Vacation

How many times have you looked at friends’ or colleagues’ vacation photos and found yourself feeling a little jealous? Not jealous of their holiday, but of their good photos?

A common misconception is that you can only have good photos if you either go to an exotic location or if you have an expensive camera. Both of these points are untrue.

Whether you’re spending your vacation on a luxury private island or camping locally you can have an awesome time. And, whether you’re taking a photo with an expensive Canon or your trusty old SmartPhone, you can have amazing photos. We’ll tell you how.

4 Tips to Taking Amazing Vacation Photos

Capturing amazing holiday photos is easier than you think. With a few tips you’ll be able to have vacation photos you’ll be proud of, just like your friends.

Take Your Camera EVERYWHERE!

More often than not, you miss the opportunity to take a good photo because you left your camera in your hotel room. The first rule of taking good photos is to give yourself the opportunity to “catch” magical moments by taking your camera everywhere. Take a lot of photos. The more photos you take, the more likely you are to get a few wonderful shots!

Capture Site Attractions

If you’re going to an exotic location, try and take pictures of the main attractions of that area. It’s also a good idea to take photos of the lesser known attractions. That way you have photos that aren’t carbon copies of the millions of pictures already online. Your pictures will be unique to your experience.

Family, Friends and Strangers

Photos shouldn’t be forced or too posed. For instance, a picture of your children playing on the beach is more memorable than them posed in front a palm tree. Don’t avoid taking photos because hair or makeup isn’t done, or because your swimming costume makes you look fat! The photos should show the fun everyone is having.

If you’re on vacation alone, take photos of strangers enjoying the sites. Focus on the aspects of your holiday that you’d like to look back on in a few years with fond memories. Don’t forget that sunsets or sunrises are daily opportunities for amazing photos.

Take Pictures at Night

Do you avoid taking pictures at night because your pictures come out dark or blurry? Familiarise yourself with the camera features of the device you’ll be using. Modern devices have features that will enable you to do more than you think. Download a cheat sheet and remember to practice beforehand. Pictures at night capture a different and equally stunning interpretation of your holiday.

In Conclusion

Photos are more than just something to brag about on social media. Photos are representations of the fun you had and the memories you made. Years after your vacation you and your family will look back on your photos with fondness.

Remember, practice technical aspects before the time and take your camera everywhere you go to take pictures of everything and everyone. The perfect photos happen at the most unplanned opportunities.

 

Figure 1 by JoFinchenParsons on Pixabay

Daydreaming about your next getaway? South Africa is bursting with beautiful places to be explored.

Spilling over with Cape Dutch architecture, centuries-old vineyards, flowers, trails and wildlife, there’s plenty to discover in western South Africa. Here are five ideas to inspire you as you plan your next South African adventure.

Wander Over to a Wine Farm

One of South Africa’s true gems is Franschhoek, a French-inspired town. Tucked away between the mountains, this little village founded in 1688 is home to numerous Franschhoek wine farms. Join a wine tasting tour or visit vineyards at your own leisure. Next, why not wander along the Stellenbosch, Paarl, Wellington and Worcester wine routes?

Move On to Some Museums

Despite South Africa being a younger country, it still carries an interesting history with numerous museums to visit. Franschhoek’s Huguenot Memorial Museum and its neighbouring monument honour the French settlers who arrived in the 1600 & 1700s.

Motorheads will enjoy the Franschhoek Motor Museum display of vintage cars. The Outeniqua Transnet Transport Museum in the city of George displays South Africa’s railway history.

Closer to the Mother City, the Heart of Cape Town Museum delves into the history of the world’s first human heart transplant performed by Professor Chris Barnard in 1967. Also, Cape Town’s District Six Museum serves as a visual reminder of the area which the apartheid nationalist government destroyed in the 1960s. The Castle of Good Hope is a bastion fort constructed in the 1600s. Visitors can admire this provincial heritage site as the best preserved example of a Dutch East India Company fort.

Relax in a Nature Reserve

Time to unwind? Have a picnic in the Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve while admiring the flowers in wildlife overlooking the Franschhoek Valley.

Just 90 minutes away from Cape Town, Welbedacht Game and Nature Reserve is a tranquil hideaway in the Tulbagh Valley. The nearby quaint town is famous for its art galleries, cafés and curio shops. Outdoor enthusiasts can take advantage of fishing, horse riding, mountain biking, nature trails and swimming.

 

Bask in the Botanical Gardens

Floral lovers will enjoy basking in the Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden. Found in the historical center of Stellenbosch, it’s South Africa’s oldest botanical garden. Despite being compact in size, it’s home to a wide range of indigenous and exotic plants.

 

Known as one of the greatest botanic gardens worldwide, the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is the perfect backdrop against the eastern side of Cape Town’s Table Mountain. This is one of 10 National Botanic Gardens covering five of South Africa’s six biomes.

Hike Up to New Heights

Avid hikers can enjoy a day trip up Lion’s Head. One of Cape Town’s most popular hiking destinations, the Lion’s Head hiking trail comprises of a series of direct and spiral routes. This short, easy hike boasts some of the best panoramic views.

Looking for a more challenging hiking experience? Pick from the five Table Mountain hikes. While your legs will feel the impact, the view on a clear day is completely worth it.

[Conclusion]

Feeling inspired to explore more of Western South Africa? There are many more places we haven’t even mentioned that are waiting for you to discover them. Why not start saving up for your next holiday today?

 

Before you book your next overseas adventure, continue reading to discover a handful of travel tech gadgets, which will change your life and make traveling abroad an easier experience.

5 Cool Travel Tech Gadgets:

Noise cancelling headphones:

Noise cancelling headphones can be used for a wide variety of purposes. You can use a pair of noise cancelling headphones in order to signal to other travellers that you don’t want to talk, especially when you’re on a long haul flight, you can use noise cancelling headphones to listen to a podcast or audiobook or you can use a pair of high quality noise cancelling headphones to sleep on a crowded bus, plane or train.

A USB charger for your car:

If you plan on embarking on a road trip or you often hire a rental car when you travel, make sure to pack a small USB charger for your car which you’ll be able to use to charge your electronics such as your smart phone, on the go. So that you’ll never be stuck without a charged phone. Especially if you rely on your smart phone to take your travel photos and you don’t travel with a digital camera.

A waterproof phone case:

In order to ensure that your phone doesn’t become water damaged, it’s a smart idea to keep your phone in a durable, waterproof phone case. As the last thing that you want to have happen is to be stuck overseas without a working smart phone.

A solar charger:

If you enjoy exploring the great outdoors and enjoy camping or engaging in adventurous pursuits such as hiking, it’s a great idea to invest in purchasing a solar charger. Which will allow you to charge your electronic devices without using a traditional wall socket to charge your electronic devices.

A smart suitcase:

If you’re in need of a brand new suitcase, it may be worth upgrading to a smart suitcase. Most smart suitcases allow you to charge your electronic devices using your smart suitcase and some smart suitcases are able to follow you around an airport. Without you having to physically touch, push or pull your suitcase. Simple sync your suitcase to your smart phone using Bluetooth. Most smart suitcases will also allow you to track your suitcase at any point journey your journey and some smart staircases will be able to tell you exactly how heavy your suitcase is.

If you purchase a couple of the travel gadgets which are listed above, you should be able to make your overseas adventures a whole lot easier to organize.