Take iconic photos in iconic places: 3 tips to instantly make your shots stand out

When you travel to iconic locations, the photos you take could end up being… Well, less than iconic. We all photograph similar objects in famous tourist places, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make them more engaging and different from the majority. In his latest video, Jason Vong gives you three practical tips to help you instantly elevate your photos. The best thing is that you can use them whether you’re shooting with a dedicated camera or a smartphone. These tips are easy to try and can completely change how your photos feel. So, let’s jump right in and break them down.

Add a foreground element to your shots

Jason’s first tip focuses on the power of foreground elements. Incorporating something in the foreground can create a “sandwich effect” by framing your main subject between the foreground and the background. This adds depth and draws the viewer’s attention to the focal point.

Jason suggests thinking about your compositions in layers: the background, the subject (middle ground), and the foreground. He emphasizes that while our eyes often overlook the foreground in real life, including it in your shots can make them much more visually compelling.

For example, he showcases a famous pagoda shot in Kyoto, Japan. Most tourists capture it without any foreground, resulting in photos that look like everyone else’s. But by stepping back and using surrounding leaves to frame the pagoda, he creates a beautiful, unique composition. Jason even takes this concept a step further by suggesting you use a “frame within a frame,” like windows, doors, or even people, to enclose your subject and create an extra layer of interest.

Look deeper for surrounding details

Tip two is all about avoiding the obvious. Jason explains how tourist hotspots often lead to repetitive, uninspired wide shots that dominate social media feeds. To make your work stand out, he advises looking beyond the usual perspectives and focusing on the smaller, easily overlooked details in the environment.

Using the Eiffel Tower as an example, Jason demonstrates how zooming in with a telephoto lens reveals hidden gems like a carousel, statues, lamp posts, or even subtle textures on the tower itself. These details can tell a unique story about a place and show your audience something fresh and unexpected. He also suggests using famous landmarks as backdrops for other subjects, like nearby buildings or everyday objects. This approach still evokes the location but through a new, creative lens.

Find and emphasize color in dull scenes

Not every day will gift you perfect weather or dramatic lighting. Jason’s third tip tackles this by encouraging you to focus on vibrant colors when your scene feels flat or gray. Bright, distinct colors can make your subject pop, even in less-than-ideal conditions, and editing later can enhance this effect.

Jason shares that rainy, overcast days might seem uninspiring, but by zeroing in on colorful details, you can transform dull environments into visually striking compositions.

I like this type of videos and tips because you can apply them right away, with any camera, wherever you are. But I think they’re especially useful when traveling to popular locations. I’ll definitely keep them in mind the next time I visit a touristy place, and I encourage you to watch Jason’s video for inspiration and some gorgeous photos that perfectly illustrate his points.

[3 Practical Tips to INSTANTLY Improve Your Photos via FStoppers]

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