Before the advent of drones, people had to rely mostly on airplanes or helicopters to take aerial photographs. Now, thanks to increasing availability and decreasing price points of drones, as well as advances in obstacle avoidance technology, GPS navigation, battery life and camera stabilization, it certainly seems easier to take photographs from higher elevations.

But that doesn’t mean anyone with a drone can make excellent photographs. Here are some practical tips on the logistics of drone usage and suggestions to make better photos while traveling.

First, know the rules

In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration oversees drone regulations, and FAADroneZone is the country’s official website for understanding drone requirements and managing drone services. If you are a recreational flyer, you must pass an aeronautical knowledge and safety test, called the Recreational UAS Safety Test, before flying your drone.

The drone company DJI also has a detailed website that instructs drone users on local rules and regulations.

The basic rules for flying a drone as a hobbyist — that is, recreationally using a drone — are to fly the unmanned aircraft only at or below 400 feet, always keep the drone in sight, do not fly in restricted airspace and do not fly over groups of people. If you are flying your drone commercially, you must become a certificated remote pilot by passing the F.A.A.’s Part 107 test. This is a more extensive test and covers additional drone rules, airspace regulations and weather conditions.

Be aware that many countries may have different regulations. Anywhere you go, you may be fined or your aircraft may be confiscated if you do not adhere to the rules.

Understand what your drone can do

Drones are incredibly fast, maneuverable and precise. You can fly up to 400 feet and move laterally in an infinite number of directions to get the perfect shot. But first-time drone flyers often fly as high as possible and take pictures that lack a point of focus or a strong composition.

In order to get photos with the most detail, set your drone to the lowest ISO, usually 100. This is the feature that sets the camera’s sensitivity to light and was known as the film speed back in the days of film. To achieve the best quality pictures, it’s best to shoot in RAW format, which is a digital image file that is unprocessed and contains the most amount of data. When processed, this will produce photographs with the most detail.

After you have purchased your drone, it’s good practice to regularly update the firmware, which is software that provides basic instructions for the craft’s hardware to function successfully, like the drone and remote controller working together.

Use maps and the weather forecast, and time it right

Whether you consult an atlas or follow your car or phone’s navigation, maps are very effective tools for seeing the shape of a river, lake or pond and provide ideas for good aerial subjects.

Once you have a location, shoot during the “golden hours” — taking photos around sunrise and sunset will often produce the most dramatic pictures with warm light and shadows. It’s a good idea to keep an eye on the weather forecast to know the sunrise and sunset times and also what the weather will be. High winds and rainy or snowy weather make flying a drone much more difficult.

Look for patterns, lines and light while flying

Many times a drone photographer will make discoveries from the air. You might launch with the idea of photographing one thing and, while in the air, you might discover something more compelling. Rivers, solar arrays, farm fields and trees can provide engaging patterns and lines.

And don’t forget the light and shadows, either. Good light can make or break a photo. Sometimes the best light means a golden sunrise, as we said earlier, but sometimes it means an overcast day with diffused light. On cloudy days, shooting straight down on a subject can be very effective.

Taking drone photos at twilight can also be very captivating. This is the time after sunset and before nightfall. Set the drone to manual exposure, set the ISO to 100 and experiment with long exposures. Some drones can take up to eight second exposures and maintain sharp focus.

Study an expert’s work

One of the great ways to make your photos better is to study the work of a professional photographer.

The photographer George Steinmetz has been making aerial photographs for decades — even before the rise of affordable drones — while working with publications like National Geographic and The New York Times. He has published five books on aerial photography.

“For intimate aerial photography, a drone is exceptional,” he said, but adding that any type of aerial photography can be transformative.

“You see the world in a way you’re not accustomed to,” he said. “It adds context and a new perspective.”

Maintaining a skincare routine at 30,000 feet may seem challenging, but with a few expert tips, you can step off the plane looking as refreshed as when you boarded.

As you embark on your next long-haul flight, don’t let the dry, recycled cabin air dull your glow. Maintaining a skincare routine at 30,000 feet may seem challenging, but with a few expert tips, you can step off the plane looking as refreshed as when you boarded.

But first, let’s understand the common skin concerns people face during flights.

Dr Seema Oberoi Lall, consultant in dermatology at CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, explained that long-haul flights present specific challenges to skin health, primarily due to the filtered and recirculated air in the cabin.

“This environment tends to be drier, leading to dehydration concerns for passengers. Additionally, the enclosed space and the sheer volume of people contribute to stagnant air, especially during extended flights exceeding six to eight hours. This recirculated air may harbor various pathogens, germs, and allergens, posing a risk for those prone to allergies who might experience breakouts,” she added.

