your audience grows, so too will the opportunity to finance your travels through podcasting.</p>Getty Images / Visualspace 0 A presented talks into a microphone in a studio

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/create/learn/photography/how-to-master-drone-photography-and-filmmakingDrone technology has rapidly changed in the last few years, as have the rules around where you can fly.2024-10-28T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/create/learn/photography/how-to-master-drone-photography-and-filmmakinghttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#licence"> Do you need a licence to fly a drone?</a></li> <li><a href="#safe"> Tips for flying your drone safely</a></li> <li><a href="#plan"> For better photos, plan ahead</a></li> <li><a href="#different">How to make your work stand out</a></li> </ul> <p class="p1">When I wrote an article in 2017 about drones, I flew a DJI Phantom 4 drone, one of the larger white quadcopters that have become synonymous with drones. It went everywhere with me and <a href="/travel-insurance/whats-covered/baggage">needed its own backpack</a>. Over the last several years, technology has changed and now I have a drone that fits in the palm of my hand. As technology has improved and changed, the popularity of drones has increased, and they have become more affordable. The drone I have now cost just a third of what my previous drone did, yet it is just as capable. With all these changes and some high-profile drone incursions and incidents, the rules have changed too.</p> <p>When traveling with a drone, here are some things you need to consider.</p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/learn/create/maize-maze.jpeg" alt="A maize maze in Cambridgeshire, UK." /> <figcaption>A maize maze in Cambridgeshire, UK. Photo credit: Ryan Howell</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="licence">Do you need a licence to fly a drone?</h2> <p>This depends on a number of factors and will depend on the country you intend on flying in. It’s always advisable to check with the relevant Aviation Authority to be sure. In the UK and the USA, for example, almost all drones/operators need to be <i>registered</i> and display the registration/operator number on the aircraft.</p> <p>In both the UK and the USA, the magic number in terms of your drone’s weight is 250g. The rules differ depending on the weight and your intended use of the drone, but aircraft under 250g in weight have the least rules and restrictions.</p> <p class="p1">Registration comes at a cost, in the UK it’s currently around £11 and in the USA, it’s around $5.</p> <p>You must always adhere to local ‘drone codes’, privacy rules and laws and, <b>always</b>, fly safely.</p> <p>Flying a drone in an unsafe manner will land you in trouble with the Aviation Authority and this can and does result in large fines and the real threat of prison. </p> <p>Check if you need a licence/registration/operator ID:</p> <p>(UK) <a href="https://register-drones.caa.co.uk/drone-code" target="_blank">https://register-drones.caa.co.uk/drone-code</a></p> <p>(USA) <a href="https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/register_drone/" target="_blank">https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/register_drone/</a></p> <p>(Europe, by Country) <a href="https://www.easa.europa.eu/domains/civil-drones/naa" target="_blank">https://www.easa.europa.eu/domains/civil-drones/naa</a><br /><br /></p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/learn/create/pier.jpeg" /><figcaption>A Pier with sea defenses. Photo credit: Ryan Howell</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="safe">Tips for flying your drone safely</h2> <p>As indicated above, the rules you must adhere to depend on the drone you are using and what you are doing, but there are some rules that apply to almost all flights, in almost all countries. When deciding if you are flying safely, these rules (which are part of the UK Drone Code) are a good measure:</p> <ul class="ul1"> <li class="li1">Keep your drone within Visual Line Of Sight (VLOS)</li> <li class="li1">Don’t fly above 120m (400ft) from the Earth’s surface</li> <li class="li1">Stay at least 50m from people (and don’t fly over them)</li> <li class="li1">Stay at least 150m from residential, recreational, commercial and industrial areas</li> <li class="li1">Never fly in an airport’s Flight Restriction Zone (FRZ)</li> </ul> <p>The onus is always on the aircraft operator to ensure every flight is safe and within the rules.</p> <p>The more things you can do to make sure your flight is <a href="/responsible-travel/make-a-difference/participation/ethical-drone-photography-filming">as safe and responsible as possible</a>, the better position you’ll be in if something does go wrong. I call it due diligence.</p> <h2 id="plan">For better photos, plan ahead</h2> <p>I used to fly aimlessly on location, hoping that I would see <a href="/create/learn/landscape-photography">something worth photographing</a>. I’d get lots of flight time in, but I wouldn’t be entirely happy with the photos. If you invest time before going on location with your drone, you’ll find that your flights are more productive, and you achieve more in less time. Average battery life is around the 20-25-minute mark, so the more you can do without changing batteries, the better.</p> <p class="p1">When I reach the location now, I know exactly where I’m going to take off and land from, I know where the sun will be, I know about any hazards (pylons, cliffs, airports etc) and I know specifically what I’m going to photograph. I tend to use 50% of the battery and I’m done. I come away from flights now with three times as many photos.</p> <p>These are some really useful apps for planning flights:</p> <p><b>Altitude Angel</b> is an app that allows you to see details of restricted flight space, NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen) and other information that relates to hazards and airspace information. This app also lets you log a drone flight, always a good idea, and see drone flights logged by other pilots. Altitude Angel will also email you a pre-flight report, showing you location-specific information, great for that ‘due diligence. This app works for many countries across the World.</p> <p><b>Advisory</b> lets you check the weather, in detail and my favourite bit of this app is the ability to see <i>exactly</i> where the sun will be at any given time. Knowing where the sun (and light) will be, is a really important factor when planning for photography.</p> <p><b>UAV Forecast</b> lets you check lots of factors that help you decide wherever you should fly or not, the wind speed, cloud cover, chance of rain, location of airports and how many satellites your drone may connect to. You can set the limits in this app to match your drone or local rules.</p> <p><b>Google Earth</b> is the best app for exploring the terrain of your flight location. I use it in 2D and 3D modes to get a real feel for what I can expect when I arrive on location. I know if there’s a hill to climb or avoid. I decide where I’m going to set up my take-off and landing by using Google Earth. I’ve stumbled across some great photo opportunities from just browsing Google Earth.</p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/learn/create/plane-wreck.jpeg" /> <figcaption>DC3 Plane Wreck, South Iceland. Photo credit: Ryan Howell</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="different">How to make your work stand out</h2> <p>If you fly a drone and take photos, then you’re an aerial photographer. There are millions of you. By following the planning advice above, you’ll make sure you know what it is you want to photograph before you even touch the flight controller. This will increase your chances of finding that one image that no one else has taken or seen. Here are some other tips:</p> <p><b>Only share your best work</b> – You’ll take several photos, but one will be the best. Only share that one photo, archive the rest. You want people to see your best photos, no one likes mediocre.</p> <p><b>Rotate it</b> – Sometimes I take a photo and something doesn’t feel <i>quite</i> right. Try rotating the photo a few times, you’ll be surprised how different you’ll feel about it.</p> <p><b>Nadir</b> <b>is best</b> – A photo of the lens looking directly down on your subject often gives a very unique perspective. These shots, referred to as nadir, will stand out, because it’s a view people aren’t used to seeing.</p> <p><b>Perspective</b> – Try to include something in your photo that gives its viewer an idea of scale. Sometimes aerial photos can be underwhelming because it’s not clear how amazing the photo really is. Include something that everyone can relate to the size of.</p> <p><b>Don’t be afraid of the water</b> – Fly over water, it’s scary for the first few (hundred) times, but waves look fantastic from above. You should ensure that your drone isn’t set to automatically land if it loses connection, instead have it return to the take-off point unless that’s a boat that’s on the move.</p> <p><strong>Explore close to home</strong> <span>–</span> Don’t underestimate what’s right on your own doorstep. All flights increase your experience and you’ll find some hidden gems just down the road. Remember, you live where others travel.</p>Ryan Howell 0 Ryan Howell Durdle Door, Dorset, UK shot from above

