You have probably heard the expression “the best camera is the one that you have with you,” and that’s especially true when you’re traveling. While I love my Fujifilm X-T2 and think that proper gear is worth the investment, it isn’t always practical to carry a camera 24/7.
I’ve actually gotten some of my favorite shots with my iPhone 7 Plus. While it’s not easy to get high quality pics from a phone, especially in lower lighting, there are some simple tricks and accessories that can seriously upgrade your photography.
Here are a few essential iPhone photography tips for travel.
Get External Lenses for Your Phone
iPhone cameras have so many accessories, and in my experience, a lot of them are totally useless. At the moment, my favorite iPhone camera add-ons are Pixter’s Lenses. They have a few pack options available, including one that is specifically designed for travel and one for “Photography Pros”.
The Pixter Travel Pack comes with their flexible and versatile tripod as well as the Pixter Wide Angle Pro lens. If you’re looking for something ultra lightweight, this is the way to go.
Turn Grid Lines on
One of the fastest ways to upgrade every shot is to turn on the grid lines. Using these, you can incorporate one of the fundamental rules of photography: the rule of thirds.
The idea here is that you break each image down into thirds, both horizontally and vertically (you’ll get a visual of this as soon as you turn on the grid lines on your phone). Your goal is to keep your subject at the intersections or along the lines.
If you Google “rule of thirds,” you can find tons of samples showing comparison pics where the rule was applied and where it wasn’t. This will give you a clear idea of why it’s important.
To turn on the grid lines feature for your iPhone, go to Settings, click Photos & Camera, and switch Grid to on.
Editing Apps
Taking the shot is just the first step in getting an amazing photo. I can guarantee you that ninety-nine percent of the gorgeous shots you have fallen in love with online have been edited.
When it comes to editing photos, less is often more. You don’t have to use crazy fillers (though they have their place too) or create an unnatural look. Just spend the time enhancing the natural beauty of your shot.
You want a final look that captures all of the rich shades and tones that you saw in person.
I will often edit my iPhone photos on my Macbook in Adobe Lightroom (when I have more time to edit) and often times you’d never know the shots were taken from my phone versus my camera.
Some great mobile editing apps are available, and it is worth spending the time mastering them when you’re on-the-go. For my shots, I typically use Snapseed and VSCO to get Instagram-worthy looks.
It’s tempting to zoom in, but don’t do it! Either physically get closer to your subject or just plan to edit the shot later. Zooming in reduces the picture’s quality and creates a pixelated look.
Once you’ve zoomed in, you can’t fix the shot whereas a picture taken from farther away can easily be cropped.
Self-Shooting
It’s hard to shoot yourself on a phone, unless you’re aiming for the ultimate selfie. I often travel alone and find that a phone tripod and Bluetooth remote is a cheap and easy-to-carry option. They are compact and you can get your phone in and out quickly without damaging it.
Pixter’s flexible tripod will wrap around anything and everything, so it’s easy to get a good angle. Their Bluetooth remote control is reliable, and it comes with a travel-friendly carry pouch that you can fit into pretty much any bag.
The landscape is full of broken icebergs, streaked blue and black, floating with the tide, occasionally breaking apart in a mighty crash. This is Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon in Iceland.
Jokulsarlon iceberg lagoon is Iceland’s deepest and most spectacular glacial lake, beloved by tourists, photographers, adventurers – even world-famous Hollywood super-spies.
If you visited this frozen landscape a hundred years ago, all you would have seen was ice. But then, the world started to heat up… thanks global warming!
Because of this increase in the world’s climate between 1920 and 1965, the icebound edge of the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier started to melt. The Icelandic word Jökulsárlón actually means “glacier’s river lagoon”.
Jokulsarlon lagoon forms part of Vatnajökull National Park, and has become one of Iceland’s most popular attractions.
King of the Ice!
Icebergs At Jokulsarlon
In less than a century, this vast frozen landscape collapsed into a mess of shattered ice & liquid that we see now — Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon.
A river soon formed, and found its way to the sea, pulling broken icebergs into the North Atlantic and sculpting unearthly shapes along its black-sand banks.
Every year, this fledgling glacier lagoon is made larger as icebergs break off Vatnajökull glacier, float around in the lagoon, and eventually drift out to sea in the summer months.
Jokulsarlon doubled in size between 1975 and 1998. It now covers 7 square miles – and is growing every year.
Colorful Sunrise at Jokulsarlon
Iceland At Its Most Beautiful
Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon is a photographer’s paradise. I was in heaven during my visit in November. First and most obviously, the ice is jaw-droppingly beautiful.
Compressed glacial ice often turns glassy and a deep, luminous blue, and that’s best seen when the icebergs break and flip over. (Here’s a truly stunning example from the Antarctic.)
