Photography Tips
Let me start by saying, I will never claim I'm a professional photographer because, let's be honest, I'm far from one.
I can, however, give you some amateur tips that I've found useful in my solo travels.
A picture of a landscape is just a postcard. Get in the picture and make it yours!
Come up with your own poses. Have a rolodex of a few stances you can make, and own them. This also reduces the awkwardness of thinking of something to do.
Get over asking people to take your picture while you stand there awkwardly looking off to the right. Give them a heads up, "I'm not going to look at the camera, so just snap away!"
Prep your camera before handing it to someone. Get it all ready, show them how to shoot, and position them how you want. Offer to take their picture, too!
Early in the morning is the least-crowded time in most places, so go to a popular site as early as you can to get the best shots.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada