travel

6 Tips to Improve Your iPhone Travel Photography — And One Mistake to Avoid

May 6, 2021 by jessica Leave a Comment

*Taking* *photos of azulejos* *in Portugal.*

There have been plenty of times on vacation that I’ve left my DSLR in the hotel room and have relied solely on my iPhone to snap photos — or, in the case of a quick weekend jaunt, left it at home entirely. I used to have pangs of regret, but now that iPhone camera technology has improved so dramatically in past years, it really can be a great substitute for the times that a traditional camera is too big and bulky to bring along.

I’m not the only one who sees the merit in using the iPhone in place of the “real” camera. I attended a virtual event recently with Pete Souza, former President Obama’s official White House photographer, who admitted to using his iPhone camera in place of the DSLR on occasion. If he can do it, I think that gives us all permission to opt for the camera that’s always in our pockets and purses!

It’s a big part of why I was intrigued to see a press release come across my email promoting photographer and author Scott Kelby’s new book, The iPhone Photography Book, a comprehensive guide to iPhone photography that goes through techniques to improve your snapshots with hints that include editing, composition, organization, and more. I had a chance to connect with Scott to share six tips for iPhone photography success with you, and the one mistake to avoid.

1. How to Stop “Missing the Shot!”

If you’ve ever missed a great moment because by the time you unlocked your iPhone, found the Camera app, and then launched it, it was too late, try this trick: When you pick up your iPhone to take a shot, don’t unlock it. Just pick it up, immediately swipe left, and your Camera app appears ready to go!

2. The Best Times to Shoot Travel

The best time to make beautiful travel photos is when the light outdoors is soft and beautiful, and that happens twice a day: about 30 minutes before sunrise, up until about 15 minutes after sunrise, and in the hour before and after sunset. A bonus for shooting around dawn: the tourists will not be awake yet, so you’ll get great shots with no crowds—just beautiful light and tourist-free monuments, streets, and scenes.

3. A Better Way to Take Photos without Tapping the Screen

On a traditional camera, you press a physical button to take a shot, which is one of the big advantages of a traditional camera. But, believe it or not, you can do the same thing with your iPhone: just press the volume up or volume down button to take a shot. Try it once and you’ll use this trick again and again.

4. Capturing the Moment vs. Composition

When you see something charming, or fascinating, or wonderful happening, forget the composition and just capture the moment. We can always go back and crop the photo later in the Photos app to create the composition we were hoping for, but if you miss the “moment,” that moment is gone forever.

5. How to Stop from Having Photos That Are Too Dark or Too Bright

If you’re looking at a scene in front of you, and it seems too dark or too bright, or if your subject is backlit with the sun behind them, right after you tap on the screen to focus on your subject, tap-and-hold your finger on the screen and drag up to make the whole image brighter or down to make it darker.

6. The Secret to (and Two Methods for) Shooting Food

One big reason people love to travel is that they love trying the food, so you want to come back with shots of the amazing dishes you had on your trip. The secret to great food shots is simply great light, and you get that by shooting during the daytime and asking to be seated either outside (under an umbrella or roof of some sort) or right by a window. The two methods for getting great food shots: Turn on Portrait mode and zoom in tight (you don’t have to show the whole plate—just parts of it), and the classic “iPhone from overhead shot straight down on your food” shot.

One Mistake to Avoid: Showing Too Much of the Scene

When you try to capture an entire building (like a cathedral or an opera house or a classic, old building), you usually wind up with things that ruin the romance and timelessness of the shot because there are billboards, signs, power lines, etc. You don’t have to show the whole scene. Compose the shot to where you avoid all those distractions, just showing part of the building. Think of it as a “detail” shot. The viewer’s mind will fill in the rest of the image, but you’ll have an interesting and captivating image without all the distractions.

For more iPhone photography tips, you can pick up Scott’s book here!

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This post contains affiliate links. I received a review copy of Scott’s book, but was under no obligation to write about it.

