Capturing a city in a day

May 10, 2012 12:06:20 PM

Richard I'Anson
Lonely Planet Author

Note: Javascript is disabled in your browser.
To see the gallery in all its glory, you'll need to enable Javascript.

View gallery

The urban environment of the world’s towns and cities provides photographers easy access to the greatest variety of subject matter. In the time it takes to walk a block or two, you can photograph panoramic skylines; people up close, at work or at play; abstract architectural details; frenetic street activity; and peaceful park scenes.

You can capture elements of the past and the present through the city’s architecture in one carefully composed street scene, focus in on torn wall posters in a dimly lit alleyway and within minutes be framing up the most recognisable landmark in the city.

Cities and towns are rich in subject matter and offer round-the-clock photo opportunities. In this itinerary, renowned travel photographer Richard I’Anson lays out a basic framework for getting the most moments from a city in one day no matter where you are in the world:

1. Rise before dawn to get to a predetermined location before the sun rises to capture the classic skyline or city view at first light.

2. Make your way to the waterfront for early-morning activity.

3. Head into the city centre for people- and traffic-free architectural pictures of key buildings and quiet streetscapes.

4. As the city wakes up, head to the morning produce markets for an hour or so.

5. Back to the main thoroughfares and city squares as peak-hour crowds and traffic build up for busy streetscapes.

Kolkata, India by Richard I’Anson

6. Walk the streets searching out new views, urban details, interesting shops and people engaged in daily activities.

Image of Ljubljana, Slovenia by Richard I’Anson

7. A late-morning visit to the city’s museums and art galleries.

Image by Mark Broadhead

8. Get to an outdoor-eating precinct in the middle of the day as cafes fill with lunchtime crowds.

9. Take an early-afternoon walk around shopping precincts before visiting places further from the city centre, including parklands and beaches.

10. Mid-afternoon, check out the craft markets and city squares to photograph souvenir stalls, street performers and people shopping.

11. Then take a quick walk around the food-market precinct as the cafes and bars get busy.

Outdoor restaurants in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Richard I’Anson

12. Late afternoon head to a vantage point for another (and different) city skyline or view.

13. Stay on at the viewpoint to photograph the skyline at dusk as the lights take effect or dash to another location to photograph a key building or streetscape in the half-hour after sunset.

Pudong skyline in Shanghai, China by Richard I’Anson

14. Spend the evening in the night markets, photographing bands playing in bars and people dancing in nightclubs.

Image of Singer and band at Tropicana Club, Miami, USA by Richard I’Anson

15. Rest.

Hit the streets and start shooting! Experience a day of travel photography with Lonely Planet and Leica Camera experts. Follow customized itineraries created by a Lonely Planet authors with a Leica camera in hand in one of the most beautiful cities in America: Savannah, New Orleans, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City.

Like this? Sign up to get our best articles by email

Comments

19 July 2011 5:55PM bluezzap Report this comment
I was beginning to think this could be tire one out, until I saw step 15 :)
Excellent article, Thank you.
I've always wondered though, if people thought photographers were an intrusion. How does one work around that?
19 July 2011 10:06PM pooja31_naik Report this comment
Nice article. Thanks for the tips. Can you guide me on the photography aspects ? For example - If I select a particular site / location which is worth of taking a photo, what all to consider about it?
- Pooja Naik Mumbai, India
20 July 2011 1:03PM vasenka Report this comment
Always fill the frame with the subject...
Keep the sun over your back...
Avoid making "Postcard" shots...Think outside of the Box...Break some of the rules and see what happens...
21 July 2011 8:42PM lonelybunny Report this comment
That's a lot of work, but I'll take it into consideration. I'm in Tokyo now, so the results should be pleasing. :)
10 August 2011 11:44AM lonelybunny Report this comment
Checkout this FB page for great photo locations across Japan.
[http://www.facebook.com/JapantravelUPDATEs]
16 August 2011 5:11PM ant0604 Report this comment
The view of Paris from the Eiffel Tower is great and is a fairly obvious place to get a pictuer from. The problem is that it doesn't feature Paris' most iconic feature.
The best shot of Paris is from Sacre Coeur.
This is just one example, ie shoot Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo, not the duomo etc.
22 April 2012 1:36PM explorenorth Report this comment
>>Always fill the frame with the subject...
Keep the sun over your back...<<
If you follow those "rules", especially the second one, you're going to have a very boring album.