Everyone is now a photographer, given the ubiquity of smartphones. But not everyone takes good photos, which is why professional photographers still exist, despite predictions of their demise. Photos taken by travellers can be especially awful, but the dedicated reader who diligently practises the advice in this book will see a marked improvement in the quality of their images.

The book contains some of the usual technical instruction about how to improve your photos but, as the author points out, you can find more than enough of that info in other books. A 30-year veteran photographer, Nick Rains instead concentrates more on other less technical factors that will improve your travel photos.

Many people are terrified at the prospect of taking photos of strangers, but if you’re going to take a collection of travel photos that come alive, you will need to get close-up shots of your fellow humans. Nick shows you how to negotiate this sometimes tricky territory.

Sunrise and sunset have long been known by photo experts as among the best times of day to get great images, and to that end Nick recommends an app called The Photographer’s Ephemeris, which tells you when the sun rises and sets anywhere on the planet. There are tips on the type of gear you need to take, the importance of planning – for the whole trip as well as for individual shots – and hiring a guide. It might seem like an extravagance, but Nick says that a good local guide who understands a photographer’s needs knows things that could take you days to find yourself. Get this book.

Reviewed by Tim Graham