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Tim Pile

To coincide with World Photography Day, on August 19, here are some images that have accompanied my South China Morning Post travel submissions over the past two decades. There’s a story behind some of the shots and I’ve included a few tips picked up along the way.

KRAKOW, POLAND (2016) Taking photos of a large plaza from ground level is notoriously difficult. Aerial views offer a better perspective but I don’t own a drone. Instead, I asked the receptionist at a hotel overlooking Market Square for permission to take some pictures from a guest room.

BAGAN, MYANMAR (2004) This image ticks a number of portrait photography boxes: strong eye contact; genuine smiles; and endearing mannerisms such as fingers resting on forearms and heads tilted inward. So was I just lucky? Not really. I took 20 shots and deleted 19 before I’d even got back to my hotel.

VILNIUS, LITHUANIA (2018) After taking a few ordinary photos of Vilnius Cathedral, the heavens opened and I had to run for cover. When I returned, the sky had turned a dusky indigo and a huge puddle provided a new canvas to experiment with.

GRAND CANYON, THE UNITED STATES (2003) One of the best ways to enhance any landscape photo is to include a point of foreground interest. Here, the hiker leads the eye into the scene and gives a sense of scale or, in this case, insignificance.

MUMBAI, INDIA (2011) Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is one of the world’s busiest railways stations but initially I struggled to convey the over­whelming crush of humanity at rush hour. The solution was to steady my camera against a pillar and set the shutter speed to four seconds, which created motion blur and a frenetic feel.

THE FRENCH ALPS (2012) Besides snapping close-ups of exhausted Tour de France riders urged onwards by rabid fans, it can also be rewarding to step back and capture a broader perspective. This image, captured near the summit of the Col de la Madeleine, shows spectators gathered on a sharp bend where the cyclists have to slow down.

LADAKH, INDIA (2011) The aim of this photo, taken on the “road” from Leh to Manali, was to encourage speculation. Will the van descend into the valley below or climb higher into the Himalayas? It was the latter – an hour later we summited Taglang La pass (5,328 metres) on the second highest motorable road in the world.

KIEV, UKRAINE (2013) When I arrived at St Michael’s Golden-Domed Monastery, the shafts of sunlight weren’t quite where I wanted them to be, so I went for a coffee. By the time I got back, the beams were shining in just the right spot and, on cue, the woman appeared and stood so that her face was illuminated.

ICELAND (2014) The band of yellow provides foreground interest, the path guides the eye towards the bright red cottage in the middle distance while the icing sugar-white mountains form the backdrop. The composition would be further improved if someone had walked up the path. I waited but no one came.

HONG KONG (2010) This is the only image here that didn’t accompany one of my Post articles, although it does have the feel of a travel photo. Is the farmer toiling in the rice terraces of the Philippines, or Vietnam perhaps? Neither, and it’s water spinach not rice. I know that because the man is my landlord, photographed from my bedroom window on Lantau Island. Sometimes an eye-catching image is right under our noses.


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Mumbai, India. Photo: Tim Pile

Bagan, Myanmar (2004).This image ticks a number of portrait photography boxes: strong eye contact, genuine smiles and endearing mannerisms such as fingers resting on forearms and heads tilted inwards. So was I just lucky? Not really. I took 20 shots and deleted 19 before Iâd even got back to my hotel.[23AUG20 FIGURED OUT POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT: Tim PILE

Krakow, Poland (2016)Taking photos of a large plaza from ground level is notoriously difficult. Aerial views offer a better perspective but I donât own a drone. Instead, I asked the receptionist at a hotel overlooking Market Square for permission to take some pictures from a top floor room.[23AUG20 FIGURED OUT POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT: Tim PILE

Grand Canyon, USA (2003).One of the best ways to enhance any landscape photo is to include a point of foreground interest. Here, the hiker leads the eye into the scene and gives a sense of scale or, in this case, insignificance.[23AUG20 FIGURED OUT POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT: Tim PILE

The French Alps (2012)Besides snapping close-ups of exhausted Tour de France riders urged onwards by rabid fans, it can also be rewarding to step back and capture a broader perspective. This image, captured near the summit of the Col de la Madeleine, shows spectators gathered on a sharp bend where the cyclists have to slow down.[23AUG20 FIGURED OUT POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT: Tim PILE

Hong Kong (2010).This is the only image here that didnât accompany one of my Post articles, although it does have the feel of a travel photo. Is the farmer toiling in the rice terraces of the Philippines, or Vietnam perhaps? Neither, actually, and itâs water spinach not rice. I know that because the man is my landlord, photographed from my bedroom window on Lantau Island. Sometimes an eye-catching image is right under our noses.[23AUG20 FIGURED OUT POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT: Tim PILE

Ladakh, India (2011)The aim of this photo, taken on the âroadâ from Leh to Manali, was to encourage speculation. Will the van descend into the valley below or climb higher into the Himalayas? It was the latter - an hour later we summited Taglang Pass (5,328 metres) on the second highest motorable road in the world.[23AUG20 FIGURED OUT POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT: Tim PILE