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/create/learn/writing/travel-writing-when-not-travelingYou can still write about travel even if you’re stuck at home, advises Newsweek travel editor Kathleen Rellihan. Here’s how.2025-09-29T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/create/learn/writing/travel-writing-when-not-travelinghttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>How do you write about travel when you’re not traveling? That was a question on many writers<span>’</span> and editors<span>’</span> minds when we were living through the COVID-19 pandemic. However, now that it's behind us, the truth is, surprisingly, travel writers are not always traveling. Perhaps a travel writer has family commitments, a day job keeping them at home, a new baby or a lack of funds. Or maybe they simply need a break from the constant go-go travel life.</p> <p>If a <a href="/explore/guides/how-to-make-a-living-as-a-travel-writer-guide">travel writer</a> isn’t traveling, that doesn’t mean they can’t be writing in-depth or first-person stories about travel. They merely need to think outside the typical 'I went here' tales and dig into stories they can tell while they’re at home.</p> <ul> <li><a href="#unearth">Unearth a new story</a></li> <li><a href="#people">Interview people virtually</a></li> <li><a href="#means">Broaden what travel writing means</a></li> <li><a href="#guide"> Download our How to Make a Living as a Travel Writer guide </a></li> </ul> <h2 id="unearth">Unearth a new story</h2> <p>Reflecting on past travel experiences can open up fresh opportunities. Is there a story you haven’t told but perhaps it<span>’</span>s relevant now more than ever? Maybe you visited a country that’s celebrating a milestone soon and it’s time to look back on your travels there.</p> <p>I didn’t write about climbing Mt. Elbrus for over a year after my trip; I was waiting for the perfect timing and when Russian-American politics brewed up in the news again. I knew telling another side of <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/explore/eastern-europe/russia" title="Explore Russia">Russia</a> would be important and timely to an American travel audience. My pitch was accepted a year later during heated political discussions.</p> <p>Politics aside, a country’s peaks and its people need to be experienced firsthand. So, while I didn’t write about those politics exactly, I seized the moment to write a story about why you would consider climbing a mountain in Russia – the highest in Europe – despite its politics, stereotypes or simply because you haven’t heard about this side of the world much yet.</p> <h2 id="people">Interview people virtually</h2> <p>I’ll remember the pandemic of 2020 for many reasons, one of which is I interviewed <a href="https://www.janegoodall.org/" title="Dr Jane Goodall">Dr Jane Goodall</a> while in lockdown. This global icon still travels 300 days of the year with an indefatigable drive to change our world. That is, Goodall was traveling that much before the pandemic. So luckily for me, I was about to catch this highly sought-after octogenarian and squeeze in about 20 minutes of her time to talk about what hope she has for the planet – and how tourism can play a positive role in it.</p> <p>Interviewing people virtually lets you focus on their perspective. I interviewed British eco-artist and sculptor <a href="https://www.underwatersculpture.com/" title="Jason deCaires Taylor">Jason deCaires Taylor</a>, who creates underwater art worlds all over the globe that act as artificial reefs for new ecosystems to thrive.</p> <p>Sure, I would have loved to have seen his art underwater or interviewed him in <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/explore/oceania/australia" title="Explore Australia">Australia</a>, where he was working on his new underwater art museum, but being able to do a WhatsApp interview across multiple time zones enabled me to talk to him while he was in the midst of creating this new massive submerged sculpture park, all while I was home in New York.</p> <p>Of course, I want to experience his art where it should be viewed – under the sea – but this way I was able to focus on his story and his work more in-depth. Next, I’ll write about my experience seeing it underwater.</p> <h2 id="means">Broaden what travel writing means</h2> <p>Travel writing is a combination of experiencing other cultures, writing about unique perspectives, dispelling stereotypes about the world and exploring facets of the human experience. So you don’t have to think so literally about travel as going from point A to point B, “here’s where I went and what I did there.”</p> <p>This is the time to broaden your scope and think about travel writing as culture writing. How can you write about culture and the world when you are stuck at home? Go beyond and go inward.</p> <p>Maybe you have an affinity for photography and art. I interviewed a professional photographer who started taking virtual portraits during the pandemic and now it’s his preferred way to shoot. He photographs people from around the world, reflecting on how we see the world and the changing times.</p> <p>Or maybe you have an interest in food and wine; you can certainly taste natural skin-contact wines from <a href="/explore/middle-east/georgia/mountain-glory-and-medieval-customs-in-the-upper-svaneti">Georgia</a> at home. Or maybe you want to dig into the health benefits of <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/explore/eastern-asia/japan" title="Explore Japan">Japan</a>’s forest bathing – surely there’s a forest to bathe in nearby.</p> <p>Or maybe this is your time to go inward and write a very personal take on what travel means to you, how it’s changed you, or maybe how the world now, in a pandemic or not, will change how we will travel. You have the time to write it now – one benefit of being stuck at home.</p>Getty Images / Donald Miralle 11043955220 Getty Images

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/create/learn/writing/learn-a-languageThese online lessons won’t just dial up your linguistic skills; they will help make you a better traveler. 2020-07-14T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/create/learn/writing/learn-a-languagehttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>When I got sick straight after arriving in Iran, my high school teacher Mrs Pickering rode to the rescue. Not literally, of course; I hadn’t seen her since graduating. No, it was her French lessons that helped me out.</p> <p>Feeling unwell as I walked down the street, I collapsed onto a bench and wondered how I would get help, not being able to speak a word of Farsi. Two older women approached me and asked something in Farsi. “English?” I asked hopefully; they shook their heads. Then one asked tentatively, “Français?”. “Oui!” I responded enthusiastically. Turned out she had studied French at school, just like I had; using the language I had in common, I explained what was wrong and she quickly got me the help I needed.</p> <p>It proves that you can never predict when another language is going to come in handy.</p> <ul> <li><a href="#Playing">Playing catch-up</a></li> <li><a href="#benefits">Multilingual benefits </a></li> <li><a href="#try">Language apps to try </a></li> </ul> <h2 id="Playing">Playing catch-up</h2> <p>European countries are famously multilingual; in the tiny state of Luxembourg, for instance, school lessons are taught in German and French, and pupils also have to study English and one other language.</p> <p>Other impressively multilingual countries include South Africa (which has 11 official languages; locals tend to speak at least two or three of them) and India, where each state has its own official language and educated people commonly speak around three languages.</p> <p>The good news is, there’s no reason those who speak only English can’t play catch-up. And you don’t have to be fluent in a foreign language to enhance your travel experience.</p> <p>“Even if you only have a few phrases, it makes a big difference,” says Lou Day of Exodus Travels. When Day spent six months traveling in South America, she found that knowing a few phrases of Spanish made a big difference – especially if you’re willing to learn a bit more than the usual “please”, “thank you” and “how much?”.</p> <h2 id="benefits">Multilingual benefits</h2> <p>“Being able to say your name and where you’re from, being able to ask for directions; they all help you interact more freely with people, and isn’t that one of the reasons why we travel?” Day says. “I learnt to say, ‘I’m sorry my Spanish isn’t very good but I’d love to learn some more’ and people totally loved it.”</p> <p>Don’t let your self-consciousness get in the way. It’s not about sounding like a native speaker; it’s about getting your meaning across. “It’s amazing how well you can communicate when you have a go,” says World Expeditions’ Brad Atwal. “And when you have a go, you start to engage, and when you start to engage, you’re a little closer to making a friend.”</p> <h2 id="try">Five language apps to try</h2> <p>Learning a language has never been easier. An ever-growing range of apps and online tools uses a range of technologies and techniques to make learning fun – and with self-contained lessons, you can squeeze in some practice whenever you get a moment. So, try one of our favorite apps and upgrade your skills before it’s time to go traveling again.</p> <h3>1. Babbel</h3> <p><strong>How many languages:</strong> 14</p> <p><strong>How it works:</strong> The beauty of Babbel is that you can choose not just the language you’re learning, but also the type of vocabulary. Want to learn how to ask directions, or focus on ordering meals at a restaurant? Just choose the appropriate module. Your first 15-minute lesson is free.</p> <p><strong>Find out more: </strong><a href="https://www.babbel.com/" target="_blank" title="Babbel">babbel.com</a></p> <h3>2. Duolingo</h3> <p><strong>How many languages:</strong><span><span> </span></span>More than 30</p> <p><strong>How it works: </strong>First reason we love Duolingo: it’s free. Second reason we love it: it’s fun, offering plenty of games and quizzes that help you learn. It also has a feature that records your translations and plays them back for you down the line, so you can see how much you have improved.</p> <p><strong>Find out more: <a href="https://www.duolingo.com/" target="_blank" title="Duolingo">duolingo.com</a></strong></p> <h3>3. Rosetta Stone</h3> <p><strong>How many languages:</strong><span><span> </span></span>25</p> <p><strong>How it works: </strong>This is the app to choose if you want to do more than simply learn the basics. Rosetta Stone doesn’t just teach vocabulary: it also helps you get to grips with the local culture. Its speech recognition software helps you nail the pronunciation.</p> <p><strong>Find out more: <a href="https://www.rosettastone.com/" target="_blank" title="Rosetta Stone">rosettastone.com</a></strong></p> <h3><strong>4. Memrise</strong></h3> <p><strong>How many languages:</strong><span><span> 1</span></span>8</p> <p><strong>How it works: </strong>Need to learn some vocab fast? Memrise makes it easy, turning learning into a game. The basic lessons are free; if you want to dive deeper, consider the premium service, which offers videos of native speakers and also tailors your lessons to reflect how well you are doing.</p> <p><strong>Find out more: <a href="https://www.memrise.com/" target="_blank" title="Memrise">memrise.com</a></strong></p> <h3>5. Busuu</h3> <p><strong>How many languages:</strong><span><span> </span></span>12</p> <p><strong>How it works: </strong>Are you the type of person who rises to a challenge? Then Busuu may be the app for you. Once you have selected your language, the app helps establish how much understanding – if any – you already have, and how fluent you want to become. Set yourself a goal and the app will create a learning plan that ensures you hit the goal by your desired date.</p> <p><strong>Find out more: <a href="https://www.busuu.com/" target="_blank" title="Busuu">busuu.com</a></strong></p>Vsojoy 0 Japanese signpost

