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The Ultimate Vacation Snaps

Where will you be spending your spring break?

Whether you plan to drive to the beach, jet-off to a ski resort or opt for a more affordable staycation, you’ll want to capture all of the action with your digital camera.

Family trips provide amazing photo ops and even better images that can be placed in digital frames, shown off on Facebook or inserted into a traditional album or fancy scrapbook.

Of course, you’re not going to be able to brag about your trip unless you produce stellar shots. In order to capture memorable pictures of your family’s spring break adventures consider the following:

Timing: Not just the time of year, but also the time of day. If you are snapping photos in the great outdoors, you must consider the hour you are shooting. After all, when you are using the sun as your light source, it is critical that you take advantage of the “golden hours,” which are roughly a few minutes before sunrise until about two hours after sunrise, and from an hour before sunset until about a half an hour after sunset. For example, if your family vacation includes a stop at the Grand Tetons, you should wait until sunset before pressing your camera’s shutter button. This will allow you to document the sun shining on the mountains with a wealth of warm tones. Don’t stop shooting until after the sun dips below the mountains and you capture the sunburst effects.

Location: Where you set-up your camera is another huge consideration when taking the ultimate vacation shots. Using the Grand Tetons as an example, it’s a good idea to take aim from designated scenic points, such as Snake River Overlook. The prime photo spot is located on Highway 89 near the Moran park entrance. Once you get there you might recognize it as the place made famous by legendary photographer Ansel Adams. The area offers amazing views of the Teton Range. What’s more, because it is an official scenic point, it’s very easy to navigate. The drawback to the gorgeous overlook is that it attracts a ton of shutterbugs. Pack your patience and be prepared to use it at the staging area. Then, once a spot opens up, make use of the natural resources to capture a unique angle.

Related Articles:

Shooting the Perfect Portrait

Telling A Story With Your Shots

Natural Framing

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About Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. She spent the next ten years as a television anchor and reporter at various stations throughout the country (from the CBS affiliate in Honolulu to the NBC affiliate in Green Bay). She has won numerous honors including an Emmy Award and multiple Edward R. Murrow awards honoring outstanding achievements in broadcast journalism. In addition, she has received awards from the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association for her reports on air travel and the Wisconsin Education Association Council for her stories on education. Michele has since left television to concentrate on being a mom and freelance writer.