How to Take Stunning Road Trip Photos From the Car

There is something magical about road trips, but capturing that magic may be challenging.

Whether you’re cruising along the stunning mountains or navigating busy streets, these tips and tricks will help you take stunning road trip photos from the car.

How to Take Stunning Road Trip Photos from the Car

Plan Your Shots

When you decide the route for your trip, mark essential sites and landmarks you want to photograph so you can be prepared to take the best shot when you pass them.

If possible, organize your itinerary by considering the best time of the day to pass through these places and where the sun rises and sets.

Keep in mind that the golden hour is ideal because of its beautiful light and because it’s less likely to create reflections on the car window.

Expect the Unexpected

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While having a plan and itinerary is ideal, you also need to consider the unexpected.

So, keep your eyes open and your camera ready – the last thing you want is to see something unique and have your camera in the trunk.

Mind the Composition

I know you don’t always have time to plan the composition when photographing from a moving vehicle. However, here are some composition rules that come in handy in road trip photos from a car:

Use leading lines

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Leading lines are a simple yet powerful way to convey a sense of motion or take the viewer on a journey.

Look for roads, fences, or railings that guide the viewer’s eye through the photo, adding depth to your shot.

Add a frame within a frame

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Using the “frame within a frame” technique can draw attention to your subject and make your shot more interesting.

Try capturing scenes through windows, mirrors, or doorways for creative framing.

Include a foreground object

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Adding an object in the foreground, like the car dashboard or side mirror, creates a sense of scale and adds a unique perspective.

Minimize Reflections

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One of the biggest challenges when photographing from inside the car is avoiding flares and reflections. The first and most effective thing to do is to lower the windows.

However, if you want to capture something in front or behind you, there’s no way to avoid shooting through the glass.

To minimize the problem, get as close to the window as possible. You can also move the camera or angle it to see if you can remove the reflection or make sure it’s in a spot that doesn’t cover the main subject.

You should also make sure the windows are as clean as possible.

Using a lens hood is an effective way to reduce or eliminate glare and reflections. If you don’t have a hood, try using your hand to block the light.

Use a Fast Shutter Speed

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If you’re taking photos from a moving car, you need to use a fast shutter speed to freeze the subject and get a sharp image.

The ideal shutter speed value will depend on several things, such as how fast you’re moving, whether your subject is moving as well, etc.

A shutter speed of 1/1000 is a good starting point. Take some trial shots and find the right setting so you’re ready to shoot when you see something that catches your attention.

Adjust your shutter speed if you start to move faster because the traffic improves or you switch to a road with higher speed limits.

You can use the Shutter Speed Priority mode to adjust your settings faster if you’re not so accustomed to manual mode.

Embrace Motion Blur

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In road trip photography, not everything has to be tack-sharp. Introducing motion blur to your images gives a sense of speed and makes your photos more dynamic. So, use motion blur as a creative tool.

Use a slow shutter speed and follow a subject to make panning shots, or choose a subject inside the car that will be the sharp subject and allow the background outside the vehicle to be completely blurred.

Try Burst Mode

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Burst mode is a setting that allows the camera to take pictures continuously for as long as you keep pressing the shutter button.

While this isn’t a feature I advise you to use during your entire trip, you may want to turn it on when approaching your desired subject.

Since you’ll be passing in front of your subject for a split second, you don’t want to miss the best angle or discover that a lamp post was in front of it.

So, press the button beforehand and release it after you pass it. You don’t need to capture hundreds of photos – five to ten should be enough.

Use the Red Light

Credit: Breno Cardoso Fotografia

Not all road trip photography needs to be done while you’re in motion. If you find yourself in a traffic jam or stopped at a red light, look around and see if something is worth capturing.

You can interact with the people in the car next to you, or you can photograph the road signs at the intersection.

Photograph Details

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While photographing the beautiful landscapes and cities that you’re seeing from your car, don’t forget to capture some details as well. Remember that you’re telling the story with your photographs, and the small things can be the ones that turn a trip into a journey.

Think about an article in a travel magazine or a TV commercial – they’re always composed of a variety of perspectives that range from panoramas to close-ups.

Get Creative

Credit: Vladimir Sladek

Road trips are all about freedom and seizing the moment, right? Well, that’s the same approach you should give to your photography.

Did you get lost? Has it started raining? It doesn’t matter – make the most out of every situation.

Safety First

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The most important thing about taking road trip photos from the car is that you should never put yourself or others at risk – there’s not a picture in the world that’s worth it.

So, here are a few safety tips that you need to consider.

• Keep your seatbelt on.
• Never distract the driver or block their visibility.
• Always keep the camera strapped to your wrist to prevent it from flying out of your hands.
• Avoid having loose items such as the lens cap or anything that could fly in a curve or a sudden stop.
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Don’t use a flash, which can distract the driver and other people on the road.