How to take Better Cell Phone Photographs by National Geographic

It was only a matter of time before camera phones warranted their own photography books.

First generation camera phones produced horrific photos but improvements have come rapidly and now it’s actually quite difficult to tell the difference between a photograph taken by a regular camera and one shot by a cell phone.

Almost.

Cell phone cameras still need a little extra help to produce a quality image and that’s the idea behind The Camera Phone Book: How to Shoot like a Pro.

The fact that National Geographic has produced this book lends an incredible amount of legitimacy to the cell phone camera. National Geographic has always been the poster child of quality photography and by endorsing what was once a joke amongst serious photographers they have elevated the cell phone camera to a level never thought possible. In fact, the forward of the book claims that it is the “first of its kind to treat these units as genuine cameras instead of novelties.”

But, the proof, as they say, is in the pudding. Not only does the book provide tips on capturing that perfect cell phone photograph, but it also includes 44 examples of how National Geographic photographers have managed to do so.

The Best U.S. Cities for Singles

You may recognize this “Singles” map from the February 2007 issue of National Geographic. It ranks the number of single women versus the number of single men in metropolitan areas, and you may be surprised at some of the results.

Girls, looking to travel to a bachelor-heavy area? The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana metro area, for instance, has the highest population of single males, with 40,000 more than single women. On the flip side, guys, the New York-Newark urban area has 185,000 more single women than men.

What I find particularly interesting is Texas. Dallas, Austin, and Houston all have more single men than women, while San Antonio has more single women. With the influx of military personnel in San Antonio, I would have figured the opposite.

National Geographic Traveler’s Photo Contest: Deadline is August 21

As you know, National Geographic is, like, the pinnacle of travel photography, or really, of photography in general. So why should you enter Traveler’s annual photography contest, with World In Focus? All I can say is: Why not? As added incentive, the first prize is your choice of either a trip to Arctic Norway or the Galapagos Islands. So go on, submit an entry. It’s only $12 if you’re an amateur, and as I know from the Gadling photo pool, our readers have some amazing images to offer. So if you’re ready to enter, visit the World in Focus website.

Last year’s contest (as always) produced some breath-taking images, and I for one can’t wait to see what comes out this year.

One for the Road: The 100 Best Vacations to Enrich Your Life

The travel buzz word “experience” is nothing new. But a book from National Geographic released earlier this year has handpicked a bunch that are extra special: The 100 Best Vacations to Enrich Your Life offers up a collection of nourishing travel experiences, like cooking, painting, studying and volunteering.

We’re all familiar with the “It’s not the destination” travel mantra, right? We know it’s really all about the journey, regardless of where you go. So, instead of overloading you with places you should visit before you die, this book suggests specific things you can do to enrich your life while you’ve still got one. If 1,000 places to see seems daunting, why not start here first, with a manageable list of 100 learn-as-you-go vacation ideas for the US, Canada and Mexico.

New Blogs: Transitions Abroad and National Geographic Traveler

My online travels around the web have included recent stops at two new blogs from a pair of popular travel mags. First, National Geographic Traveler’s revamped Inside Traveler blog. The brand new Intelligent Travel was relaunched last month as a premier source of information on authentic and sustainable travel. As always, National Geographic will aim to inspire us to travel, and this new blog will focus on how to journey wisely, with a conscious sensitivity towards preserving our planet and its plethora of amazing places.

Next up is a brand new blog from Transitions Abroad. Launched this month, the Wide World Cafe will serve as an interactive extension of the fabulous resources that the magazine has been providing for years. Hosted by Volker Poelzl, the blog will serve as a virtual meeting place for travelers — it will provide news, commentary, personal experiences and food for thought on living, working, studying and, of course, traveling abroad! They are running a contest to mark the blog’s launch.

I look forward to reading along to see what develops in these new online communities. Stay tuned for more smart stuff from both.

(Unnecessary disclaimer and not-so-subtle plug: Yes, yes, I’ve been a contributor to both these magazines, and a big fan for a long time too!)