Staying Fit
In Japan, kimonos are worn for special occasions these days, so you’ll want to ask for a picture when you see one.
JEFFERSON GRAHAM
Heading out for vacation soon? Good news: You don’t have to bring your big, bulky camera anymore.
You can do almost everything with your smartphone. The only exception is an ultra-closeup of wild animals. Family pictures, landscapes, portraits, night-time shots, moody black-and-whites, you name it — a smartphone camera on an Android, Google Pixel or iPhone is so good that it will serve you just fine.
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When taking two big trips to Japan and France, I left the big cameras at home and had no regrets. Here are some tips to make your vacation photos pop like a pro.
1. Stop by the local tourism office
Do this first. Look at brochures, magazines and photographs.
If these look like what you want to photograph, ask where they were taken. The staff knows more about the area than you do, so their advice should be extremely helpful.
Paris at dawn: If you wake up before the rest of the city, you can get great light and avoid hordes of tourists.
JEFFERSON GRAHAM
2. Wake up early
Popular vacation spots tend to attract huge crowds, and you really don’t want to see a lot of people in your beauty shot of Yellowstone’s Old Faithful geyser or the Eiffel Tower. Luckily, you have an easy fix. Wake up early and get your shot first thing in the morning, when most cinematographers and photographers get their best images because the light is at its softest and warmest.
Way fewer people will be walking around than right before sunset, the other “golden hour” in the day. Generally, as the day progresses, the number of people increases. If you can be on the scene just after sunrise, you’ll be in better shape for a great shot.
You can always go back to the room and nap afterward.
3. Find shade on the road
The worst time to snap family photos is midday when most people want to take them. The sunlight is harsh, and it produces heavy shadows on faces.
The easiest fix? Find a bit of shade, and everyone’s face will look great with soft, even, shadow-free lighting. If you see a spot of sun on a face, move the subject slightly until it disappears.
Want to Learn More?
Senior Planet from AARP has periodic smartphone photography classes among its other courses on smartphone use.
What if you want a photo of the family in front of an icon, such as California’s Hollywood sign or Arizona’s Grand Canyon, where shade may be nonexistent? Have people don hats and sunglasses, and the shadows won’t seem as harsh.
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