Action and sports photography is challenging but very exciting. The key to getting good pictures is to set your camera up properly before the event begins, so that when things kick off you can forget about your settings and focus on the action.

The following camera settings are an excellent place to start. They work well in all situations and will help you get sharp, detailed photos with plenty of atmosphere and interest.

Use a Fast Shutter Speed

Shutter speed is the single most important thing to get right in action photography. If yours isn’t set fast enough then you’ll be left with blurry, disappointing shots that no amount of Photoshop post-processing will be able to salvage.

Start by putting your camera into Shutter Priority mode and choosing a shutter speed of 1/500 of a second. This is a good starting point and should be fast enough for most sports and action.

If possible, take a few test shots before the main event starts so that you can check how sharp they are. If that’s not possible, periodically check your photos as you go. If you spot any blurring, switch to an even faster shutter speed. You may need to go as high as 1/1000 of a second for really fast sports like motor racing.

Open Your Aperture

To help you reach the high shutter speeds required, you’ll need to open your aperture up nice and wide. If you have a very fast lens (such as the f/2.8 and f/4 lenses that professional sports photographers invest in), then you may be able to get away with coming down from the maximum aperture by a stop or so.

However, if you’re using a cheaper lens with a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or smaller, you’ll need to open your lens up as wide as it will go to let in as much light as possible. This is particularly true when shooting indoors, as the lighting can be poor.

If you’re using a zoom lens it’s tempting to crop in as close as possible on your subject, but your lens’s aperture is narrowest at this end of the zoom range. It’s better to set your lens around the middle of its range as a good compromise between filling the frame and letting in enough light.

An added benefit of using a wide aperture is the shallow depth of field it produces. This blurs any background distractions and focuses your attention firmly on the players, producing an image with more impact and drama.

Increase Your ISO

Because you’re using such a fast shutter speed, your camera might struggle to properly expose the scene even with the aperture fully open. If this is the case then the only thing you can do is increase your ISO speed.

You should use the lowest ISO setting you can get away with, but there will be situations where you’ll have to push it higher than you’d like. This is frustrating but remember – it’s better to have a noisy photo than a blurry one.

Use Burst Mode

By definition, action and sports move quickly, and it can be difficult to keep up. Use your camera’s continuous shooting mode (often called burst mode) to take 4 or 6 shots at a time, giving you a much better chance of capturing a good image.

Bear in mind that shooting in burst mode will fill your memory card much faster than taking individual shots, so make sure yours has plenty of capacity, or take a spare along. If you’re running out of space, use half time or time-outs to delete some of your bad shots.

Shoot in JPEG

You might be surprised to read this piece of advice – after all, for most types of photography it’s generally accepted than shooting in RAW will give you better quality images, and allow you to do more tweaking in your editing software.

However, when photographing sports and action events, speed is more important than anything else. Using JPEG mode lets you to capture more pictures at a time in burst mode, and fit more images onto your memory card.

Admittedly the image quality won’t be quite as good as if you’d shot using RAW, but this is more than compensated for by the increased chances of getting that killer shot.

Perfect Your White Balance

When shooting outdoors, your camera’s automatic white balance will usually do a pretty good job of adjusting to the light. However, many action sports take place indoors under artificial lighting, and this can confuse your camera, producing shots with a noticeable greenish-yellow tint.

Rather than leaving things up to your camera, set your white balance to Fluorescent or Tungsten/Incandescent – take a few test shots before the event begins to check which one looks best. If you’ve got time, you could even set up a custom white balance to make sure your colours come out spot on.

Turn Your Flash Off

For most sports, you won’t be able to get very close to the action – that’s why the professional photographers need such long lenses. Being so far from your subject means that your flash will be practically useless, and will do nothing but drain your battery. Turn it off before you start shooting.

There are some rare circumstances where you can get close enough to the action for your flash to be of some use. However, the bright bursts can distract players so it’s often better to leave your flash off to be on the safe side.

Tweak Your Focusing

Focusing on fast-moving subjects can be very tricky, so it’s important to set your camera up to be as responsive and accurate as possible.

Start by switching from multi-point to single-point focusing, and use the focus point at the centre of the frame. Now, when you compose a shot, your camera will focus on whatever’s in the centre rather than trying to keep everything acceptably sharp. This is faster and also lets you tell your camera exactly what you want to focus on, rather than letting it guess.

