When I thinkof study abroad, I think of the people, the food and the culture. With traveling comes all kinds of new experiences and new perspectives. When I travel, I want to be able to remember every moment, and the best way I have found to remember all these experiences is through photography.

Capturing these moments through photos can be more powerful than anything else. Photography is something that can be done anytime, anyplace and with anyone. It’s a universal way of sharing stories and memories through pictures.

While I was abroad in Costa Rica last spring, I got to experience some of the most incredible nature that I've ever seen in my entire life. One thing that I was most excited about was seeing the red eyed tree frogs. They have been one of my favorite animals since I was a little kid and so getting the chance to see them and photograph them was absolutely incredible. I used my Canon 60D to take these photos, but remember, if you don’t have a fancy DSLR camera, iPhones can also take great pictures if you use them right. Here are some tips to keep in mind when taking photographs.

  • For close up photos, always check to see if your camera has a macro setting, and get as close as possible. It will help create a photo with the highest resolution possible.
  • Be aware of the lighting around you. It can play a huge role in how a photo turns out. In many cases, natural light can be better than using artificial lighting.
  • Use the rule of thirds – play around with the positioning of the subject. It doesn’t always have to be in the center of the photo.
  • Be aware of what is in the background of the photo – keep it simple!
  • Get creative! Think of a new angle that you may not generally see something from.
  • Practice, practice, practice! The more photos you take, the more you’ll learn, so don’t be afraid to try anything and everything. As photographer Kumar says, “A photograph is a click away. A good photograph is a hundred clicks away and a better one, a thousand clicks away”.
  • Have fun!