Security alert: Stay vigilant at all times and beware of phishing attacks. For more information, please read more on our Scam Advisory page.
x
 

How To Use Your Phone Camera for Gorgeous Travel Shots

Home / Blogs / How To Use Your Phone Camera for Gorgeous Travel Shots
Share this page
Related tags
Recommended Products
Reading Time: 4 minutes

There’s never been a better time to own a phone camera, especially when you’re travelling. Phone camera technology has been making huge leaps in recent years, making it sufficient to leave your digital camera at home and rely on your phone to snap happy memories for keepsakes. But how can you take your holiday snaps from “meh” to “magnificent”? Follow these tips for some ideas.

1. Be an early bird and catch the morning light

Photography enthusiasts often cite the “Golden Hour”, which refers to the period of the day right after the sun rises or just before the sun sets. Light during these precious minutes is redder and softer than the harsh midday light, giving your photos a natural appeal.

If there’s a scenic landscape or iconic landmark that you hope to visit and photograph, plan to be there in the early morning. Not only will you enjoy better light quality, but crowds may be smaller too. While the evening golden hour will also cast a gorgeous glow in your photos, places of interest are also more likely to be filled with throngs of people – and it’ll be harder to get a peaceful and unobstructed shot.

2. Play with the “rule of thirds”

A timeless tip in photography is to use the rule of thirds. This is the compositional technique of not framing your focal point right smack in the middle of your photo, but rather a third of the way up or down (or across). For example, when taking a photo of the sea, place the sea horizon at the top third or bottom third of your photo instead of filling your frame with half sea and half sky.   

On most phones, you can set up a 3×3 grid on the screen to help you visualise better. Framing your subject onto where the lines intersect is another easy and fantastic way to use the rule of thirds.

3. Add details, scale and contrast to the scene

Differentiate your travel photos from others’ by keeping a sharp eye on complementary subjects. Look out for objects that add a nice detail to your photo, such as a bicycle leaning against the wall or a cat napping in a corner. Capturing a person walking alone in the distance can also give viewers a sense of scale on how vast and wide the landscape is. Puddles also create wonderful opportunities for brilliant reflection shots. Pay close attention to your surroundings, think out of the box and have fun getting creative!

4. Use the portrait mode for people photos

Instantly make your photo more interesting by using the “portrait mode” in your phone camera. This feature typically gives your photo a blurred background, which focuses the viewer’s attention on your subject – her facial expressions, her outfits, what she’s holding or about to eat etc. 

By blurring the background, you eliminate distractions and any unglamorous details in your photo, which elevates the look and feel of your photo. Also, always make sure that the person’s eyes are in sharp focus. People are drawn to faces, and if your subject’s face looks slightly out of focus, viewers will quickly scroll away to the next photo.

5. Watch out for unfortunate photo angles

However, if your travel companion is standing in front of stunning mountain peaks, you’ll want to capture every detail of the background. The issue with having every background detail seen clearly is that you will have to check that there are no upright objects (e.g. street lamps, thin trees, traffic signs) directly behind your travel companions’ heads that will ruin the shot. Make it a habit to scan the photo background quickly. Either adjust your subject’s position or your camera angle if it looks like they’ve got something odd growing out of their heads.     

6. Gear up

For extra fun and better results with your travel photos, you can also experiment with add-on lenses and other accessories for your phone cameras. Make your trip more exciting by exploring macro lenses to help you catch better close-up shots, wide lenses for more majestic landscape photos, LED lights for more flattering lighting while on the go and tripods to stabilise your phone and take better night shots of the star-lit sky or bright city lights.

Snap up Etiqa’s travel insurance deals today!

No matter where you’re voyaging and photographing, Etiqa’s got attractive travel insurance deals for you. Travel with a peace of mind when you get comprehensive coverage from our plans.

What’s more, swing by Singapore Expo Hall 4 & 5A for the NATAS Travel 2024 from 1 to 3 March 2024 and enjoy exclusive promotions with Etiqa, the NATAS Official Travel Insurer. Enjoy up to 35% off Etiqa’s Travel Infinite travel insurance plus stand a chance to win one out of two Apple iPhones worth S$3,600! Free gifts with every sign-up, while stocks last. See you there at booth 4H35!

This policy is underwritten by Etiqa Insurance Pte. Ltd. (Company Reg. No. 201331905K), a member of Maybank Group.

This content is for reference only and is not a contract of insurance. This policy is protected under the Policy Owners’ Protection Scheme which is administered by the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation (SDIC). Coverage for your policy is automatic and no further action is required from you. For more information on the types of benefits that are covered under the scheme as well as the limits of coverage, where applicable, please contact us or visit the General Insurance Association (GIA) or SDIC websites (www.gia.org.sg or www.sdic.org.sg).

Information is accurate as at 28 February 2024.

You might also be interested

Thank you for your application. Congratulations on insuring your new home! Please note that this complimentary home insurance policy is only successfully incepted when you receive your Policy Schedule and Welcome Letter from us. If you’d like to stack a higher coverage for your new home and a greater peace of mind, purchase Tiq Home Insurance with an exclusive 25% off with TIQRENO promo code.

Marketing Consent Terms & Conditions

  1. I consent to Etiqa and its related, its agents, authorised service providers and marketing partners collecting, using, disclosing, and/or processing my personal data, in order to contact me about products and services marketed by Etiqa or its partners as well as benefits, promotions and rewards, via the modes mentioned or selected, and using my contact particulars which Etiqa may have in its records from time to time (including where applicable my Singapore telephone number(s));
  2. I confirm and agree that my consents granted herein do not supersede or replace any other consents which I may have previously provided to Etiqa in respect of my personal data, and are additional to any rights which Etiqa may have at law to collect, use or disclose my personal data, unless my consent is withdrawn and notified to Etiqa.
  3. I can choose to withdraw my consent by submitting the Marketing Withdrawal Form at www.etiqa.com.sg or email to customer.service@etiqa.com.sg.

Personal Data Protection Terms & Conditions

I expressly authorise and consent to Etiqa, its officers and employees at their sole discretion, to disclose any and all information relating to me, including my personal particulars, my transactions and dealings and my policies of insurance with Etiqa, to any of the following persons, whether in Singapore or elsewhere:

  1. Etiqa’s related corporations or affiliates;
  2. Any of Etiqa’s contractors or third party service providers;
  3. Any regulatory, supervisory or other authority, court of law, tribunal or person, in any jurisdiction, where such disclosure is required by law, regulation, judgement or order of court or order of any tribunal or as a matter of practice;
  4. Any actual or potential assignee(s) or transferee(s) of any rights and obligations of Etiqa under or relating to my policy or policies for any purpose connected with the proposed assignment or transfer; and
  5. Any credit bureau, insurer or representative, for such purpose(s) that Etiqa in its reasonable opinion considers appropriate including but not limited to the purpose(s) of underwriting, customer servicing, investigation of Etiqa’s representatives and monitoring undesirable sales practices.

Eligibility Conditions

  1. The Insured, also known as the Applicant / Proposer, must be a Singapore citizen, Permanent Resident of Singapore or foreigner with a valid Work Pass, Student Pass, Dependant’s Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass.
  2. The Applicant/Proposer must be at least 18 years of age.
  3. For more information, please view our Policy Wording

Thanks for your interest.

Our Assurance Manager will reach out to you within 2 working days to assist you further.