How to Snap the Perfect Vacation Photo

The most advanced camera I've ever owned is on my desk right now--integrated into my cell phone. I know, I know. It's no digital SLR. But have you held one of those things? You may as well be hoofing around with an extraordinarily-expensive boulder in tow. Not an ideal situation for most vacationers--myself included.

But here's the thing: you don't need a leviathan of a camera to take crisp, professional-looking photos. You just need to think like a photographer. Try these simple tips for starters:

• Keep the camera steady. If you're clawing your way up Kilimanjaro, you probably aren't going to get to the top and whip out a tripod. Find a secure surface to rest your camera against, or try this trick: grip your right shoulder with your left hand, and rest the camera against your now-steady right bicep. Still having trouble? Take a deep breath, and press the button as you slowly exhale.
• Envision a grid. The rule of thirds is one of the most basic principles in photography. When you look through your viewfinder, try to imagine the image you see divided into nine equivalently-sized squares, and place your subject into one of them. This will prevent you from always putting your subject right in the middle of the photo--a habit that tends to result in somewhat boring, predictable pictures.
• Experiment with angles. Not all photos have to be straight-ahead shots. Get down on your knees and tilt the camera upward for a fresh take on a cityscape or monument. Or, climb to a higher perch for top-down photos of plazas and crowds. There are no fast rules assigning certain angles to certain situations, so experiment!
• The more, the merrier. In an age where digital cameras are almost as commonplace as pants, there's no reason to limit your picture-taking. You can always erase the photos you fumble, so keep clicking away. If you're trying to capture something that just won't stay still (say, your sauced friend at Oktoberfest), this tactic works especially well--you never know when you'll capture that perfect half-second pose among a slew of average shots.
• Go into the light! Natural light will always, always, always look best--and early morning sunshine is the best light of all. If you're more of a breakfast-first, photos-later kind of person (and I'm right there with you), early evening works well, too. For indoor photos, try positioning yourself with a window or other light source at your back, and keep your flash off whenever possible. Nobody looks good under that harsh, white-light glow.
• If all else fails, edit. Dimes to dollars says you've got a photo editing tool built right into your computer--and it's worth a lot more than that to learn how to use it. You don't need to sign up for a night-school Photoshop course, but at least spend a few minutes figuring out how to adjust color levels, brightness, and contrast. Sometimes, even a simple re-crop can transform your snapshot from bland to grand.

Just to prove how easy it is, I’m including one of my own shots, taken with a digital camera even less sophisticated than the one in my cell phone:

Got photo tips of your own? Share them in the comments!