How To Take Your Travel Photos To The Next Level
An Instagram-famous photographer reveals the secrets to taking extraordinary pictures on your phone.
Travel photographer Cole Rise is Instagram famous. As in, he created Rise, the filter, and has over 840,000 followers.
Since crafting Instagram's first photo treatments, Cole has promoted the gospel of the "unedited edited" look via his gorgeous pictures on Instagram and founded a mobile and desktop photo app of subtle filters called Litely.
Needless to say, this guy knows his stuff. Cole sat down with BuzzFeed Life to discuss the secrets of subtle editing and how to get DSLR-worthy photos from your phone.
1. Protip #1: Brighten shadows and tone down highlights for better balance.
Most photo editing apps include tools to adjust highlights and shadows. Take advantage of them!
To enhance this landscape photo, Cole balanced the exposure by brightening the shadows and darkening the highlights. He also added a touch of the Winsy filter from the Litely app to bring out the image's warm hues. The result is a brighter, more even-toned photo. Take the slider for a spin to see the before and after.
Most photo editing apps include tools to adjust highlights and shadows. Take advantage of them!
To enhance this landscape photo, Cole balanced the exposure by brightening the shadows and darkening the highlights. He also added a touch of the Winsy filter from the Litely app to bring out the image's warm hues. The result is a brighter, more even-toned photo. Take the slider for a spin to see the before and after.
Most photo editing apps include tools to adjust highlights and shadows. Take advantage of them!
To enhance this landscape photo, Cole balanced the exposure by brightening the shadows and darkening the highlights. He also added a touch of the Winsy filter from the Litely app to bring out the image's warm hues. The result is a brighter, more even-toned photo. Take the slider for a spin to see the before and after.
2. Protip #2: Add vignetting and amp up shadows to increase brightness.
When in doubt, add a hint of vignette. Vignettes, which are basically Cole's favorite thing, add a subtle dark border around your photo, brightening the middle of the image. "It makes the balloons pop," he said of this photo, taken in Napa Valley, California. Because the original image is dark, he increased the vibrance and added a little sharpness to distinguish the shapes of the balloons and landscape, without making the photo look edited. Cole then added Litely's Lunar Faded filter.
When in doubt, add a hint of vignette. Vignettes, which are basically Cole's favorite thing, add a subtle dark border around your photo, brightening the middle of the image. "It makes the balloons pop," he said of this photo, taken in Napa Valley, California. Because the original image is dark, he increased the vibrance and added a little sharpness to distinguish the shapes of the balloons and landscape, without making the photo look edited. Cole then added Litely's Lunar Faded filter.
When in doubt, add a hint of vignette. Vignettes, which are basically Cole's favorite thing, add a subtle dark border around your photo, brightening the middle of the image. "It makes the balloons pop," he said of this photo, taken in Napa Valley, California. Because the original image is dark, he increased the vibrance and added a little sharpness to distinguish the shapes of the balloons and landscape, without making the photo look edited. Cole then added Litely's Lunar Faded filter.
3. Protip #3: Edit the photo, then go back and reduce your adjustments by 50%.
This. is. key.
The trick to maintaining the integrity of your photo is to not filter and edit them too heavily. Edit your image as normal, then dial back everything to 50%. On Instagram you have the ability to edit your filter strength. Once you select a filter, tap it again to reduce its intensity.
This is a rule Cole has always stuck to. It's also why he wanted to create his own app. "I wanted filters that were applied at 100% and still looked great," he said.
Another piece of advice: "Stay away from clarity! Also known as Lux in Instagram." Clarity and Lux are intended to "fix" underexposure and lack of contrast. But the tools often make images look Photoshopped.
This. is. key.
The trick to maintaining the integrity of your photo is to not filter and edit them too heavily. Edit your image as normal, then dial back everything to 50%. On Instagram you have the ability to edit your filter strength. Once you select a filter, tap it again to reduce its intensity.
This is a rule Cole has always stuck to. It's also why he wanted to create his own app. "I wanted filters that were applied at 100% and still looked great," he said.
Another piece of advice: "Stay away from clarity! Also known as Lux in Instagram." Clarity and Lux are intended to "fix" underexposure and lack of contrast. But the tools often make images look Photoshopped.
This. is. key.
The trick to maintaining the integrity of your photo is to not filter and edit them too heavily. Edit your image as normal, then dial back everything to 50%. On Instagram you have the ability to edit your filter strength. Once you select a filter, tap it again to reduce its intensity.
