Category: Travel & Adventure

We have reached peak time of year for vacations! And we all want to make sure we capture all the fun family time. But how will you get the best photos ever when all you have is a cell phone?

Don’t worry, I got you.

No matter if you have an iphone or android you can use these tips. It’s not about the camera, it’s about how you use it. What makes a good photo? A lot of things. 

For a technically good photo you will want:

1. You want to make sure your subject is in focus. If your family is the subject they will need to be in focus. If you are capturing the dramatic landscape, you will want it all in focus. 
2. Your brightness to be right, not too dark, not too bright. 
3. Watch out for distracting junk. If there’s a stick in the front that keeps drawing your eye, move it. If something is too big (or you don’t want to move nature) try a different angle. Take a step to the side. Go higher or lower.
4. Make sure your horizon is straight. No one wants to look out into the ocean and have to tilt their head.

And a few tips to create some eye-popping images:

1. Look for the best light. I know it’s not everyone’s favorite time of day but sunrise has some of the best light for photos! If you can’t drag yourself out of bed, you can always create amazing photos at sunset too! High noon is the worst time for photos so avoid if you can. And cloudy days? The best for shooting all day long!
2. Make sure your photo, or photos, tell a story. Why are you taking this photo? What do you want it to say or represent? Personally, I like candid shots of my friends and family as I think you get more story than with a posed shot. You can always take those too but make sure to get some of your kids exploring the lake!
3. Keep it simple. Have you heard the saying from Coco Chanel about putting on whatever accessories you want and then removing one? Think about that when comprising your shot. 
4. And keeping with that simple, find an interesting composition. Don’t place your human subject in the center of the photo. Put them to one side. If you have a big blue sky with no clouds, out it in the top third and let your mountain or flower dominate the frame.

And lastly, we are going to edit our photos! Don’t worry, I promise you don’t need to learn Photoshop! As with accessories and things in your image, less is more with editing. One of my favorite mobile editing apps is Adobe’s Lightroom. It’s free in the app store and super easy to use for basic edits. I’ve also used Google Snapseed in the past and it also works well!

Where to start? Once you’ve opened the app and loaded your photos, tap the photo you want to edit.

1. Click the auto. It is a great starting point, especially if you have never edited photos before.
2. Click color next. It will say white balance as shot. If you want you can click the drop-down and try auto. Don’t like that? Go back to as shot (these phones do a pretty great job with white balance).
3. Click effects and scroll down to vignette. I like to do between -10 and -15. You don’t want too much but darkening the corners a tad really highlights your subject.
4. Click detail and slide the sharpening over. For people stick to around 35. For landscapes, you can do 45-65. 
5. Optional: Click optics and turn on remove chromatic aberration and enable lens corrections. Usually, Lightroom will do a good job of selecting your correct phone and lens but if it looks wonky, you can change the phone & lens. Or turn it off.

And done! Now you have an edited photo you can save to your phone or share to email, social media, and other places! That’s not so bad huh?

Would you like me to do a video walking through a simple Lightroom mobile edit? Let me know in the comments!

Where are you traveling this summer? Will you try to get some great photos and edit them? Join The Desert Adventurer Group and ask any questions you may have for me and/or share your best travel photos! I can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Summer’s here. Well, for some of us but I digress. It’s here or will be soon and that means it’s time to pack up the family station wagon and head out on the road! Oh, wait, we aren’t in a National Lampoons movie so maybe we are packing up the family SUV and hitting the road with fewer bumps along the way with these top tips for a National Park Trip.

Many of us will be heading to the great outdoors. We will take the kids to show them the wonder that is nature. Whether they like it or not.

But how can you make sure you don’t end up like the Griswolds? Here are a few tips to make sure your trip to a National Park goes off without a hitch!

1. Research:
   1. Once you’ve decided which park you want to see, head over to their website and read through the Plan Your Visit section. It is full of great information!
   2. Be sure to find out how much the entrance fee is. It will vary by park. If you plan to visit a lot of parks throughout the year consider grabbing an annual pass.
   3. Start googling. Many people have already been to these parks and many have written about their experiences. 
   4. Decide what your must-sees are. Some parks are huge and depending on how much time you have at each one, you may not be able to see everything on your first visit.
2. Determine what you want to do:
   1. Are you going to camp? Head to recreation.gov and make a reservation! 
   2. What about hiking? What level is everyone at in your group? Check out the trails and ratings ahead of time. You don’t want to head out for an easy 1-mile walk and realize you are on a six-mile strenuous loop! 
   3. If you are taking your pet, what can they do? Most National Parks only allow doggos on paved areas so make sure you check that before lil Fido comes along.
   4. What gear will you need for camping or hiking?
3. Once you arrive: 
   1. Head to the visitors center. 
   2. Grab your maps and check on any info on park conditions. Some roads or trails may be closed for various reasons!
   3. Watch for wild animals and keep your distance. Check the park and campground for tips on the area’s local wildlife. And never approach them! Admire from afar and get a good telephoto lens for your camera
   4. Respect the land. Do not go off-trail. Pack out what you pack in. Take only pictures and leave only footprints. 
   5. Be respectful of other visitors as well. Many parks are crowded in the summer. It may be hard to find a spot to park at the main attractions. If you can’t stop safely to take a photo, keep moving! You can circle back later and see if there’s a spot to park. 
   6. Always have extra water and snacks. You never know how the conditions may affect you. You don’t want to become dehydrated or stuck somewhere for longer than anticipated. 
4. Lastly… HAVE FUN!

Leave your top tip for a National Park trip in the comments!

Headed out on your summer adventure? Be sure you don’t forget anything with a handy, dandy checklist! !

Let’s take a trip to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Grab a camping spot and settled in because you are sure to see some elk wandering around.

You can hike down the South Kaibab trail and enjoy a snack with a view of the Colorado river.

And don’t forget to catch a sunset.

Don’t forget to look for interesting rock formations or shadows!

And if it’s open, head over to the Watchtower. Otherwise, grab a photo from a distance.

Want more of the South Rim? Head over to my shop and grab a 2022 wall calendar!

We all have a spot that has stolen our hearts. You could go back there over and over and never get bored. New places can be tempting and fun, but those favorite places are comforting.

Going back is like going home.

You know your favorite places. You know which restaurants you just have to hit. You have a favorite spot to hike or drive. You know there’s more to discover and love, and you don’t get bored exploring.

The first time you went to a favorite place, you probably went to all the major tourist destinations. There is nothing wrong with that. Get them in and out of the way. Nothing wrong with playing tourist. But after you’ve done that, you can dig a little deeper.

Now when you go back, you have time to do whatever you want. Like hiking? Find all the best hikes and start crossing them off. Prefer water sports? Rent a stand-up paddleboard or snorkeling gear and spend your time in the water.

Become a local.

Or local adjacent. Find all those gems that aren’t in the tour guidebooks. Seek out local restaurants and bars. You will find some great places that aren’t filled with the usual tourist fare.

Returning to a familiar place is like visiting an old friend.

You never forget an old friend, and when you get together, it’s like no time has passed. You know they will always be there for you, much like a favorite place. We may grow and change but knowing we can always go back is a great comfort.

Do not give up exploring the world. Instead, embrace the comfort of loving a place so much you could visit multiple times. You can see a new location each year while finding time to go back to those places that call to you.