With summer vacations in most parts of the country, it’s the holiday season. Also, high temperatures in North India too makes many people plan for a small break in cooler areas. Gone are the days when people lugged big cameras to capture their memories. For most, mobiles do the job now. Also, with smartphone cameras improving by the day, many of them give almost DSLR-level photos. However, how your phone’s photographs come out also depends a lot on how you take them. Here are some simple tips to get the best out of your phone’s camera.

1. Understand your smartphone’s camera

The first step towards capturing good photos using smartphones is to understand the capabilities of your phone’s camera setup. Most modern phones come with multiple lens setup offering users a ultra-wide angle lens, telephoto lens, dedicated portrait lens, macro lens, etc. There are also a host of shooting modes.

2. Clean your lens

Now, this may seem like an obvious thing but, the smartphone’s camera lenses get dirtier than they may appear. Cleaning them thoroughly can help you get better and detailed photos.

3. Get some additional accessories, if possible

Like DSLR cameras, there are additional accessories available for phones too. Now, a tripod, a ring light and an additional lens can come in handy in a wide range of situations. A tripod can be used in low light situations as well as capturing a group photo with you being in the picture.

4. Can go for portable ring lights

Ring light can come in handy while recording videos or taking selfies. There are quite a few portable options available.

5. Focus on framing, experiment with the focal length and angles

Now that all the basic things are in place, framing is the next big thing. Irrespective of the location or type of photo you are trying to capture, if you’ve got the frame right, you’ve covered half the journey towards capturing a good photo. For this, try to eliminate unnecessary objects from the frame, also don’t be shy to experiment with the focal length and angles.

6. Try to keep your subject towards either ends of the frame

This trick is basically known as the rule of thirds. In this all you need to do is keep the subject towards the left or right end of the frame. This gives the photo a clear perspective and results in a pleasing photo. With this, you can also use the extra space to incorporate the surrounding to get a sense of the location.

7. Capture ultra-wide photos for an immersive view

Imagine you are typing to capture a lake or a mountain. Using the ultra-wide angle brings more area into the frame with a slightly distorted look. This adds to the perception and adds a creative angle.

8. Shoot early morning or late evening

Golden hour is the perfect time to capture landscape photos or portrait photos, So capture during early morning or late evening. Basically, you need to capture photos when the sun is rising or setting for better and goldenish-beautiful photos.

9. Beach photography

If you are travelling to a place with sea or lakes, then try capturing candid shots with the sea in the background. Get creative with the angles — low angle works really well around the beach. Also, try using the dedicated modes like slow motion shots for the waves, also use some built-in camera filters for some different styles of photos.

10. Hill station photography

Hill station photography is a lot like beach photography. All you need to keep in mind is that you are at a height and you are trying to capture something that’s far and really big. In this case, try to frame your shot with a part of the mountain and also some of the surroundings like buildings, people, etc. Also, compose the shots using the rule of thirds for better photos. Also, far away subjects tend to get a little hazy. Try to capture photos on a sunny day.

11. Creating timelapse videos of sunset and sunrise

While you can always record some videos, making timelapse videos can make things more interesting. For instance, you mount your phone on a tripod, switch to Timelapse or Hyperlapse mode on your phone and leave it to record the beautiful sunrise or sunset.

12. Use Astro mode for night sky photography

Smartphone brands have started offering dedicated Astro mode in their phones, You can use this mode to capture beautiful stars and star trails images.

13. Shoot Panorama for that wide-angle perspective

Panorama mode on your phone can capture the entire surrounding in one frame. These photos not only turn out to be extremely beautiful, but they can also be used as house decor pieces.

14. Edit your photos

No matter how good your phone’s camera is, making slight adjustments in the photos can make a lot of difference. For instance, you have captured some early morning shots at a hill station. In the edit, you can boost those golden colour to make it more prominent. You can add a little sharpness and also dehaze the photos to add some more details. Just make sure not to go overboard while doing so.

