Sony Alpha cameras and lenses deliver awe-inspiring imagery, preserving the invaluable moments that we experience on our journeys. In this Alpha Traveller series, follow our globetrotters as they set off to explore and discover the wonders of the world.

If you were to sum up travel photography in a single word, it would probably be serendipity. While it is one thing to have a vision for the kind of photos you want to snap when you get to your destination, often the best laid out plans don’t always go the way you wanted them to. This is exactly what enthrals Taiwanese content creator Bruce (@sofashiba) about travel photography.

“You really can't predict what will happen on a trip, but with the right gear and creative choices you can take advantage of what’s around you,” he said. Bruce chose to shoot the entire video handheld with just one camera, lens and microphone – no bulky stabilisers or extra external equipment. This brought a sense of authenticity to his journey through the vibrant city.

For this trip to Thailand, Bruce said he wanted to capture photos that had a distinct ‘slice-of-life’ quality to them, and so his plan was to ‘keep rolling’ as much as possible. “I really strove for authenticity during this trip to get a largely unfiltered local experience. I knew that I also wanted to shoot quite a bit from a point-of-view perspective.”

“The Alpha 7 IV was great for this because its in-body image stabiliser allowed me to overcome excessive camera shake. All I had to do was simply hold the camera tightly with both hands, keep my arms close to my waist, and then move gradually while shooting,” he said.

This allowed him to shoot road traffic, as well as record from boats. “For instance, when taking a boat, I fixed the camera to the hull and shot the bow from the first-person perspective. You could also do something similar when traveling on roads via a low-angle, first-person perspective of the tires. This sense of motion amplifies the feeling of being there.”

“My Alpha 7 IV was perfect for this project as I wanted to do both; take pictures and record videos. Flat and dynamic, it does both exceptionally well thanks to its 33 megapixel resolution and 4K 60p recording capabilities,” he said. “I also knew that temperatures in Thailand run pretty high (remember to pay attention to your body and stay hydrated!), so the Alpha 7 IV’s High-Temperature setting would come in handy and avoid any overheating issues,” Bruce added.

As for lenses, Bruce wanted to explore his creative range under constraints. “Whether you bring a zoom lens or a prime lens, try to travel light. I’ve seen whole trips ruined by carrying too much gear,” he said. “That’s why I opted for the FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II lens, as it enables me to take wide-angle and close-up shots; which is precisely what I needed. Its stepless physical aperture ring and seamless integration with neutral-density filters allowed me to keep the motion blur natural.” 

“In addition to being lightweight, the focus of the new generation of GM standard zoom lenses also comes in handy. Because the speed of the AF drive in the camera is adjustable, I could set a shortcut key ‘AF/MF control switch’ in C2 to ensure the original focus remains unchanged when an object approaches the original focus point - allowing for more layered pictures,” he added. Bruce’s compact and large-aperture portrait prime lens, FE 35mm F1.8, rounded up the pack.

One of Thailand’s many great draws is its richly unique traditional outfits. “I really wanted to take portraits of subjects dressed in the garments that are quintessentially Thai,” said Bruce. “I noticed that a common feature in chut thai (Thai traditional clothing) are long drapes. The model here was styled in an outfit that came with a long shawl, and so I decided to hold it in one hand with the camera in the other - and then ask the subject to turn their head back and strike pose. This was one technique I used to produce more layered mood photos,” he added.

His research before the trip on the attractions also guided his choice of the model’s outfit to help her further stand out in her surroundings. As the building was mainly white and grey, he steered away from light-coloured clothing to avoid the model from blending into the background.

Bruce also wanted to use the historic Wat Arun temple as his backdrop for these photos. “We went to shoot at what is dubbed the ‘Eiffel Tower of Thailand’. As it is a really popular landmark in Bangkok, I chose to avoid going there later in the day - even though the light at dusk would have made for some really beautiful photos. Instead, we got there at 9am, as I felt that avoiding the crowds would have given us compositionally better photos,” he said.

One glance at his photos and you can tell how much Bruce considers composition, and he has the same advice for those looking to hone their travel photography chops. “I think it’s absolutely essential in a field as saturated as travel photography. It really helps you think more deeply about constructing unique points of view and come up with more compelling compositions that shed new light on familiar scenes.”