Travel Information

It’s in the Bag!

One of the dandiest travel tips I ever received was to pack in plastic bags! Now, that was about 20 years ago and you can now purchase plastic travel bags that will keep your clean clothes separated from your dirty clothes and (better yet!) allow you to save room in your suitcase for souvenirs.

Similar to the vacuum storage bags, these sturdy zip lock bags will condense the size of your clothes once you put the clothes in the back and then roll them to get the air out. Your clothes stay clean and dry and are easy to repack.

Another advantage is that you can put wet swim wear from that one last splash in the ocean in their own bag right before you leave the airport and everything else stays dry! (Just don’t forget to unpack those wet things first, when you get home! I speak from experience!)

Plastic bags are also required at our house for packing shoes. Each pair gets it’s own bag and no one has to unpack clothes sporting footprints!

Picture Perfect Travel Photo Tips

1. Keep your camera with you.
I’ve heard it said that the best camera is the one you have with you. Obviously one can't take a decent photo if the camera is left behind in the hotel. You never know when that special moment is going to pop-up. Be ready.

2. Get a good camera.
Most everyone has a phone camera these days, and although the images may look OK on the tiny monitor, the quality of these phone camera images is marginal at best. For good image quality you'll need a better camera. At the very least you need a decent point-and-shoot. Most point-and-shoot cameras have an optical zoom lens (as opposed to a digital zoom lens, which you don’t want), plenty of megapixels and do a pretty nice job. When it comes to image quality point-and-shoots are a huge improvement over phone cameras.

If you want to make a big leap in image quality consider a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera system. These cameras have interchangeable lenses and are the best choice for the highest quality images, but they are also less convenient to haul around, they’re much larger and much heavier. With quality comes more to pack and carry.

3. Have plenty of memory.
Memory cards are cheap. If you can afford a vacation you can afford an extra memory card! Or three! Also, people tend to forget to empty their cards. Be sure to download all the important stuff on your cards before your departure. It would be a shame to choose between photos of your kid's birthday party and the ruins of Machu Picchu just because there’s no room on your memory card. And film... what's film again? I forget.

4. Don’t just aim, compose your shots.
It’s a natural tendency to place the "subject" in the center of the frame. Sorry, but that's just too boring! With a little thought you can greatly improve your photo's by using a simple rule of thumb; The Rule of Thirds. Simply defined, The Rule of Thirds tells us that images are much more interesting when points of interest are placed off to one side (or another). Simply place your subjects, i.e. people, buildings, monuments, waterfalls, etc., to one side of the frame. There are plenty of examples of The Rule of Thirds available. A quick google search will show what I mean. The Rule of Thirds applies to the horizon as well. Usually, placing the horizon at the lower or upper third of the frame will improve the overall composition. It’s just a rule of thumb, but it’s a good one.

While we’re talking horizon, keep the horizon straight. Sometimes photographers will intentionally tilt the camera as a "creative" technique, but for the most part, the viewer wants to see an image that is “straight with the world”. No more crooked photos please!

5. Learn to set the focus.
Remember I said I wouldn’t get too technical? Well, I lied. This being my biggest pet peeve I couldn’t resist. All auto-focus cameras have their focus sensor in the middle of the frame. The camera will focus on whatever is in the middle. That’s great when your subject is in the middle, not so great when composing using The Rule of Thirds!

The problem is that the focus and shutter release are controlled by same button. Luckily the camera will allow you to set your focus, re-compose, and then shoot. So that means if Grandma is on the left and the waterfall is on the right, Grandma can now be in focus, even though she’s not in the middle anymore... follow that? Conversely, if your mother-in-law is on the left and the waterfall is on the right, now you can focus on the waterfall! The world is your oyster!

Place the desired focal point in the middle, pushing the focus/shutter button down halfway to set the focus. While still holding halfway re-compose the shot, then finish pushing the shutter down to release the shutter (consult your manual on this, if you can find it). Sounds tricky, but with a little practice, and about two whole minutes, you will master the technique.

6. Hold the camera still, real still...
Moving the camera while shooting can blur your shot. I sometimes will lean against a solid object, such as a tree or wall with my legs spread apart to make my body more stable, like a tripod. I will also push my elbows into my body to keep my arms still while shooting. I may look odd when I’m doing it, but at least my photos are sharp!

Although, a bit of a hassle to travel with, and a sure-fire annoyance to your spouse, a tripod will make a big difference in low-light situations, such as a sunset, and generally improve control of the composition.

7. Take plenty of shots of the same scene.
Years of professional experience has taught me shoot lots and lots of frames. Most folks will shoot one frame per setting. Only one! What if Grandma's eyes were closed? Or what if the children looked away just as the camera clicked? The solution is easy; shoot a lot. Options are good. If one frame is blurry, another frame may not be… think of it as backup. Since you’ll be bringing plenty of memory with you (see tip number three), there's no problem there. You might as well, it don’t cost nuthin’.

