Guides

Travel Photography Tip #7: Have Fun With A GoPro

The GoPro has revolutionized the way we can capture our adventures at every angle and during every exciting moment.

Published

4 months ago

February 19, 2023

In this installment in my series on travel photography, we’ll discuss the importance and awesomeness of the GoPro. I feel like I should mention that I have received nothing from GoPro and am only writing this on my sincere recommendation.

The GoPro has revolutionized the way we can capture our adventures at every angle and during every exciting moment. The camera shoots still photos and video with an interesting fisheye lens. They are waterproof and shock resistance so you can basically do any activity with these bad boys capturing every moment.

The best part is GoPros are very affordable, the batteries last a long time and you can take GoPros where normal cameras can’t go. You can shoot for hours on one battery life and memory card and these cameras can literally anywhere and under almost any circumstances.

The only caveat is the fisheye lens takes some getting used to. I advise some practice shoots before your big trip so you can get accustomed to the camera and lens.

Here are my tips for taking the best GoPro photos and video.

KEEP IT STEADY

These little cameras are super sensitive so make sure you keep them steady. Any movement can make the video seem shaky or images seem blurry. Remember this when you are taking video the most as movements can really affect the quality of the video. Of course with an action camera movement is going to happen, so try and make the movements smooth.

These things shoot incredible video and stills so practice makes perfect and getting used to the lens takes some time.

SHOOT FROM THE HIP

With this I mean, remember that this camera shoots with a fisheye lens, so you must account for this when lining up your shot. Try to shoot for a lower center and you will have the best composition possible. Luckily with digital photography, we can mess with the composition in post to correct little adjustments. If you are taking a selfie with a GoPro, remember to aim lower so you capture your whole body instead of just your face and a lot of sky.

TIME-LAPSE

Try out the time-lapse function of the camera to get the best selfies. Remember to switch the camera angle and your expression to get the best picks. You can trash the unwanted ones later, but the time lapse is a great tool. The camera shoots in bursts from 2 to 10 seconds in between shots.

GET THE RIGHT ACCESSORIES

Accessories make the GoPro so accessible and adventure ready. Make sure you get the right accessories for your trip. What are you going to be doing and where?

WATER

Grip Floatie: Get the floatie grip for snorkeling and scuba trips. This handle extender also acts as a float in case you drop your camera from excitement.

Surf Mount: Get the surf mount obviously if you plan on hitting the ocean waves. It clips to the nose of your board so you can get some awesome shots of you ripping up the waves.

Anti-fog: Get these inserts for your waterproof housing so your camera doesn’t fog up and become unusable.

ADVENTURE

Chest Mount: Get the chest mount for hands-free adventures. Your camera mounts directly to your chest so you can record first-person video form some awesome locations.

Selfie Stick: These convenient devices have gotten a bad rap, they are extremely useful and a must buy.

Sticky Mounts: These one time stickers can be mounted on anything and gives you the opportunity to get some interesting and exciting camera angles.

MAKE SURE THE LENS IS CLEAN

This is serious, these little cameras can get dirty easily and a small smudge on the lens or housing can ruin all your pictures. Carry a lens cleaner and constantly check your lens for the best pictures possible.

Destinations

All-Inclusive Resorts Outside The Caribbean!

Published

11 hours ago

June 5, 2023

Owen Gardocki

When you think of all-inclusive resorts you automatically think of the Caribbean and Mexico, which makes sense. Most of the all-inclusive resorts are centrally populated in the Caribbean and Mexico, but there are some other regions that offer excellent resort experiences in less than ordinary places.

All-inclusive resorts are great if you want to stay on a budget, be completely pampered and have a low-stress vacation. Why not veer off the beaten path and try one of these less than ordinary resort locations and expand your vacation portfolio.

Morocco

When you think of Morocco, you don’t necessarily think of all-inclusive resorts but this area is a hotbed for these luxury resorts. Check out the incredible deals offered up at resorts in Marrakech and Agadir, some featuring fun activities like water parks. Many of these resorts don’t offer alcohol since they are located in an Islamic country. You can have plenty of fun without booze, so give the magical country of Morocco a chance.

Arizona

Arizona is the destination of dude ranches and wellness retreats, so find your happiness in the desert. Surrounded by sand is the norm for all-inclusive resorts but most of these have an ocean with the sand, not Arizona. The desert makes an incredible backdrop for some of the world’s best dude ranch experiences. Come to Arizona dude ranches to ride horses, hike and enjoy nature while relaxing on a ranch.