Object of Affection: Paravel Cabana Tote

August 13, 2020 by jessica Leave a Comment

Behold, the latest addition to my little Paravel family: the Cabana Tote in the “shandy” colorway. I’ve been smitten with the brand since their crossbody capsule dominated social media a few years ago. I bought one and still love it, and have since expanded my collection to include a small backpack much like this one (mine has been discontinued) that has made the trek to the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Belgium with me. Both pieces are still going strong and have virtually no signs of wear and tear. I hesitated to purchase the Cabana Tote, not because I didn’t love it — I fell for its vintage charm at first sight — but because I wasn’t sure this tote would be any better than the rest of my tote bags. I mean, how many carry-all totes do we really need? Turns out, it’s one. This one.

First things first, the tote is generously sized at 17.75″ x 14.5″ x 7.5″. It’s a true carry-all tote that can corral all of your necessary belongs for a beach day, a road trip, or a social-distanced backyard soiree. There’s a zippered interior pocket and a couple of open pockets to keep your smaller items in reach, and the clasp closure and sturdy base keeps those things from spilling out. One of the best features of this tote and the other Paravel pieces I have is the protective coating made of silicone that makes clean up a breeze.

The tote’s best features, however, are the ones you don’t see. I’ve really come to appreciate Paravel for its commitment to sustainability. You’d never guess that 14 recycled plastic water bottles were used to create the tote’s canvas exterior, the lining, and the straps. And those leather accents? They’re eco-certified by the Leather Working Group.

I know the tote isn’t the cheapest, coming in at $165 (or $175 if you want to add-on the shoe cubes), but it’s a true have-it-forever piece that eclipses any other tote I’ve had to date. Plus, it’s awfully charming!

And, nope, this isn’t sponsored, although I’d happily sign on for a sponsorship! I’ve purchased all of my Paravel pieces and will likely add more to my collection down the road.

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Photo Diary: Christmas in Belgium

December 23, 2019 by jessica Leave a Comment

As someone who loves Christmas, it’s no surprise that kicking off the holiday season in Europe has been something I dreamed of for years. While Germany would have been the obvious choice, a relatively inexpensive flight and hotel package out of Madison made Belgium an attractive option for our getaway. Plus, it gave us a chance to restock our dwindling supply of Cantillon. Priorities.

This was our third trip to Brussels, which made the nine-day trip as low-stress as possible during the busiest time of year because we didn’t need to spend the first couple of days orienting ourselves in the country. We knew how to use public transportation, we knew where to go without getting lost, we knew what favorites we wanted to revisit, and which day trips to go on (Amsterdam, Bruges, and Antwerp). We stopped at our favorite bars and restaurants, ate our weight in frites, drank world-class beer, and reveled in the holiday spirit by way of twinkling lights and Christmas markets. Not surprisingly, a day in Bruges was the most magical. Bruges is one of Europe’s most well-preserved medieval cities, escaping destruction during World War I and II. We’ve been to the city twice before and each time I’m struck by how fairy tale-like it is. Adding in strings of lights and a Christmas market in the city center took it to another level.

Here are a few photos of the most Christmassy moments of our trip. I’m working on a full Brussels travel guide to post in the new year, along with a Google map for your own trip planning. I’m also going to post day trip recommendations for Amsterdam and Bruges now that we’ve been a few times. I hope your holiday week is the merriest!

https://www.clotstudio.com — Royal Gallery of Saint Hubert

Christmas in Antwerp — Christmas market in Antwerp

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My Top Five Travel Accessories

January 22, 2019 by jessica Leave a Comment

Last year was a busy travel one for us, and while we weren’t on the road as often as some people are for work or recreation, it was the most we’ve ever traveled together in the course of 12 months. It seemed like we were on the road at least once a month for the latter half of the year, which challenged me to become more of an efficient packer, relying on wardrobe workhorses instead of packing items just for an outfit photo. Plus, it gave me ample time to home in on the travel accessories that make the journey more enjoyable and more efficient. Here are my top five:

