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Ideas, resources and tips on digital photography: equipment, techniques, reviews, courses, etc.

Exotic Photography



There are many aspects to bear in mind when thinking of exotic photography. The word exotic brings to mind many things – beautiful locations and sandy beaches are probably near the top of your list. But exotic photography can cover far more than just attractive locations.

Some photographers specialise in taking exotic images, mainly to sell through online photo libraries. Exotic images have the power to give life to articles that would otherwise look flat on the page, and they bring color and depth to calendars, posters and many other photo objects.

But even if you are a beginner at taking photos, it’s possible to start experimenting by taking some exotic photography of your own. Here are some tips on finding some subjects.

Beaches, Boats And Views…

With a bit of practice and a digital camera (so you can instantly delete any pictures you don’t like), your annual foreign holiday could result in an array of exotic photography to pack into your photo album.

Brightly painted boats and the deep blue of the sea and sky look fantastic in photographs. Try taking them at different times of the day to obtain different results.

A different angle can often turn a mundane shot into a more exotic one. A palm tree on the beach would look nice in any photo, but if you stood underneath it and took the photo looking up, you’ll get a more unusual result.

Finding Exotic Photography Subjects Close To Home

Exotic photography is all about far flung places, unusual animals and birds, bright colors and different foods. What’s more, you don’t always need to go abroad to find them.

Pay a visit to your local market to see what kind of foods they sell. Have a chat with the owners of the stalls – they will probably be happy to let you take some photos if it gets them some extra publicity.

Fruit and vegetables may sound like dull subjects to photograph, but exotic ones can look sensational if they are photographed close up against the gritty backdrop of a bustling market.

Taking Advantage Of Costumes

Finally, don’t discount the option of hiring costumes to take some exotic pictures at home. For example, you could enlist a friend to wear a Geisha girl costume and take pictures against a jet black backdrop.

While we’d all like to head to Hawaii or the Mediterranean to take some exotic photography, we don’t always need to travel so far from home to get the pictures we want.

Sometimes our imagination is enough to make the leap successfully.