Arizona is also famous for its wide variety of wellness resorts that range from spas to yoga retreats. Let your mind and body enjoy a vacation while you spend a week on a wellness retreat.

Brazil

Brazil has enough coastline for all the world’s resorts but they keep there’s more spread out. These resorts are very similar to the ones you would find in the Caribbean but these are often more remote. The average guests at these resorts are Brazilian families as it’s harder for foreigners to reach remote locations. Check out the Northeastern region of Bahia for the most spectacular resorts.

Tennessee

When you think of luxury all-inclusive resorts, that last place you think of is Tennessee, but this landlocked state has one of the world’s top resorts, the Blackberry Farm. The 4,000-plus acre farm is the ultimate luxurious resort where all the meals are cooked using ingredients from the far and are masterfully prepared by the top shelf chefs. Enjoy horseback riding and hiking in the glorious backwoods of rural Tennessee. Who knew that Tennessee had such class?

Texas

Much like Arizona, Texas has plenty of dude ranches and wellness retreats, but they also have some fun ones on the coast. These resorts tend to shy away from the all-you-can-drink party vibes and lend themselves to the tranquil, relaxing vibes instead. You may not find unlimited booze here but you will find peace and quiet, which are often harder to obtain than adult beverages.

Explore your world and find where you are happiest, and revisit that place as often as possible. Everyone has his or her own idea of a perfect vacation, just make yours a reality.

Guides

The Many Benefits (And A Few Downsides) Of Traveling After A Breakup

Published

20 hours ago

June 4, 2023

Owen Gardocki

Obviously, breakups can be devastating. And when you’re that low, it’s hard to imagine even leaving the house, let alone going on vacation! But there are actually a lot of great benefits of going on a solo vacation after a breakup. Obviously, there are a few downsides as well. But for the most part, taking that time for yourself to explore and reflect can be just what the doctor ordered when you find yourself depressed and lonely.

Here are all the things you’ll learn when you travel after a breakup.

YOU’LL LEARN TO LOVE YOUR OWN COMPANY

One of the hardest parts about being recently single is the sudden and dramatic increase of time spent by yourself. When you were in a relationship, it seemed like your entire life revolved around time with your partner. So the transition can be tough and being alone can drive you crazy at times. But forcing yourself to travel in those moments helps you make the transition into being comfortable alone much faster. Because you have no choice! You don’t even have friends around to keep you company.

You’ll be eating alone, sleeping alone, and doing every other activity in-between alone. It’s a trial by fire, but when you make it through you’ll be more confident and comfortable with yourself than you’ve been in a while.

YOU’LL MAKE FRIENDS YOU NEVER WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE

Sure, going on vacation with a partner can be wonderful. But you’re unlikely to connect with any strangers or make any new friends on a couples vacation. Which is fine, of course. But making new friends and interacting with locals can be a very enjoyable and fulfilling part of a good vacation. And when you’re vacationing alone, you almost need to make new friends and make a few connections to make sure you don’t go crazy!

Plus, meeting new people, especially while in a different country, can really open your mind to new experiences and perspectives. And sometimes that’s what a great vacation is all about.

YOU GET TO BE SELFISH

When you’re in a relationship (at least a healthy one), there’s going to be a lot of compromising. You’ll have to go to all kinds of events and watch all kinds of TV or movies that you would never waste your time with but you do anyway because your partner really wants to. But after a breakup, that all goes out the window! And you get to be as selfish as you want and only do the things you want to do. It’s the best part about a breakup.

Now just consider how great that kind of selfishness is on a vacation! Most vacations are chock-full of activities every day. And now you don’t have to cater to anyone else’s needs and wants! It’s all about you, baby. So do exactly what you want to do. Even if it’s nothing at all.

YOU’LL GET YOUR GROOVE BACK

As we alluded to at the beginning of this article, a breakup can cause some serious depression, loneliness, and maybe more importantly, some serious self-doubt. Much of those post-breakup days are spent wondering what you did wrong and if anyone will ever love you again. It’s a terrible place to be and it can be very difficult to break out of.