Vince sneakers – I wasn’t sure what to expect when I bought a pair of Vince sneakers late last year. Bloggers rave about them, but there’s always a real possibility it’s because of aesthetics and not comfort. I’m happy to report that these slip-on sneakers live up to the hype. They were comfortable right out of the box with no need for a break-in period and I’ve already worn them for countless miles of exploring cities.
Packing cubes – Just like the Vince sneakers, everyone talks about how great packing cubes are, but you don’t really understand how great they are until you try them yourself. They’re a space-saving solution in your suitcase and they help keep everything organized. I love the preppy stripe on this Paravel set, but we actually have these and they do the job well. We also have one of these each and prefer them over the budget brand, but they all get the job done.
Flight 001 adapter – We’ve been delighted with this four-in-one adapter that fits together to work in 150 countries.
Bose noise-cancelling headphones – The ambient drone of an airplane never bothered me before Dave gave me these. I don’t think I realized how loud planes actually were until I was able to shut it all out and focus on my podcast without distractions.
Belkin mini outlet strip – Maximize the best outlet location in your hotel room with this mini power strip. It even has two USB ports so you charge your phone and keep the outlets free. On international trips, we dedicate one of our adapters to keeping this plugged in because it’s just so handy to have.

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How to Explore Your City Like a Tourist

October 16, 2018 by jessica Leave a Comment

Whenever the travel bug bites, it’s incredibly tempting to book a ticket to a new city or country to explore. However, jet-setting or even spending a weekend away isn’t always feasible due to limited vacation days or financial restrictions. If you’ve found yourself in that boat, don’t worry. Taking time to explore your own city through the lens of a tourist can be just as satisfying — and I’m sure you’ll discover pockets of your city with new-to-you hidden gems or hot spots that you didn’t know existed.

Clear Your Calendar

What a I love about staycations is that they force you to slow down and plan a weekend that’s all about getting out, dining out, and giving yourself an out from your to-do list. In order to fully be present and get the most out of the time in your city, you need to clear your calendar. Take time off from work and other responsibilities to play hooky around the city. Extend your weekend by adding in Monday and Tuesday for a four-day adventure. Additional time away from the office will distance you from your 9-to-5 job, making you feel more relaxed and refreshed when you do make it back. This also means shirking your to-do lists at home. The chores and projects will be there when you “return” to your normal routine, just like they would when you go out of town.

Do Your Research

Why not approach your staycation the way you would a full vacation? Pick up a local guidebook and scour travel websites to find museums, activities, and events. Check Yelp for new restaurants to try. Peek at Instagram and see what others are geotagging. Add all of these ideas to a Google Map so you can start to plan your adventure. When you live in a city, it’s easy to become complacent and overlook the attractions that make your city appealing to visitors. By approaching your city like a newcomer, you’ll have a renewed appreciation for your hometown – and you’ll be able to recommend activities to other visitors afterward.

Plan Your Itinerary

After you’ve earmarked a handful of activities, plan an itinerary that includes restaurants and bars to visit, along with all of the must-see activities you’d like to do. By creating a fun-filled checklist, you won’t feel tempted to just head home and kick back on the couch the rest of the day, which leads me to my next suggestion…

Stay at a Hotel

If your budget allows — and since you saved a ton of cash on the expense of getting to a destination — treat yourself to a hotel for at least one night during your staycation. Pack your suitcase (love this one) and splurge on a spot in the city’s most bustling area to stay out late, and then sleep in the next day and order room service. If your hotel has a spa, even better. Breaking your routine — and physically getting away from the chores at home — will make you feel like you had a true getaway.

Take Photos

As with vacation, you’ll want to document the fun! Take your camera and snap photos throughout the city, making sure to appreciate the unique features and interesting architectural design you might otherwise overlook. I did this when I worked with Toyota earlier this year on a “48 Hours in Madison” post. Embracing my local tourist made the weekend so much fun and I had a renewed appreciation for the city. Post your photos on social media and tag your local convention and visitors’ bureau and use any hashtags your city and state’s tourism board uses on their social media. It’s a fun way to show off how fabulous your hometown can be and they just might share your image!

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image via Unsplash

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