Sometimes the best trips begin at the driveway. Not the ones that lead to an airport or train station, it’s the trips that wander the open road. In the United States alone, there are over 4 million miles to explore. Of course, some include those that run past your house or a non-descript strip mall, but many take you through some very beautiful places. 

Road trip photography lets you capture the sights you encounter along your way. It’s also a great opportunity to capture in car photos while the journey is happening. The vehicle and its occupants are a big part of the journey.  Open road photography is an art form you can practice and pairs oh so well with travel by car, truck, camper, or whatever you drive or ride. 

Here’s a few pointers to make sure your next road trip pics capture everything along your travels.   

Plan Your Trip: Pre Trip Location Scouting and Planning

Knowing where you’re going is key to a successful road trip. There are also better times to visit those places. If you’re looking to capture some great beach sunset photos, be sure that beach faces the setting sun. Some beaches are best for sunrise photos. 

Research the places and routes you’ll take getting there. Make sure your gear is working properly. That includes your vehicle, your camera equipment, and ways to power your equipment and backups. Have a map handy in case you’re lucky enough to find places your navigation doesn’t work. Bring a travel tripod to take smooth panoramas.  

Stay Organized 

It’s tough to stay organized on a road trip, especially a long one. You’ll be juggling memory cards, batteries, lenses, filters, a travel tripod, not to mention clothes, snacks, and whatever else we travel with. It can add up to a lot of stuff, so ask yourself what you really need to bring.

Keeping your photo gear simple and light makes you more likely to grab your camera and take a photo when you see something interesting! The best road trip pictures often end up being of things you almost didn’t take a picture of. Photo gear that’s accessible lets you easily take a picture that you might not have bothered with otherwise.

Start Early

If your road trip is happening during a busy travel season, the most photogenic locations get crowded quickly. So get up early and capture the unspoiled beauty of nature or even a city street without extra subjects appearing in your shot. Experience shooting during the morning golden hour, a special time of day shortly after sunrise when the tones of light are very warm, and bathe everything in a beautiful golden light.

Think Before You Shoot

It’s easy to lift the camera and shoot. Your favorite, go-to setting is ready to capture the shot, but getting stuck in a routine can be bad for creativity. To stay fresh, pause before you take any road trip images and consider a few things:

• Check Composition – Capture more than a snapshot by making sure your composition is strong. Think about your subject placement and your foreground & background elements. Are you practicing the Rule of Thirds? 
• Where’s the Light Coming From? – Light is everything in a photo, so be aware of where it’s coming from to avoid underexposing or overexposing your road trip photos.
• How Could the Shot be Improved? – Take a quick look and see if there’s anything you can do to improve your photo. Would a different position give you a better angle? What if someone poses in it to give the scene a sense of scale?
• Horizon Straight? – A crooked one sticks out like a sore thumb. You could fix it later, but you’ll end up cropping out part of your photo to straighten the horizon.

Include The Road

Nothing captures the magic of open road photography better than, well…the open road. Including a stretch of lonely highway in your photo can really convey where the wheels have actually been. And please, take photos only where it’s safe to do so. These shots also create great in-between imagery of your various destinations if you want to tell a story with your photos.  

Take notes as to where the photos were taken if possible. Record the names of the towns, people, and things you photograph. This may come in handy when chronicling your road trip story.   

Photograph Everything

Amazing landscapes and prominent monuments are great subjects to include in your road trip photos, but don’t overlook the little moments like setting up camp or the steaming coffee cup at a local diner. Do not forget photos of locals from your travels. Along with their individual character, they’re also apt to share spots you don’t find in the brochure.  

Look for funny road trip pictures to include with the scenic ones. They add humor to a sometimes monotonous element of being on the road, mile after mile. Throw a pair of rabbit ears on an unsuspecting photo subject. Capture someone with a mouthful of sandwich. 

Don’t Forget Your Road Trip Photos

Once the car is back in the garage and the maps and gear are stowed for the next trip, do something with all those road trip pictures. After posting and sharing some, while the story and the details are still fresh in your memory, create a portfolio photo book featuring your best photos and every detail that helps tell your road trip story. 

It’s easy with Motif because it works seamlessly with Apple Photos. And, your best photos will be printed on the best quality paper by an industry leader in professional printing. 

The post Road Trip Photos Ideas to Take on Your Next Adventure appeared first on The Motif Blog.

The iPhone 11 series had exciting upgrades with its camera. While the iPhone X has a standard camera and telephoto lens, it doesn’t have an ultra-wide camera lens. The iPhone 11 series and the iPhone 12 series both have a 3mm, ultra-wide-angle lens. The iPhone’s ultra-wide camera is designed for dramatic compositions. It allows photographers to capture scenes that highlight a subject that appears larger than the background. 