15. Keep a check on battery and storage

Make sure that your phone is fully charged and has enough storage space available. Carry a power bank and an external drive with Type-C OTG cable for just in case situations.

Outdoor recreation is in high demand as record numbers of visitors seek out national forests and grasslands for memorable adventures. Recreation.gov is your gateway to explore your national forests, and America’s outdoor and cultural destinations in your zip code and across the country. With more than 4,000 recreation areas and 110,000 individual sites and activities like camping, wilderness backpacking, whitewater rafting, ranger-led cave tours, and so much more, you will find plenty of opportunities for everyone in your group to enjoy.

Plan Ahead

This year many locations may now require reservations, and high demand locations can book up in minutes. Planning and setting a reminder to reserve a location in advance is key. Most campsites are available for booking six months in advance of your arrival date. Some are available two weeks or four days in advance of your intended arrival. For popular locations, try mid-week or non-peak seasons. To learn of the latest updates from your desired location, visit the agency website and search the location on Recreation.gov.

Know Before You Go

Every forest and grassland is unique and has specific guidelines, take a moment to review the Need to Know information on Recreation.gov or through Forest Service websites. Review and confirm the status of the location you plan to visit for alerts, including road closures, trail conditions, wildland fires and known animal dangers. Check weather and pack the appropriate clothing. Research if you need a permit for the activity you plan and carry your permit with you at all times. Pay close attention to reservation and confirmation emails from reserved sites and activities. Local managers may also communicate critical updates to help you prepare for your trip, or even cancellation details if the area is impacted by wildfires or other types of emergency situations.

Discover New Places and Experiences

We are hearing from visitors and land managers alike that many popular locations are booked and crowded. Take this opportunity to explore destinations new to you, or hidden gems just around the corner. Use the Trip Builder tool on Recreation.gov to map your travel route and then discover a variety of recreation sites and activities along the way.

Recreate Responsibly

Recreating responsibly is essential to maintain a sustainable outdoor space for all. Embracing diverse experiences will achieve and build an inclusive and equitable outdoors. Championing health and safety will ensure security across our national forests. The opportunity to become a steward for public lands is now.

Plenty of travelers will undertake a trip of a lifetime to Europe this year, spending weeks or months on the continent, hopping between countries and cities. Long trips can take their toll on mental and physical health but there are some precautions you can take and items you can pack to keep you feeling at the top of your vacation game. “The demands of constantly navigating different time zones, climates and destinations require us to be proactive in caring for our health and wellbeing while traveling,” says Jessica Sepel, founder of Australian wellness brand JSHealth Vitamins. Here are some tips for how to stay healthy while traveling around Europe.

Invest In A Refillable Water Bottle

Staying hydrated is key to feeling energetic and keeping your immune system healthy. It is also vital to avoid heatstroke when you’re spending hours under the hot sun sightseeing and can help combat jetlag. In Europe, tap water is generally safe to drink (although always double-check first) while many cities have public drinking fountains. This means it is convenient, eco-friendly and money-saving to invest in a refillable water bottle and bring it around with you instead of buying dozens of plastic single-use bottles. Sepel also warns travelers to be aware of alcohol intake on the plane. “Be sure to drink more water if you do choose to sip on a bubbly while in the skies,” she says,

Bring Nutritional Supplements

If you’re moving around a lot and sampling myriad cuisines, it’s natural for your dietary habits to go out the window. To avoid feeling sluggish or under the weather, bring a few key health supplements. Sepel recommends JSHealth’s Greens + Collagen as a convenient way to keep up nutrient intake when traveling as diets may look a little different with less home cooking. It contains green superfoods along with hydrolysed Marine Collagen. She adds a formula with a B vitamin complex for energy, stamina and recovery (it also helps with jetlag) and zinc to keep immunity strong. “If you experience bloating, a supplement with fennel seed is a great addition,” Sepel says. “I always have the Detox + Debloat tablets on hand when I travel to help relieve abdominal bloating while also supporting natural detoxification processes.”

