No matter where you turn, someone’s taking a photo of something: a selfie, food, nature, animals, pretty much… anything. Well, whether you’re the type of person who can’t put their phone down, or someone who only snaps the occasional photo, you’re probably going to want to take some pretty epic pictures while you’re on vacation to share with your friends and family.
If you’re saying to yourself “I wish I could take better photos on vacation with my phone”, then this is the article for you. Even if you consider yourself to be pretty good with a camera, who knows, you may still learn something new.
Know What Your Trip Entails
Are you kayaking, zip lining, snorkeling, hiking, or just roaming the city? Consider what props you may need to help you capture those picture perfect moments.
Kayaking/Boat Tour
A waterproof phone case
Zip Lining
A phone case with a strap that you can wear around your wrist
Snorkeling/Scuba
Don’t take your phone and see if you can rent or buy waterproof camera or phone case
Hiking
A protective phone cover just in case you drop it
SUP Boarding - Beginner
Leave your phone behind (GoPro/Waterproof camera is your best bet)
SUP Boarding - Pro
Waterproof case with strap. (GoPro is the best option though)
Shopping/Exploring the City
Any case will do, but a wallet case is very convenient
Position Your Camera
There are many ways you can position your camera to get that perfect shot. One classic example is “The Rule of Thirds”. This is where you break your photo into 9 equal sections, two lines horizontal and two lines vertical. You’re going to want to try to position the focal points of the picture where the grid lines would intersect. This gives a photo balance that is pleasing to the eye. Luckily, many phones come with an option to turn on a grid so you don’t have to guess.
More on the Rule of Thirds: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_thirds
How to Enable Grid (and more) on an IOS Device: www.imore.com/how-to-set-flash-hdr-timer-grid-camera-iphone-and-ipad
Get Focused
There’s nothing more disappointing than looking at your pictures at the end of the day only to find out they all turned out blurry! One of the biggest culprits to blurry photos is the lack of focusing. Just take an extra moment to focus your camera on the focal point of the photo before snapping away.
Changing around the focal point in your photo by focusing on different subjects is also a great way to start getting creative!
Lighting is Everything!
Lighting can really make or break a photo. Too little the photo will be dark and unappealing and too much everything will look washed out.
First, work with what mother nature gave you. If it’s smack dab in the middle of the day, with the sun directly above you, the lighting can come out too harsh. The best times are in the morning or the evening.
The iPhone has a very handy tool to help manually change the lighting of photos as you’re taking them! As you tap the screen on the focal point, move your finger up to brighten the image or down to darken. This is very useful when natural lighting just isn't cutting it.
*Further instructions for this action can be found in this link as well: www.imore.com/how-to-set-flash-hdr-timer-grid-camera-iphone-and-ipad
Take a Few
Action shots can be difficult to capture with a phone camera (although phone cameras are pretty impressive these days). While you’re out and about, especially when doing activities like zip lining, you may not have the opportunity to set up the photo properly to get a crystal clear shot.
This is when the “burst” feature comes in handy (you can also repeatedly click the shutter button if that is easier for you). By doing this during a moment of high speed action, you’re bettering your chances of capturing the perfect photo!
More on Burst Photos: www.iphonephotographyschool.com/iphone-burst-mode/
Now, when you’re walking around town or trying to capture something still, it’s still a good idea to focus the camera and take a couple photos instead of just one. It’s not necessary to use the burst action in this case, but taking 2-4 extra pictures will increase your odds of getting that perfect shot.
Watch Where You’re Going With a Selfie Stick
We thought we’d add this one just for fun!
Selfie sticks are a useful tool for taking pictures while on vacation (and other occasions). They allow everyone to get into the picture without having to ask anyone to take it for you.
But many of us succumb to “Travel Brain” while on vacation. This is where you are so enthralled by all of the new surroundings that you’re not quite paying attention to what’s directly in front of you, mixed with exhaustion and relaxation mode. We are all different people while on vacation. While you’re handling your selfie stick, be sure to look out and not accidentally bonk or poke anyone.
Well, there you have it! We wish you the best of luck during your next vacation.
For more about zip lining, check us out at www.ziplinestthomas.com
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