Enter my pocket-sized Canon camera.  Of course, I didn’t forget it – it’s so small it fits in my purse.  My Nikon DSLR, complete with battery grip and zoom [...]]]> As someone who shoots with a professional camera, leaving home without it induces panic.  You’d have thought something life-threatening had happened this afternoon when I discovered, while waiting to board the plane, that I’d forgotten my trusty Nikon DSLR.  How in the world was I to photograph my site inspections this week?

Enter my pocket-sized Canon camera.  Of course, I didn’t forget it – it’s so small it fits in my purse.  My Nikon DSLR, complete with battery grip and zoom lens, is definitely a carry-on.

Why do I tell you this?  Well, this is the perfect opportunity to point out that it’s not necessarily the camera that matters – it’s the person behind the lens.

Yes, I get higher-quality images from my Nikon DSLR.  However, with a little bit of extra care and attention to composition, I can produce fabulous images with my little pocket-sized camera.

Use these tips to get the most out of your camera – no matter its size.

Composition

As far as I’m concerned, the number one quality of a great photograph is composition.  Remember to use the rule of thirds.  Your camera should have an option to allow a grid to display when you are taking a picture.  Use it.  Compose your shot using that rule – have your subject aligned along those grid lines – not in the center.

Tic-tac-toe

Envision your photograph as if it was being superimposed over a tic-tac-toe board.  Where those lines intersect is exactly where you want your subject to appear.  From a portrait to a shot of the horizon, never ever center your subject.

Experiment

When taking a wide-angle shot with the horizon in the background, experiment by taking two shots.  One with the horizon at the top third of the grid; the other at the bottom third of the grid.  Sometimes it’s hard to tell in-the-moment which shot will be the best.  By taking a few extra seconds to snap these two shots, you’re guaranteed a great outcome.

Edit, but be careful

One of my favorite things about my DSLR is that I can edit photos ‘til the cows come home.  That’s not necessarily the case with shots from a small pocket camera, though.  Too much editing, zooming-in for example, creates a heavily pixelated image.  The fix?  Zoom-in *when* you take the picture.

For more information on how to improve your travel photos, visit this Sky Steward article:  Ten Ways to Improve Your Travel Photos.

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Gorillapod by Joby

This tripod is a must-have for your camera bag. In fact, I never leave home without it.

The Joby Gorillapod has revolutionized [...]]]> Photography is an essential part of my blogging and my travel. In addition to the basics (spare charged battery & lens cloth just to name two), there's a small handful of items that I never travel without. These items are very user-friendly and should find a home in your camera bag no matter your photography skills.

Gorillapod by Joby

This tripod is a must-have for your camera bag. In fact, I never leave home without it.

The Joby Gorillapod has revolutionized tripod-based photography. Its flexible legs can wrap around literally anything – from fences to gates to trees to bike handles – there's no limit. Plus, it's small compact size easily fits into a purse or pocket.

Gorillapods come in a wide range of sizes to support everything from your pocket camera to your large DSLR with zoom lens.

Fog Eliminator Cloths

These little guys are a life saver and they work like a charm! I always travel with one.

There's nothing worse than your lens fogging up. Just a couple swipes with one of these reusable cloths and your lens is clear and ready to shoot in no time.

Op/Tech Rain Sleeve

You've waited your whole life to take that special trip. For me, that was my first trip to Rome in 2007. As a photographer, I'm sure you can imagine my excitement. Unfortunately, it rained while I was in Rome. Rained for days.

Thank God I had an Op/Tech Rain Sleeve! My DSLR was completely protected from the elements, allowing me to capture every single rainy second of my time in Rome.

Op/Tech Rain Sleeves come in a multitude of sizes and can accommodate your DSLR with a variety of lens sizes, including a battery grip and an external flash. Don't leave home without one.

Polarizer

This filter eliminates ultraviolet rays to remove haze from outdoor shots as well as polarizing the light to remove reflections from non-metallic surfaces such as water and glass. It also increases color saturation without affecting the overall color balance of the photo.I always shoot with a polarizer in sunny weather.

Remember to check your lens measurement prior to purchasing.

Rocket Air Blower

Yes, it does look like a hand grenade. However, it works wonders for cleaning a lens, removing dust from a DSLR sensor, and cleaning between your laptop keys.

I have no problems carrying this product through security, though it has raised a few eyebrows as it passes through the x-ray machine.

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For examples, see the slideshow below. 1.  Look at postcards for clues.