By default, your camera will probably use “one shot” focusing, where you half-press the shutter button to lock the focus. The problem with this is that your subject can move before you have chance to take the photo. Instead, use Continuous Focusing mode (called “AI Servo” on Canon cameras) – this continually refocuses to keep the subject sharply focused at all times.

Action photography can be a tricky subject, but these camera settings will increase your chances of snapping some fantastic shots. The principles behind them are easy to apply to any sport, allowing you to quickly adapt and get back to concentrating on taking great photos.

1. Get your passports early! Don’t wait until the last minute to apply for your Passport. You will want to make sure that you get them back in time for your trip!

2. Make your reservations. Choose where you are going to travel and make your plans early to get the best deals. Don’t hassle with searching through various sites when one site will search them all for you!

3. Book flights. When you are traveling abroad for the first time, you may not understand all that booking a flight entails. Not only do you need to find a plane that can get you from point A to point B, you also want to make sure of their baggage requirements. Do your homework. Some no-frill airlines may have cheaper airfare but will charge you hefty fees for your baggage.

4. Consider travel insurance. Why might you want travel insurance? Well, if you happen to get sick (or have a family emergency)and need to cancel your trip, you don’t want to lose everything you put into your trip. Travel insurance also covers things like lost luggage, missed connecting flights and other trip interruptions!

5. Call your credit card company and let them know where you are traveling. This helps them to know not to flag your account as suspicious or fraudulent. You will also want to make sure that you know your PIN code in the event you need to pull out cash from your card while you are abroad.

6. Get the proper currency. While you can exchange money at the airport, you will pay more in fees. You are better off getting it from your own bank or from AAA.

7. Decide whether or not you will purchase a SIM card to use in the country you are travelling OR whether you want to purchase a Global package through your provider. I do suggest that you do one or the other.

8. Make copies of all of your travel documents, tickets, etc and take pictures with your cell phone as well (download to a drop box or cloud) so that you have access to them in the event you lose the originals.

9. Pack smart by using things that help you consolidate space and will help you travel with ease.

10. Photograph EVERYTHING you pack. In the event your luggage goes missing, you will need this to file a claim. In addition to having a luggage tag with contact information (use your cell phone # not home), write it inside your luggage where it is visible.

11. If you are planning to drive during your international trip, be sure you have your Drivers license and understand your coverage through your own auto insurance so you don’t get conned into buying additional insurance through the rental car agency.

12. If you take prescription medication, be sure you keep them in their properly marked containers and put them in your carry on luggage.

13. Since you are travelling internationally for the first time, you probably should take the time to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. When you let the government know where you are travelling, they will be able to contact you in the case of an emergency. It is just a safe guard to help you in the event you need it.

Travelling out of the country can be scary! If you make sure that you do these things before traveling abroad for the first time, you will be setting yourself up for a successful trip!

Making the right travel plans means that you’ll always have a better holiday. It can be stressful to pack everything you need and plan your itinerary, but the more you prepare, the better time you’ll have.

If you’re travelling alone or you’re heading off on a family trip, some essential planning tips might transform your time away from home. If you’re worried about the potential stress involved with any trip, rest easy and know that by following this advice, your holiday will be the best that it can be.

Here’s what you need to know to get the most from your break from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

Read on for tips on how to make travelling easier and more enjoyable.

The Basics to make Travel easier

Your first step is to know what your vacation is going to entail. As with all activities, the more that you know, the more you can prepare. You should start by working out:

• How long: Don’t travel too far if time is short. Stick closer to home if you only have a few days away. If you are heading from the UK to Australia, for example, then you won’t want to be there for any less than three weeks. Any shorter, and jetlag will steal your time.
• Who with: You’ll plan a very different vacation if you’re going alone or heading out on the open road with family and friends. Be sure to explain the trip you are organising so that everyone who is coming with you knows the ins and out of the what the journey entails. If you want to visit all the cultural hotspots, but your friend wants to lie on a beach, make sure your different wants are understood. This means you can either plan another trip later on, or plan activities that do not include one another.
• Your goals: You need to know what kind of travel you want. High adrenaline, relaxation, luxury, shopping, and festival vacations are all very different, and you’ll need to prep in different ways for each. You could also plan a trip that includes more than one type of holiday. For instance, heading to Japan means you get to immerse yourself into a different culture but is also a luxurious location.