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/create/learn/writing/storytelling-digital-nomadsIt sounds like a dream job, but for every success story there are those who have tried and failed. We ask four digital nomad duos to share their tips and advice.2020-07-08T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/create/learn/writing/storytelling-digital-nomadshttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>Living a nomadic lifestyle and making money along the way is reality for these traveling couples, but their success has not come without hard work and plenty of trial and error. These four digital duos explain how they grew their audiences, the challenges they’ve faced along the way, and their tips for other aspiring blogging, instagramming, filmmaking couples eager to hit the road together – when travel bounces back.</p> <p>We talk to: Alesha Bradford and Jarryd Salem at <a href="https://www.nomadasaurus.com/" target="_blank">NOMADasaurus</a>; PJ Madam and Tim Noonan, creators of Netflix series <a href="https://www.netflix.com/au/title/80210245" target="_blank">Extreme Engagement</a>; <span>Renée</span> and JB Macatulad from <a href="https://www.willflyforfood.net" target="_blank">Will Fly For Food</a>; and Kach and Jonathan Howe of <a href="https://twomonkeystravelgroup.com/" target="_blank">Two Monkeys Travel Group</a>.</p> <ul> <li><a href="#aspiring">What are your tips for others aspiring to do what you do? </a></li> <li><a href="#challenges">What have been your major challenges along the way? </a></li> <li><a href="#least">What do you like least, and best, about what you’re doing?</a></li> <li><a href="#audience">In terms of growing your audience, what has worked well – and not so well? </a></li> <li><a href="#media">Have social media algorithms affected how you do things?</a></li> <li><a href="#roles ">Do you have specific roles? How do you divide the work between you? </a></li> <li><a href="#digital">What were you doing before you were a digital nomad? </a></li> <li><a href="#favorite ">What has been your favorite destination so far? Why? </a></li> </ul> <h2 id="aspiring">What are your tips for others aspiring to do what you do?</h2> <p><strong>Alesha and Jarryd:</strong> Mentally prepare for this lifestyle before diving in. There will be stress in traveling as a couple and working simultaneously. Hobbies, date nights and even spending time apart helps.</p> <p><strong>PJ and Tim:</strong> It’s an enormous risk to overcome your fears – we all know that safety is ‘within the box’. Give it time and dedication, commit to following your dream.</p> <p><strong>Ren and JB:</strong> You’re probably not going to make serious money in those first few years, but you have to keep plugging away. I read somewhere that 95 percent of bloggers quit within the first year after realizing how difficult it is, so I recommend you blog as a side hustle first.</p> <p><strong>Kach and Jonathan:</strong> Resonate with your audience but be yourself. Take beautiful photos along the way. The price of all of this freedom is a lot of hard work, so find that balance between the work and still traveling the way you want to.</p> <h2 id="challenges">What have been your major challenges along the way?</h2> <p><strong>Ren and JB:</strong> Google updates! You could be enjoying your best month ever and then completely crash the next. It’s discouraging and frustrating, and also completely out of your control. Diversify traffic sources to handle such setbacks.</p> <p><strong>PJ and Tim:</strong> Thriving in harsh environments with no experience was difficult – in Mongolia, it was -22F (-30C.) We regularly went without bathing and lacked access to phones and email. We even ate rat. Our challenges became the best part of the adventure though – the distance and lack of technology created very ‘in-the-moment’ experiences, and a great detox into simplicity. It made me realize how much I miss the world.</p> <p><strong>Kach and Jonathan:</strong> In the beginning, it was mostly financial. We had to find ways of earning money and saving it on the road so that we could continue traveling without having to return home. Now, it’s more an issue of traveling how we want to – it can be easy for the website and social media to take over the experiences and let the cart start driving the horse, so to speak.</p> <p><strong>Alesha and Jarryd:</strong> People think that being a digital nomad is just one big holiday, but it really is quite different. Having proper days off from work or traveling is almost non-existent, so creating harmony between professional obligations and pleasure is extremely important. We try.</p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/learn/writing/PJ.jpg" alt="COUPLE WITH VIDEO CAMERA" /> <figcaption>Filmmaker-producers Tim Noonan and PJ Madam. Photo credit: Wildman Films</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="least">What do you like least, and best, about what you’re doing?</h2> <p><strong>Kach and Jonathan:</strong> We find that if we dislike something enough, it’s a sign to stop doing it and find other ways to make things happen. We love the freedom, the control and the choices we make in our lives every day. We’re doing what we want to do.</p> <p><strong>Alesha and Jarryd:</strong> The best part of this is exploring the world with the love of my life; it’s impossible to beat that. Truly, there is nothing we dislike about this lifestyle, but if there were one thing we could change, it would be having a community outside of our own relationship.</p> <p><strong>Ren and JB:</strong> We love being able to work from wherever we please. There are certainly challenges and uncertainties, but we love that we are fulfilled from what we do – and that we have no commute! Keeping up with the minutiae of Google’s updates and how they affect our follower base is not our favorite.</p> <p><strong>PJ and Tim:</strong> Setting off into the unknown and being able to understand something completely new to us, and the privilege of engaging with others’ lives, well, it gives a new perspective to our tiny window in this history. The universal language of welcome and respect is a great connector.</p> <h2 id="audience">In terms of growing your audience, what has worked well – and not so well?</h2> <p><strong>JB:</strong> Facebook ads have worked well for us, though not as well as they used to. We’re putting more effort into growing our YouTube channel. We plan to release two videos per week – starring Ren, she’s quite the ham.</p> <p><strong>Alesha and Jarryd:</strong> It’s a constant battle with trends changing and market saturation. What worked for us was traveling to off-beat destinations like Central Asia and improving our photography. What hasn’t worked? Venturing too far from the typical landscapes and travel shots we usually share. We love portrait and street photography, but when we post these, our engagement is extremely low. Our audience knows what they like.</p> <p><strong>Kach and Jonathan:</strong> There’s an audience for everything on the internet. When we stopped backpacking and moved onto a sailboat, we saw a decline in our audience, because our original audience could no longer relate to our travels. We kept at it, being true to ourselves, and with time our audience evolved to our new lifestyle.</p> <p><strong>PJ and Tim:</strong> In the places we go, phone reception isn’t usually available, which makes it difficult to post. We also don’t travel with a crew, we enlist locals to help with filming and lighting at the locations. We post when we can, and we know that can be a powerful tool when used for good.</p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/learn/writing/Ren.jpg" alt="COUPLE SELFIE" /> <figcaption>Traveleaters JB and Renée Macatulad. Photo credit: Will Fly For Food</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="journey">What have you learned about one another on the journey?</h2> <p><strong>JB:</strong> I can be pretty controlling when pressed to gather content, and I want to efficiently maximize every minute of a trip so I rush. It’s led to arguments over the years. Blogging has changed the way we travel, so I have to remind myself to slow down, breathe and just enjoy the moment.</p> <p><strong>Alesha and Jarryd:</strong> We know each other better than we know ourselves, and that comes from spending nearly 24 hours a day with one another for 12 years. We recognize and celebrate our individual strengths and support the weaknesses.</p> <p><strong>PJ:</strong> It is surprising how quickly anyone can adapt to anything. All the perceptions of ‘this is going to be too hard’, it really does disappear. Courage and bravery pay off. I would never have thought that I was someone who gave things a go, but once I did, I thought, “oh wow, I’ve just surprised myself!”</p> <p><strong>Kach and Jonathan:</strong> We work well as a team, with the caveat that we have to recognize when we should do things solo. The key is doing it before tensions arise, since we don’t always want things at the same time. Who does? There are even occasions that we travel separately, and it works for us.</p> <h2 id="media">Have social media algorithms affected how you do things?</h2> <p><strong>Kach and Jonathan:</strong> We must pander to social media to a certain extent, but we believe that by doing what we love and sharing it in a way that suits us, the right people will find it. That’s what the algorithms are designed to do; they observe what we are interested in and what we engage with the most and then show us more of that.</p> <p><strong>PJ and Tim:</strong> We are still true to who we are and we find it a real privilege to engage with different people. Outside of any algorithm, there is a real power in digital connection, and even some of the tribes in Cameroon knew about Facebook! Imagine that, one of the most secluded populations in the world. Through social media, they can see our work, they can see the show and we can stay connected.