Simple tips for stellar travel photography
Whether you're looking to be an Instagram rockstar, are trying to better understand your camera, or just want to learn how to actually get your subject in the frame (hint: make sure you can see it in your viewfinder), these tips will put you on the path to better travel photography:
1. Remember simple composition rules
Many cameras do this for you, but if not, imagine a grid with six equal-sized boxes made by two lines going across the screen, and two lines running vertically. You'll want the important elements of the scene to be on those lines or at the points where they meet (this is known as the Rule of Thirds). Keep an eye out for patterns, naturally occurring frames and symmetry, all of which are pleasing to the eye, as well as lines that lead the viewer's eye into the photo.
2. Create depth
Depth of field refers to how much of the photo is in focus. A camera can only focus clearly on one plane at a time, so photos can have either a shallow depth of field (where you have a blurred effect, drawing attention to your subject) or a deep depth of field (where more of the photo is sharp). The easiest way to get a shallow depth of field is adjusting your aperture to a lower number (which lets in more light by opening the aperture wider) zooming in or getting closer to your subject. For deep depth of field, do the opposite.
3. Understand Color Theory
Color helps create the mood, with warm colors popping to grab the viewer's attention and cool colors fading into the background. To create contrast or add energy to a photo, look for complementary colors — hues opposite from each other on the color wheel. If you're looking to take a shot that's calming, analogous colors work best.
4. Make use of apps
Even if you're not a professional photographer, there are a number of apps that can help you fake it, like CortexCam (£2.29) for low-light situations, AverageCam Pro (£0.79) for longer exposures, Pro HDR ($1.99) for high-dynamic-range imaging in settings with contrasting light, and Camera+ ($2.99) for shooting and editing as professionally as possible on a phone. If you like gadgets, Olloclip mobile photo lenses ($49.99+) are actual camera lenses for your smartphone.
5. Get snap happy
Your travel companions probably won't appreciate you taking 100 photos of the appetizer, but snapping numerous photos helps you capture the best possible shot. Make it your goal to photograph one subject 20 different ways, forcing yourself to get creative with angles, staging and camera settings. Out of those 20 shots, it's almost guaranteed at least one will be great.
6. Edit
If you don't know how to use Photoshop or Lightroom — although online classes like CreativeLive make it easy to learn these types of software — there's always PicMonkey. Not only is it super intuitive, the basic service is free.
Jessica Festa is the founder of the solo and offbeat travel blog Jessie on a Journey, and the online responsible tourism and culture magazine, Epicure & Culture. She's constantly searching for local experiences beyond the guidebook. You can follow her travels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.