Eight tips for improving your vacation photos

<div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br /> <div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;"> If you want to improve your vacation photos, read on, but we give a hall pass to the readers who submitted photos for the Travel section's annual "What I Did on My Summer Vacation." They can stop reading here because they’ve obviously mastered photo basics — and beyond.</div> <div class="p402_premium" style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;"> In fact, they made it difficult to whittle down the 1,500 submissions to something manageable, which you’ll see in the Sunday print Travel section and online.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBKuqPsh2rlHlVmLSvOlyIclpJ3r2A_D58KDEfVQAhXZ5KBUZ-D5vwuj9ZypB3TW_UjppRWbjnUmdCLVpNkUuovdlploj8KOiV_plbvazLSKBQ_g20bGZmc5HI1UcSkYmbN1s3M3pkgs2/s1600/travel+tips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBKuqPsh2rlHlVmLSvOlyIclpJ3r2A_D58KDEfVQAhXZ5KBUZ-D5vwuj9ZypB3TW_UjppRWbjnUmdCLVpNkUuovdlploj8KOiV_plbvazLSKBQ_g20bGZmc5HI1UcSkYmbN1s3M3pkgs2/s640/travel+tips.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;"> <br /></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;"> These days, with cellphone cameras, everybody is a photographer. Many of the photos were taken with phone cameras (mostly iPhones), which put the power in everyone’s hands.</div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;"> But, like all power, this one can be misused. I know. I do it all the time. My middle name is not “Visual Intelligence.”</div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;"> So I asked my photo guru — Richard Derk, the travel photo editor for the L.A. Times for many years — to share some of his tips for taking better pictures, for being prepared and for getting yourself out of a jam, if need be. Here are some of his suggestions:</div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;"> --Don’t be afraid to move people around or to move yourself to get better light. If you’re in a dark room, move your subject to the window. If you’re facing the sun, move so the sun is behind you.</div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;"> --Want to take a picture at noon? Take a nap instead. Derk says that L.A. area directors liken shooting at midday to taking a picture in a microwave. Early morning and late afternoon light are best for helping bathe your picture in a flattering light.</div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;"> --Hold still. Derk wasn’t talking about not moving the camera (although you should try to hold steady, of course). He’s talking about the photographer. If you have a great photo with a nice light, stay there for a moment and see if someone walks through the picture, adding another dimension to it. This takes patience, which is a trait of good photographers.</div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;"> --Under the category of being prepared, he suggested taking extra batteries or a battery charger or a device with which you can repower your phone or your camera. There’s no worse feeling than seeing that little “battery low” signal coming from your camera when you know that great photo is just a click away.</div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;"> --Don’t be overprepared either, he said. Travel light; take with you just what you need; there’s no use lugging a bunch of photo equipment if you’re not going to use it. The stuff gets heavy and it’s easily damaged so leave it at home unless you’re doing a heavy-duty shoot.</div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;"> --Keep your lens clean. If you carry your camera phone in your pocket, as I often do, grime is going to accumulate in that lens. Don’t use alcohol on it (or any lens). Instead, try lens cleaning solution (use judiciously on any electronics) or, in a jam, use contact lens solution.</div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;"> --Take extra photo cards, if you’re using a camera, and don’t forget to reformat them regularly.</div> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;"> --If a card corrupts, don’t panic. There is software that can help -- in Derk's experience, he recovered about 80% of what was on a card. He has used Image Rescue by Lexar (about $35) with good results.</div> </div> </div> </div>

Travel tips: Sicily, walking in Yorkshire and place to stay in the Forest of Dean

<div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br /> <h2 style="background-color: white; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 17px; margin: 20px 0px 10px; padding: 2px 0px;"> Take me there: Ragusa, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/travel/sicily" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #005689; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Sicily">Sicily</a></h2> <div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> Why go?<br style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />A new Ryanair flight from Stansted to Comiso has put this south-eastern corner of Sicily on the radar. Comiso is a gateway to the province of Ragusa, which is home to some of the island's most beautiful baroque towns and beaches. On the same latitude as Tunisia, it stays balmy well into October.</div> <div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> What to do<br style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Don't miss the baroque towns of Ragusa, Modica and Scicli, with their ornate palazzi and churches. Soak up the sun at the beach resort of Marina di Ragusa, or the attractive fishing villages of Sampieri and Donnalucata.