See the light. The best bet for a flattering photo is soft, indirect light (like light coming through a window) or open shade. Avoid settings where a bright light source is behind you, where your face is in partial or broken light, or in too dark a space.

Create some distance. It doesn’t say much about where you are if all we can see is an eyeball. Especially with travelcentric selfies, where the destination is an important supporting character, tripods, selfie sticks and self timers allow you to escape from the arm-length photo and reveal more of the environment.

Watch your background. As with any form of photography, beware of tunnel vision. It’s far too easy to focus on your face without taking a second to scan the edges of the frame for any distracting elements. That shot of you in front of Mount Otemanu in Bora Bora might be epic, but if a row of garbage cans appears in the corner of it, it probably won’t end up on your wall.

Involve the locals. A huge part of travel is the people you meet. Photographing yourself with locals tells a much richer visual story and will inspire more interest (aka likes) when shared.

Our Favorite Products for Selfie Improvement

GorillaPod: This handy and flexible tripod can wrap around objects or stand on a tabletop to make timed selfies a breeze. It’s also small enough to stow in a backpack. $29

Looq G Selfie Stick: For smartphones only, these sticks connect to your phone’s headphone jack with a small wire built in next to the clamp that holds your device. No batteries, no Bluetooth. $25

Phantom 3 Drone: Heard of Dronies? You will soon. GoPro, Canon and Nikon are working on drones for the consumer market, ensuring dronies will be the next big thing in the selfie universe. $1,000

The post How to Take a Better Travel Selfie appeared first on Islands.

Best of Overwater Bungalows | 50 Best Overwater Bungalow Photos | Overwater Bungalows Close to Home

St. Regis Resort, Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Taha’a, French Polynesia

Maldives

Centara Grand Island Resort, Maldives

The post Photo Contest 2014: Best Overwater Bungalow Photos from Maldives and Tahiti (So Far) appeared first on Islands.

Best of the Caribbean | 101 Best Wallpapers Ever | 2013 Photo Contest Winners

Moorea by Nathalie Leseine

Whitsunday Islands by Laura Crafton

Hatteras Island, North Carolina by Gila Hodge

Maho Bay, St. John by Matt Erickson

Bonfire at Sunset in Lanai by Joshua Munns

Iggy at Molly Malones in St. Thomas by Andrew Trushaw

Milky Way over Water Wheel in Tobago, West Indies by Stacey Williams

Na Pali Coast of Kauai by Cynthia Hedgecock

Rincon, Puerto Rico by Melissa Veltman

Sandy Spit, British Virgin Islands by Jane Mottern

The post Our 10 Favorite Reader Photos from 2013 appeared first on Islands.

The post 101 Best Reader Photos Ever appeared first on Islands.

Amanda Bonfiglio’s photo “Local Talent” captures a brave surfer riding 30 foot waves in Teahupoo, Tahiti. A great wave, and a great shot!

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*Note: Our picks for Picture of the Day have no bearing on the final judging of the ISLANDS Photo Contest. Read the full contest rules here.

The post ISLANDS Photo Contest Picture of the Day: “Local Talent” appeared first on Islands.

Amy Adams’ shot of Oahu, Hawaii, captures the moment before a jump—made all the more intense by the bright sun emanating from the center of the image.

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*Note: Our picks for Picture of the Day have no bearing on the final judging of the ISLANDS Photo Contest. Read the full contest rules here.

The post ISLANDS Photo Contest Picture of the Day: “Bravery” appeared first on Islands.

We love the multiple layers of horizon in Jasmine Bapic’s foggy early morning shot of a river in Southern India.

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*Note: Our picks for Picture of the Day have no bearing on the final judging of the ISLANDS Photo Contest. Read the full contest rules here.

The post ISLANDS Photo Contest Picture of the Day: “INDIA 2010” appeared first on Islands.

We just couldn’t click past Joshua Hensley’s amazing aerial view of Wake Island, Hawaii. “We were heading home after being deployed for 6 months and our last stop was Wake Island. Took this photo right before we refueled the Harriers in the picture in the air.”

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The post ISLANDS Photo Contest Picture of the Day: “Heading Home from Deployment” appeared first on Islands.

This awesome image from Bob Cutler shows a natural rock formation that looks like a giants’ fist carved in stone. Can you guess where this photo was taken? Get the answer here.

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The post ISLANDS Photo Contest Picture of the Day: “Rock Fist” appeared first on Islands.

Douglass Tribull’s image of silhouetted palm trees against an orange sunset is so classic Caribbean I wish I had it on a T-shirt. Can you guess what island it is? Get the answer here.

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» Enter your best island photo for a chance to win a 7-night Tahiti cruise, a 7-night Star Clippers Caribbean cruise, and more amazing prizes!

*Note: Our picks for Picture of the Day have no bearing on the final judging of the ISLANDS Photo Contest. Read the full contest rules here.

The post ISLANDS Photo Contest Picture of the Day: “Sunset-Main” appeared first on Islands.