10 Tips for Capturing Stunning Shots in Ladakh

Ladakh is a photographer's paradise. Its breathtaking landscapes, beautiful monasteries, and stunning night sky offer endless opportunities for capturing stunning photos, even for novice photographers. Utilize these expert tips to maximize your photography experience and take amazing shots of Ladakh's surreal beauty.

• Photography is a never-ending journey of learning. To get inspired before your trip to Ladakh, research photos taken by professionals in the area and observe how they captured landscapes, people, and monasteries. Make a rough itinerary of what you want to capture, such as festivals and ceremonies at monasteries. Ensure to check dates in advance to include them in your photography tour.

• Ladakh is a dusty place which can get in the way when you are trying to take photos. Dust can settle on the lens that appears as little specks in images. To avoid that, try changing the lens indoors and using blowers to get rid of dust while photographing.

• One of the best ways you can enhance your photography experience in Ladakh is by photographing the raw beauty of the local people. For example, you can photograph monks, vegetable sellers or nomads while visiting Pangong and Tsomoriri.

• The magnificent landscapes of Ladakh pose a challenge in framing and capturing their vastness in a photo. Incorporating a human element, such as a person, house, tree or animal, provides a reference point and gives context to the scene, thereby emphasizing the sheer magnitude of the surrounding landscape.

• Capturing the stars and Milky Way requires a DSLR camera, a sturdy tripod, and a wide-angle lens. To obtain the best results while photographing the night sky in Ladakh, use a higher ISO setting and a wide-open aperture to collect as much light as possible.

• Shooting inside monasteries in Ladakh, where there is low light carrying a tripod, can come in handy. Without it, your photos may be blurry and grainy. Of course, you can use flash, but that's forbidden in most monasteries, so your best bet for low-light photography is a tripod.

• The ISO tells us how sensitive the camera sensor is to light. For taking landscape photos in Ladakh at dusk and dawn, always choose a low ISO to avoid your photo losing the details and looking grainy.


• Another helpful tip for capturing landscape photos in Ladakh, especially of its famous lakes, is to use a polarizing filter. This helps improve colour saturation and reduce reflections, thereby lending your photo a vibrant touch.
• A true paradise for photographers, Ladakh offers numerous scenes like landscapes, people, buildings, wildlife etc. So naturally, you'd need a different lens for each scene. However, that may not be possible for some, so you can go for the 24-70mm lens, which is an actual all-in-one lens!

• The Rule of Thirds is the most commonly known photography composition technique, and it can take your Ladakh photos to the next level. It guides the placement of the subjects in the frame to create a balanced and structured photo. This technique is best for taking landscape photos where subjects are usually placed towards the corner instead of in the centre