If you were to scroll through the Instagram feed of photographer Karthika Gupta, you probably wouldn't notice anything out of the ordinary at first glance. For example, there is a photo of a man and a woman rock climbing, and there is also a photo of tourists looking at animals while they are on safari.

However, if you take your time and look more closely, you'll notice that these "travel" images are actually small sceneries that were created by Gupta using common household items, miniature miniatures, and some very creative shooting techniques.

Gupta, just like the rest of us, is spending an increased amount of time indoors as the weather gets colder. In her line of work as a travel photographer, the circumstances are less than ideal, but Gupta is making the best of the situation by expanding the methods in which she practises her profession. The #OurGreatIndoors Instagram challenge, which was launched by Erin Sullivan, a travel photographer and blogger based in Los Angeles, served as the impetus for her to capture the creative photographs that she took indoors.

Even though they are adhering to stay-at-home directives and social distancing norms, amateur and professional photographers alike are staying active and refining their talents thanks to this and other picture challenges that are making the rounds online.

Gupta was quoted as saying, "At the end of the day, it's just a matter of getting out there and photography, whether it's in your backyard or from your balcony or patio." "Do whatever it takes to keep the creative juices flowing. It shouldn't truly prevent you from working to improve your artistic skills.

Do you believe that being in quarantine will prevent you from practising your vacation photography skills? Think again. Even the seasoned veterans are taking advantage of this chance to keep their creativity flowing and improve their form.

Stevin Tuchiwsky, a photographer specialising in outdoor lifestyle photography and based in Calgary, Alberta, said, "Over the past couple of days, I've been photographing these made-up situations in my house with props and whatnot." "It's not the real thing, but it slows it down a bit so you can understand some concepts better or understand why you might have framed it that way or why you focused on something in a certain way," the speaker said. "It's not the real thing, but it slows it down so you can understand some concepts better."

We reached out to a few photographers who specialise in travel, nature, and adventure and asked them to share some helpful advice with us

Experiment, Experiment, Experiment
Considering the amount of free time you now have, now would be an excellent time to try new things and step outside of your comfort zone. If you enjoy taking photographs of expansive landscapes, you could try your hand at photographing members of your family instead (if you live alone, practise with a pet or even a stuffed animal). If you usually document the people you meet on your travels through photographs, try something new and become an expert in the art of food photography.

You will be able to take a wider variety of photographs once you return to your destination, despite the fact that you are not currently documenting your journey through photographs. After all, travel involves a wide variety of aspects beyond the physical terrain or geography, including cuisine, culture, people, art, and other forms of motion and expression. And whether or not you choose to specialise, making time to practise the basics will make you a better photographer overall.

According to David Wilder, a photographer based in Calgary, Alberta, "if all you have ever done is one genre of photography, branch out and learn a new one," you should learn a new genre of photography. "Whether you're interested in food photography, product photography, or even fine art, we can help. You can do some fine art smoke photography if you grab yourself some incense, a flashlight, and a room that isn't that bright.

Learn the Ins and Outs of Your Camera
How many of us hastened to tear open the packaging as soon as our new camera arrived, glanced at the user manual for a few fleeting moments, and then immediately began pressing the shutter button? While it's true that you may pick up a lot about your camera just by using it, there's no alternative for taking the time to understand how and why it operates in the first place.

Learn how to get the most out of all the buttons and settings on your camera by delving deep into the manual (or watching one of the dozens of instructional films available on YouTube) and getting as much information as possible. You should get some practise shooting in a variety of modes, and then compare the results, so that you will be able to make decisions more quickly when you are moving around.

It is also a good time to examine your vacation photography equipment and do some study on new technologies or tools for specific circumstances, such as taking photographs underwater or making use of a tripod to take pictures of animals and birds.

Get Back to the Fundamentals
Even the most experienced photographers enjoy having the chance to review important photography fundamentals such as lighting, composition, and depth of field, among others. You can put these ideas into practise regardless of whether you have a simple iPhone or an expensive DSLR camera. Even though there are differences in the instruments, the concepts remain the same.

In point of fact, right now is the best moment for you to practise shooting better images with the camera on your phone so that you will be prepared to seize photo opportunities while you are out in the real world, even if you do not have another camera with you.

