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TRAVEL BLOG | RECENT POSTS

A Lake Michigan Sunset

By Shalee Wanders | Dec 16, 2016

A sunset in Greece over the Aegean Sea was beautiful. A sunset in the mountains of Norway was stunning. A beach sunset in Hawaii was breathtaking. Yet a Lake Michigan sunset remains the most magical of them all. People who finds themselves lost, hurt, or broken; often travel to the shores of Lake Michigan for healing. They…

I take travel photos. I've never put on make-up for a photo. Usually, I'm hiking, sweating, probably unshowered and may or may not have shaved my armpits in the last three days. I have a decent camera, but about 50% of my Instagram photos are shot with my iPhone 5s because I'm too lazy to carry all my camera equipment up a mountain. My travel snapshots include being in a beautiful place, taking some photos, and hoping one turns out decent enough to make it to my Instagram page. So are photos on Instagram fake? Depends on who you ask. But not mine. The world of photo-sharing is an interesting one. There are those who share solely for the 'likes', there are those who tell stories, those who share memories, those who share pets, landscapes, selfies, and inspiration cartoon quotes. In the world of Instagram, it is arguable that pictures are fake. "Travel" Instagrams are nothing more than a posed, glamorized, over-edited photo that completely diminishes that reality of a destination. True? Eh, for some people. However, sharing travel photos that aren't posed, glamorized, or over-edited but that are still breathtakingly beautiful is still completely do-able. Take photos, as you are, with who you're with, without wearing designer clothes or doing your makeup. So how do you take simple travel photos and turn them into travel photography? 1) Rule of Thirds Having the subject constantly in the middle of the photo is boring. In photography, the "Rule of Thirds" can be best described as a grid that overlays a photo and pinpoints where in the frame the subject is. In the above photo, you can see the subject is in the bottom-right corner. What is in the middle? Absolutely nothing, but that's what makes the photo more appealing to the viewer's eye. 2) Don't over-pose Looking stiff and overly posed is usually a photo-killer. Truth is, there are way too many people in the Instagram world that like to try and become Instagram-models. We are not Instagram-models. I eat way too much ice cream for that shit. 3) Be natural This goes hand-in-hand with posing. If you are on the beach watching a sunset, have a friend or self-timer catch you standing in the waves. This is something you would naturally do, which gives the photo a sense of "realism". When you are getting your photo taken, you usually know your photo is being taken. This can make it hard to "be natural". How do you overcome it? Laugh. Let your friends call you out on your pose. Be the picture taker that takes the picture when your friend laughs at themselves. A real picture is always better than a yoga-pose. 4) Take it easy on the filters Instagram filters are great for selfies, but lack appeal with natural photos. Unless a skilled editor in Lightroom or Photoshop, playing around with filters can lessen your photos appeal and the realness of the moment. 5) Avoid other people Photos are more dramatic and appealing when there aren't dozens of other tourists in the photo. Get creative with angles or wait for a break in the crowd. While visiting Annecy, France I was attempting to get a beautiful person-free photo. After waiting a few minutes and realizing the streets weren't clearing of crowds like this: I turned my attention to a small riverwalk about five steps away and shot this: 6) Be a little crazy Sometimes you've got to risk it to get the biscuit. The photo below is the perfect example. What you see: me balancing on the edge of a cliff (not always recommended). What you don't see: Josh hanging off the cliff to get the photo. I'm not saying you should risk your life for an Instagram shot, although I'm sure news outlets would love another story of social media killing a millennial. What I am saying is pay attention to shots and angles that will create a sense of "awe". 7) Communicate with your photographer Both Josh and I love travel photos, but we are unique in how we like to edit/shoot. We communicate with each other the angle and direction of the photo we want. Don't hand your camera to someone assuming they'll see the same photo you see. Hold the phone in the exact spot and position you want it before handing it off to assure it's exactly what you've envisioned. 8) Learn to edit Capturing the photo is step number one. Editing the photo is the second (but still equally as important) step. However, you don't need to purchase fancy-editing software. Editing a photo simply in Instagram is enough. Here is an unedited photo: Here is the same photo after editing on Instagram:

