Whether you are planning the ultimate travel photo spree internationally or simple day trips, it pays to be prepared for that perfect photo opportunity. Here are three tips from an award-winning photographer Jay Alonzo to help you increase your chances of bagging that prize-winning photo.

Go by "time-light" schedule
As a lensman who wants to have the best or ideal light possible in each and every subject that you shoot, it makes more sense to schedule the trip based on ideal time and lighting. For instance, if you want to take a photo of the Mines View Park in Baguio City and capture its quiet and relaxing atmosphere with the view of the mountains, then going there in the afternoon is a mistake for it is always packed with people. However, if you try to wake up earlier than most tourists when the sun rises, you'll be rewarded with a scene that looks like it was in the 1950s. If you want a photo of a boat in a lake in Sa Srang, Siem Reap, Cambodia, remember that this place is at its most picturesque at daybreak, worst at noon time and lacks light at sunset.

Thou shall research
Search for informative articles and blogs about a place you want to visit. This will save you time and effort in exploring the tourist spot, so you can go directly to the things or nooks that tickle your interest the most and probably have more time to explore off the beaten path crannies. Grab a map at the airport to give you an idea if the temple is facing east or west or north or south. Looking at photographs taken by previous tourists and photographers gives you a preview of how the place looks like. It can serve as your guide in determining the best angle to shoot a particular monument or the most common point-of-view of shooting a famed bridge so you can avoid it and start looking for a new spot to photograph the same old bridge.

Pack Light
In certain situations, especially in sensitive areas, when you need to take a picture but being conspicuous will spell either being welcomed or being banned, the compact camera can be a useful tool. Sometimes, security personnel will permit you to shoot harmlessly in a museum if you only use a point and shoot such as the Olympus Tough 8000 because of its compact size and unassuming profile. On the other hand, if you bring out an SLR, you'll automatically be branded as a professional and therefore you'll need a permit to shoot if ever you're lucky enough to be allowed.

The good thing with Tough 8000 is that it you can bring it literally everywhere, underwater, under the falls, go hiking, without fear of it getting damaged when you get it wet or accidentally drop it on the floor. And with these features, you have a whole new opportunity to shoot unconventionally and creatively!

(Photos by Jay Alonzo. For more information, check out his website at http://jayalonzo.com.)