Snapseed is a complete photo editor developed by Google that I use on my iPhone and iPad. It is totally free and has 29 tools and filters! There are so many ways to improve your photos. Let's get started!

Back in the day we took pictures with a camera, then sent the film off and waited for a week to see the results. We took fewer photos and tried to get quality shots each time. If we were lucky, we would end up with a few good pictures per roll, and put them in an album or scrapbook.

Normally, I use a tripod or try to lean against something to hold the iPhone still enough to get a good, clear photo at night. The Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond in South Korea were so well lit that I could capture the colors, lights, and reflections and get some really high quality shots just holding my phone with a steady hand!

The most interesting landscape photos are not one-dimensional. They have depth. In other words, the composition should include something of interest in the foreground or middle ground, as well as the background. A couple of ways to achieve this are to include subjects in the foreground, like the lady on the skywalk in the first photo, or to use leading lines to draw the eye of the viewer into the scene.

The key to great travel photos is unique angles, composition, and lighting. The challenge is to take pictures that are different from the mainstream. Pictures that hold personal meaning and lead to great memories after the return home. This set of photos is from my first day in Seoul at the end of March. It's cherry blossom season!

Two things I keep focused on are the importance of composition and light in photography. Finding and using the correct light is crucial in taking great photos.

Before enrolling in an online photography course, I didn't seek the unusual. I took very nice photos on my trips, but now I have a new mindset. I was actually looking for a "reflection photo" opportunity when I noticed this flower box. I angled myself so I could see the flowers reflected in the restaurant window, and I love it!

I learned new tips and techniques for composition in my online photography course. One of my favorites is repetition, like the windows in this stone wall.  I also love symmetry. After 32+ years in education, I still find beauty in mathematical patterns. 

Sometimes the subjects of my photos are items, not people. This burning gas lamp with flowers caught my eye. The seagull photo was a fun get, because a lot of times when I try to take bird pictures they move too fast and look blurry. This one is sharp and lovely!

This image was captured when my daughter tossed a ball into the air. I used burst so I would have lots of action photos to select from. This was my favorite because you could see her tossing the ball, and the ball in its path between the trees, as it lifted into the sky. This was not accomplished on the first try. It was windy and the ball didn't want to cooperate. We finally got one I was happy with!

The instructor of my online photography course has the best insights! He said to never settle at the most obvious angle. Don't just stand and shoot and take the same photo as everyone else, instead look for a unique angle that helps tell your story. What great advice! I took these shots of an upturned tree from ground level so the roots show as the sun shines through the upper branches. I'm pleased with the photo. 

These panoramic pictures were taken on a recent trip to Europe. Panoramic shots are so much easier to take if there are no people in the shot, especially if the people are moving. Most of my panoramas with people make them look like they took too many trips through a Time Machine and parts are not where they should be. Yikes! Here is an example. The wall of mirrors is actually straight, and the girl in the center does have a face. It seems the best use of panoramic shots is outdoors of landscapes.