Postcards are excellent references for great travel photos.  You’ll learn composition, lighting and where all the money shots are just by glancing at someone else’s work. All that cheating you did in high school is finally paying off. 2. Zoom in. Whether you zoom in when you take the shot or during editing, you [...]]]> No matter your photography skill or camera, these ten tips will help you improve your travel photos.

For examples, see the slideshow below.


1.  Look at postcards for clues.

Postcards are excellent references for great travel photos.  You’ll learn composition, lighting and where all the money shots are just by glancing at someone else’s work. All that cheating you did in high school is finally paying off.


2. Zoom in.

Whether you zoom in when you take the shot or during editing, you can never go wrong with close-ups.


3. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

Sometimes, simple things like tilting the camera (so that your image is completely sideways) is enough to kick those photos up a notch.

Use different angles. Instead of taking a picture head-on, step off to the side or kneel down for a different point-of-view.


4. Take pictures of local surroundings.

Whether it’s a young boy walking a dog or a close-up of a traditional garment, these types of photos really show local color, custom & tradition.


5. Photograph a destination-specific meal and/or menu.

Sure, you’ll look like a dork doing so, but this is a great way to remember your trip and the fabulous meals you enjoyed.


6. Look behind you.

Don’t forget to look behind you. Sometimes the view is better.


7. Always have your camera at-the-ready.

There’s nothing worse than missing an important shot. Keep that camera ready.


8. Use a polarizer.

If your lens supports one, use a polarizer for outdoor shots in sunny weather.


9. Show texture.

Sure, a picture of an old door is fine. But, find a way to focus on that door’s age, be it texture in the wood or peeling paint.


10. Photograph signs.

Signs are a great way to showcase your travel.

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The Joby Gorillapod has revolutionized tripod-based photography.  Its flexible legs can wrap around literally anything – from fences to gates to trees to bike handles – there’s no limit.  Plus, its small compact size easily fits into a purse or pocket.

Gorillapods come in a wide range of sizes to support everything from your pocket camera to your large DSLR with zoom lens.

For more great [...]]]> This tripod is a must-have for your camera bag.  In fact, I never leave home without it.

The Joby Gorillapod has revolutionized tripod-based photography.  Its flexible legs can wrap around literally anything – from fences to gates to trees to bike handles – there’s no limit.  Plus, its small compact size easily fits into a purse or pocket.

Gorillapods come in a wide range of sizes to support everything from your pocket camera to your large DSLR with zoom lens.

For more great camera bag items, visit Camera Bag Must Haves at Lazy Luxury Travel.

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Jeremy Greenidge Gallery

One of my favorite frequent fliers is based on the beautiful island of Barbados. Jeremy Greenidge is an aviation/IT consultant who is also an award winning photographer. Of course, I was very interested in his aviation photography but was also equally mesmerized by his other works and asked him to put some of them aside for me (I’ll tell you more about that later). Jeremy Greenidge’s fabulous work is displayed in his online [...]]]>

Jeremy Greenidge Gallery

One of my favorite frequent fliers is based on the beautiful island of Barbados. Jeremy Greenidge is an aviation/IT consultant who is also an award winning photographer. Of course, I was very interested in his aviation photography but was also equally mesmerized by his other works and asked him to put some of them aside for me (I’ll tell you more about that later). Jeremy Greenidge’s fabulous work is displayed in his online gallery and is definitely worth a long look.

Have you ever thought of taking up photography? I have, but I have always thought that I’d need to invest in expensive equipment in order to do it right. I was very pleased to hear from Jeremy that he has actually won awards for shots he took with a run-of-the-mill digital camera! Jeremy also shares his passion with others by hosting photography tours on the island of Barbados and beyond. Better yet, he makes it possible for anyone to tag along virtually by following his Facebook fan page  (http://pictureti.me) and you’ll be able to stay posted on when his next photo tour will take place. You can listen in on my chat with Jeremy on the November 27th, 2009 edition of “The Sky Steward Show”.

Jeremy actually enjoys all of the air travel his work requires of him. Originally from England, his first flight was traveling alone on a transatlantic jumbo-jet flight. That’s all it took and when I saw some photos he had taken with his cell phone and posted on the internet I knew we definitely had an interest in aviation in common.

Special Offer from Jeremy

I spent a lot of time in his online gallery and even chose my favorite items which Jeremy is making available to readers of Dear Sky Steward at up to 50% off, plus you’ll be able to order items such as photo mugs that even include gourmet cocoa…what a great gift. Check out my favorites here and receive a special price by logging in with the password: jetiquette

For my own selfish reasons, I wanted to include some of Jeremy’s aviation photography as well!

[flagallery gid=5 name="Gallery"]

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