</p> <p><strong>Alesha and Jarryd:</strong> Absolutely. In the early days, we focused on Facebook, and then over the years made a shift toward Instagram, though it took us a while. With the difficulty in organic reach, we’re reassessing how to tackle this. Fortunately, social media only plays a small part in how we’ve structured our business.</p> <p><strong>Ren and JB:</strong> Yes, definitely. Pinterest has made some big changes lately, so we’ll have to adjust. Instagram has always been a mystery to us!</p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/learn/writing/LeshJazza.jpg" alt="COUPLE TAKING SELFIE" /> <figcaption>Travel bloggers Alesha Bradford and Jarred Salem. Photo credit: Nomadasaurus</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="roles">Do you have specific roles? How do you divide the work between you?</h2> <p><strong>PJ and Tim:</strong> We don’t split our roles very well, to be honest. We’re together 24-7, and we’re each other’s boss, employee and crew. There’s nothing that one of us is doing that the other wouldn’t be aware of, or willing to do themselves. It’s all in the same pot, really – the time we work together and the time we’re together but not working.</p> <p><strong>Ren and JB:</strong> The blog is pretty much all me. Ren is working on her skills for being in front of the camera as we diversify into video.</p> <p><strong>Kach and Jonathan:</strong> Kach is in charge of all things social media and is the organizer. (I don’t even have any social media apps on my phone and I like it that way!) We’re fortunate to have a small team for various things, especially the technical aspects of running an online business. What I do depends on what we have going on in our lives. Currently, it’s a ground-up renovation of our 200-year-old house in Montenegro.</p> <p><strong>Alesha:</strong> We share photography, but everything else is split. Jazza does admin, business management and writing, and I do social media and videography, as well as creative strategy. We also have a small team working for us.</p> <h2 id="digital">What were you doing before you were a digital nomad?</h2> <p><strong>Tim:</strong> PJ has always been the curious sort with a background in politics, reporting, producing, writing and creating. She was a news anchor for several years. I work on both sides of the camera as well. I’m a filmmaker, explorer, documentarian and the former co-host of an Australian children’s show.</p> <p><strong>Jarryd:</strong> So many things! Lesh was a waitress, cleaner, cook, massage therapist and certified swimming teacher. I worked in civil, residential and mining construction, bartended, coordinated activities at a hostel, worked in skydiving, operated lifts at a ski resort and led tours.</p> <p><strong>JB:</strong> Ren worked as a travel agent for many years in Beverly Hills with a client list that included Kelly Rutherford, Jason Hervey and Leif Garrett. I have degrees in English Literature, and Fine Art and Illustration and worked as a web designer for Oprah Winfrey’s website, oxygen.com.</p> <p><strong>Jonathan:</strong> I used to work as an architectural technologist dealing primarily with new-build healthcare facilities, while Kach worked in the Middle East for a security contractor in the oil industry. Both are a far cry from our lives now! But my architectural background is a boon to the remodeling of the house.</p> <h2 id="favourite">What has been your favorite destination so far? Why?</h2> <p><strong>Alesha and Jarryd:</strong> Antarctica! There’s no place on the planet as pristine, humbling, beautiful and quiet as the seventh continent. It’s one of the last true adventures on the planet.</p> <p><strong>PJ and Tim:</strong> Oh gosh, this is like choosing a favorite child! China blew us away, Mongolia was breathtaking and Indonesia [sighs]… Every place has its own magic. It would have to be Yanaba though. It’s the place we were married in Papua New Guinea. It was a tiny island, incredibly remote. It was a privilege in so many ways.</p> <p><strong>Ren and JB:</strong> Oh, easily Japan. It’s endlessly fascinating and the food is phenomenal. Many travelers want to visit every country in the world. We just want to visit every prefecture in Japan to try every regional specialty.</p> <p><strong>Kach and Jonathan:</strong> Chilean Patagonia is pristine wilderness at its best, with only one road, the Carretera Austral, running north to south. We hitchhiked all 900km [560 miles] of it, until it literally disappeared into the water at the end.</p>Two Monkeys Travel 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/create/learn/photography/pro-travel-shotsMulti-award-winning photographer Dan Avila shares how he shot and edited five standout travel photos.2020-06-30T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/create/learn/photography/pro-travel-shotshttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#joy">Elephant joy in Zambia</a></li> <li><a href="#Bison">Bison in Yellowstone</a></li> <li><a href="#caves">Ice caves of Svalbard </a></li> <li><a href="#Colorado">Colorado trainyard</a></li> <li><a href="#stowaways">Antarctica's stowaways</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="joy">Elephant joy in Zambia</h2> <p>I thought to myself, “This is it; you could actually die today.” I was in a canoe, just starting to navigate a seven-mile (12-km) section of the lower Zambezi River in Zambia. The first bull hippo charge caused me to contemplate my mortality, but he was only one of dozens of hippos encountered on that trip, causing my adrenalin to pump so hard I could feel my eyeballs throbbing.    </p> <p>It’s a strange feeling, yet I think this hyperaware state made me a better photographer on the day.</p> <p>At the end of the hippo-canoe trip, this elephant and his pals ran into the water, sending the hippos into a quick retreat. As soon as he emerged from the water, his drab grey skin become wonderfully reflective of the late afternoon sun.  I knew the shot I wanted – a direct stare, with the sun on his side. I positioned myself perpendicular to the sun, ready to shoot him head on and prepared the camera with the right settings for the situation. After a swim with his buddies, I got the stare, with the ears out, in perfect light. I love this shot because it reminds me of the pure fun this guy and his pals were having in that hippo-filled river.</p> <h3>Camera gear </h3> <p>Camera: Canon 1DX Mark II DSLR body. <br />Lens: Canon 200-400mm f/4 L with its in-built tele-extender that increases its reach to 520mm without any loss in sharpness. It’s a heavy setup but allows me to fill the frame with the subject.</p> <h3>Settings</h3> <ul> <li>Aperture f/4 – the widest aperture available. It allowed me to blur out the background, isolating the subject. It also provides the greatest amount of light to hit the sensor allowing for faster shutter speeds</li> <li>Shutter 1/640<sup>th</sup> of a second – certainly fast enough for this slow-moving guy, ensuring a super-sharp result.</li> <li>Focal length 340mm – mid-range on the zoom</li> <li>ISO 1000 which is quite high, necessary because of diminishing daylight and well within acceptable noise parameters for this camera</li> <li>Shot in RAW (always)</li> </ul> <h3>Editing</h3> <p>This was shot so late in the day, that there was no harsh contrast to contend with.  I processed the RAW image in Adobe Lightroom. </p> <ul> <li>I reduced the brightness in the sky</li> <li>I globally warmed up the image to enhance the sunset feel</li> <li>I used a brush to selectively process the elephant, keeping the shadows dark but balanced, and enhancing the clarity, sharpness and texture of the skin.</li> </ul> <br /><br /> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/learn/photography/buffaloDANAVILA.jpg" alt="BISON IN YELLOWSTONE" /> <figcaption> Photo credit: Dan Avila</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="Bison">Bison in Yellowstone</h2> <p><a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/the-best-american-adventures-youve-never-heard-of">Yellowstone</a> National Park in winter is a Narnian wonderland. In the warmer months, millions of people descend on the park, but in mid-winter, there are no crowds in this phenomenal landscape, which provides incredible photo opportunities.</p> <p> The American Plains Bison is a fascinating photographic subject and easy to locate with a guide. Setting out in a specialist snow truck, with temperatures hovering around -4<span>°F (-</span>20°C), I knew the exact bison image I wanted to capture. It had to be head-on and shot from a low angle to capture the power and shape of this prehistoric beast.</p> <p>We approached this small herd making a fast march on a snowy track and put the plan into action. Our guide pulled out about 500ft (150m) in front and my wife, Zora, and I jumped out and took a position in their direct path. I shot from a kneeling position – a little below snout height, to really capture their oversized necks. The big bull led the pack and didn’t slow or deviate at all. As I fired off the final shot, Zora dragged me up by the shoulder into the truck just in time, as the bison passed by in all their snow-covered glory.</p> <h3>Camera gear </h3> <p>Camera: I shot this on a Fujifilm GFX50S medium-format, mirrorless camera. Medium format is a slower shooting option compared with DSLR, but the image quality, resolution and dynamic range are breathtaking.<br />Lens: Fujifilm GF 120mm Macro R LM OIS WR. In hindsight, a longer lens would have been a safer alternative, but this focal length allows for some nice compression and subtle isolation of the dominant bull.</p> <h3>Settings</h3> <ul> <li>Aperture f/4 – the widest aperture available</li> <li>Shutter 1/160<sup>th</sup> of a second – barely fast enough and really should be at least 1/400<sup>th</sup> for moving animals</li> <li>Focal length 120mm</li> <li>ISO 320</li> <li>Shot in RAW (always)</li> </ul> <h3>Editing</h3> <p>I processed the RAW image in Adobe Lightroom. </p> <ul> <li>I set black and white points for maximum contrast</li> <li>I manually adjusted the white balance, using the black areas as a reference</li> <li>I painted on exposure in dark areas and selectively reduced highlights in overexposed zones</li> <li>I increased sharpness, clarity, dehaze and contrast to bring out the details of the ice.