Getting there

Whether you’ve decided on a visit to New York or a hike through the Appalachian Trail, you’re going to need to get there. Whether you choose to drive or fly will depend on how far you have to go, but the key thing to remember is packing. Take some tips from professional travellers, and you’ll end up being able to take more of the essentials with you no matter how you’re getting to your vacation spot.

Accommodation Tips

Always organise your place to stay before you leave home. This is still essential, but if you’re going somewhere during a busy season, then it becomes even more so. Don’t head to New Orleans in the hope that you’ll find a vacant room in the middle of Mardi Gras. Do some research on the best hotels for Mardi Gras, and you will find yourself with nowhere to sleep. Whether it’s a San Francisco beach week or a weekend at San Diego Comic-Con, make sure that you get your bed sorted as early as possible.

What To Do

Even if you’re planning on doing nothing more strenuous than ordering another cocktail on the beach, it’s always wise to do some location research beforehand. You don’t want to be stuck in the worst beach bar on the coast when there’s a five-star option a short walk away.

1. Speak to those who have been to the destination you are heading to for ideas on how to spend your time. Having an insider’s knowledge means you could witness the best locations and experiences that may not be well-known to other travellers.
2. Find out about events, special occasions, the best places to eat and drink, and the sights that your destination is famous for. If you plan on visiting popular attractions, check whether you can book in advance. That way, you might be able to avoid long queues and get more time for relaxing or shopping.
3. Remember, though, to leave some spontaneity. You do not want to over-plan so that you cannot be spontaneous. By having a relaxing overview of what you want to see and do, you leave room to swap ideas if the weather changes or you wish to head elsewhere early.
4. Plan well, and you’ll have a much more satisfying break. Whether it’s at home or around the world, the key to the best adventures is always preparation. Do your research, and you’ll have the experience of a lifetime without the stress.

No matter where you go and which travel destination you are heading, learning these basic tips will help you make any travel plan simpler and smarter.

If you love indulging yourself in the ocean of luxury and comfort then you must visit Dubai. This city offers lucrative nightlife, lavish shopping, and mouth-licking food. You also get to let your hair down by spending some unforgettable moments at some luxurious villas or resorts. The more you unveil this paradise of rich and wealthy people the more you get attracted to its beauty and extravagance.

Let us explore some of the top 20 places you can visit while staying in Dubai:-

1. The Dubai Mall

This is one of the most popular shopping malls in the world which attracts a large number of tourists every season. Awesome infrastructure, extravagant products, gorgeous look, and a handful of attractions inside the mall will surely keep you engaged for hours and give you a rich experience of shopping in Dubai.

You can find many game zones, movie screens, some fine dining restaurants, coffee shops, and over 14000 car parking spaces in this magnificent mall.

Not to Miss: Dubai Summer Surprises and Dubai Shopping Festival

2. Burj Khalifa

This amazing skyscraper with a height of 828 meters houses many restaurants, residences, and a gigantic swimming pool.  Appealing interiors and marvelous architectural works will surely make you wonder about this extraordinary building of the world. You will be overwhelmed to watch a fountain with 6,600 lights and animations created by water. The top view of the glamorous city can be enjoyed from the 124^th floor of this building.

Not to Miss: Observation deck at the 124^th floor, Dubai Fountain

3. Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo

This huge aquarium is located on the third floor of the famous Dubai Mall. It houses more than 33,000 animals which include water rats, sea horses, penguins, jellyfish, sand tiger sharks, and many more aquatic animals. King Croc found here is considered to be the largest reptile in the world.

You will be thrilled to go for a Glass-bottom Road Ride. You can enjoy the Discovery Channel Week Exhibition or get into the virtual world of the zoo and spend some time with the animals.

Not to Miss: Glass Bottom Road Ride

4. Burj Al Arab

If you always dream to be getting treatment and luxuries like the royals do then Burj Al Arab will be the perfect place for you to visit as this high-class 7-star property will let you live like the royals by offering you all the amenities you ever dreamt of.

A private butler, private beach, nine top-class restaurants, kids’ club, an exclusive spa, and many more facilities in this star hotel will turn your stay in Dubai into complete ecstasy.

Not to Miss: Complimentary access to Wild Wadi Waterpark and Jumeirah Beach.