The iPhone 11 ultra-wide camera is a compact solution for more varied photography. For anyone interested in capitalizing on the ultra-wide camera’s abilities, it’s very easy to find and use. With a little practice, there are many ways to be a more creative photographer. 

How to Use iPhone 11 Ultra-Wide Camera

Switching the iPhone camera to the ultra-wide camera is as easy as pressing the camera button. Open the Camera app, either from the app itself or the lock screen. Tap “0.5x” above the shutter button to switch to the ultra-wide camera. Hold the iPhone steady and shoot away. It’s that easy. Press and hold any of the zoom icons (0.5x, 1x, or 2x), and the Zoom wheel appears. Drag the wheel left or right to manually scroll the focal lengths in between the default settings. The higher the number, the more the camera zooms in. 

Use this method to switch between lenses in all photo modes, except for Portrait mode. Ultra-wide isn’t available for Portrait mode. The iPhone 11’s ultra-wide camera is also available in both vertical or horizontal positioning. 

Ultra-Wide Angle Lens for Photography

The iPhone 11 ultra-wide camera is a great solution for anyone struggling to fit everything into the frame with the wide iPhone lens. The ultra-wide lens fits much more into the frame. It has a significantly wider viewing angle than the standard camera lens on the iPhone. This allows for zooming out, rather than zooming in. The ultra-wide angle makes things appear smaller but includes more of the entire scene in the photo. 

Ultra-Wide Angle Photography Ideas

The iPhone ultra-wide lens is useful anywhere you can’t physically move back further from the subject in order to fit more into the frame. Here are some examples of where the iPhone ultra-wide camera is a perfect choice for impressive shots.

Ultra-Wide Angle: Landscape Photography

The iPhone 11 ultra-wide lens allows more of a scene to be captured. This makes it perfect for shooting dramatic landscape photos. The extra-wide field of view captures more surrounding scenery, as well as more foreground detail. This includes more vast skies, longer mountain ranges, and wider ocean views.

The wider perspective helps convey a stronger sense of space and a more natural view of the surroundings. The result is more vivid photos. 

Ultra-Wide Angle: City Photography

The iPhone ultra-wide camera is great for city photography. Find a location to capture a picturesque view of a city. The ultra-wide lens allows entire buildings to fit into the frame for impressive architecture photography. Travel enthusiasts can take more expanse, dramatic photos of favorite cities and feel more of a part of the action.

Ultra-Wide Angle: Interior Photography

From an indoor perspective, the ultra-wide camera allows more of the composition into a single photo. There is no need for crowding together when taking photos of a large group in a small room. Photographing more details in a crowded interior scene, such as in a shop or at a sporting event is easier to accomplish.

The iPhone Ultra Wide lens opens up photography options. The ultra-wide angle and different perspective from the standard camera produce impressive images in a range not available in iPhones before. Find more photography tips to work on composing those iPhone 11 ultra-wide camera shots. Wherever life takes you, capture more with the iPhone Ultra Wide angle lens.

Take photos. Keep memories.

All those ultra-wide scenes should be kept somewhere they can be enjoyed by everyone. While the iPhone ultra-wide camera takes great photos, showing them off there doesn’t do them justice. Our photo books are available in various sizes for showcasing these memories. They’re available in both hard-cover and soft-cover varieties.

The post How to Use the iPhone’s Ultra-Wide Camera appeared first on The Motif Blog.

There’s another world out there ripe with opportunity for taking great photos, and it doesn’t require a rocketship to get there. Just step into any body of water and encounter a variety of different life forms and landscapes. From swaying kelp forests to six-foot-long sharks, and sandy deserts to vibrant coral mountains, there’s hardly a dull moment underwater. That’s what makes underwater photography so spectacular. It also requires different best-practices to master. Like any kind of nature photography, being well-prepared is a requirement. Even photographing people in a pool presents unique challenges not found on land. Have no fear, though. Navigate the great unknown with the help of our underwater photography guide. 

Underwater Photography Equipment

Whether heading to the shore or the pool, having the right gear is essential to underwater photos. First and foremost, a camera that can withstand getting wet and being submerged for long periods is a must. A professional camera, a GoPro, or even an iPhone will do. Depending on the equipment, all or some of the following pieces of equipment may be necessary.  

Underwater camera protection:

Camera housing – Regardless of what type of camera you’re using, it should be securely protected inside a camera housing unit. Typically, housing is made from polycarbonate and/or aluminum. Aluminum is the more expensive option because of its durability. When shopping for camera housing, check the depth rating (how far underwater it can be submerged), the ports, and the design. If you can’t easily access your camera’s controls through the housing, making adjustments may be difficult.