Buy A Travel Pillow, Headphones And Eye Mask

If you are moving between locations in Europe, take advantage of flights and trains for some shuteye. Whether it’s a plump travel pillow, noise-cancelling headphones or velvet eye mask, bring whatever helps you drift off while on the move. A pair of earplugs isn’t a bad idea either and might come in handy in a thin-walled hotel room too. The help reset a sleep schedule disrupted by moving between time zones, Sepel recommends napping for about 3 hours on arrival, then trying to get up and carry on in the current time zone. “If you can then plan to go to bed at 7 pm, you should acclimate more easily and are then on track for the rest of your trip,” she says. Try taking a quality magnesium supplement at night to allow your nervous system to relax and wake up energised and refreshed.”

Pack A Medicine Bag

Traipsing around pharmacies is no way to spend a day on holiday, especially if a language barrier means struggling to find the medicine you need. Prior to your trip, pack a little bag of useful remedies including painkillers, anti-diarrhoea medication, antihistamines, plasters, decongestants, insect bite cream and motion sickness pills.

One Paris local shares some common mistakes travelers make in the city — and how to avoid them.

First things first: Even the French — meaning non-Parisians — don’t always get it right when visiting the country’s capital. Why? Because in southwest France, pain au chocolat is called chocolatine, and in Alsace, they start their bisous (double-kiss greeting) on the left cheek, not the right. That means you likely won’t be alone in making a faux pas when visiting. You’re a tourist, after all. We know, we know — you want to avoid being pegged as one.

I’d say to leave the fanny pack and sneakers at home, but both are back in style these days, and Paris is known for its trendsetting ways. I learned this the hard way when moving here from New York in 2014. Since Parisians don’t prance around in their gym clothes like Americans, I wore jeans to the yoga studio, only to arrive and realize I left my leggings back at chez moi. Thankfully, this always-be-dressed-to-impress rule has lightened up a bit due to the pandemic, although a few other steadfast rules remain.

Here are 10 travel mistakes to avoid on your next trip to Paris.

Not Saying “Bonjour” Upon Entry or “S’il Vous Plait” and “Merci” Enough

It’s one of the first things we’re taught in grade school: Mind your Ps and Qs. In Paris, it’s also imperative to say “hello” (bonjour if it’s daytime, bonsoir if it’s nighttime) upon entering a store or restaurant. Eye contact is encouraged, too. Acknowledge your fellow humans. It took me a while to get used to this one, and I’ll never forget the time I walked up to someone at a store and launched directly into a question before saying bonjour. Madame, understandably, was not happy. When in doubt, simply start with bonjour.

Waiting for Water and the Bill at Restaurants

Let’s start with dining out, as eating and drinking in Paris is a favorite pastime and one to be taken seriously — so seriously, in fact, that you won’t be rushed out the door upon finishing your meal. Eating is a time to savor both the flavors of the food and the company you keep. This is why the bill won’t arrive as soon as your plates have been cleared and you’ve had your last sip of water. (Speaking of, you’ll likely have to ask for water — une carafe d’eau, s’il vous plait, if you just want tap — unless you’re at a super-fancy restaurant). The bill will only be dropped on the table when you ask for it (l’addition, s’il vous plait).

Forgetting to Book Ahead at Restaurants

Most reputable restaurants require bookings. For some, that means the night before; for others, it means a week or a month ahead. Either way, it’s important to put your name on the list. Dining rooms are significantly smaller in Paris, and unlike American cities such as Los Angeles or New York, they’re not as interested in turning tables and increasing head count as they are in making something delicious during their set kitchen hours. Generally, this time frame falls between noon and 2:15 p.m. for lunch and 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. for dinner, though there are all-day restaurants and cafés (look for signs that say service continu).

Not everyone travels to eat, but if you do, plan ahead and make a reservation. Many restaurants have online systems so you don’t have to worry whether to use tu or vous when addressing the person on a phone call. (To be safe, always go with vous.)