</li> </ul> <br /><br /> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/learn/photography/icewcaveDANAVILA.jpg" alt="ICE CAVE" /> <figcaption>Photo credit: Dan Avila</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="caves">Ice caves of Svalbard</h2> <p>Taking adventure photos just isn’t the same when the process is too easy, so nailing the shot in a pitch-black, high-arctic glacial ice cave is super satisfying. </p> <p>Getting to the ice cave on this Norwegian archipelago <span>is half the fun. We ventured out into the great white wilderness on a dog sled with an armed guide – this is polar bear country. Cave access is via a small opening where we unceremoniously reversed through an inconspicuous entry before the caverns of silky smooth ice layers became illuminated by our headlamps. With our headlamps off, the inky darkness is so absolute, it feels heavy. </span></p> <p>Using my widest lens on a medium-format camera, I framed the shot on a sturdy tripod and preset focus. Zora sat completely still on the ledge and focused her headlamp directly toward the camera.  I set the shutter release for a two-second delay to ensure I would not cause any camera shake by hand. As soon as I heard the beep indicating the 10-second exposure had started, I used my headlamp to paint all the surfaces of the cave with light, never holding still on a single spot, trying to be as even as possible. While painting, reflected light is accumulating on the sensor, building the image. The final reveal is incredible – capturing the magic of a small space in this 1,000-year-old permafrost.</p> <h3>Camera gear</h3> <p>Camera: Fujifilm GFX50S medium-format, mirrorless camera<br />Lens: Fujifilm GF 23mm f/4 R LM WR</p> <h3>Settings</h3> <ul> <li>Aperture f/8 – the sharpest setting with good depth of field.</li> <li>Shutter 10 seconds</li> <li>Focal length 23mm which is approximately 16mm equivalent on a full-frame DSLR</li> <li>ISO 400</li> <li>Shot in RAW (always)</li> </ul> <h3>Editing</h3> <p>I processed the RAW image in Adobe Lightroom. </p> <ul> <li>I set black and white points for maximum contrast</li> <li>I manually adjusted the white balance using the black areas as a reference</li> <li>I painted on exposure in dark areas and selectively reduced highlights in over-exposed zones</li> <li>I increased sharpness, clarity, dehaze and contrast to bring out the details of the ice.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/learn/photography/trainDANAVILA.jpg" alt="MAN WITH STEAM TRAIN" /> <figcaption>Photo credit: Dan Avila</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="Colorado">Colorado trainyard</h2> <p><a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/skiing-in-colorado">Colorado </a>has a proud American history. As part of a 10-day shoot across the state, we had the chance to capture its <a href="/explore/north-america/united-states/native-american-journeys">Native America</a>n, Western, and industrial heritage. Steam locomotives and the people who still work with them, embody the pure grit and endurance of the American pioneers, so when we were granted access to the Durango trainyard, we knew we were in for some amazing photo opportunities. With perfect blue skies, a fired-up locomotive and a willing engineer caked in coal, I got this shot of a proud man and his machine.</p> <p>My approach was to capture strength and pride. I used a wide-angle lens from a low position to shoot up at the subject – directing him to face down the line, in the same direction as the train. As the coalsmoke billowed, it framed the shot nicely and added impact to the image.</p> <h3><span>Camera gear </span> </h3> <p>Camera: Fujifilm GFX100 medium-format, 102-megapixel mirrorless camera<br />Lens: Fujifilm GF 32-64mm f/4 R LM WR</p> <h3>Settings</h3> <ul> <li>Aperture f/4.5</li> <li>Shutter 1/100<sup>th</sup></li> <li>Focal length 32mm which is approximately 23mm equivalent on a full-frame DSLR – point of focus is the engineer</li> <li>ISO 250</li> <li>Shot in RAW (always)</li> </ul> <h3>Editing</h3> <p>I processed the RAW image in Adobe Lightroom. </p> <ul> <li>I set black and white points for maximum contrast, and then boosted contrast, clarity and texture to achieve a gritty finish</li> <li>I manually adjusted white balance and colors to achieve a chromic, industrial color palette</li> <li>I used an adjustment brush to paint on some extra brightness, sharpness and clarity on the engineer. The image had enough range in the RAW file to achieve a similar outcome to using a strobe light on the subject.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/learn/photography/antarcticaDANAVILA.jpg" alt="ANTARCTICA VISITORS" /> <figcaption>Photo credit: Dan Avila</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="stowaways">Antarctica's stowaways</h2> <p>Antarctica is completely astounding and defies expectations. When the sun sits low on the horizon and the wind drops, there is nowhere on earth with more interesting light and with wildlife so ambivalent or curious about human explorers. It is a photographic wonderland.</p> <p>This shot was taken in Yankee Harbour, off the Antarctic Peninsula. Expeditioners in bright red jackets were returning from a visit to a gentoo penguin colony to the landing zone. The pair of Gentoos in this image filed onto the path and joined the explorers, doing their best to remain inconspicuous, as if planning a stowaway. </p> <p>When I noticed this happening, I got into position to capture this pair in context with the human visitors. I used a medium telephoto lens to compress the scene and shot from my knees at penguin height. The position of the sun was almost directly to my right, meaning that the polarizing filter on my lens cut out all glare, providing amazing clarity in this capture.</p> <h3>Camera gear</h3> <p>Camera: Fujifilm GFX100 medium-format, 102-megapixel mirrorless camera<br />Lens: Fujifilm GF 120mm Macro R LM OIS WR with a circular polarizing filter</p> <h3>Settings</h3> <ul> <li>Aperture f/6.4</li> <li>Shutter 1/250<sup>th</sup> of a second</li> <li>Focal length 120mm which is approximately 85mm equivalent on a full-frame DSLR – point of focus is the lead penguin</li> <li>ISO 100 (base ISO)</li> <li>Shot in RAW (always)</li> </ul> <h3>Editing</h3> <p>I processed the RAW image in Adobe Lightroom. </p> <ul> <li>I did very little to this RAW file</li> <li>I set black and white points for appropriate contrast, then reduced highlights to bring back detail in the snow and ice.</li> </ul>Dan Avila 0 An elephant crosses a river

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/create/learn/writing/responsible-travel-writingTravel writers have an opportunity to influence the planet in positive ways. Nat Geo's editor shares her tips on writing responsibly.2020-02-21T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/create/learn/writing/responsible-travel-writinghttps://www.worldnomads.com<div class="scholarships-assignment-intro segment-margin-break"> <p>Admit it, fellow travel writers, you love it when someone tells you they were inspired by your words or followed your advice or planned a trip around a piece you wrote. You, like me, get a rush out of wielding that power, whether it’s to share where to eat in Washington, D.C. or to tell a tale of personal transformation that opens eyes, changes minds, and even melts hearts.</p> <p>The pen (or its digital counterpart) is mighty, and whether we realize it or not, is a large part of why we write.</p> <p>But with the planet in a climate crisis and travel and flying implicated as not-insignificant contributing factors, not to mention related issues such as over-tourism, biodiversity loss, and poverty, travel writers (and aspiring travel writers) can no longer leave it to news reporters and environment writers to do the dirty work. We need to not only travel responsibly but also write responsibly.</p> <p>Obviously, writers can pen stories about how to get around sustainably and many do so admirably. But there’s a limited market for those kinds of stories in travel media, which in many cases has become an arm of travel marketing and promotion.</p> <p>As one writer friend complained to me recently, “many outlets seem to have a limited appetite for stories about sustainability.” But just because you're not explicitly writing a <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/responsible-travel/make-a-difference" target="_blank" title="Make a Difference">responsible travel</a> story doesn’t mean you are powerless. Here are six things you can do.</p> <ul> <li><a href="#Choose"> Choose carefully </a></li> <li><a href="#See"> See something, say something </a></li> <li><a href="#context"> Give context to issues and challenges </a></li> <li><a href="#Model"> Model good behavior </a></li> <li><a href="#kick"> Kick the bucket list </a></li> <li><a href="#involved"> Get involved </a></li> </ul> <h2 id="Choose">Choose carefully</h2> <p>Remember that you are raising the profile of the companies and destinations you write about. So don’t just write about anybody. Whatever you’re writing about, decide to only cover companies and destinations that follow best practices. When I wrote about immersive <a href="/explore/central-america/">Latin American</a> tours last year, I not only filtered for interesting itineraries but also vetted the operators I mentioned for sustainability practices.</p> <h2 id="See">See something, say something</h2> <p>Better yet, share your concerns (respectfully) with travel providers. Is a local tour operator letting guests pet wild animals or handing out <a href="/travel-safety/worldwide/bottled-vs-filtered-water">plastic water bottles</a> in situations where they could be using filtered water? As a member of the travel media, you are in a better position than a regular traveler to take the manager aside and suggest alternatives.</p> <h2 id="context">Give context to issues and challenges</h2> <p>When writing about a place, along with the standard where-to-eat and what-to-do, be sure to work into your copy the challenges and issues of the destination, as well as potential solutions. Writing about the Galapagos? Don’t mention the lumbering land tortoises without also talking about the precariousness of their survival and that travelers can help by eliminating single-use plastics from their daily lives and 'adopting' an animal through the <a href="https://www.galapagos.org/" target="_blank" title="Galapagos Conservancy">Galapagos Conservancy</a>. Of course, that means you need to do adequate reporting before, during, and after your trip, and not just practice fly-in/fly-out travel journalism, right?</p> </div> <h2 id="Model">Model good behavior</h2> <p>On your owned content (social feeds, website, blog) you have more freedom to model best travel practices and even write that close-to-the-heart piece for which you can’t find a home.