"According to Gupta, "it's not as simple as looking at something and clicking." "Grab your phone and select the grid view from the menu. Simply turn it around in your hands to examine it from a variety of perspectives, experiment with different arrangements, and see what appeals to your sense of style. Your eyes need to be trained to look at colour, light, and composition in a way that is attractive to the eye. Right now, the goal is not perfection but rather training your eyes to look at these elements."

Experiment with Different Lighting and Perspectives.
And while you're at it, why not try playing a little bit more with lighting and perspective? These two aspects of photography can help you generate photographs that are truly unique, even when you're photographing well-known locations. It doesn't matter if you're camping in a national park or just exploring a huge city like Paris; you'll find that getting up before sunset or taking pictures from the top of a skyscraper will come in very helpful.

Take shots at different times of the day or experiment with different bulb settings to achieve a variety of looks in your photographs. Learn how to quickly adjust the exposure settings on your iPhone camera so that you can respond appropriately to low-light or changing lighting conditions. "Always pay attention to the light," advised Wilder, "including where it is coming from, the quality of the light, and what it is doing to your subject."

In addition to that, make sure you keep moving. Stand (cautiously) on a chair, take some images looking down from your balcony, or get low to the ground and snap pictures of your dog, for example. There are a lot of creative ways to capture pictures.

"Eye level is the perspective from which we all view the world," observed Wilder. "The instant you make a shift in how you look at things is when your image begins to differentiate itself from the others. My best illustration of this is how we tend to look down on our dogs, but once you get down on the ground with them, your perspective completely shifts.

Become skilled in taking photographs of minute details.
Taking photographs of little situations or concentrating on a single item within a larger group is a great way to hone your photography skills in preparation for the #OurGreatIndoors challenge. If you use this information, for example, the next time you go to a flea market or stroll through a botanical garden, you will be more equipped to contemplate fresh points of view. You will want to take pictures of the whole scene, certainly, but you might also want to take pictures of a piece of fruit that has a particularly vibrant colour or a bee that is perched on a blossom.

"Most of the time, photographers find themselves shooting the same epic hero shot every time they go out," Wilder remarked. "Small things that really indicate what it's like to be in a location are often disregarded, so take some time discovering such details and filming them," the author of the article said. "[T]hese details really reflect what it's like to be there."

Register for various online courses and webinars.
There has never been a better moment to hone your talents as a travel photographer by enrolling in courses, attending seminars, or participating in webinars. At this very moment, a large number of photographers are participating in livestreams on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook, as well as other platforms.

You can also visit websites such as Sony's Alpha Universe, CreativeLive, Skillshare, Nikon School Online, and the Professional Photographers of America.

Learn How to Edit Photos Like a Pro.
If you absolutely detest editing images and have piled up dozens or even hundreds of them on your hard drive for no other reason than that you can't stand doing it, now is the moment to push over that obstacle.

Use this time to become more familiar with whichever editing software you use, in addition to working through the backlog of photographs that need to be edited but haven't been yet. In this particular scenario, practise really is the key to success, and it also has the potential to make you a more proficient photo editor in the long run.

Gupta recommends that you take this opportunity to experiment with the editing of older photographs using a variety of techniques. It's possible that you'll find a method or a style that you appreciate even more than the way you've been doing things up until now. "Crop them differently, or if it's black and white, make it colour," she advised. "If it's black and white, make it colour."

Do Your Homework Before Your Next Trip
Even though it may seem like too much of a leap to make now, you should start planning where you want to go as soon as it will be safe to travel, and you should also begin researching how to take photographs in that location.

When planning a trip to a specific destination, it is important to take into consideration the ideal time of day as well as the season. Learn from the experiences of other photographers who have shot in extremely crowded tourist areas. Investigate off-the-beaten-path locales that might result in photographs that are unusual or interesting.

If you take care of all the necessary preparations for the trip in advance, you will probably acquire better images and have more fun during the trip. In addition, studies have shown that the mere anticipation of an approaching trip can boost our levels of happiness.

Wondering how to practice your travel photography skills at home?📸Here are 24 ways to keep shooting: https://t.co/i17UzdLbM4

— Travel Photography Course (@trvlphotocourse) February 26, 2021