Visiting in August or December

If you’re traveling to eat at a specific Michelin-starred spot or the new pop-up from a chef you follow on Instagram, avoid visiting in August or December when many restaurants close for vacation. If you’re a first-timer or don’t care much for croissants and think all baguettes are created equal (see next section), monuments, museums, and parks will all still be open. But, in general, the city does have a quiet, closed-up vibe during these two months. Some love it, while others, like me, thrive on the buzz.

Of course, thanks to the 2024 Olympics, this August will be busier than usual, though things should calm down toward the end of the month.

Getting a Coffee at a Corner Café

If you haven’t already noticed, in France, food is la vie. It may be your dream to visit Paris, sit on one of those wicker chairs facing the street, and order a café crème. It was mine, too. And yes, there is nothing quite like people-watching or reading the likes of Hemingway or Sartre from one of these corner cafés. But if I may, let me remind you of two things: Smoking is still permitted on terraces, so expect whatever you order to come with a side of secondhand smoke. And the coffee at such places is arguably not good. You’re better off ordering wine or a beer if all you want to do is imbibe and take in the scene. Quality bean lovers should seek out any number of the newer craft coffee shops that now proliferate Paris for a true filtre (long, black drip coffee) or a crème where the foam isn’t the equivalent of overly soapy bath bubbles.

Buying a Baguette Instead of a Tradition

At the bakery, meanwhile, ask for a tradition (tradi if you really want to seem like a local) rather than a baguette. The latter is white inside, can be made with any ingredients, and is often mass-produced, so it’s not quite as delicious. A tradi can only contain flour, salt, water, and yeast and is usually made by hand on the premises; therefore, it’s much tastier. If you’re lucky to get one straight out of the oven, I dare you not to devour the entire thing on the way to your destination.

Eating or Drinking on the Go

Speaking of eating or drinking on the go, Parisians don’t really do it. Again, food and beverages are meant to be enjoyed and ingested slowly — not in a rush, over your computer, or on the metro. The only thing I’ve ever seen people eating on the street while walking is a sandwich or baguette (likely because it’s hot — and yes you can still call it a baguette colloquially even if you order a tradition). Coffee is rarely ordered to-go or had en route; even eating apples or bananas on the street may cause people to scoff. And while there are certain dos and don’ts at the table, too — like proper ways to cut cheese or pour wine — Parisians are ultimately an international bunch, so if you want to eat a hamburger or slice of pizza with your hands while they cut theirs with a fork and knife, go ahead.

Touching Anything Without Asking

When it comes to getting handsy, just don’t. Or, as the French say, ne touchez pas! At food markets, it’s best to ask before you grab something. The same rule applies at any of the weekend brocantes (flea markets) dotting neighborhood streets. Many of the items for sale are valuable and fragile, so it’s better to catch the seller’s attention and point rather than caressing the porcelain salt and pepper set like it’s already yours.

Buying a Weeklong Pass and Throwing Away Metro Tickets

There’s a range of metro ticket options available, including single-journey paper tickets and extended-use passes that you can reload.

If you plan on sticking with the paper tickets, it’s important to keep your used ticket until you exit the station at your destination. You may be tempted to throw it away immediately, but the metro is highly monitored and you will get fined if you don’t have a ticket to show that you paid for your ride. That said, many popular Parisian sites are so close together that you may want to walk and enjoy the attractions along the way. Unless you’re here for an extended stay or will be commuting to and from a specific place regularly, don’t bother buying a weeklong pass.

Hailing a Taxi in the Middle of the Street

If you’re not up for walking or taking the metro, car services are everywhere — and that includes old-school taxis. (Official taxis say “Taxi Parisien” or “G7″ on the vehicle.) There are designated taxi stands from which you can hop in and go. That said, Uber is widely used, so you can also order one from wherever you are. Fares range depending on the destination, but rates from the airport are always the same: From Charles de Gaulle, it’s €56 for a Taxi Parisien to the Right Bank and €65 to the Left Bank; from Orly, it’s €36 to the Left Bank and €44 to the Right Bank.