So, how can you keep your skin healthy? Recently, Aashi Adani, a beauty blogger, took to Instagram to share a few in-flight skincare tips.

• Never wear makeup, especially on a long flight, as it can clog your pores.
• Flights tend to make the skin very dry, so carry a mist to hydrate your skin throughout the journey.
• Carry a sheet mask to get that extra hydration. Additionally, the leftover serum can go on your hands and neck.
• Always wear SPF. When we are at such a height, even one hour of exposure to the sun gives the same amount of radiation as 20 minutes on a tanning bed.
• Always make sure to keep the windows closed as much as possible.
• Carry any lip balm to keep your lips hydrated.

Adding to this, Dr Lall said, “It’s essential to drink an ample amount of water to keep your skin well-hydrated. Don’t forget the delicate under-eye area—applying a specialised cream can keep your eyes refreshed, combating the tired look that often accompanies long flights.”

For those prone to acne, steer clear of greasy products, as breakouts can be triggered after extended travel. “Opt for oil-free moisturisers, especially if you have oily-prone skin, to maintain a healthy complexion throughout the journey,” Dr Lall added.

Once you disembark from the flight, consider taking a refreshing bath and changing your clothes. “Airports and flights expose travelers to a plethora of allergens, given the convergence of individuals from around the globe, each carrying their unique set of allergies and germs. These closed environments, sustained for extended periods, aren’t the most conducive to skin health. Therefore, it’s advisable to prioritise personal hygiene—cleanse yourself, take a bath, and change into fresh clothing upon reaching your destination,” she concluded.

Exchanging your foreign currency back to U.S. dollars is the worst option.

When you’re packing for your trip, you may be thinking about the best ways to get foreign currency to spend while you’re traveling, but you’re probably not thinking about what to do with your leftover bills and coins when you come home. The last thing you want to have to do is exchange back to U.S. dollars and lose 2 to 5% (or more) on the exchange. Here are some ideas for what to do instead.

Save it for your next trip. If you think you might take another trip to a country using the same currency in the near future, hang onto it. You can use it to pay for things when you’re back in the country, and that means you won’t have to worry about having some cash on hand before you travel again. It’s great to land at the airport, hop in a taxi, and then worry about getting cash (without paying ATM fees) after getting a good night of sleep. Keep in mind, however, that with high inflation in many countries right now, it may not be advisable to hold on to every currency.

Load it onto a transit card. If you want to save the currency for your next trip but you’re worried about remembering it or losing track of it, consider loading it onto a city’s transit card. For example, in Istanbul you could load your leftover currency onto the city’s public transit Istanbulkart and be ready to go for your next trip.

Donate it. If you don’t want to keep the currency, consider donating it to a local school or charity. Many organizations are happy to accept foreign currency, and it can be used to help those in need. Similarly, many airports and airlines have some kind of donation program so you can donate at the last minute as you exit the country.

Sell it. Some currencies will sell for above the value of the coin or note due to people wanting to complete various collections. Check out the going rates on eBay to see if it could make sense to sell some of your foreign currency.

Trade it or give it to a friend. If you know somebody who is going to be traveling to the country where your leftover currency is from, offer to trade it or give it as a gift. This way, you can avoid having to exchange the currency back into USD and losing money in the process.

Keep it as a memento. If you want to keep the currency as a memento of your trip, that’s perfectly fine! You can put it in a frame or scrapbook, or simply keep it in a drawer somewhere safe. It can be fun to have a collection of bills or coins from all of the countries you’ve visited.

Spend it on souvenirs. If you’re not planning on taking another trip anytime soon, and you’re not interested in any of the other options on this list, consider trying to spend whatever you have left. You may be able to find unique gifts for friends or family members for the holidays or bring home a favorite food item to enjoy.

Exchange it for cash. Of course, if all else fails, you can exchange your foreign currency for cash in another currency. You’ll have to pay a fee to do so, but if you want to get rid of your leftover currency as quickly as possible, you can exchange it for cash at a local bank or currency exchange office. Just be aware that you might not get the best rate possible, so it’s worth shopping around before making a decision.

Want to use your mobile phone abroad and avoid astronomical bills when you get home? Read our top tips to get your phone prepared.

When you plan a big trip overseas, the cost of your mobile phone might not be your first consideration. But once you’ve booked your tickets, hotel and activities you probably won’t want to add any unnecessary expenses.

If you’re travelling in the EU, some providers still let you use your airtime deal like you would at home, whereas others have introduced small extra charges. If you’re heading further afield, making a few calls to family or looking up information online can be pricey. So, before you head to the airport, read our tips to make sure you don’t come home to an unpleasant bill.

Check charges before you go

This might sound obvious, but roaming charges can be fairly complicated. They vary widely by provider – and destination.

