By Whether you are planning a weekend break, family holiday, or backpacking adventure, we’ve highlighted top tips to help you take the perfect shot.
Travelling is one of the best ways to enrich your life; meeting different people, getting to know different cultures and taking in every breathtaking sight. Wherever you go on the road, you probably want to save all those beautiful memories. Thanks to our smartphones, you don’t have to carry around a bulky camera anymore.
Mesmerizing photos can serve you as a reminder of all the places you have seen and the people you have met. But first, you need to know how to take amazing photos. Here are some tips that can turn your iPhone into a professional camera:
Firstly, why the iPhone?
If you are sceptical about replacing a traditional camera with the iPhone, just think about all the benefits.
There will be no more carrying around a heavy camera everywhere you go and an iPhone allows you to take photos more discreetly. Since most of us already carry smartphones with us, there is no extra equipment needed.
A camera demands that you change settings if you want to take great photographs. Those moments can be crucial for capturing great shots, but playing around with camera settings could mean that you miss the moment you are trying to photograph. Luckily, with the iPhone, you will be able to take pictures instantly and don’t have to worry about missing anything.
Get prepared:
It’s important to prepare your iPhone for its upcoming role on your travels by thinking about a few vital things:
Portable power bank: Just imagine this. You are just about to take the most amazing picture and your phone shuts down. That can kill the mood. We suggest using a portable power bank, they can be a lifesaver in situations where you aren’t able to access a wall charger. Always carry it around when you leave your accommodation.
Small cloth: A dirty lens can ruin the quality so keep a small cloth with you to clean the lens when necessary.
Free up space: Also, don’t forget to make some room for all the new pictures. If your gallery is full, transfer the images to your computer before you get going or free up space on your iPhone with the iXpand Flash Drive from SanDisk.
Do your research:
Besides preparing your iPhone, you should also prepare yourself. Research all the popular destinations and must-see locations. Even get inspired by other people’s work. You can do that by going on Instagram and searching for the place you are visiting. Instagram can be really helpful because you can find some less popular places which you may have not thought about photographing prior to research.
You can even go one step further and find blogs written by local people in the area or fellow travellers. With the help of translation services like The Word Point, you’ll read about locals’ recommendations. If anyone knows what’s worth visiting, it’s them. Find all the beautiful destinations you must see and make a note of them somewhere.
Selective focus photography of women taking a photo in Singapore | Photo: Charles Postiaux via Unsplash
Use gridlines:
Yes, gridlines can seem irritating but they are actually very helpful when it comes to taking photographs on your smartphone.
There is nothing more bothersome than a crooked horizon line. Gridlines will eliminate that from happening and improve your composition skills. Use them as a guide to incorporate all the elements of the picture evenly. They are also very useful when you want to put one object as the centre of the picture.
One of the many things that make the iPhone so great for photography is that the grid lines are very discrete. They won’t disturb your focus from what’s important – whether that be the scenery, food, or even people.
Avoid using flash:
During the nighttime, the flash is your best friend. However, when you don’t need to use it, try to avoid it as much as you can. There is nothing better than the vibrant shades and natural colours showing through your photos, and flash will distort that, not to mention how unappealing it looks when you use flash when taking photos of people.
Natural light is always a better option. So, as long as you have any, keep your fingers away from the flash.
Experiment with different shooting modes:
The shooting modes available with the iPhone camera sometimes don’t get enough credit. The team of inventors who work on improving new iPhones includes those modes for a reason. Whenever you find it to be suiting, try out some of the modes. For example, the portrait mode automatically puts a person in the focus of the picture and blurs out the background. Why waste time on such elements during the editing process when you can turn on this option within seconds?
Give HDR a shot:
HDR or High Dynamic Range can help you create a perfectly exposed photo. When the light is too dim or the objects are too dark, HDR will come to the rescue. No one wants a washed-out picture and HDR won’t let that happen.
The way it works is that it takes several shots which have different exposure. Then it merges them into one final photo with the best exposure. All the details will be emphasized and the image will be more impressive.
Just turn off the auto HDR option. Go to > Settings > Camera > and uncheck Smart HDR. In case you want to have both normal and HDR version, just check out the ‘Keep Normal Photo’ option.
Grey concrete road under blue sky | Photo: Harley-Davidson via Unsplash
Try out different perspectives:
Before you snap the picture look at the scenery from different angles. Try a low angle to change a perspective from which you are looking at the shot. Move your camera around and watch out for that perfect viewpoint. Some objects or scenery look amazing when you shoot them top-down.
Change up the focus to see how a different focal point can make a huge difference. You can also lock your focus by tapping and holding it until an AE/AF lock sign appears.
You may be a tourist but that doesn’t mean you have to have the same photos as everyone else. Rethink how you can capture the typical tourist locations and always try out different shots. Get creative!
Think beyond standard shots:
Photography is a great way to express your creativity and individuality. Cliché shots may be the easiest to take, but you should think about changing it up. Look for small details that many can dismiss as irrelevant. Sometimes even an old door can look as beautiful as an ancient monument.
Watch out for unique shots that catch your eye. You will be surprised how avoiding the usual photos will help you create out of this world pictures.
Take your time:
Some people are taking photos of everything. They are so consumed by pulling out their phones and snapping pictures that they forget to enjoy the experience.
The reason why most of us travel is to relax and have a great time. That is exactly what you should do. Don’t just look around searching for a beautiful shot, let it come to you. You will soon realise that once you are relaxed, you start to notice more beautiful details that you can photograph.
Photographing the sunset | Photo: Jordan McQueen via Unsplash
Capturing the perfect shot:
Lastly, don’t forget to have fun! Taking pictures should be an enjoyable process. Since the iPhone is so easy to use you can spend more time embracing all the beauty that surrounds you. As long as you use your pictures as a way to express yourself, the results will be amazing. When you combine your enjoyment with above-mentioned tips, your photos won’t disappoint.
Looking for the best accessories for your device? Be sure to head to our website now to view our full range of iPhone accessories.
Author Bio: Erica Sunarjo is a freelance photographer and a passionate traveller. Being in this industry for a long time has inspired her to share her tips with fellow travellers and photography enthusiasts.
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