Mobile photography has come a long way in recent years, to the point that people can now capture and edit very high quality images on their phones. This is beneficial in many aspects of life and for many different types of photographers, but one of the best applications of high-quality mobile photography is, without a doubt, during travel. The ability to take, edit, and even share top-notch photos on devices as convenient as smartphones saves travelers from having to tote around bulky, expensive camera equipment. However, this type of travel photography also requires some specific approaches and strategies. So here are five tips for mobile travel photography that anyone can use.
Disregard Other Travel Photos
Photo by Laurel Robbins
Great vacation destinations inspire great photos, and you can find absolutely stunning images all over the Internet. One look at National Geographic’s top 2013 travel photos will have you pining for exotic destinations… but it will also have you forming difficult ideas about the photos you wish to take.
Postcard images, and those in travel magazines, are taken by seasoned professionals with the very best equipment”and with ideal settings and resources. This isn’t to say your photos won’t match their quality, but it may be best to disregard quality travel photos before you take off. Instead, focus on what you can achieve on your own, with a mobile device, and you may be pleasantly surprised at the quality you produce.
Know Your Device
Photo by Laurel Robbins, taken with a Samsung Galaxy S4
While I would absolutely encourage the use of a mobile phone for travel photography, that doesn’t necessarily mean that just any phone will do. Certain phones have better photo-taking capabilities than others, and it truly makes a significant difference which device you use. In terms of camera specs, nothing beats the Nokia Lumia 1020 right now, as this particular mobile phone is basically a glorified digital camera.
However, per the recent Verizon Wireless rundown of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S5′s features, there may be a major new player on the market soon. It will apparently boast a lightening-fast autofocus along with a pre-loaded editing program that may give it an edge on similar phones. But in the end, this tip comes down to personal preference. You’ll want to find a phone that suits your everyday needs and also includes a very high-quality camera.
Get Up Close
An award-winning photography by Laurel Robbins
This is a tip I borrowed from a famous photographer, but it may be the most important one for mobile travel photography. Way back in a 2002 article in Time Magazine, photographer/photojournalist Robert Capa was quoted as saying “if your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.” This sounds like a simple quote, but it’s true for an enormous range of photographs, and particularly travel shots.
When capturing amazing sights or breathtaking landscapes, detail can often only be appropriately captured up close, and particularly for those using mobile devices, proximity plays an enormous role. The latest smartphones may provide excellent clarity and quality, but it’s difficult (and sometimes impossible) to use scoping lenses with them. Also, the zoom can be hit-or-miss. Getting close to your subject eliminates these disadvantages.
Use Social Media To Find Locations
Alright, so I did say you should avoid other travel photos, but that’s more with regard to professional photos. Travel photos on social media sites and personal blogs can actually be extremely helpful, if for no other reason than they aide in location spotting. CNN touches on this tip in an article on travel photography tips. The article mentions that through the use of hashtags and Instagram mentions, you can often find some of the best spots to photograph at any given destination.
Even if you don’t find the best photo opportunity of your life, this will teach you to focus on the little things and hidden places that make travel photography so incredible. Anyone can take a shot of the Acropolis from a distance while on vacation in Athens. A perfect shot of a market in town, or a particular sight you stumble on, may ultimately be more unique and valuable!
Know Your Editing Apps
This is a broad but very worthwhile tip for any travel photographer using mobile devices. Simply put, there are seemingly innumerable photo-editing apps and products out there, and it’s hard to tell the difference between many of them, let alone how to use each one. I recommend picking a few and really taking the time to learn them before you head out on your next trip.
With the right editing app you can become very quick and effective at clarifying, upgrading, and enhancing your images if and when you like. I personally recommend Afterlight for quick and easy image enhancement. Also, the learning curve is quite shallow. Again, though, there are endless options, and you’d best be served by trying out a few to find one that works for you.
While it sounds cliche to say so, practice is really the best tool at the end of the day. But for those looking to take advantage of advanced mobile phones and devices for the purpose of travel photography, these tips should help you to get a jump on catching some really great photos.
About Sara Upton: When she’s not writing about everything she can in the tech world, she’s exploring the great outdoors with her two dogs.
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