O-rings – Camera housing is best sealed with o-rings. These rubber rings fit around the edges. Most housing units come with o-rings. Over time, they do need to be replaced. Be sure to test drive new o-rings before going for an underwater photography shoot. To prolong the life of o-rings, use the lubricant recommended by the o-ring manufacturer.  

Anti-fog solution – Changes in temperature can fog up the camera lens. It is fairly common when transitioning from air to sea. Thankfully, there are several anti-fog solutions, including GoPro anti-fog inserts. Many photographers and divers prefer to use silica packets. They’re easy to find and very effective at absorbing moisture.

Underwater camera lenses:

Macro lens – Trying to use zoom underwater can be problematic. You need a macro lens, which can cut through the water. Choose a macro lens with a focal length between 60mm and 100mm. Advanced photographers might be comfortable at 105mm.

Wide-angle or fisheye lens – A wide-angle lens will help get closer to an underwater subject without compromising the image’s integrity. Pair a 10—20mm wide-angle lens with strobes to get optimal coloring. If using a dome port (see next item), opt for a fisheye lens instead. 

Camera ports – Don’t forget the camera ports! These protect the camera from damage and help prevent cloudy images. There are two types of camera ports: dome ports and flat ports. Dome ports are best used with wide-angle lenses. Flat ports are better suited for macro lenses because they allow the lens to magnify the subject.

Color-correcting filters – Even with the sun hitting from behind, underwater photos can appear overly blue. You are underwater, after all. A color-correcting filter fixes this issue by removing other color wavelengths. Images will have a proper white balance and a more realistic look.

Pro tip: turn off the flash when using these filters.

Underwater camera lights:

Strobes – Even in crystal-clear water with unobstructed sunlight, it can be tough to get enough exposure through your lens. Underwater flashes or strobes can spread light evenly. This accessory connects to the camera by way of fiber optic cables. (Don’t expect wireless communication to work underwater.) For wide-angle shooting, two strobes are often necessary to cover the entire field of view. When shooting basic underwater macro photography, one strobe is enough.

Focus light – This gadget looks like a regular flashlight, but it does so much more. Focus lights produce about 300 lumens in a narrow beam. This allows the image’s subject to be seen clearly to lock in on the focus. Quality focus lights have a good depth rating and are corrosion-resistant.

Underwater camera auxiliary:

Batteries – Underwater photography requires many electric parts. Be sure to pack several extra batteries to keep the equipment powered up. It is especially helpful if using a GoPro. They tend to have a fairly short battery life.

Memory cards – Running out of storage in the middle of the ocean is an avoidable misfortune. Even though it’s a small essential, don’t skimp on memory. Choose quality memory cards, like SanDisk, to support your underwater photography needs.

How to Take Underwater Photos With Your Favorite Device

Not ready to commit to a professional camera? Stunning underwater photos can be captured with a device already on hand. Use the following tips with an iPhone or GoPro for better underwater photography.  

How to take underwater photos with iPhone

Gear up with underwater iPhone accessories.

While Apple significantly improved the iPhone 11 camera making it water-resistant, here are a few must-have accessories.

•  Waterproof case
• Clip-on wide-angle lens
• Clip-on fisheye lens
• Dome port
• Waterproof selfie stick

Find your favorite underwater iPhone apps.

The native Apple Camera app is extremely useful as-is. Portrait mode is a great way to highlight your subject’s best features. Other iPhone camera apps may be better suited for particular photographs. For instance, the Camera+ 2 app is good for controlling white balance – a common issue in underwater photography.

Charge your phone to 100%.

It’s risky charging an iPhone near water. Electricity and water don’t mix well. A fully charged battery is crucial for a long day under the sea.

Adjust the video resolution.

When capturing video, check the resolution settings before heading out. Go to the iPhone Settings and select the Camera app. Tap “Record Video” and choose whichever resolution you’d like to ensure proper disc space for storage. The higher the resolution, the larger the video file.

Open the Camera app right before you dive in.

Even with a waterproof case, don’t expect the iPhone’s touch screen to function correctly underwater. Open the Camera app right before diving into the water.

Snap photos with the volume button.

Just in case the touchscreen isn’t accessible, have a backup plan. Pressing the Volume Up button on the side of the iPhone activates the shutter.

How to take underwater photos with GoPro

Accessorize your GoPro.

The GoPro is already a waterproof device. No housing necessary. Consider picking up these useful accessories:

• Camera rig
• Color-correcting filters
• Anti-fog inserts
• Dome port
• Floating hand grip or selfie stick
• Waterproof lights

Confirm the depth rating.

Each GoPro model is different. Double-check the depth rating for the specific unit being used to determine how far underwater it can safely travel.

Clean the gasket and lens.

Any dirt on the GoPro’s gasket will break the tight seal and cause leakage. Wipe down the gasket and the lens before closing the case. A clean lens keeps fingerprints and dust from making appearances in your photos.