5. Jumeirah Beach

Located on the coast of the Persian Gulf this white sand beach is one of the most visited places in Dubai. Many luxurious hotels are located near the beach. You can even spend some serene movements just by walking alongside the beach.

Jumeirah Beach Residence or JBR is a residential area which has nearly 40 towers. This white sand beach is very popular for picnics, handicraft shops, and kid parks. There is also a complex called The Beach which holds many food outlets and entertainment.

Not to Miss: Jumeirah Beach and Burj Al Arab

6. Ferrari World

If you want to add some thrill to your stay in Dubai, then you must visit this world-famous amusement park which is located on Yas Island. This theme park has a number of rides and activities which will undoubtedly give fun and entertainment to anybody of any age.

G-Force roller coasters, go-cart race, shows inspired by Ferrari, advanced simulators, 4D fantasy journey, Remote control boat challenge, and Ferrari rides are some of the activities you can enjoy in this Ferrari theme park.

Not to Miss: Galleria Ferrari, Turbo Track, Formula Rossa, and Fiorano GT Challenge.

7. Dubai Ice Rink

If you are looking for a place to have unlimited fun with your family then you should defiantly make a halt at the Dubai Ice Rink located at the Dubai Mall. You can book a skating coach and enjoy skating.

Equipment is available to help young children to take care of their balance. Mothers and young kids can opt for special sessions. Ice hockey sticks, T-shirts, and other skating products can be purchased from the skate shop at the Rink.

Not to Miss: Emirates Hockey League Games and Skating tuitions.

8. Jumeirah Mosque

Jumeirah Mosque is one of the two Mosques in Dubai which can be visited by non-Muslims. Owing to its excellent architectural works this Mosque is a hot favorite for the one who loves photography. If you want to learn about Muslim culture and heritage then you must visit this Mosque.

Not to Miss: Guided tour of the Mosque and Arabian snacks.

9. Dubai Miracle Garden

The Dubai Miracle Garden is a spectacular garden filled with natural flowers. You can find here the flower structures of your favorite Disney character like Goofy, Pluto, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and many more.

The world’s largest Butterfly garden “Dubai Butterfly Garden” is one of the main attractions here. It also has an aromatic garden. This garden also has an Airbus A380 flower structure which has been listed as the world’s biggest flower structure in the Guinness world record.

Not to Miss: Dubai Butterfly Garden and flower structure of Disney characters.

10. Sheikh Saeed Al

This historical building was once the residence of Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum who lived in the building from1912 to 1958. This is now a popular museum which holds the classic architecture of an old era and lets you get a glimpse of the period of Dubai’s former ruler.

Several old coins, stamps, maps, pictures of old Dubai and the ruler’s family can be found here.

Not to Miss: Several artifacts at the museum

11. Deira Souks

The souks or Arabian markets are very popular in Dubai which attracts many tourists who love to shop for clothes, spices, or gold from this lavish area.

The main attractions, of course, are the gold-selling shops as there are more than 300 shops you can hover around and get hold of authentic gold at an unbelievable price. If you are good at bargaining then you can get the best of the souks in Deira.

Not to Miss: Gold jewelry and accessories

12. Dubai Dolphinarium

If you are visiting Dubai with kids then Dubai Dolphinarium is the place you must pay a visit during your stay. Charming bottlenose dolphins and entertaining seals will keep you and your young family members energetic all day.  There are a number of activities, events, and shows to go for.

The kids would love to swim with the lovely dolphins and watch them dance to music. You can even enjoy magical stunts by various birds.

Not to Miss:  Dolphin 7 Seal shows, Bird shows, swimming with dolphins

13. The Palm Islands

Palm Islands comprises three artificial islands Deira Island, Palm Jumeirah, and Palm Jebel Ali. The construction works of the other two being on hold, Palm Jumeirah is the most popular island which houses some of the world-famous resorts namely Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Atlantis The Palm, etc.

You can enjoy a lot of activities in Palm Jumeirah. Sailing in a yacht, skydiving, kayaking, and speed boating will surely give you an instant adrenaline rush.

