It really sucks when your travel photos don’t show off your adventures like they should. You try & you try & you try yet they’re just…meh. But don’t worry—we’ve all been there. Here are eleven reasons why this happens and hopefully, you can learn from these & make those photos special!
Featured Image Credit: Maridav /Depositphotos.com.
Lighting Isn’t Doing You Any Favors
A lot of the issues come down to lighting. Harsh midday sun can bleach everything out, which makes your photos look flat and if it’s too dim, you end up with a grainy mess. The trick is to chase the golden hour—that magical time just after sunrise or before sunset. Why? Because the light’s softer & it makes everything look a bit more like a fairytale.
Too Many People in Your Shot
Whenever you’re at a famous landmark, it’s usually crowded—like, really crowded. Trying to get a photo without a bunch of strangers in it can feel impossible but, with a bit of creativity, you can minimize the crowd effect. Think about the angles & timing when you take a photo. Better yet, make the crowd part of your photo’s story — but keep the focus on yourself.
What’s Your Photo Even About?
The excitement of being somewhere new can make you snap away without thinking. The result? Your photos are kinda all over the place. Remember that a good photo needs a clear focus—something that tells the viewer what they should be looking at. Before you start taking pictures, think about what caught your eye in the first place.
Ignoring the Rule of Third
The rule of thirds is pretty simple. Imagine your photo divided into nine equal parts by two horizontal & two vertical lines—then try to position the interesting parts of your scene along these lines or at their intersections. It’ll make your photos more engaging without needing to get too technical.
Not Giving Your Photos a Little TLC
Taking the photo is just the first step because most pics need a bit of editing to really pop. And no, you don’t need to be a Photoshop expert—simply editing the brightness & contrast can be enough to improve your photos. Just think of it as giving your photos a little love so that they can shine.
Lens Choice Matters
Anyone with a professional camera should know that different lenses can drastically change how their photos look. For example, a wide-angle lens might make buildings look warped while a telephoto lens can make distant objects appear close—however it might blur the background too much. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s the right lens.
That Pesky Background
We’ve all had those moments when we’ve taken what we thought was an amazing photo….only to later notice a trash can photobombing the shot. Backgrounds have a way of doing that! As such, take a quick look around your frame before you shoot so that you can avoid these kinds of irritating surprises. Or you can use an AI or editing software to touch up your background.
The Art of Zooming
Zooming in can get you closer to the action but on a phone, it can also make your photos pixelated. If you can, physically move closer instead since it’ll make the view a lot clearer. Some more advanced phones, like the iPhone 16 Pro, have more advanced cameras although you shouldn’t rely on them entirely.
Auto Mode Isn’t Always Your Friend
It’s easy enough to simply trust your camera or phone’s automatic settings yet it doesn’t always get you the best results. Take a bit of time to learn about your device’s settings—just having this knowledge can go a long way. Whether you’re learning about the basics of exposure or focus, it’ll seriously make your photos a lot better.
Capturing the Essence
Sometimes, our photos don’t impress us because they don’t capture what made that moment special. Instead of getting caught up in taking pics of famous landmarks, you should focus on the little details that really tell the story of a place. After all, it’s these unique aspects that make a photo pop.
Patience is Key
Great photos rarely happen in a hurry so you should take a moment to really look at what’s in front of you & wait for the right lighting. Don’t forget to frame your shot, too! Beyond merely capturing what you see, photography helps you capture how you feel about what you see. And that takes patience.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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