</div> <div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> Where to stay<br style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />A contemporary boutique hotel in a medieval building, Hotel Novecento in Scicli makes a great base, and its breakfast of sausage flan, pastries, local cheese and honey will set you up for the day (<a href="http://www.novecentohotel.it/" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #005689; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="">novecentohotel.it</a>). Casa Talia is a charming B&B on a hillside overlooking Modica (<a href="http://casatalia.it/" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #005689; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="">casatalia.it</a>).</div> <div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> Where to eat<br style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Michelin-starred chef Ciccio Sultano serves up dishes such as roast baby pig in a chocolate and marsala sauce at the acclaimed Il Duomo in Ragusa. For a more down-to-earth take on Sicilian cuisine, try Agriturismo Rosacambra, near Marina di Ragusa. Sicilians run on arancini (deep-fried rice balls). The best are at Cantunera in Comiso (Via G di Vita, 17), which takes the street-food staple and turns it into an art form.</div> <div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> Insider tip<br style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />"If you want a really special place, there is a wonderful sandy beach called Randello, which is backed by a thick pine forest," says Comiso resident Mimma Trovato, treasurer of the local Unesco Club. "There are no restaurants or food stalls, as it's 4km from the nearest village, Punta Braccetto – but this is part of its charm."</div> <h2 style="background-color: white; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 17px; margin: 20px 0px 10px; padding: 2px 0px;"> Pacing the Pennines: take <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/travel/yorkshire" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #005689; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Yorkshire">Yorkshire</a> in your stride and embark on a walk</h2> <span class="inline wide" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; display: block; float: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"></span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGzOxL1qu9LHCkBhrUdPgW1d27cCKFxdn8Qw9d_7cZhdMUaI3WcAKpXAmecZo7ksY6Ab3dwDUx-Cu1ExqIiU32MUYjJzfzlA0y5Ff6JuxidxZFVbPUeEeWMbB6Y2_yBEe47sypKGBhm9d/s1600/Sicily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGzOxL1qu9LHCkBhrUdPgW1d27cCKFxdn8Qw9d_7cZhdMUaI3WcAKpXAmecZo7ksY6Ab3dwDUx-Cu1ExqIiU32MUYjJzfzlA0y5Ff6JuxidxZFVbPUeEeWMbB6Y2_yBEe47sypKGBhm9d/s400/Sicily.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <span class="caption" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; display: block; font-size: 0.858em; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 13px; padding: 0px; width: 460px;"><br /></span><br /> <div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> In September 1938, the writer and illustrator Alfred Wainwright set off from Settle in North Yorkshire for a walk across the Pennines. Over the next 11 days he walked 247 miles, completing a circular journey which took him through the Yorkshire Dales and up to the high moorland around Hadrian's Wall. His account of the walk laid untouched in a drawer until it was discovered and published in 1986, forming the basis for one of the UK's best-loved long-distance walks (<a href="http://penninejourney.org.uk/" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #005689; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="">penninejourney.org.uk</a>).</div> <div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Wainwright's Pennine Journey, a number of events have been organised along the route, including the inaugural North Pennines Walking Festival (28 September-6 October,<a href="http://www.northpennines.org.uk/Pages/NorthPenninesWalkingFestival.aspx" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #005689; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="">northpennineswalkingfestival.org.uk</a>). Celebrating the writers and artists who have taken their inspiration from the Pennines, the nine-day festival will include 50 guided walks and various talks.</div> <div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> On 28 September, groups of walkers will complete the 18 different stages of the journey as part of the "PJ in a day" challenge. And on 5 October you can join the author David Pitt, who revised and updated Wainwright's guide in 2010, on an anniversary walk from Settle station (<a href="http://wainwright.org.uk/pennine_journey.html" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #005689; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="">wainwright.org.uk/pennine_journey.html</a>).</div> <div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> And if that's not enough to inspire you to pull on your walking boots, the popular Black Sail Youth Hostel (<a href="http://www.yha.org.uk/" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #005689; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="">yha.org.uk</a>) in Ennerdale, which is one of the most remote and picturesque stops on the route, will reopen on 21 October following a £260,000 refurbishment.