Basic Information of Photography Tips for India - Swan Tour

Always be respectful of people you want to photograph. Ask permission beforehand, especially from women, as taking photos of people can be an extremely sensitive issue. You don't need to know the local language. It's enough to smile and hold your camera or camcorder up in a questioning sort of way. 

Remember that colorfully dressed tribal people and others are simply living their lives. Refrain from encroaching on their privacy without their permission. India is not a giant theme park that is here for your pleasure. Even if you come to India on an expensive photo tour, your fee does not entitle you to take photos of anyone and everyone without their consent.

Some people will ask for a little payment, or baksheesh, for having their photo taken. A rupee or two is usually sufficient, but certainly no more than five or ten rupees, unless you are a professional photographer shooting for commercial purposes and you need a model release, in which case it is appropriate to give more. If anyone refuses to let you take his or her photo unless you pay, 

Then don't take the photo unless you are willing to give something. This is their prerogative, and you shouldn't resent it. After all, you are intruding on their lives, so it is reasonable for them to expect some little compensation. In the case around tourists hoping to get their photos taken begging, however, don't encourage them by giving them money, chocolates or anything else.

Most people will be delighted if you take the time to show them the photos you have taken of them. It's a great way to make new friends, and this simple courtesy can open to the doors to places you would never have seen and experiences you would never have had otherwise.

Photography is commonly forbidden in temples and other places of worship, at least in the inner sanctum. 

There are many exceptions, but if there is no sign you should always ask. Instances of angry priests seizing cameras and destroying them are not unheard of. Some temples that do allow photography will charge a camera fee as well as a much higher video fee, and if there are parts of the temple that are off limits to photography there will normally be a sign to that effect.

Temples that don't allow photography will usually make you leave your equipment outside. Be cautious about checking expensive cameras at the shoe stall. It's helpful to carry a lightweight, lockable day-bag that is big enough for all of your equipment so you can lock it up and hand the whole thing over. Pilferage is the main risk in these places. In any case, avoid packing up expensive equipment in public view. When checking items at a shoe stall, you'll usually be given a token of some sort. A lockable day-bag is also useful for keeping extra gear safe when you have to leave it in a taxi. 

Always be respectful of holy places and other places of worship, and of people performing religious ceremonies in any setting. Don't photograph cremations, in Varanasi or anywhere else, except maybe from a long ways off.

Many visitors wander around India with a camera or camcorder in hand at all times. India and her people is fabulously photogenic, so irresistible photo opportunities present themselves constantly. Unfortunately, camcorders and cameras inevitably create a barrier between you and your subjects. Try putting your camcorder down fairly often and involving yourself with what's going on around you in a more direct way. Incidentally, while professionals naturally take a lot of photos or videos, even they don't go around indiscriminately shooting everything in sight. The best photographers carefully observe what is around them, and not only through the lens.

Have you ever gotten home and looked at your photos or videos only to realize that you have no idea of where many of them were taken? If so, it's a sign that you weren't fully there, or else that you were moving too fast. Take the time to enjoy wherever you are in a leisurely manner. If you walk around with a camcorder running constantly, not only will you offend countless people without realizing it, but you'll hardly see anything with your own eyes—you may as well stay home and look at someone else's photos and videos for all you will have experienced of India. 

Whenever you feel inspired, take a photo or video, by all means, but try to be discriminating, and try to refrain from gratuitously shooting everything you see. When you try to capture an image of every moment for the future, you are missing those real moments in the present. And what's the point of reliving through photos something you never truly lived in the first place? Would you rather take a photo of a ripe, juicy, delicious mango, or would you rather eat it? You can do both. Just don't forget to eat the mango. If you discard most of your shots eventually, or if they're almost all of poor quality, you are probably taking way too many. Take enough photos to remind you of your time in India, but make each one count. Just making a little effort to compose and focus each shot well makes a huge difference. 

Many Internet cafes and photo shops have facilities for down-loading digital photos and burning them to disk. Memory cards are easily available. You can also get film most everywhere, but it's not easy to find high-speed or other specialty films. Be sure to check the date and whether the package is faded or not-quite-right looking. Take care to protect your camera from dust as it may not be easy to get it reliably repaired on short notice.

For more information on Basic Photography Tips for India and Luxury Holiday tours in India contact Swan Tours one of the leading travel agents in India.