</p> <p>Pay special attention to the pictures, which are perhaps the only thing more powerful than words. While I’m nowhere near perfect, on my own social feeds (@noriecicerone) I try to model the type of travel I believe can be a force for good.</p> <p>What do your photos say without saying? I see too many images of so-called influencers cradling wild animals, sipping smoothies with plastic straws, and taking selfies with potentially vulnerable local children without context or explanation. Use your considerable influence to have a positive impact.</p> <h2 id="kick">Kick the bucket list</h2> <p>Travel websites love round-ups and travel bucket lists, but these, along with Instagram travel selfies, have encouraged travelers to a damaging dash around the world, not to know it but to show you were there.</p> <p>I can’t always avoid writing the ubiquitous listicle, especially when it’s with a plum outlet, but these days I assiduously avoid the overburdened icons to surface the <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/responsible-travel/make-a-difference/participation/how-to-avoid-the-masses-when-you-travel" target="_blank" title="How to Avoid the Masses When You Travel">out-of-the-way treasures</a> that have the infrastructure and capacity to handle visitors (in Peru, for example, Kuelap rather than Machu Picchu).</p> <p>Where I can, and in my personal travels, I slow it way down, settling in for stays of more than a month in Mexico City this year and in Quito in 2019, so that more of my money goes toward supporting the neighborhood economy: the corner <em>mercado</em>, the <em>panadería</em> down the street, the Spanish-language school, and, natch, the cafetería near the school.</p> <h2 id="involved">Get involved</h2> <p>It’s time for each of us to accept that the travel media is part of the problem and decide what we’re going to do about it. Have I considered abandoning leisure travel completely? Not seriously; there are too many net positives of travel, including connecting cultures and opening new vistas.</p> <p>Currently, there is no ideal solution; there are only various imperfect or incomplete options, including carbon offsetting your travels, going plastic-free, combining trips to reduce airplane travel, etc.</p> <p>As mentioned, on my personal trips I am <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/responsible-travel/make-a-difference/planet/your-guide-to-greener-air-travel" target="_blank" title="Your Guide to Greener Air Travel">flying less often</a> and staying longer in the destination. For work trips, I sometimes purchase carbon offsets but mostly focus on donating time and money as a board member of the <a href="http://adventuretravelconservationfund.org/" target="_blank" title="Adventure Travel Conservation Fund">Adventure Travel Conservation Fund</a>, which supports wildlife and conservation projects around the world. And increasingly I write, speak, and consult on ways to transform the tourism industry to be less of a problem and more of a solution.</p> <p>What is clear is that every member of the travel media – and everyone who aspires to be in this club – ought to do something, and not only that, ought to radically change the advice we give to those who read our stories, see our images, and follow our travels.</p> <p>You have superpowers. How will you use them?</p>Getty Images / Volanthevist 1150816040 Getty Images Galapagos tortoise

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/create/learn/photography/do-you-have-what-it-takes-to-be-a-photojournalistAn unexpected turn of events may call for a travel photographer to switch into photojournalism mode, advises seasoned photographer Nicola Bailey.2020-02-05T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/create/learn/photography/do-you-have-what-it-takes-to-be-a-photojournalisthttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>Travel photography may be rewarding, but it also contains an element of risk. If you’re embarking on a photographic career focused on travel, keep in mind that you may find yourself facing situations that are unsettling and even traumatic.</p> <ul> <li><a href="#events"> Unexpected events </a></li> <li><a href="#great"> Why travel photographers can make great photojournalists </a></li> <li><a href="#beyond"> Beyond the technicalities </a></li> <li><a href="#yourself"> Looking after yourself</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="events">Unexpected events</h2> <p>Over the years, I’ve witnessed a lot of extreme poverty and been in situations where culture shock is real. I’ve also seen the fallout from a landslide in Pakistan, experienced an earthquake in <a href="/travel-safety/middle-east/turkey">Turkey,</a> and had to make a rapid exit from the mountains in Nepal during a Maoist uprising.</p> <p>One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced as a photographer, however, occurred in Bangladesh. I was there doing some work for a not-for-profit while also enjoying the beauty this small country offers – from the mountains of Chittagong to the tea plantations of Srimangal. It was while I was in the capital city of Dhaka, though, that a garment factory, Rana Plaza, collapsed. The tragedy killed 1,134 people, mostly women.</p> <p>All of a sudden, I found myself in amongst the rubble photographing the crushed bodies of the workers and coming face to face with families looking for their loved ones. Over the following days, I met and photographed survivors in both the hospitals and in their communities. For the first time, I understood what collective trauma looked like.</p> <p>At that moment, I was fuelled by adrenaline and outrage at what had happened. I felt it was important to take images that would capture the horror of this preventable accident and inspire change. I wanted to do what I could to stop anything like this from happening again.</p> <p>In the end, I won some awards for that work, and did what I could to raise awareness of the issues around garment worker rights. It was sometime later though that I finally had the space to reflect on the experience and think about lessons I could pass on to anyone finding themselves in a similar situation.</p> <h2 id="great">Why travel photographers can make great photojournalists</h2> <p>There are many aspects of travel photography that can be useful in a <a href="/travel-insurance/whats-covered/natural-disasters">disaster</a> or conflict setting. Travel photographers are experienced at capturing the locations, people and events that work together to create a complete picture of a place.</p> <p>Working as a photojournalist requires much the same approach. While every situation is different, disasters and other newsworthy events typically require the coverage of those three things too.</p> <p>Travel photographers often want their photos to tell a story, just as photojournalists do. While a travel photographer may want to shine a light on culture, for example, a photojournalist may wish to highlight an issue. Both missions require skills in building powerful narratives through images.</p> <p>While storytelling is important, if it’s done well one image can speak volumes about a situation and tell a powerful story in its own right. Some of my strongest photos from Bangladesh are the ones that stand out without being flanked by any other images. A woman crying, family members holding up photos of their loved ones. They speak to feelings of loss, love and grief; emotions that are felt by everyone without distinction.</p> <p>In my view, taking images that speak to our collective emotions is the best way to have a lasting impact on the public consciousness.</p> <h2 id="Beyond">Beyond the technicalities</h2> <p>Many travel photographers, particularly those with a focus on <a href="/create/learn/photography/portrait-photography-etiquette" target="_blank" title="How to Take Great Portraits">portraiture</a>, will be skilled at building rapport with their subjects despite language or cultural barriers. Photojournalists typically require the same skillset, however, they may also find themselves up against additional layers of trauma, requiring them to be able to express empathy and understanding.</p> <p>Remember to be a human being before being a lens in someone’s face. Even if you don’t speak the same language, a simple look or gesture can be enough to communicate that you feel their pain and empathize with what they’re going through. The ability to connect is not only an important personal trait, but it will also come across in the quality of work you produce.</p> <p>Along with empathy, photojournalists also need resilience, energy and courage. Accessing your inner strength during those challenging situations will help you get the photos you need.</p> <p>While getting great shots is important, so is ethics. Intuition is often a good guide as to what’s right and wrong, but keeping professional guidelines in the back of your mind can make the decision-making easier. The Society of Professional Journalists in the US has a <a href="https://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp" target="_blank" title="SPJ Code of Ethics">code of ethics</a>, as do journalism bodies and news outlets in many other countries. Typically, a code of ethics highlights what is acceptable from both a humane and media perspective.</p> <h2 id="yourself">Looking after yourself</h2> <p>Numerous studies show that photojournalists who cover traumatic events often experience physical, emotional, interpersonal and cognitive stress.</p> <p>As a travel photographer who may inadvertently find themselves in a situation that’s particularly hard, it is most important to look after yourself. There’s not a lot of point in winning awards if you aren’t around to enjoy them.</p> <p>Think carefully about the risks you accept and the situations you’re prepared to enter into. Take note of your surroundings and work out the best way to move safely within them. Be mindful and listen to the advice of on-location emergency services for valuable information about safety.</p> <p>While resilience and courage may be needed to get the images at the time, be sure you have appropriate support afterward to assist you to process what you have seen or been through. And don’t be afraid to seek professional help.