Not to Miss: Skydive, City Circuit helicopter tour, Coffee spa treatment at Talise Ottoman Spa at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Splash Tours

14. Wild Wadi Water Park

Wild Wadi Water Park is one of the most popular destinations for kids. While the young kids can enjoy at a kid’s zone called Juha’s Lagoon with water slides and water guns, the thrill for the elders are packed with 32-meter Jumeirah Sceirah slide ride, a combination of tornados and bowls Tantrum Alley & Burj Surj, Wipeout and Riptide and many more exciting rides.

There are many rides suitable for the ones who are disabled, pregnant, or suffering from heart disease.

Not to Miss: Jumeirah Sceirah slide ride, Ring Rides, FlowRider rides,

15. Al Bastakia

The Al Bastakia neighborhood, also known as Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood holds the rich heritage of Old Dubai. Prince Charles visited this city in the past and suggested preserving this beautiful district. Hence the neighborhood has been able to sustain its old buildings.

You can find an art café, art gallery, cultural center and a famous coffee museum here.

Not to Miss: Make Art Café, Shaikh Muhammad Center for Cultural Understanding, ArabianTea House Café, Coffee Museum

16. Etihad Museum

Formerly known as Union House, this historical destination of Dubai preserves many artifacts which reflect the cultural heritage of UAE. Once you visit this place the profound history of the birth of the UAE will entice you.

Mesmerizing architecture and attractive paintings will surely make you wonderstruck about the beauty of this place. Various pictorial galleries, theatres, amazing stamp collections give an insight into the golden information about the country.

Not to Miss: Various artifacts, some belongings of Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid

17. Dubai Garden Glow

Dubai Garden Glow is a huge garden gorgeously decorated with lights. You will be amazed to watch the spectacular lights show as the lights change from being bright during the daytime to dark. Your kids will never be at rest at this mind-blowing garden as many stage shows, Laser Light shows, Talking Trees, Glowing Animals will surely keep them busy throughout the day.

Its Eco-Friendly Garden is unbelievably decorated with trees made of products which are recyclable. When your kids are hungry after a tiresome day of exploring the garden you can take them to the large food court inside the garden which offers mouth-watering dishes.

Not to Miss: Acrobatic performance in the Magical Garden, Eco-friendly Garden, Laser Light Shows

18. Dubai Creek

Dubai creek area is most of the happening places in Dubai which are visited by many tourists from all over the world. This place offers a number of activities to make your stay in Dubai worthwhile.  You can enjoy a cable car ride over the creek. You can even enjoy the lovely surroundings of the area by taking a cruise or water taxi ride.  You can find several malls at a short distance and enjoy exclusive and lavish shopping in any of them. You can even visit souks for gold or spices.

Dubai Creek area also offers a number of restaurants to offer your taste buds a delicious experience. Some exclusive cruise packages packed with dinner, stage shows, DJs are bound to add magic to your travel diary for Dubai.

Not to Miss: Sightseeing tours, Dubai Creek five-star cruise

19. IMG Worlds of Adventure

IMG Worlds of Adventure is another theme park inspired by Cartoon Network, Marvel, Dinosaurs, and Novo Cinema.  If you are up for some fun-filled adventurous activities with your family then you must visit this amusement park.

The park has 4 “Epic Zones” out of which 3 zones make the characters from Cartoon Networks, Superheroes from Marvel, dinosaurs from Lost Valley come alive and the last one is famous for offering you a thrilling adventure in a haunted hotel. There are several multi-sensory adventures, live stage shows, and exciting rides to give an unforgettable experience. You can even enjoy shopping and dining here.

Not to Miss: Epic Zones

20. Motiongate

Motiongate is a theme park inspired by Hollywood and a very popular tourist destination all over the world. You will be super excited once you visit this exclusive park as it offers a range of alluring rides, activities, and shows. Family rides like Smurfs Studio tours, Ghostbusters: Battle for New York, Hotel Transylvania, Penguin Air, Camp Viking; play areas like Smurfberry Factory, Flint’s Imagination Lab, Woodland Play Park; roller coaster rides like Madagaskar Mad Pursuit, Zombieland Blast-off, The Green Hornet High-Speed Chase and many more exciting rides and shows will give you a taste of a different world of fun and entertainment.

Not to Miss: Panem Aerial Tour, Underworld 4D, Capitol Bullet Train

Dubai is surely a paradise of luxury, glamour, and fun. Visiting this place will surely give you an experience of a lifetime. So what are you waiting for? Get your bags packed now and leave for this mesmerizing city.