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Travel Photography: Tips For Taking Your Holiday Snaps To The Next Level

How To Take Epic Travel Photos (With You In Them!)
Geneva Vanderzeil

Holidays. The only thing better than actually being on one, is reminiscing about your last. And the best way to do that? By scrolling your camera roll, of course.

It's no secret that Aussies love to travel, and according to a recent Expedia survey, taking photos of our global adventures makes up a large part of the experience.

The survey, which looked at the travel habits of over 5,000 Australians revealed the opportunity for great photos is a key driver when choosing our next holiday destination.

To take your holiday snaps to the next level, travel blogger Geneva Vanderzeil explains the importance of taking people on a journey with your photos.

“Think about what you're seeing from a different angle. These days so many places have been shown and photographed, but it's how you put your own spin on it that makes all the difference,” Vanderzeil told The Huffington Post Australia.

"People love to see you as a subject in the landscape. They also really enjoy seeing imagery that's fresh -- like snow or the ocean."

The things Vanderzeil focuses on most? Colour, symmetry and unexpected details. And when it comes to landscape photography, good lighting is imperative.

“Sunrise and sunset will always help to add a different element,” Vanderzeil said.

Don’t be afraid to put yourself in the landscape either, after all, that’s how you put your stamp on a landmark that’s probably been snapped a million times before.

"I rarely shoot at night, unless I can make it really amazing. The lighter and brighter the better, especially if you're working with a phone."

“Putting yourself in the image also gives an amazing sense of proportion, and helps people imagine that they're there too,” Vanderzeil said.

If you want to inject even more personality into your images, try applications like Boomerang, a tool that creates a moving image for you to upload to social platforms.

"They're a really fun tool for giving more movement and expression to a place or person. A city like Hong Kong that has lots of movement and chaos is a great place to experiment with it," Vanderzeil said.

"Look for symmetry, like an avenue of trees or a straight walkway. It draws the eye down the middle and always sucks you into the photo."

If it’s a photo album you’re creating, or perhaps you might be trying to perfect the art of Instagram, Vanderzeil said it’s all about consistency.

“Choose one or two ways to edit your photographs and stick to them. This ensures continuity across your photos so that over time people will understand that as your photographic signature,” Vanderzeil said.

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