This is a rule Cole has always stuck to. It's also why he wanted to create his own app. "I wanted filters that were applied at 100% and still looked great," he said.
Another piece of advice: "Stay away from clarity! Also known as Lux in Instagram." Clarity and Lux are intended to "fix" underexposure and lack of contrast. But the tools often make images look Photoshopped.
4. Use humans whenever you can! Landscapes are better with people in them.
View this photo on Instagram
"It's like you're living vicariously through the subject . . . People create a feeling," Rise said. The best example of how people add personality to a photo is the Instagram feed of Murad Osmann, who takes a picture of himself holding his girlfriend's hand all over the world.
In fact, many of Cole's images (including this one) feature his girlfriend Kate.
5. People can also help create a sense of scale.
View this photo on Instagram
Of this photograph of the 2,000 year old city of Jerash, Cole said, "These ruins are massive. You look at this [photo] and feel humbled by it." It's the man standing on the staircase that gives the viewer a sense of how big those columns really are!
6. Try shooting in "burst mode" out of a car window.
View this photo on Instagram
You'll never know what you get.
On the iPhone, simply press and hold the shutter to take photos in burst mode.
Android phones with KitKat 4.4 or higher can enable rapid-fire photography by opening the Camera App, tapping Settings > More Options > Burst Mode. On Samsung phones, it may be called Burst Shot. Cole used the Slow Shutter Cam app ($1.99, iOS) to create some of the motion blur seen here.
7. Setting your phone on the roof of your car can add some visual interest.
If there are cool cloud formations above, the reflections from your car's roof can add a lot to your photography.
8. Bringing your phone right to the water's edge can also create cool reflective effects.
9. When shooting for Instagram, shoot in portrait mode — not the preset square.
View this photo on Instagram
You'll be able to visualize the square crop better when shooting in portrait. Setting your phone to shoot in "square" means that you can't undo the crop. Taking a full-sized photo vertically means that you can always adjust after!
10. Otherwise, shoot in landscape so you can press the shutter with the volume button.
Did you know that, by default, you can just open the camera app on your iPhone and press the volume button to take a photo? The same is true of some Android phones, like Samsung. Using the volume key usually means a more stable shot, because you have a good grip on your phone.
11. Get down low for a more interesting foreground.
View this photo on Instagram
Phones typically have poor depth of field, so bring your lens to the ground. This up-down perspective elevates your subject.
12. Be invisible, blend in, and don't carry a backpack.
View this photo on Instagram
As a tourist equipped with gadgets, you're a walking target for theft. While traveling, Cole doesn't wear flashy clothing, keeps his camera or phone close by, and leaves the backpack at home.
Before snapping a photo of a local merchant or a person on the street, always ask. "You'd also be surprised at how receptive people are to smiling," he said.
13. Bad weather = great photo weather.
Whatever you do, Rise urged, "don't leave the beach when it rains." As this image proves, rain and hail are actually great conditions for a good photo! If it's raining or snowing at night, you can leave your flash on and use Slow Shutter Cam to create streaks.
Overcast days can also mean interesting cloud patterns in the sky, so don't stay indoors if the weather isn't stellar.
14. Get a waterproof case and GET INSURANCE.
View this photo on Instagram
Don't be afraid to get your phone wet. Just make sure it's in a waterproof case. Cole uses a Lifeproof case (~$80), which is waterproof up to 6.6 feet for one hour. If you're a daredevil, you should also consider phone insurance. Check out this Tom's Guide comparison of the best insurance plans from carriers and third-party providers.
15. Quickly capture fleeting moments by knowing your phone's camera shortcuts.
The plane flying shockingly close overhead was taken on an iPhone. Cole swiped up from the lockscreen to quickly capture the aircraft as it flew past. Make sure you're aware of your phone's camera shortcuts before you go!
For the Moto X, you can enable a twisting hand motion to open your phone's camera in Settings. For Samsung phones, you'll find "Camera Quick Access" in Settings.
16. The most important thing to do is to "go further than anyone else."
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"Keep hiking. Be the crazy one." The only way to find beautiful, epic places is to simply explore. If you're visiting a monument, hike past the photo opps and drive away from the tourists. Push yourself to go even further. Cole often tells people: "Live a great life, and the photos will come."
Don't forget to check out Bring Me for all of BuzzFeed's best travel tips and hacks, vacation inspiration, and more!
