Traveling Photo Tips by Ann Marie Walts

Traveling Photo Tips by Ann Marie Walts

Travel Photography
August 03, 2024•4 min read
Travel Photography by Traveling with Ann Marie Walts

Taking Great Travel Photos with Your Smartphone

Traveling gives the chance to capture stunning memories, and with smartphones like my favorite, the Samsung S24 Plus Ultra, it’s easier than ever to take amazing photos. Here are some tips that have helped me make the most of my favorite phone's camera capabilities:

  1. Understand Your Camera Settings: I took some time to familiarize myself with the different modes and settings on my Samsung S24 Plus Ultra. Using the Pro mode gave me more control over exposure, focus, and white balance, which made a huge difference in my photos.

  2. Use Natural Light: I always try to use natural light to my advantage. Early morning and late afternoon, known as the "golden hours," provide the best lighting for outdoor photos, making them look magical.

  3. Keep Your Lens Clean: A dirty lens can ruin a great shot. I make sure to clean my camera lens regularly to avoid blurry or spotty images.

  4. Rule of Thirds: Using the gridlines feature helped me compose my shots better. Placing my subject off-center created a more balanced and interesting photo.

  5. Experiment with Angles and Perspectives: I don’t just shoot from eye level. Trying different angles and perspectives made my photos stand out. One of my favorite shots was taken at a low angle to avoid crowds, and it turned out amazing!

  6. Use HDR Mode: The High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode on the Samsung S24 Plus Ultra helped me capture more detail in both the bright and dark areas of my photos, especially in high-contrast scenes.

  7. Avoid Digital Zoom: Instead of zooming in digitally, I move closer to my subject. This keeps the image quality and sharpness intact.

  8. Edit Your Photos: I love using editing apps to enhance my photos. Adjusting brightness, contrast, and saturation makes my images pop and look professional.

  9. Capture the Moment: I don’t just focus on landscapes and landmarks. Capturing candid moments, local people, and little details tells the story of my travel experience.

  10. Practice Makes Perfect: The more I practice, the better I get. I’m not afraid to experiment and take lots of photos, and it's always worth it.

Now let me share with you my all time FAVORITE FEATURE and that is what is called DUAL RECORD!

If you want to bring others along with your own travel journey's then you will love this!

It is also known as the "director's view"... it is fantastic for talking to your audience...should you have one.

Custom HTML/CSS/JAVASCRIPT


Additional Tips for Stunning Travel Photos:

Inspired by a photo I took at a low angle to avoid crowds, here are a few more advanced tips:

  • Utilize Leading Lines: I look for natural lines that lead the viewer's eye into the photo, like pathways, rivers, or architectural lines.

  • Frame Within a Frame: Using natural frames, such as windows, arches, or even tree branches, draws attention to the main subject.

  • Use Burst Mode for Action Shots: If I'm photographing moving subjects, like horses or people, burst mode helps me capture the perfect moment.

  • Pay Attention to the Background: A cluttered background can distract from the main subject. I look for clean, simple backgrounds or use a wider aperture to blur the background.

  • Shoot in RAW: The Samsung S24 Plus Ultra allows me to shoot in RAW format, which retains more detail and offers greater flexibility in post-processing.

  • Experiment with Different Times of Day: Different times of day offer unique lighting conditions. I love shooting during the golden hour (shortly after sunrise or before sunset) for soft, warm light, or blue hour (just before sunrise or after sunset) for cool, blue tones.

  • Capture Local Culture: Besides landscapes and landmarks, capturing the essence of the local culture through portraits of people, markets, and daily activities adds depth to my travel photography.

  • Use Reflective Surfaces: I look for reflections in water, glass, or other surfaces to add an interesting dimension to my photos.

  • Tell a Story: I think about the story I want my photo to tell. Sometimes a series of photos can better convey the narrative of my travel experience.

  • Keep Your Equipment Ready: I always have my camera ready to capture unexpected moments. Sometimes the best shots are spontaneous.

Using my Samsung S24 Plus Ultra has truly enhanced my travel photography. Keep experimenting, and happy shooting!

Back to Blog