</div> <h2 style="background-color: white; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-collapse: collapse; border-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; clear: left; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; line-height: 17px; margin: 20px 0px 10px; padding: 2px 0px;"> It's getting autumnal, so head for... the Forest of Dean</h2> <span class="inline wide" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; display: block; float: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><img alt="Robin and Wren Cottage, Mitcheldean" data-pin-description="Under £50: Robin and Wren Cottage, Mitcheldean" height="276" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Observer/Pix/pictures/2013/9/18/1379506710342/Robin-and-Wren-Cottage-Mi-008.jpg" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 0px;" width="460" /><span class="caption" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; display: block; font-size: 0.858em; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 13px; padding: 0px; width: 460px;">Under £50: Robin and Wren Cottage, Mitcheldean</span></span><br /> <div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> <strong style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Robin and Wren Cottage, Mitcheldean</strong> A pair of cute and compact cottages in a rural location at the end of a quiet track (the lack of Wi-Fi and dodgy phone signal only add to the sense of seclusion). There are dreamy views across the valley, a wildlife garden with a pond and bird hide, and footpaths leading from the front door into the forest. Each cottage sleeps two. <br style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />From £34 a night (<a href="http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/forest-of-dean/176199" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #005689; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="">holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/forest-of-dean/176199</a>)</div> <span class="inline wide" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; display: block; float: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><img alt="The Rock B&B, Coleford" data-pin-description="Under £100: the Rock B&B, Coleford. " height="276" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Observer/Pix/pictures/2013/9/18/1379507132570/The-Rock-BB-Coleford-008.jpg" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 0px;" width="460" /><span class="caption" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; display: block; font-size: 0.858em; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 13px; padding: 0px; width: 460px;">Under £100: the Rock B&B, Coleford.</span></span><br /> <div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> <strong style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Rock B&B, Coleford</strong> This popular motel-style B&B ticks all the right boxes: a great location, friendly owners who are happy to advise on day trips and walks (the hike to Symonds Yat Rock is recommended), modern, comfortable rooms and delicious breakfasts. It's dog-friendly and there's a drying room for wet clothes and cycle storage, too.<br style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Doubles from £62 per night, B&B (<a href="http://www.stayattherock.com/" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #005689; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="">stayattherock.com</a>)</div> <span class="inline wide" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; display: block; float: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><img alt="the dome garden, mile end" data-pin-description="Under £150: the Dome Garden, near Mile End" height="276" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Observer/Pix/pictures/2013/9/18/1379506482915/the-dome-garden-mile-end-004.jpg" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 0px;" width="460" /><span class="caption" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; display: block; font-size: 0.858em; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 13px; padding: 0px; width: 460px;">Under £150: the Dome Garden, near Mile End</span></span><br /> <div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> <strong style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Dome Garden, near Mile End</strong> A cluster of futuristic white geodesic domes in the heart of the ancient Royal Forest of Dean. Proper beds, wood-burning stoves and en suite flushing loos place this at the luxury end of the glamping spectrum. Campfires, pizza nights and bike trails in the forest keep the kids happy.<br style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />From £395 for a three-night weekend in a dome sleeping four (<a href="http://domegarden.co.uk/" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #005689; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="">domegarden.co.uk</a>)</div> <span class="inline wide" style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; display: block; float: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: auto;"><img alt="Tudor Farmhouse hotel, Clearwell" data-pin-description="Under £200: Tudor Farmhouse Hotel, Clearwell" height="276" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Observer/Pix/pictures/2013/9/18/1379506374272/Tudor-Farmhouse-hotel-Cle-005.jpg" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 5px 0px 0px;" width="460" /><span class="caption" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; display: block; font-size: 0.858em; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 13px; padding: 0px; width: 460px;">Under £200: Tudor Farmhouse Hotel, Clearwell</span></span><br /> <div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"> <strong style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Tudor Farmhouse hotel, Clearwell</strong> This lovely 13th-century stone farmhouse has been converted into a relaxed hotel. If it's wonky floors and exposed beams you're after, book a room in the main house, but the most luxurious and airy rooms and suites are in the Cider Barn annexe. The restaurant prides itself on using produce sourced within a 20-mile radius.<br style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Doubles from £95 to £200 a night B&B (<a href="http://tudorfarmhousehotel.co.uk/" style="background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #005689; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="">tudorfarmhousehotel.co.uk</a>)</div> </div> </div>