Did you just buy a new camera and you would like to try it in your next vacation to Tulum?
I have some tips to help you during your visit to get the best shots.
Traveling around Tulum could give you the opportunity to capture many kinds of photos: street photography, water sports, street art, amazing landscapes, wildlife, archaeology, mayan communities, colonial architecture, Caribbean sea, jungle and many others.
If you're planning to take a tour with us, and you want to take amazing photos, besides learning the BIG FIVE of photography (lens, body, shutter speed, frame rates and composition), you should think about some enhancements that can make your experience even better.
I’ll give you some ideas:
1. A waterproof case for your camera:
There are many options to protect your camera from the super soft, powder-like sand of the Caribbean sea that can easily damage your camera. It also protects it from the rain, salt water, and humidity of the jungle. You can find them in accessory stores or online. Plastic bags can be a good option, but in order to protect the planet, we recommend you use a 'dry bag' that you can find in outdoor shops online or at some malls, and make a hole in the bottom to the same size of your lenses and slice it inside, so the body of your camera is 100% protected and you can keep capturing the wildlife that you're going to catch here.
The size of these bags will allow your hands to keep changing the settings on your camera.
Always do a test before using them.
This is a great way to capture moments like storms, when the lights is different and the skies are more dramatic.
2. A white piece of cotton fabric:
A small piece of fabric can help you to protect yourself and your camera from the sun and give you very interesting shadows when you're shooting.
You will also be able to check the preview of your photos, protect the camera from the sand and breeze and you'll be fresher when you're walking around looking for the best shot.
3. Many memory cards are better than just one:
I always suggest bringing lots of smaller, faster memory cards, rather than one large card. Unfortunately cards can sometimes become corrupt, so it’s a good practice to bring several with you just in case. We have heard many stories of people that lose their precious memories. Storing your images in smaller batches can help prevent an unexpected catastrophe, and have a backup in case one of them gets damaged.
So which memory card is best? This really depends on your budget, but normally a 32 GB card with a write speed of 95 MB/s. This will be quick enough for JPEG and RAW to capture all the animals or people in movement. You can find the specs on the card itself, it's the basic information that they’ll show.
I also had lots of problems with Sandisk, which tends to be cheaper everywhere. So, to sum it up, buy a card between 16 and 32 GB with the highest write speed.
4. Cleaning kit
You can buy cleaning kits that come complete with blowers, pens, brushes, cloths and sprays. These are really useful and you should always carry one during a shot. It's important, however, to be very careful how you use them. Don't spray directly on the lens and wipe. This will damage your lens over time, if not immediately. The chemicals and alcohol in the spray can corrode the protective film on some lenses and cause the cloth to scratch easily.
The best way to clean a lens is by using the hand pump blower. Blow the lens rigorously to remove all dust, sand and particles that can cause scratching, then use a soft brush and gently brush your lens. Remember, don’t brush around in circles, rather use strokes and imagine you’re dusting and flicking particles off the lens.
If your lens is still dirty (you can hold it up to the light to check), then very gently use a cloth (not just any cloth, make sure it’s a microfiber cloth) to wipe the lens using the same technique as the brush.
5. Batteries
We’ve all learned this the hard way, right? There’s nothing worse than being in front of a great moment, and suddenly your battery indicator starts to flash. Always ensure your batteries are charged. It’s a good idea to have more than one battery to rely on. Pack two, maybe even three, just in case.
I recommend buying original batteries. Cheaper batteries don’t always hold charge or they can end up not charging at all; even though they appear fully charged, they can quickly leak power like a sieve.
I hope this advice is helpfull for you! This are 5 very basic principles to make your experience with Mexico Kan Tours more enjoyable.
I would love to see your photographs of the moments your capture while you are on tour with us, don't forget to share them with #TravelWithIntention, or share them in TripAdvisor with us.