But going on a solo vacay can help you regain your confidence and relearn how to trust your gut as fast as possible. You’ll be the only one making any decisions, and even if you make a few wrong ones, no one has to know but you. And, for the most part, that’s the best way to regain confidence in yourself: decision making. Trust me, after relying on only yourself for a week or two, you’ll return home more confident than you’ve ever been.

IT’S EXPENSIVE AS HELL

And now it’s time for the negatives of traveling alone after a breakup. I’m sorry! I promise I’m not trying to bring you down, there are just a few important negatives that are worth mentioning. Like that fact that traveling alone is a lot more expensive than traveling with a partner. All of a sudden you’ve gotta pay for 100% of everything? What the heck is that?!

But this isn’t that hard to avoid. Just be smart about your choices. Find some cheap airfare and lodging. And look into visiting places in their off-season so the prices won’t be too jacked up. You can still make it happen, I promise!

A LOT OF THE FUN OF STAYING IN A FANCY HOTEL DISAPPEARS

One of the best parts of traveling with a partner is getting to enjoy all the extravagant luxuries of a fancy hotel together. Wearing the robes, ordering the room service, taking advantage of the free couples massage. Getting to laugh and make jokes to each other while you enjoy the amenities make it all the more fun.

But, unfortunately, it’s just not as fun when you’re by yourself. Frankly, it’s a little depressing. It’s almost like, “What’s the point?” Ya know? But here’s the twist… you ‘ll save a lot of money by not bothering with the fancy hotels! See, I twisted it! It’s actually a positive!

Featured

Prepare Yourself Accordingly For High-Altitude Vacations

Published

2 days ago

June 3, 2023

Owen Gardocki

Some of the most amazing and breathtaking vacation destinations out there are at very high altitudes. That’s why they’re such great vacation spots! Amazing views of nature! Whether the nature is covered in snow or various greenery, the sights and sounds of high-altitude towns and cities are always worth it.

But that high altitude can really cause problems for you if you’re not careful. So you definitely want to be properly prepared so your vacation isn’t ruined just because you’ve never been that high above sea level before. Luckily for you, I’m about to go through everything you need to know to make sure your high-altitude vacation goes off without a hitch.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

Seems easy enough, right? You should do this before every vacation. But specifically, when it comes to high-altitude destinations, you’ll definitely want to look into what other people have experienced while being in that city, enjoying its various sights and hikes, or even just flying into the airport. Let other people’s experience be your guide!

TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE YOUR TRIP

There are a lot of medications out there that treat altitude sickness, but many of them require a prescription. So be sure to sneak in a quick visit to your doctor before you go. If medication isn’t your thing (and we wouldn’t blame you), there are also plenty of natural remedies that can help. Specifically, things like ginger tea and lavender oil can be very helpful.

DON’T PUSH IT

If you’re anything like me, you always try to make the most of your vacation and end up completely exhausted by the end of it because it was just non-stop activities. But you have to be careful and take it easy when in high altitudes. Especially in the first few days as your body acclimates to the change. So if you’ve got plans of taking a big hike, save it for the backend of your trip.

MAKE SURE YOU’RE IN SHAPE

Well… at least as in shape as you can comfortably get. Don’t get me wrong, even the fittest person in the world can still come down with a bout of altitude sickness. But it also should be easy to believe that the better shape your body is in, the better chance it has to stay healthy during an aggressive altitude change. Not to mention, if you’re taking a vacation in a high-altitude spot, you’re probably about to do a lot of hiking!

STAY HYDRATED

Duh. You should always stay hydrated. Your body constantly needs water, dummy! But high altitudes can definitely lead to dehydration. And, in case you didn’t know, dehydration is bad for your body! And this doesn’t just apply to the days you’re actually on your trip. You should do a little prep work and try and drink more water than usual in the weeks leading up to your vacation as well.

TAKE IT EASY ON THE ALCOHOL

This is a tough one, I know. What’s a great vacation without some alcohol?! But, you have to be really careful with your alcohol intake while in a high-altitude location. Alcohol can contribute to dehydration no matter what altitude you’re in. So it’s probably a good idea to not double down on your chances of getting dehydrated. A few drinks are fine but don’t overdo it.

EAT!

Our bodies tend to burn more calories when in high altitudes. And this can obviously be dangerous as you’ll need that extra energy to continue to enjoy your vacation. So go crazy! Eat more than usual and just load up to make sure you have the proper energy levels. You’re welcome!