You’ll see plenty of broken blue icebergs at Jökulsárlón – and the contrast against the white backdrop of the distant glacier and the black sand of the lagoon’s beach is truly other-worldly.
You may even see seals too. Thanks to that small river leading to the ocean, the lagoon is filled with fish, and seals regularly gather at the river mouth to feed, along with huge numbers of seabirds.
Bridge Over the Glacial River
Boat Tours on the Lagoon
Glacier Lagoon Boat Tours
A tour company called Glacier Lagoon has been running boat rides at Jokulsarlon for nearly 30 years, ever since the world’s most famous super-spy James Bond himself made an appearance.
In the opening scenes of Roger Moore’s A View To A Kill (1985), the iceberg lagoon was used as a stand-in for Northern Siberia – and when news got out, tourists started arriving, as did boat tour services.
(In 2001, Jökulsárlón again doubled as Siberia for scenes in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – and in the same year, the James Bond crew returned to film parts of Pierce Brosnan’s Die Another Day.)
There are two types of tours to choose from. There is an amphibious boat ride (ISK 5500 / $55 USD) for a relaxing tour round the biggest icebergs, accompanied by guided commentary.
For the more adventurous, get fitted with a flotation suit and lifejacket and take a Zodiac (ISK 9500 / $95 USD) for much closer views of the ice, including right under the glacier’s edge if conditions permit.
Ice Scattered over the Black Sand
When To Visit The Lagoon
Jokulsarlon’s boat tours only run between May and October, and outside of those months, Icelandic weather can get fierce – although bad weather can hit at any time, so it’s wise to always be prepared for white-out conditions.
The best months for good weather (and clear-sky photography) at the lagoon are July and August – but September/October can be a better time to visit Iceland because the tourist season has ended, prices are lower and there will be be less people around.
The Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon is hard to miss off the side of Iceland’s famous ring road (Route 1) – but it requires some planning to get out here. Rather than try to cram it into a single day, you should really plan for two days.
The trip takes about 5 hours from Reykjavík, provided you don’t stop along the way (which is almost impossible in Iceland, there’s so much to see!). Another service I’ve used in the past is called Sad Cars.
By Bus
Strætó Bus: Route 51 from Mjódd bus terminal (Reykjavík) to Jökulsárlón. It’s a 6 hour trip that starts at 1pm – and the next bus back is usually at 12:55pm the next day.
If you visit Jokulsarlon by bus, you won’t be returning the same day – and since accommodation at the lagoon is non-existent (see later), you’d have to be pretty adventurous to pick this option.
Hitchhiking
Another adventurous option, but hitchhiking in Iceland is pretty common and safe. How long it will take you to hitchhike here from Reykjavík just depends on your hitchhiking skills, luck, and how many stops you make.
Overnight at Jökulsárlón in my Camper Van
Best Places To Stay
I spent the night camped out at the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon parking lot in my Happy Campers van. There are no hotels, hostels or guesthouses at the lagoon itself. Höfn is the closest large town, about an hour away.
If you’re wondering where to stay in Iceland near Jokulsarlon, here are my recommendations:
Budget Accommodation
Vagnsstaðir Hostel – This is the closest hostel to Jokulsarlon, about 13 miles to the northeast.
Höfn Hostel – An environmentally friendly hostel with sea views, located an hour away in the village of Höfn.
Mid-Range Accommodation
Hali Country Hotel – This small hotel is a 15-minute drive from the lagoon, offering double & triple rooms and apartments plus a restaurant.
Hotel Höfn – Located in Höfn about an hour away, this hotel offers modern rooms with glacier & sea views.
Iceland in the summer can be surprisingly warm, but icebergs at Jokulsarlon lagoon give off waves of cold air you can feel on your face. Take a hat and a warm gloves, even if it looks sunny.
Watch out for the fiercely territorial skua seabirds that live in the area – if you get close to their nests, they’ll dive at you noisily until you back off!
Sunrise is the best time to photograph the glacier lagoon icebergs, not only because of great lighting conditions, but also because there are less tourists. Sunset is also good, but more crowded than sunrise.
During the tourist season, there’s a small café that serves a limited amount of snacks. But that’s about it.
Iceland’s incredible crystal ice caves are not far away from Jokulsarlon, so if you happen to be visiting in the winter, I highly recommend exploring them with a guide!
No trip to Iceland is complete without a stop at Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, as you can see, there’s a good reason why it’s one of Iceland’s most popular natural attractions! ★
Location:Jökulsárlón, Iceland Useful Notes: While Jokulsarlon is open year-round, the lagoon is often frozen over in the winter. Due to the summer heat, you’ll see the most icebergs in the summer months as ice calves into the lagoon from the glacier and floats out to sea. Recommended Guidebook:Lonely Planet Iceland Suggested Reading:The Little Book Of Hidden People
Have any questions about Jokulsarlon Lagoon in Iceland? What about other suggestions? Drop me a message in the comments below!
Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission, at no extra cost to you. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.
Morocco has been a dream destination for me for a long time. This year I got to visit this magical place with my good friend, Jessica, of Bon Traveler!
This country is so vibrant and full of color, everywhere we went I was amazed by the unique culture.
Our two-week trip started off in the major city of Marrakech. Here we explored the busy streets, shops, and ate to our heart’s content. We stayed for two nights at the Pinterest-worthy Riad Yasmine, and from there went to La Mamounia Hotel for two more nights.
There are so many markets in Marrakech filled with Moroccan goods– spices, rugs and beautiful clothes galore!
We woke up bright and early the next day to take a trip out to the Sahara desert with Luxury Desert Camp. After a camel ride through the dunes, we enjoyed a traditional dinner under the stars and stayed in glamping-style tent accommodations. The next night we marveled at the stunning landscapes outside our rooms at the L’Ma Lodge.
After our time in the Sahara, we traveled to Essaouira and stayed at the beautiful Villa Marco. After 2 nights in Essaouira, we headed back to Marrakech to catch the night train to Tangier. In the morning, we took a bus from Tangier to the blue city of Chefchaouen where we stayed at Dar Baibou.
Spending just under 48 hours in Fes was just enough time, and the perfect way to end our epic adventure. I had such an incredible time, and such a unique experience, traveling through Morocco with Jessica.
This Paris Foodie Guide was written by our International Food Expert, Kate, from We Travel We Eat!
Paris was a slow burner for me. It’s not that I disliked it early on, but it wasn’t a love at first sight kind of situation, like other places have been before. Each time I visit I find myself falling into it a little deeper though, and truly beginning to understand and believe the mantra that Paris is the city of love, and one of the best cities in the world at that.
My latest visit pushed the caliber way ahead. Paris breeds a sensation of passion that is palpable within the neighborhoods, and that pours into the food being produced. I found sophistication and attention to detail, yet with a sense of simplicity and softness.
Paris is a city I have at this point been lucky enough to spend time in on multiple occasions. I’ve walked Montmartre, I’ve visited Musee de Louvre, I’ve seen the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Notre-Dame cathedral.
What that means of course is being at the point where less sightseeing is in the mix, and more local exploring can be done, entirely guilt free.
Here’s where I found the best food in Paris!
Le Mary Celeste
Le Mary Celeste is a funky, open-air bar with a strong sense of self and energy you feel the moment you step foot inside. There are bright splashes of color everywhere, complementing the orange negronis you’ll likely see scattered about in the hip young patron’s hands.
The food was the real killer though, flying a bit under the radar within the larger food scene yet equally impressive. Get the deviled eggs with pickled onions and scallions, and the burrata splashed with apricot and tamarind and you’ll be guaranteed a perfect start to the night ahead.
Septime La Cave
Not being able to get a reservation at Septime was nothing short of soul destroying for me. I tried multiple ways and I failed multiple times. Where I found myself instead was its spinoff wine bar, Septime La Cave, located around the corner from Septime and its sister restaurant Clamato.
Super small and charming, the menu on the wall lists the day’s three cheeses, olives, beef with mozzarella cheese, and a couple of other offerings.
Complement that with a glass or two of wine, and you have yourself an experience that is fully French and wholly enjoyable.
Holybelly
Holybelly is quirky, it’s fun, it’s a little bit American feeling, and it’s perfectly great. The music is heavy on the Michael Jackson and Prince spectrum and the wifi password is macauleyculkin, if that helps to give any insight.
Make your own breakfast plate with eggs and sides like champignones, bacon or grilled halloumi, or go lighter with chia seed pudding or yogurt, fruit and granola.
Du Pains Et Des Ides
Boulangeries are everywhere, on nearly every corner of this bustling, lovely city. Du Pains Et Des Ides is in Saint Martin, about a five minute walk from the canal, and churns out a pistachio and chocolate pastry that is a must have.
Le Servan
Le Servan is a portrayal of French refinement and casual sophistication all in one. Located in an area that feels off the beaten path yet alive and full of life, Le Servan seemed to me to be a perfect example of where a local would choose to go for a relaxed, yet equally special meal.
Frenchie Bar A Vins
The wine bars in Paris operate at a whole other level than those in other cities. DMX and Biggie amongst the stellar playlist set the stage for one of the favorite meals of the trip.
Another spinoff, Frenchie is the restaurant, Frenchie Bar A Vins is the wine bar across the street, with the job of offering smaller plates in a more casual “spontaneous” setting. The burrata was the highlight, complimented by pear, lemon and dates.
The pastas were standouts too- if the gnocchi and pollack is on the menu, do it.
