Whether it’s a family vacation to Disneyland, a Caribbean cruise, a honeymoon in Paris or a trek through the Andes, chances are you’re going to take photos. The advent of smartphone and tablet cameras means more travel photographs are being taken than ever before; but while snapping a photo is a no-brainer, taking well-composed and engaging images requires some thought, a little basic knowledge and practice.

With the death of film and the rise of digital, it’s ridiculously inexpensive to take photos. Back in the day, you’d think twice about shooting oodles of rolls of film because not only did each roll cost money, processing the resulting shots also came with a price. This tended to discourage overshooting. Today, since there’s almost no initial financial output except for the camera itself and no processing fees after the fact, people are often seen wildly taking shots of anything and everything with little regard to the finished result. Consequently, while there are more travel photos than ever before, there are also more bad travel photos than ever before — just take a look on various social networks like Facebook and Twitter.

The kind of equipment you use to take travel photos depends on what results you’re looking for, how much you want to spend and what you plan to do with the images after the trip is over. If all you want to do is record your trip, then a smartphone or tablet is fine.

If you are interested in taking more thoughtful photos and having a little more flexibility, there are a plethora of “point-and-shoot” cameras on the market. They cost anywhere from under $50 to more than $500, depending on the quality of the lens, the number of megapixels and other options.

More serious photographers are probably going to want to go with a DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) camera. This is the most expensive option, but it also offers the most flexibility. With a DSLR, you view the scene through the lens, which means you see exactly what you are taking, which is not the case when you view it on a screen. Another big advantage is being able to use interchangeable lenses.

I’m of the opinion good photographs can be taken regardless of whether you’re using a smartphone or an expensive DSLR. Granted, the more sophisticated the equipment, the more options, but the age-old saying remains true: It’s not the camera that determines the quality of the photograph, but the person in back of the camera. It comes down to the photographer’s ability to create a well-composed and interesting image. Some people just seem to be born with this talent, but even those to whom this does not come naturally can greatly improve the quality of their images by adhering to a few simple rules.

The rule of thirds applies in this photo of Wellington, New Zealand’s iconic harborfront sculpture © Ellen Clark

Watch out for what a photographer friend of mine calls “Centeritus.” Ninety percent of the time you will wind up with a pretty boring photo if the main subject is dead center. Which brings us to what might possibly be the most famous principle of photographic composition, the rule of thirds. Basically it amounts to visually splitting your potential image into three even segments both vertically and horizontally, making nine squares. The theory is that by placing principle points of interest in the intersections or along the lines, the photo will be well-balanced and more pleasing to the eye. As with any rule, there are exceptions, but especially for beginning photographers, it’s a good rule to remember.

Be sure your photo has a definite point of interest. Many amateur photographers try to get the whole panorama into one photo. By focusing on the most interesting part of the scene, the viewer will be drawn into the photo, rather than madly scanning it for somewhere for the eye to land.

Focus on details. Sometimes shooting a detail of something or someone can produce the strongest image. An architectural detail of a famous building or just the hands of a person can frequently produce a striking and thought-provoking image.

When you’re shooting an iconic image like Buckingham Palace or the Golden Gate Bridge, look for a different angle; have something interesting in the foreground or concentrate on a detail that will still let the viewer know where it was shot.

Shooting from a crouching position creates an interesting vantage point © Ellen Clark

Don’t always shoot the photo at eye level. Vary your vantage point by crouching down or shooting from above. And remember to look above and below eye level for objects to shoot. By fully surveying an area, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the interesting things you find to photograph that would be completely overlooked if you’d just breezed along looking straight ahead.

Watch your backgrounds. A cluttered, distracting background detracts from the main subject. If the primary subject is a person, if possible have the person move somewhere with less going on.

Shooting people out of direct sunlight prevents unwanted shadows © Ellen Clark

Avoid photographing people in direct sunlight. This can create unwanted shadows and bright spots. Move your subjects into some open shade, where the lighting is softer and more even. Also make sure there isn’t a tree, power pole or something else that appears to be growing out of their heads.

The thought of approaching an interesting-looking person in a foreign country and asking to take his or her photograph can be overwhelmingly intimidating, particularly to inexperienced shooters. This explains why you will see so many people trying to “sneak” a shot. It definitely takes some practice, and initially a little nerve, but approaching your potential subject, smiling and indicating you’d like to snap a photograph will pay off enormously where the final result is concerned. I do this a lot, and I have to say at least 90 percent of the people I approach are willing to have their picture taken. Sometimes the initial pose is too stiff, but by establishing a sort of mini-rapport, they usually loosen up and I get the shot I’m looking for. If they refuse, I thank them and move on.

Creativity and looking beyond the ordinary is what separates an average travel photo from an exceptional one. There are literally trillions of travel images out there — just check the Internet — and most are of subject matter that’s been done to death. When you’re in an area swarming with people taking photos, such as the Eiffel Tower, for example, take the shot if you must and then move on. Head down a neighborhood street and keep a lookout for interesting details like doors, windows, shadows or slices of Parisian life — such as a woman carrying a fresh baguette or a young couple dressed in denim and leather walking hand in hand by centuries-old buildings.

Mongolian horse and rider in motion © Ellen Clark

Carrying creativity one step further, walk on the wild side and take some pictures with your camera tilted at some wonky angle, or photograph people or things in motion. Most of these will probably wind up being deleted, but you just might get one shot that’s amazing.

Wonky angles in Venice, Italy © Ellen Clark

So you arrive home with a phone, tablet or memory cards full of travel photos — now what? Guaranteed no one is going to want to see hundreds of anyone’s vacation photos, yet we’ve probably all had to wait patiently while a friend or family member scrolls through dozens of shots, saying, “Just a second, it’s here somewhere. It’s such a cool photo.”

I know people who never sort through their photos, never delete the crummy shots — and trust me, everyone, pros included, have crummy shots — and just jam up their electronic devices with never-to-be-seen-again photos. They’re missing an opportunity to have a wonderful reminder of the trip for years to come.

I download all my photos into a file on my computer. Then I delete the bad or multiple shots and make a folder of my favorites. I go online and make a photo book, which is the 21st century’s answer to a photo album, only less labor-intensive.

Scores of online companies have easy-to-use templates that can be understood by even the most computer-illiterate person. These books vary in size, number of pages and quality, and the price can start from as little as $10. I use Blurb, which has lots of options, produces good results and is reasonably priced. If instant gratification is your thing, there are photo centers in pharmacies and retailers where you can make a book and have the finished project in your hands in an hour. As far as I’m concerned, a photo book is about the best souvenir you can have of that once-in-a-lifetime trip, and it’s a perfect tool to show off your best photos in a way your friends and family will enjoy.