How do you get photos of yourself on a solo trip?
On a solo trip there is nobody with you to take the picture, and you also want to be in it. The usual answers each cost something: a stranger’s time, your phone in someone else’s hands or a view lost behind a selfie. Setting the phone down and letting it shoot while you stand in the scene avoids all three.
The guide to propping your phone without a tripod covers the ledges, walls and bags that make a steady spot. ViaCamera takes care of the shutter, and where you stand and how you frame the view are up to you.
What does a travel shoot look like with ViaCamera?
You arrive at the viewpoint, and the first job is finding a steady surface at roughly the height you want: a wall, a ledge, a bench or a small tripod you carry. Keep the lens clear and check that the phone cannot slip. Either camera works with ViaCamera, front or back, and PHOTO mode is a regular manual shutter for a shot of the view on its own.
Frame the view with room left for you, tap the shutter once and walk to your spot. For wide shots with a lot of scenery, AI-BODY takes a photo when it sees you in frame. For a closer shot with a landmark behind you, AI-FACE takes one when your face is in frame and your eyes are open.
Then keep moving: walk a few steps, laugh, turn toward the view and look back over your shoulder. ViaCamera keeps taking photos each time it sees what the mode waits for, until you tap again to stop. Poses with your face turned away need AI-BODY, since AI-FACE waits for your face in frame with your eyes open. Afterward, go through the run and keep the frames you like.
What should you keep in mind on the road?
Keep the phone close and in sight the whole time, and never leave it unattended. Quieter spots and quieter times of day also make for cleaner frames, with fewer people walking through the shot. A steady surface matters more than a fancy one, so check that the phone sits firmly before you step away.
For longer sessions, a small tripod gives you control over height and angle, and the guide to taking pictures with a phone tripod explains how to set one up.