Good luck! Have a great vacation, and remember to take lots of photos!

Thanks to Steve Gerig for these travel photo tips! Gerig is a Wichita, Kansas based professional photographer. His clients include, Westar Energy, Cessna Aircraft Company, Coleman Company, Spirit Aviation, Intrust Bank and Cargill.

Cozy Up for a Romantic Winter Honeymoon

Does the idea of a cozy winter honeymoon appeal to you, but you want something a little more unusual than nearby ski resorts? Look to Whistler, British Columbia for beautiful slopes, a long ski season and great local dining and accommodations.

Luxury hotels and slope-side chalets are available for easy access to skiing and fun après-ski activities. Slopes are open from November to June, with prices being the best during spring months. You can also enjoy golf or tennis!

The twin peaks of Whistler and Blackcomb offer more than 8,100 acres of skiing, including 12 alpine bowls and three glaciers. And, if you prefer to get off the marked trails, you can try heli-skiing, snowmobiling and Nordic skiing. Dogsledding is even an option!

The excellent skiing combined with the charm of Whistler village has made this a popular spot with Kansas’s travelers. Dozens of restaurants, spas and shops insure that you will have a great honeymoon both on and off the slopes!

Tips for a Happy Honeymoon

Start planning early! That allows plenty of time for planning the perfect getaway and helps you get exactly what you want for your trip.

Plan together! This is a great opportunity to share in the planning of a vacation and learn more about each other’s interests and expectations. Planning together also insures that you both get to things that you are interested in and, more importantly, understand the costs involved with travel.

Use a travel agent. A good travel agent can help with the organization of the trip and often save you money. All the help you can get during this hectic time is welcome!

Set a budget. This can help avoid misunderstandings on the trip and set priorities for spending. A budget doesn’t necessarily mean scrimping, but it can help you decide where to splurge and where to save. And, it’s almost never a bad idea to splurge on your hotel room…you’ll both feel like this truly is a special vacation.

Allow down time. Planning and hosting a wedding is hard work so be realistic about planning honeymoon activities. A few days of down time can make a honeymoon stress free.

Don’t worry about the name change until you return. If you are taking a honeymoon right after the wedding you won’t have time to change your name on your passport and other documents. Taking a new name is special, but it can make for easier traveling if you are realistic about using your maiden name on your honeymoon.

Keep a sense of humor! Nothing is perfect. If you become too rigid about planning the perfect trip down to the very last detail, you may end up with disappointment. And, those little hiccups in the trip are what make it memorable!

Ole! Honeymoon in Cancun

One of the largest resort cities in Mexico, Cancun is a perfect honeymoon spot! It features beautiful resorts at all price points, white beaches, exciting nightlife, lots of shopping and loads of tours, activities and sports.

Cancun is located in one of the safest areas of Mexico and offers activities and restaurants for all budgets. If you want to soak up the sun, just stretch out on the gorgeous white sand beaches and relax! Need some tourist fun? Cancun is located close to Xel-Ha, a fabulous aquarium offering snorkeling and outdoor fun, including swimming with dolphins! The Mayan ruins of Tulum are a great day trip and you can learn a lot about the Mayan culture while touring the ancient walled city.

If Cancun isn’t enough fun, you can also head off to nearby bohemian Puerto Morelos, or have a day of shopping and dining in Playa Del Carmen. There are plenty of tour buses and affordable taxi services serving the resorts and your hotel staff will be happy to help you plan excursion and make arrangements for elegant dining in the city.

Be ready to shop at the open air stands offering art and silver throughout the cities. Bargaining is expected and can be a lot of fun!

Fall Into Color

Autumn is a great time to see the United States! Temperatures are cooler and the scenery can be breathtaking! We often think of foliage as being the most lush and colorful in the north-eastern part of the United States, but actually there are areas of gorgeous foliage all over the country.

If you Google “fall foliage” or something similar, you will find quite a few websites that track the foliage season throughout the US. A fun trip might be to plan a trip to a beautiful autumn destination in conjunction with sports activities…either as a spectator or participant, or to look for fun festivals. World Championship Grape Stomp, anyone?

A few tips for great fall vacation photos:

Timing is everything! If you shoot your outdoor photos early or late in the day, you will almost automatically get great lighting, which means richer colors, defined textures and distinct shadows. (Bonus tip: if you take photos during and after storms, the lighting is even more dramatic!)

It’s all about composition! Before you snap that shot, imagine the finished photo blown up into a work of art. Is the subject of the photo arranged in the finished view in an interesting manner?

Get up close and personal! A photo of colorful tree may be pretty, but by taking a close-up photo of a cluster of leaves, you may have a work of art reminiscent of stained glass. Sometimes the texture of objects makes for a much more interesting photo.

Check Back for More Articles Coming Soon!