Fragments Paris
While admittedly not the most authentic Parisian locale I could have chosen, Fragments has its place in the French food chain. I know my avocado toasts, and Fragments is one of the best.
The coffee was great, too.
Go in the morning, and then wander the incredible streets in Le Marais it’s lucky enough to sit within.
Miznon
Miznon is a falafel joint, sans falafel. Located in the Jewish district within Le Marais, there are couple of really solid spots here for all things fried chickpea and hummus related (L’As being the most famous, and with the longest line).
Miznon took this theme, and gave it a twist. While pita is still the backdrop of the sandwich, the falafel is now absent and replaced with a dozen plus different fillers, most notably grilled cauliflower in tahini and lamb with steamed cabbage.
Breizh Café
Its tough to visit Paris without being tempted by a crepe. They’re everywhere. When you finally give into temptation—which you inevitably will—make sure you find yourself here. Go sweet or go savory, either way you’ll end up pretty happy.
I’ve stayed at a lot of amazing places around the planet, but every so often, I can still be swept off my feet—and this place did just that! Tongabezi Lodge is located in Zambia (near Victoria Falls) and is one of the most magical properties I’ve ever experienced.
This place is straight out of a Mark Twain story; I fell asleep listening to hippos grunting in the distance and woke up in a tree house with monkeys playing outside the windows. We waited in stopped traffic as elephants crossed the street at sunset. And we sat on our river raft and sipped our tea as we watched crocodiles cruise slowly down the river.
Ready to share in my otherworldly experience? Welcome to Tongabezi Lodge!
Getting to Tongabezi Lodge
Straddling the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, the Tongabezi Lodge is nestled on the Zambezi River. While the lodge is remote, the new Victoria Falls International Airport makes getting there easy. From the airport, Tongabezi is just an hour’s drive.
Tongabezi Lodge
I stayed in the Tongabezi Lodge, which has a gorgeous array of cottages and houses on the Zambezi River, including the Bird House, with its open-air bathtub and private terrace; the Tree House, set high above the river; a luxe honeymoon house; and the Nut House, with gorgeous art and textiles from all over Africa.
I stayed at the Garden House for two nights and the Dog House for one night—three unforgettable nights.
If you’re traveling with a group, the Dog House and Garden House are great picks that both sleep up to five people. Whichever place you go for, you’ll get a private valet who will make sure that you have an incredible stay, and with the exception of the Garden House, each house and cottage is set right on the river.
While I didn’t get a chance to check them out, the Tangala House and Sindabezi Island also offer beautiful places to lay your head—they are both on my agenda for the next visit!
Food & Drink
At the Tongabezi Lodge, three open-air dining decks offer a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience. I had dinner on a platform floating above two canoes on the Zambezi River. The waiters delivered each delicious course by canoe.
With a few of my besties gathered around a table under an expanse of stars, we spent a few charmed hours eating, drinking, and laughing as the lanterns burned through the black of night.
With incredible local chefs using ingredients from the onsite, organic garden brimming with fruit, veggies, and herbs, the traditional Zambian cuisine is all about seasonal and local ingredients.
Visiting Victoria Falls
Of course, the biggest draw of the area is Victoria Falls. Tongabezi Lodge offers guided tours or you can book your own. I’d dreamed of visiting Victoria Falls for as long as I can remember, and it was even more incredible than I had imagined!
We organized a visit with Tongabezi and saw the falls from both sides, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
I took a microlight flight over Victoria Falls, and it was truly one of the coolest things I’ve done in my life. While the falls are stunning from the ground, there is nothing like taking it all in from above. Below you, you will not only see the falls, but countless wild animals too! I spotted elephants, crocodiles and hippos!
It’s one adventure that you’ll definitely want to add to your bucket list!
I highly recommend planning at least one full day at Victoria Falls. It’s open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. From the Zambia side, you’ll pay $20 US to get in; from the Zimbabwe side you’ll pay $30 US.
Helpful Tip: Be sure to opt for a KAZA visa when entering immigration through either country. It’s only $50 and allows entry to both Zim and Zam.
Activities
Staying at the Tongabezi Lodge on the Zambezi River is all-inclusive. On top of having all of your food and drinks covered, you’ll find tons of complimentary activities; game drives, bush walks, and boating trips are all included in the price at the Tongabezi Lodge.
You can also indulge in a variety of amazing noninclusive activities in the area that are well worth it.
Of course, Victoria Falls is way more than just a place to take selfies. You can go white-water rafting, swimming in the Devil’s Pool, bungee jumping, hiking, and canoeing. Cultural tours, cruises, and pretty much any other adventure you can imagine are available.
Everyone on the Tongabezi team is great at organizing excursions, so just tell the staff what you’re into and you’ll be set!