Kiev, Ukraine (2013)When I arrived at St Michaelâs Golden-Domed Monastery the shafts of sunlight werenât quite where I wanted them to be, so I went for a coffee. By the time I got back, the beams were shining in just the right spot and, on cue, the lady appeared and stood so that her face was illuminated.[23AUG20 FIGURED OUT POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT: Tim PILE

Vilnius, Lithuania (2018)After taking half a dozen very ordinary photos of Vilnius Cathedral, the heavens opened and I had to run for cover. When I returned, the sky had turned a dusky indigo and a huge puddle provided a new canvas to experiment with.[23AUG20 FIGURED OUT POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT: Tim PILE

Iceland. Photo: Tim Pile

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MATAMATA- NEW ZEALAND -APRIL -19- 2019 :Hobbiton in a little Hobbit town, Matamata New Zealand and movie set created for filming the Lord of the Rings and "Hobbit" movies - Matamata, New ZealandCREDIT: Shutterstock

Two boys play footbal with their father at Can Pere Antoni Beach in Palma de Mallorca, on April 26, 2020 during a national lockdown to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease. - After six weeks stuck at home, Spain's children were being allowed out today to run, play or go for a walk as the government eased one of the world's toughest coronavirus lockdowns. Spain is one of the hardest hit countries, with a death toll running a more than 23,000 to put it behind only the United States and Italy despite stringent restrictions imposed from March 14, including keeping all children indoors. Today, with their scooters, tricycles or in prams, the children accompanied by their parents came out onto largely deserted streets. (Photo by JAIME REINA / AFP) (Photo by JAIME REINA/AFP via Getty Images)

Beautiful panoramic view of Tbilisi at sunset, Georgia, EuropeCREDIT: Shutterstock

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Mobile phones take very good quality photos. Photo: Shutterstock

Cagliari, Italy 28-08-2019; GoPro Hero 7 Black action camera on female hands taking pictures of the sunset on the calm pond.[24MARCH2020 FEATURES]CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK

Traveller with power bank and phone[24MARCH2020 FEATURES]CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK

Cappadocia in winterShot win an iPhone 7 with a Ulanzi anamorphic lens, a great minimalist setup by aspect ration is not ideal for Instagram as it makes for a small screen space take-up.[24MARCH2020 TRAVEL FEATURES]CREDIT: Steve Thomas

Lightweight travel tripod and mirrorless cameras.[24MARCH2020 FEATURES]CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK

Olympus TG-5 tough waterproofed compact digital camera attached to metal post by Joby GorillaPod Magnetic 325 compact tripod.[24MARCH2020 FEATURES]CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK

SD and CF memory cards in a holder.[24MARCH2020 FEATURES]CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK

Terengganu, Malaysia - 7th August 2018:The Fujifilm X-T100 mirrorless digital camera with blurred sunset background. The Fujifilm X-T100 is one of Fujifilm's X series, announced on 24th May 2018.[24MARCH2020 FEATURES]CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK

Leave your heavy DSLR behind and go lightweight, with equipment such as the Fujifilm X-T100 mirrorless camera. Photo: Shutterstock

At Italy’s Leaning Tower of Pisa, the crowds provide as much entertainment as the attraction

The Leaning Tower of Pisa and the cathedral, in the popular Tuscan town, in Italy. Photo: Tim Pile

Italian marines wearing what appears to be fancy dress but turns out to be uniforms in Pisa, Italy on September 07, 2019.  07SEP19[09FEBRUARY2020 TRAVEL POST MAGAZINE]CREDIT: TIM PILE

The colonnaded street of Borgo Stretto in Pisa, Italy on September 07, 2019.  07SEP19[09FEBRUARY2020 TRAVEL POST MAGAZINE]CREDIT: TIM PILE

The Pisa Push in Pisa, Italy on September 07, 2019.  07SEP19[09FEBRUARY2020 TRAVEL POST MAGAZINE]CREDIT: TIM PILE

The machine gun-toting soldiers guarding the base of the tower are probably the most photographed Italians in the country in Pisa, Italy on September 07, 2019.  07SEP19[09FEBRUARY2020 TRAVEL POST MAGAZINE]CREDIT: TIM PILE

Paddle boarding on the River Arno which flows swiftly through the Italian city on its way to the Mediterranean in Pisa, Italy on September 07, 2019.  07SEP19[09FEBRUARY2020 TRAVEL POST MAGAZINE]CREDIT: TIM PILE

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To celebrate World Photography Day, on August 19, veteran travel writer and photographer Tim Pile shares some tips on how to get postcard perfect pictures
Eye contact, light and perspective are all important, as are a little bit of luck and a lot of patience



From the perfect portrait to a dazzling landscape, veteran travel writer and photographer Tim Pile offers advice on eye contact, light and perspective.


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