There is no doubt that every one of us wants great vacation photos, whether for sharing with friends and family or just for memories. In times when travel photography is on a different level, we all want unique photos that will not only serve as our memory – but also show our loyal followers the best possible content.
Whether it’s going to go on Instagram, Facebook or your personal collection, shooting great travel photos begins with your smartphone and a couple of tools that help you adjust highlights and shadows.
Believe it or not, even a couple of filters can turn your dark and dull photos to vibrant and appealing ones.
Below, we are listing the five best tips for taking amazing travel photos.
Taking Photos That People Love
The first step to taking great travel photos is to know what people want. Here, patterns are one of the most desired element – and something that the human brain simply adores. Whether it’s the shapes in the clouds, the symmetry in buildings or colors that compliment each other, there is just something about patterns that our brains love.
So, the goal is to understand these patterns and what pleases the human brain. Just ensure that your camera is level and that you are putting more than one and less than many things when taking your photos.
Mastering The Rule Of Thirds
One of the most important rules of composition is known as the rule of thirds.
This rule is based on how people learn to identify great photos. Ideally, the composition of your photo should be split up into three parts. On top of this, the rule of thirds requires you to break an image into three equal parts – either vertically, horizontally or both. So, the goal is to place the key compositional elements into those thirds.
Brighten The Shadows And Tone Down The Highlights For Better Balance
We’ve all been there – shooting the perfect photo – until we realize that the sun, glare or brightness has messed things up a bit.
The good thing here is that most of the photo-editing tools (including Instagram’s filters) can help you brighten the shadows and tone down the highlights. This will give you better balance and even-tone your landscape, beach or travel photos.
When In Doubt, Add A Hint Of Vignette
Vignettes are the favorite setting for many photographers. If your photos seem dark and dull, adding a subtle vignette can bright the middle of your image. A vignette is one of those lighting designs that will light the edges of the frame with less intensity than the center of the frame.
This will make the objects with contrast pop and increase the vibrancy, all while adding a little sharpness to distinguish the shapes of your focal parts (the objects in the focus).
Use Humans In Your Landscape Photos
Landscape photos are always better when there are humans in them. People create feelings – and the best example of how they do it is the Instagram feed of Murad Osmann, who is known for taking photos of himself while holding his girlfriend’s hand in different locations around the world.
People can also help create a sense of scale and showcase the true size or appeal of an object – whether it’s the eternal Colosseum in Rome, the Times Square in New York or the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
A Final Word
At the end of the day (and your vacation), the most engaging photos are the ones that tell the story of your trip from start to finish. So, make sure to take photos at key moments, including traveling from point A to point B and therefore building a narrative of your journey.
Just take your camera everywhere – and never forget to take a photo of your surroundings!
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