</p> <p><em>Editor’s note: although getting the story and being first on the scene is every journalist’s dream, heading to unsafe locations such as natural disaster zones can void your travel insurance and make a risky venture downright dangerous. Read your travel insurance policy carefully before you go, and make sure you understand the terms and conditions, limitations and exclusions, and how they might apply to you.<br /><br /><br /></em></p>Nicola Bailey 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/create/learn/film/travel-vloggingWant to video your travels and share them with the world? Travel vlogger David Hoffmann reveals the no-fail steps to building a YouTube audience.2020-02-04T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/create/learn/film/travel-vlogginghttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>When I started my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/davidsbeenhere" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a> in 2008, the platform was still in its infancy – no one really knew what it would turn into, and opportunities to generate revenue were few and far between. Fast forward a little over a decade, and travel vlogging is now a legitimate industry made up of thousands of <a href="/create/learn/how-to-be-a-content-creator-travelling-with-kids">content creators</a>, many of whom ask the same question: how do I grow my audience?    </p> <p>In such a crowded field, how do you make sure your content stands out? How do you get your videos seen? What should your game plan be? While these are important questions, it’s best to start at the very beginning: building and growing your audience.</p> <ul> <li><a href="#hook"> Figure out your hook </a></li> <li><a href="#realistic"> Be realistic </a></li> <li><a href="#Set"> Set up properly </a></li> <li><a href="#social"> Get social </a></li> <li><a href="#goals"> Set your goals </a></li> <li><a href="#expand"> Don't be afraid to expand </a></li> <li><a href="#content"> Focus on the content </a></li> <li><a href="#hard"> Don't be too hard on yourself </a></li> <li><a href="#vlog"> Aim for a daily vlog </a></li> <li><a href="#promote"> Remember to promote </a></li> <li><a href="#stay"> Stay the course </a></li> </ul> <h2 id="hook">Figure out your hook</h2> <p>A hook is key if you want to grow your audience. You have to have a clear vision of what your <a href="/create/learn/film/documentary-filmmaking-planning-your-story">videos</a> will be about and create content around a certain niche. If your travel vlogging focus is on food, understand what type of food content people are searching for – do SEO research (using a site such as <a href="https://mangools.com/kwfinder/?ref=menu-kw">Keyword Finder</a>) and see what the other major food travel vloggers are doing. But remember to put your own spin on it, and to create content you love – that enthusiasm will come across to the viewer. In my case, I’m a foodie who loves having authentic, one-of-a-kind local experiences in places that are off the beaten track. So far, I’ve immersed myself in the cultures of <a href="/explore/work-from-anywhere-6-travel-tips-for-digital-nomads">74 countries</a>. I generally spend two to four weeks in a country at a time, and have so far hosted more than 1,000 travel episodes across six continents.</p> <h2 id="realistic">Be realistic</h2> <p>Growing your audience on YouTube is a process. Anyone who thinks they’re going to have a million subscribers in just a couple of years is fooling themselves. This is a long-term process that takes at least five years, minimum. You have to do it because you love it, first and foremost. You’ll have to make sacrifices and actively work at your craft. Take advantage of every opportunity to visit a different country and document it. Some people think it’s crazy that I spend two weeks in a country and film my experiences from sunup to sundown every day. It’s easy for me. I do it because I love it. I don’t see myself doing it without the camera now. It would make me sad to come home after an amazing trip and not have it documented. This is the best legacy I could possibly leave. </p> <h2 id="Set">Set up properly</h2> <p>So, you’ve started your<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@worldnomads"> YouTube channel</a> and have released a beautiful, well-made video. Now what? One of the first things you’ll want to do is ask yourself what action you want your viewers to take after watching your video. Obviously, as a YouTuber, one key goal is to entice your viewers to ‘like’ the video and leave a comment. You’ll also want them to subscribe to your channel and turn on notifications so they get updates every time you upload a video. If your viewers <em>do</em> leave comments, it’s important to learn from them. I like to hear what my viewers enjoyed about the video. It provides me with helpful information on what my audience likes, which points me in the direction of what type of content I should make next.</p> <h2 id="social">Get social</h2> <p>At this stage, you should have set up your social channels, so you can flag them on the videos. I usually don’t mention my other channels in my videos, but provide a link to my Instagram in a pinned comment (pinned comments stay at the top of the comments under the video). I also provide links to my social media accounts in the video description, as well as my website, where they can then sign up for my <a href="https://davidsbeenhere.com/" target="_blank">David’s Been Here</a> mailing list.</p> <p>I send out a mailer each week, which features updates on what I’ve been doing and where I’ve been that week. That can include places I’ve traveled to, a travel vlog series I’m in the middle of dropping, and future travel plans that have been confirmed. The mail ends with reminders to follow my Instagram and to watch my adventures on Instagram Stories. I also provide links to my latest blog posts, interviews I have conducted with fellow travelers, and recent YouTube videos. Lastly, I share links to travel news stories, interesting travel blog posts from other bloggers, and a handful of travel deals. Make sure the mailer isn’t just promoting your channel and has useful content they can’t get anywhere else.</p> <h2 id="goals">Set your goals</h2> <p>As far as viewership number goals go, I never set goals for the number of views or likes I want a video to hit. I can usually estimate, based on how the series it’s a part of is doing, what it may do, viewer-wise. But don’t set goals for things like that. It’s more important to create evergreen content so that each video continues to accumulate views over time instead of being a flash in the pan. Focus on creating videos about things people search for so your videos can always be found and will always be relevant.</p> <h2 id="word">Don't be afraid to expand</h2> <p>Once you find your niche, don’t be too quick to expand outside it. Only do so once you have a large audience. I recommend starting a second channel and bringing your core audience over from your first channel. For example, I wouldn’t do a ski vacation video on my current channel. I would do it on a second channel once I was sure I had an audience that would follow me elsewhere. That way I have a ready-made audience, and eventually, twice as much revenue.</p> <h2 id="content">Focus on the content</h2> <p>One of the keys to growing your audience is to focus on the content you create. Make sure it’s something you would personally want to watch. Cut out any footage that is overly long, boring, or content that brings down the pacing of your video. If you upload longer content – videos that are 20 minutes or more – make sure the video will keep your viewers’ interest. I want my viewers to feel like they are watching a movie, and not to realize they’re 12 minutes into a 20-minute-long video, because they’re so <a href="create/learn/film/how-to-make-your-audience-feel-something" target="_blank">engrossed with what they’re watching</a>.</p> <h2 id="hard">Don't be too hard on yourself</h2> <p>If you create a vlog series that averages decent numbers – let’s say roughly 50,000 views per video – and your next series only does half that or less, don’t beat yourself up over it. Be patient and stay positive. Make sure you do your metadata, description, and title correctly so your content can rank for different keywords. After that, just give it time. Just because a video doesn’t do well right away doesn’t mean it can’t do well later.</p> <p>I have videos that reached a million views that didn’t take off until six months after I released them. Suddenly, videos that had only gotten a few thousand views until that point suddenly had 10,000, 50,000, 100,000 views. That’s why I am a big believer in creating evergreen content to grow your audience. It can catch on at any time and can get big numbers for years and years after you first published it.</p> <p>If you’re worried about your subscriber count, just remember this: I created my YouTube channel in 2008. I started off doing hosting-style city guides that would take me two to five days to make. I would film several days and make one video out of that footage. I wasn’t releasing consistently at that time. It took me 10 years to reach 100,000 subscribers, which I finally cracked in April of 2018. Just four months earlier, I was at 60,000.</p> <p>The thing that made all the difference was me. I switched from hosting-style videos to vlog-style videos in July 2017. I started vlogging daily, which helped me grow my audience at a fast rate. Then, I eventually started filming two to three videos per day when I traveled so that, when I was back at home, I had enough videos to tide me over until the next trip, sometimes even longer. On August 1, 2019, I hit 400,000 subscribers. It has been like a snowball effect since then.</p> <p>Create as much content as possible to reach your goals. Make sure it’s quality content that you like and that you believe in. My current five-year plan involves me releasing a video every day during that time period. It’s how I envision myself hitting my goal of one million subscribers.</p> <p>And don’t forget: always work to get better at your craft, diversify your content, and go far and beyond what anyone else does. And do the things that other people don’t do on your travels.</p> <h2 id="vlog">Aim for a daily vlog</h2> <p>Repeat after me: content is KING. I have a rule that I got from entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, which is this: release at least five pieces of content every single day. For me, the cornerstone of that content is the daily travel vlog. I also release one static Instagram post, three Instagram stories, and a blog post. The video and the blog post are the two hardest, but releasing this amount of content is, in my opinion, the key to staying on the minds of your followers.