TRAVELERS' TOOLBOX

Picture Perfect

Great trip photos don't just happen—trust us. But each of these examples, pulled from readers' Travel Journals on BudgetTravel.com, delivers the goods.

By Valerie Rains, March 2010 issue  |  Subscribe to the magazine

Our reader pick Fernando Noriega of Cambridge, Mass., saw potential in the juxtaposition of patterns in this Istanbul café cup and tablecloth in June 2009; the fact that he'd sipped the coffee before getting out his camera gives the image a lived-in immediacy. (view photo)

So You Want to Shoot...
WILDLIFE

Common mistake Cutting out the context.

For best results Position yourself at eye level with the animals in order to incorporate the environment. And choose your time wisely: Mornings and late afternoons provide the best natural light, and many animals are more likely to be active then than at midday—also known as nap time.

Our reader pick A fast shutter speed (1/500th of a second) helped John Fleming of Kirkland, Wash., catch these Antarctic Peninsula penguins in action in January 2009. (view photo)

EDITOR'S TIPS

"To get sharper shots in dim light when you can't use a flash, set the camera on a timer. Even a two-second delay will eliminate the movement caused by pushing the camera's button." —Amy Lundeen, Photo Director

"If you want to take photos when it's raining, use a hotel shower cap to cover the camera's body, and cut a hole that's just large enough for the lens to poke through." —Michael Mohr, Associate Photo Editor

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Note:This story was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
 

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