How to take the Perfect Sydney Selfie
In this world of Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and various blog and web sites our image is everything. The cherry on that Sunday is the perfect selfie, and anyone who visits Sydney cannot pass up the opportunity to take a selfie with two Aussie icons, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Aside from deciding whether to use a selfie stick or not there are a few other things to take into account.
Line of sight
Un-interrupted views of the subject matter are preferred. When it comes to the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge the best uninterrupted views come from the harbour itself. Of course there are a few places from the coastline that present good photo opportunities but a cruise such as one with Sensational Sydney Cruises gives you far more choices.
Distance
How close or far away your subject matter is counts. For large building and objects such as Bridges it is best to pick a point where they are far enough away to get the entire structure in the background.
Lighting
This is another big one, depending on the look you are going for, lighting plays a big part in capturing details and setting the tone of a photo. For instance when it comes to the opera house you can choose bright, well lit photos to show off the famous tile covered sails. Morning and lunch cruises are good for these. If you want something a little more romantic or love the creative ways the Harbour Bridge and Opera House are lit by night then the Sensational Sydney Cruises’ dinner cruise is for you. This gives you the opportunity of capturing a beautiful sunset behind the unmistakable landmarks and the bright lights they sport.
Composition
The right balance of the focal points can make the difference between a good photo and a great one. For instance, photos where people’s head are cut off do not work very well. Of course in this digital age you can easily crop things but getting the composition right to begin with gives you way more options and much better finished products.
One of the best ways to take a selfie of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House is to turn your phone on the side. Of course this does not work for the video function but photos are easy to rotate and the wider angle makes it easier to get a two for one photo with both the landmarks.
Then there is the rule of thirds where you stand to one side or the other in the photos. This often gives a more professional look. Standing in the middle with the Opera House on one side and the Bridge on the other is an option but this obstructs some of the landmarks you are trying to capture.
Camera angle
A lot of selfies are taken from above or a high angle where you look up at the lens.These are quite flattering but if you want to get something in the background that is a distance away then the downward angle is not the best option. I recommend holding the camera about eye level and using a selfie stick if possible to allow for a wider angle and get more of your background in. Taking it from a low angle is not usually advised unless you are very close to the object you want in the background and the only way to get it in shot is to tilt the camera/ phone up.
Whenever possible use the option where you can see your screen so you have more control over what makes it into the frame and what does not.
In short
Pick a time of day, take a Sensational Sydney Cruise, use a selfie stick at eye level, get the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge in the background and stand to one side. Last of all, don’t forget to smile and enjoy your Cruise experience.