</p> <p>I believe in shooting for the stars. Work like hell to get what you want. If growing your audience is what you want, you have to put in the work to make it happen. It’s a lifestyle, a lifelong commitment, and a forever game.</p> <p>If you can’t make releasing a daily vlog a priority, then it’s going to be much harder for you to reach the 1 million subscriber mark that everyone on YouTube aims for. After I surpassed 100,000 subscribers, a million was my next goal. I didn’t shoot for 200,000 or 250,000 or even 500,000 next. It was always a million.</p> <p>Another reason releasing daily vlogs is important is because people will take notice of your hustle. They’ll see that you’re working your butt off. You should strive to be the hardest working person in the room at all times, period. Be willing to outwork anyone and everyone.</p> <p>When you release content daily, things will blow up out of nowhere, whether it’s a day, a week, a month, or a year later. I have videos that I filmed back in 2012 that got no views back then. Now, some of those videos are approaching a million views and get anywhere from 500 to 1,000 views per day!</p> <p>It will blow your mind what will happen to you after releasing daily videos for five years. It brings you a steady stream of revenue and helps to continuously grow your audience. You never know which content will catch on and when.</p> <h2 id="promote">Remember to promote</h2> <p>Now that you’re releasing daily content, it’s time to promote it. I like cross-promotion, personally. Every once in a while, I’ll promote my latest blog post on my YouTube community wall. I make sure not to do it every day because I don’t want to spam my subscribers.</p> <p>To grow your audience overall, I also recommend utilizing Instagram. I’ll often share footage from my latest YouTube vlog in my Instagram stories and link it to the video. Other times, I’ll post 60 seconds of YouTube footage in a static Instagram post or post a carousel of photos and videos with a caption telling my followers that I’ve just released a new video. Intertwining your YouTube channel and social media platforms is a fantastic way to grow your audience.</p> <p>I also highly suggest releasing all your YouTube videos on Facebook as well. You’ll make more revenue that way and get more exposure. It’s easy to forget that everyone isn’t on every social platform, so make it easy for everyone in your audience to access your content.</p> <h2 id="stay">Stay the course</h2> <p>The more content you produce, the more eyeballs you’ll get on it, which leads to more opportunities. If you want to make things happen, make money, grow your audience, and get to the next level, you have to work your butt off. Release content you love every single day and remember that growing your audience is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep at it, stay focused, and remain optimistic.</p>David Hoffman 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/create/learn/writing/5-tips-to-writing-a-winning-travel-storyIn this video, New York Times contributor and World Nomads scholarship mentor Tim Neville shares his expert advice for aspiring travel writers.2020-01-22T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/create/learn/writing/5-tips-to-writing-a-winning-travel-storyhttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>Watch this video to get Tim Neville's advice on:</p> <ol> <li>Working out what you want to write about</li> <li>Finding a unique angle and drawing from your own experiences</li> <li>Honing your eye for detail</li> <li>Refining your pacing and tone</li> <li>Using every word wisely</li> </ol> <p>Follow these tips and you're already on your way to becoming a better storyteller.</p>Mackenzie Wilson 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/create/learn/writing/the-realities-freelance-writingTravel writing may sound like the dream job, but the business of freelancing also takes discipline and determination, advises New York Times writer Tim Neville.2019-12-31T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/create/learn/writing/the-realities-freelance-writinghttps://www.worldnomads.com<p>The first question people often want to ask travel writers is about the fun things they’ve been up to for work. The next question is generally how; how do you get so lucky to have a career like that? What does that path look like? </p> <ul> <li><a href="#free"> Free but not free </a></li> <li><a href="#easy"> Go easy </a></li> <li><a href="#job"> Get a job </a></li> <li><a href="#gauge"> Gauge your responsibilities </a></li> <li><a href="#stay"> Stay disciplined </a></li> <li><a href="#freelancing"> Freelancing 101 </a></li> <li><a href="#guide"> Download our How to Make a Living as a Travel Writer guide </a></li> </ul> <h2 id="free">Free but not free</h2> <p>Luck is always welcome, of course, especially in a career like this. Jay Heinrichs, a longtime editor at <em>Outside</em> and the Rodale suite of magazines, once hosted a workshop in New Mexico with a group of aspiring writers who wanted to know the steps they needed to take to become <a href="/create/learn/writing/become-a-freelance-travel-writer" target="_blank" title="3 Ways to Become a Freelance Travel Writer">successful freelancers</a>. His answer was disheartening but true: there is no path.</p> <p>That’s precisely what makes deciding to embark on a freelance writing career such a big, scary step. While you can learn to write, you can’t really go to school to learn how to freelance, and, once you’re freelancing, you don’t get a paycheck based on the hours you work. The model is totally whacked. With freelancing, you’re trading stability for some freedom but you’re never really free. Writing is a business and that means working it and, ultimately, putting a lot of skin in the game.</p> <h2 id="easy">Go easy</h2> <p>Of all the ways to go down this no-one-path path, quitting your day job that keeps the family afloat to “give freelancing a whirl” is probably not the best way to do it. Neither is saving up a cushion of money to live off of while you try. With both, you’re exposing yourself to too much do-or-die risk that will potentially ruin your financial health at worst or leave you suffering through a lot of sleepless nights at best. Play it smart and ease into the game.</p> <p>That can mean a lot of different things but primarily it all boils down to having a steady income on the side that the freelancing work can supplement. Ideally, you want to <a href="/create/learn/writing/grow-your-travel-writing-income" target="_blank" title="How to Grow Your Travel Writing Income">build up your freelancing work</a> to the point where the real job has to go. It sounds easy and obvious until you try it. Having a “real” job naturally means having to stick to a schedule, which makes jetting off on assignments tricky. So start small. Pitch the service ideas and interviews you can do from home or be willing to take vacation time to work on your freelancing. Combining holiday time with freelancing can be ideal if your travel companions don’t mind you doing a little work along the way. Keep track of your receipts too. If you do end up selling a story, you may be able to write off part of the profit come tax time.</p> <h2 id="job">Get a job</h2> <p>Frankly, the best job to have when building up to a freelance <a href="/create/learn/writing">travel writing </a>career is one where you get to work with freelance travel writers. Interning at a magazine, a newspaper or a website, even at a brand or destination marketing organization that’s hungry for content, will let you see how the game is played from the inside. Any income helps so don’t feel like you have to embark on this massive career change overnight. Test the waters a bit first.</p> <h2 id="gauge">Gauge your responsibilities</h2> <p>There’s no getting around the fact that this all goes down a bit more easily when you’re young with fewer responsibilities. At 29, when I first started freelancing full-time, one $500 assignment from <em>Backpacker</em> meant I could pay rent, eat, and put gas in my car for the next month. My business met my needs, which grew, which meant the business had to grow, too. But if you start out when you’re older, and more settled in another career, don’t shut all the doors on your freelance dreams either. It just means you’ll have to plot your move methodically since chances are good you’ll be making less writing than what you’re making at your real job. If this is you, the best career may be the one that allows you some flexibility to freelance here and there but not full-time.</p> <h2 id="stay">Stay disciplined</h2> <p>No matter your approach, the pitfalls are real. It takes some real discipline to get enough assignments together each month to survive and even more discipline to manage your cash flow through the feast-or-famine nature of the beast. In the end, though, you should always be focused on improving your writing and that means writing a lot.</p> <p>Start a blog, write for a blog, fill up a journal if you must. Books like <em>Welcome to the Writer’s Life</em> by Paulette Perhach (Sasquatch Books, 2018), can offer great practical advice to keep the words coming. Without those, you’ve got nothing to sell.</p> <h2 id="freelancing">Freelancing 101</h2> <p>Freelancing can feel like you’re only as good as your last job, and in some ways you are. Don’t ever take any assignment for granted and always strive to be <a href="/create/learn/writing/how-to-work-with-an-editor-to-your-advantage" target="_blank" title="How to Work With an Editor to Your Advantage">easy to work with</a>: hit your deadlines, follow instructions and rewrite graciously. Editors won’t forget the time you bombed but they remember when you deliver, too. Keep the momentum going by pitching good ideas immediately after handing in good work.</p> <h2 id="guide">Download our How to Make a Living as a Travel Writer guide</h2> <p><a href="/explore/guides/how-to-make-a-living-as-a-travel-writer-guide" target="_blank" title="Download the guide">Get your free guide</a></p> <figure><a href="/explore/guides/how-to-make-a-living-as-a-travel-writer-guide" target="_blank" title="Download the guide"><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/learn/writing/writing-guide-content-widget.jpg" alt="Travel writing guide cover photo" /></a></figure>Getty Images / Westend61 11023296456 Getty Images