Depending on where you’re off to, you may find that roaming won’t cost you any extra. Providers such as Giffgaff, Smarty, Tesco and O2 offer free EU roaming, whereas others charge extra to allow you to access your usual calls, texts and data.

If you’re with a provider who doesn’t offer free roaming – or heading to a destination that’s not covered – you may be charged by the minute, megabyte or message. We’ve found that some providers can charge as much as 90 times more than others for the same thing, so it’s really worth knowing where you stand – data can cost as much as £18 per megabyte, while a single text could set you back £6.

Get your phone set to travel

Once you’re clear on how much you’ll be charged, it’s worth making a decision about how you want to use your phone while you’re abroad.

If you don’t want to use your phone the same way you usually would back home, take a look at your settings – you have a few options.

Restrict your phone to wi-fi only

If you want to be sure to avoid daily charges by only using your phone when it’s connected to wi-fi or off network (i.e. you don’t want to connect to a local phone network), switch your phone to Airplane Mode but turn wi-fi back on – this will have the added benefit of keeping your battery use to a minimum.

Connect to a network – but turn data roaming off

This is standard safe practice, and you should find roaming controls in the Mobile Data or Network & Internet settings on your phone. Keep in mind you can still get charged for texting or calling, though. This is particularly worth noting if you pay a flat cost to roam each day, you may get charged simply for having your phone connect to a local network.

If you’d rather use your phone a bit more as you would at home, or prefer to have immediate access to the internet, or make calls in case of emergency, you’ll need to take a closer look at the apps you use to avoid unexpected charges.

Stop apps from using data

You can do this by turning mobile data off for non-essential apps. Check which apps are using mobile data via the Mobile Data, App or Network & Internet settings on your phone.

Or just optimise it instead.

On Android use Data Saver mode to help prevent apps from using data in the background, and for cutting down how much they use when active. You’ll find this in your phone’s settings.

Watch the wi-fi

On iPhones, also ensure Wi-Fi Assist is off – this setting means your phone will use data if wi-fi connectivity is poor. You’ll find this at the very bottom of your Mobile Data settings (under the data settings for each app).

Optimise your apps

It’s also worth checking settings within apps themselves, especially those you use regularly. In particular, consider any apps that can be used to stream, download or upload media content like music, video and photos.

For example, Spotify has a setting called ‘Download using cellular’, which if enabled, will use your data connection to download music. It’s turned off by default, but best to make sure it stays that way if you’re travelling. Another setting to look out for is Offline mode, which means you’ll only be able to listen to music you’ve downloaded – no chance of accidentally streaming in an expensive roaming area. There’s even a Data Saver mode that uses a lower music quality to save on data usage. Look for similar options on other apps that are used for audio and video streaming and downloads, and adjust accordingly.

Consider what photo apps you use as well. For example, Samsung Gallery, Google Photos or iCloud Drive can automatically upload any photos you take to the cloud. By default this is usually set to work over wi-fi only, but do double-check – this could end up costing a lot of money in a country where it’s expensive to roam.

Check other apps such as email, newsfeeds and social media aren’t automatically syncing and updating in the background. These might have similar individual controls to only sync over wi-fi, or to sync manually, which are best turned on if you have to pay for data while roaming.

Download the best travel apps

Lastly, it’s worth making sure you’re set up with apps that will make your life easier on the road. There are plenty of handy travel apps that can be accessed offline so you don’t have to worry about data roaming. Then, while you’re away, take advantage of free wi-fi to update or add to them.

• Download Google Maps offline. This is fairly easy to do – simply open the settings menu and choose Offline maps. You can then select your own map to download, and ‘pinch-to-zoom’ the map that appears to find the area you want to download. Alternatively, offline mapping apps like Maps.Me could be even more convenient.
• Don’t speak the language? Download languages using Google Translate or Microsoft Translator so that you can use them offline while you’re away.
• Download important travel documents (for example, your itinerary or travel insurance policy) to an app you can view offline – examples are Google Drive, Google Trips or TripIt.
• Seen articles about your destination you’d like to come back to? Apps like Pocket let you save entire webpages to view offline, so you can do your research in advance and make sure all the useful information you’ve found is available to read without using precious data.
• Watch or listen on the go by downloading playlists, programmes, music and video from apps like Spotify, iPlayer and Netflix for offline use before you travel.
• If calling on your mobile is expensive, you might be tempted to use Wi-Fi Calling instead. Don’t – your provider will still count this as making a phone call, with the associated fee. You’re better off using Skype, Messenger, Whatsapp or another calling app using wi-fi instead.
• Most mobile providers have an app you can download to manage your bill. Helpfully, this can also help you keep an eye on your usage, something that’s useful both home and abroad.