Better Travel Photos With Just Your Phone

Most memorable travel photos today are taken on phones. Modern phone cameras handle exposure, focus and color well on their own, so the difference between a forgettable snapshot and a picture worth printing usually comes down to light, composition and patience, not equipment. The tips below are organized by the kinds of scenes travelers photograph most.

Before any shot

• Wipe the lens. Phone lenses pick up fingerprints constantly, which causes hazy, low-contrast photos and glowing streaks around lights. A quick wipe with a soft cloth fixes it.
• Turn on the grid. Most camera apps can show a three-by-three grid, which helps keep horizons level and place subjects off center.
• Use the right lens, not zoom. Many phones have separate wide, ultra-wide and telephoto lenses. Switching lenses keeps quality high, while pinching to zoom beyond the longest lens usually just crops and softens the image.
• Tap to focus, then adjust brightness. Tap on your subject, then slide the exposure control to darken a bright sky or lighten a shadowed face. Many phones let you lock focus and exposure by pressing and holding.

Landscapes

Light matters more than location. The hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset, often called golden hour, give warm, low light and long shadows that reveal texture. The blue hour just after sunset gives deep blue skies and glowing city lights. Midday sun is harsh and flat, which is a good time for indoor sights or for shooting in shade.

Include something in the foreground, such as a rock, a path, a fence or a person, to give a sense of depth and scale. Paths, rivers and roads make natural leading lines that draw the eye into the picture. Try placing the horizon on the upper or lower grid line rather than in the middle, depending on whether the land or the sky is more interesting.

Cities and architecture

Go early in the morning to photograph famous squares and streets before crowds arrive. Stand square to a building's front to keep vertical lines straight, or use the ultra-wide lens close to the base for a dramatic upward angle. Look for frames within the scene, such as archways, windows and gaps between buildings, and for reflections in puddles, shop windows and rivers. Some of the best city pictures are details: a doorway, a tiled wall, a market stall.

People and street scenes

Portrait mode can blur the background behind a travel companion, but check the edges, since hair and glasses sometimes confuse it. Have people stand with the light falling on their faces, or in open shade, rather than squinting into the sun. Candid photos often feel more alive than posed ones, so keep the camera ready while your companions explore.

When photographing locals, ask permission, with a gesture if you don't share a language, and respect a refusal. Some places have laws or customs restricting photos of people, religious sites, military sites or government buildings. Children deserve particular care.

Food

Shoot near a window with natural light, and avoid the restaurant's overhead lighting and your phone's flash. Try shooting from directly above for flat dishes, and from a lower angle for burgers, drinks and stacked dishes. Clear clutter from the table, and take the picture quickly, before the food goes cold and your companions lose patience.

Night and low light

Night modes on recent phones combine several exposures, and work best if you hold the phone very still for a few seconds or rest it on a wall, railing or small tripod. Avoid flash for anything farther away than a few feet. City lights, illuminated buildings and the blue hour usually give better results than full darkness.

Telling the story of a trip

A set of photos is more engaging when it includes variety. Think like a magazine photographer and aim for a mix: a wide shot that sets the scene, medium shots of people and activity, and close-ups of details such as textures, signs, food and hands at work. Photograph the journey, not just the destination, including the train window, the map, the café where you planned the day. Those in-between moments often bring back the strongest memories.

After the trip

Editing apps built into most phones can straighten horizons, crop for better composition and adjust brightness, contrast and color. A light touch looks better than heavy filters. Back photos up to cloud storage or a laptop regularly during a trip, so a lost or stolen phone does not take your pictures with it.

The habit that matters most

Take your time. Walk around a subject, try a lower or higher angle, and take several shots, then delete the extras later. Some of the best travel photos come from returning to the same spot at a different time of day. And remember to put the phone away now and then. A trip seen entirely through a screen is a smaller trip, however good the photos.