Add a lens filter.

GoPro cameras are automatic, which means the white balance can not be adjusted for better coloring. For that, a lens filter is required. A red lens filter is the best choice for blue water. If shooting in green-tinted water, go with a magenta filter.

Use a dome port.

GoPro excels at halfway underwater photos, which are best when taken with a dome port. A dome port keeps the waterline away from your lens.

Adjust the settings.

For shooting underwater still photos, shoot at the highest resolution. When shooting video, try the 1080 SuperView at 80fps.

5 Underwater Photo Shoot Ideas

When considering outdoor picture ideas, don’t forget underwater photography. It may require additional planning and the need to get wet, but it’s also care-free and fun. In fact, part of the fun is experimenting with different subjects and compositions. There are just as many photo opportunities below the waterline as there are above it. Here are a few underwater photoshoot ideas to get you started:

Halfway underwater photo

This is when part of the image reveals what’s below the waterline, and the other part captures the view from above. It’s a common photography technique with snorkelers because their water adventures don’t go very deep. It’s also a great idea for capturing surfers in action, birds diving for food, and shallow-water landscapes.

Underwater maternity photoshoot

Motherhood is such a natural time. It makes perfect sense to honor this phase in the elements of Mother Nature. Unlike a progressive, month-by-month pregnancy memory book, underwater maternity photos are often taken in a single shoot. Choose a clear ocean day or head to a pool. As for an outfit, forget the maternity swimsuit. A long chiffon gown looks elegant, flowing with the water.  

Underwater dog photoshoot

Does your pup love to swim? Catch the fun with a planned or impromptu underwater photoshoot. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Just the look on their face as they hit the water is priceless. But if they’re up for it, add a ball or dive ring. Try to capture your dog’s mouth grabbing for the toy.  

Underwater wedding photoshoot

Underwater wedding photos are sure to stand out with friends. They’re a non-traditional choice that pays off in unforgettable ways. To keep some of the tradition alive, dress in classic wedding attire. Adding a vail, flowers, and shoes is optional. Since these photos require getting wet, plan the shoot for after the wedding. Or reserve a second set of outfits for the special occasion.  

Still life photos

Scuba divers find all sorts of treasures on the ocean floor. These are great opportunities for still life photography. Not a deep diver? Underwater still life can also be created in the kitchen. Use a tall glass or pitcher of water and a small, individual subject. Pieces of fruit, seasonal vegetables, fallen leaves, and other petite pickings work best.

6 Underwater Photography Tips

Regardless of what is being photographed or what device you’re shooting with, some underwater photography tricks are standard. The tips below are universal and guarantee a successful day at sea (or at the pool).

1.   Find stability.

Waves, currents, bubbles, marine life, and the wind are conditions that can be tough to overcome. Jerky movements must be minimized as much as possible. A shaky lens rarely produces quality photos. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to stabilize a camera in the water. A camera rig is the steadiest option. Locking arms straight can work to a lesser degree. If using an iPhone or GoPro for underwater photography, secure the device to a selfie stick.

2.   Look for clean, calm water.

Rivers and lakes are highly accessible, but they aren’t always the best setting for underwater photography. Their murky floors kick up sediment that interferes with the shot. For clear, vibrant photos, go to a clean, calm body of water. Traveling several hours or making an entire vacation out of the photoshoot may be required if you don’t reside near a proper body of water.

3.   Wade in shallow water.

The shallow water allows you to leave the strobes behind and rely on a natural light source: the sun. All that solar power produces images with more authentic coloring. Stay within 10 feet of the surface for better natural lighting.   

4.   Put the sun behind you.

Without a flash, you need sunlight to properly expose the subject underwater. When the sun is behind the camera, light is directed exactly where it’s needed. Keep in mind that the deeper you go, the less natural sunlight you have. To compensate, use lower shutter speed and carry waterproof camera lights.

5.   Get close to your subject.

“Shooting through water” is a phrase that refers to the distance between the lens and the subject. Too much distance between them means more water to shoot through. This creates blurry images. Unless shooting underwater macro photography, keep at least 12 inches away from the subject. Close-ups also make for more striking images. Imagine a sea turtle filling the frame. It has shock value because the scene feels so lifelike.

6.   Make eye contact.

Once close enough to the subject, attempt to make eye contact. A person or animal gazing directly into the camera brings the image to life. Of course, the subject doesn’t have to have an eye or even be a living thing to make “eye contact.” The idea is to get the camera lens to an equal level. If that’s not possible, position the camera below the subject and aim up. Going low often lets beautiful sunbeams shine through the water.

The post Underwater Photography Guide: How to Make a Splash With Your Photos appeared first on The Motif Blog.