Planning on traveling to a large city? At the risk of looking like a tourist, you should consider checking to see if a tour bus is available. It's almost impossible to see the whole town in a short amount of time if you don't know where you are going, and tour buses are great for showing you some of a town's highlights. Without having to walk much, catch a cab, ride a subway, or drive, you can take photos from all over a large area.

Before you spend your money, however, make sure of the following:

* Are there unlimited on-off privileges for a particular amount of time (at least a full day)? You'll want to leave in case something catches your eye.

* Does the tour bus have open windows or is it a double-decker bus or vehicle with an open roof? You don't want to shoot photos through glass as it can cause nasty reflections, especially if you use flash at night.

* Make sure when you purchase your tickets that the weather will cooperate. If you want to take photos, there's not a lot of fun to be had sitting in a windowed-vehicle while it is storming outside.

Many large cities offer tours; here are just a few sample tours in the United States:

Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Company - http://www.chicagotrolley.com/

Gray Line New York - http://www.graylinenewyork.com/

Old Town Trolley Tours of Key West, Boston, San Diego, Savannah, St. Augustine, and Washington DC - http://www.trolleytours.com/

Print This Tip

Get E-Mail When New Tips are Online

Return to the Digital Urban and Cityscape Photography page.