How to Take Good Instagram Photos

By Shalee Wanders | Dec 5, 2016

How to Take Good Instagram Photos March 19, 2022 Let me start this article off by saying I am the furthest thing from an “Instagram model.” In fact, this is what I look like on 90% of my travels: But when it comes to how to take good Instagram photos, all you really need to…

I Got Robbed in San Antonio

By Shalee Wanders | Nov 21, 2016

WE GOT ROBBED IN SAN ANTONIO Operation #vanlife is proving difficult. Much more difficult than living out of a backpack for three months in Europe. Who would have thought? Here’s a recap of the first three weeks on the road: Day one: Discover our daytime lights continuously flash, so everyone on the road thinks we are constantly…

8 Alternative European Towns to Visit

By Shalee Wanders | Nov 13, 2016

8 ALTERNATIVE EUROPEAN TOWNS TO VISIT We all know about Paris and Rome. We’ve added Santorini and Cinque Terre to our list of “must-see” places. Twenty years ago these sights were busy, today they are a tourist hell. Sure, some of them are worth a stop, but thanks to social media constantly promoting their beauty…

Budget Van Renovation: How to Renovate a Van For Under $600

By Shalee Wanders | Oct 31, 2016

Budget Van Renovation: How to Renovate a Van For Under $600 January 25, 2020 I’ll always look back and remember that my first home was a van. Nearly two months after arriving back to Michigan from Europe, I am preparing to embark on yet another adventure that will hide me from a mortgage and…

Around Europe in 90 Days

By Shalee Wanders | Oct 18, 2016

AROUND EUROPE IN 90 DAYS (VIDEO)

Everything You Need to Know About the Eurail Pass

By Shalee Wanders | Oct 12, 2016

Everything You Need to Know About the Eurail Pass Updated: March 21, 2020 Gallivanting around Europe is nothing new to young explorers. For those taking the leap to travel Europe for an extended period of time, there is one key element that will make or break the trip. How will they see it all? The…

What Happens in Europe…

By Shalee Wanders | Sep 25, 2016

WHAT HAPPENS IN EUROPE… Three months in Europe comes with a lot of memories (and mishaps). When beginning a journey of such magnitude, you know that along the way you will create stories both good and bad, and come back with a few “pinch me” moments. Since returning home, many people want to know…

How to Travel Europe on a Budget (25 Countries for Under $3,500)

By Shalee Wanders | Sep 6, 2016

How to Travel Europe on a Budget (25 Countries on $3,500) Updated March 23, 2020 Here is a map of everywhere we stopped and traveled to during 90 days with $3,500 each while traveling Europe on a budget: I think “backpacking Europe” is on a lot of people’s bucket lists. I know it was…

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AN OUTDOOR AND ADVENTURE TRAVEL BLOG.

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SHALEE

SOMEHOW BEING COMPLETELY LOST, UNAPOLOGETICALLY STUBBORN, AND BARELY RESOURCEFUL HAS LANDED ME IN THIS WEIRD TWILIGHT ZONE OF BECOMING AN ADVENTURE TRAVEL BLOGGER.

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Shalee Wanders is an outdoor travel blog focusing on adventure travel. Midwest born and raised, she began exploring by camping in Michigan as a young adult. In 2014, she met her love and travel partner, Josh. Since their first "date" jumping off cliffs in Canada, they have lived the vanlife in America, toured Europe on $20 a day, and explored over thirty countries.

Shalee is considered an expert in the travel industry for outdoor & adventure travel destinations. Her writing and photography have been featured in numerous notable publications and online outlets, such as Forbes, USA Today, and The Huffington Post.

Shalee Wanders, LLC 2024