An adventurer who travels light leave their heavy and bulky cameras at home. It is a smarter preference. In my opinion, if someone is not going to make money out of selling his photographs, then it would be better for him to take the smartphones with him in travel instead. Because these compact witdevices will do good work. Plus side, the photos taken are ready to be uploaded. Isn’t the whole point of taking travel photos to share them to the world?

While the photos straight from the native camera of the phone lacks lustre when compared with lens-powered digital cameras side by side, post-processing them in an instant is an edge. I for one is just a late adopter of mobile photography. After manipulation then becomes a pastime. The activity is an addicting replacement for Temple Run or 2048 mobile games.

With the help of the following recommended mobile apps for post-processing, any user with knack in the art can now share more beautiful travel photos than ever.

You can scroll to compare two images, before and after photo processing with the aid of the recommended app.

Taipei 101

1. VSCO Cam

It is a choice between Camera+ or VSCO Cam as my starter kit. Aside from being good photo editors, both apps have manual controls in taking photos. Before iOS 8 came, the native Camera of iPhone does not have the fine grain control of ISO, exposure, etc. Thus, capturing scenes is by default in auto mode. In this example, the image is underexposed as a result. Both apps could achieve the same effects. However, VSCO Cam is free compared to Camera+. VSCO (Visual Supply Company) Cam is a good starter photo editor app with intuitive controls for exposure, contrast, saturation and more. There are free filters but I couldn’t help buying in-app purchases later on. As of writing, I ended up with 72 unique filters.

What I like about VSCO Cam is the community it created. It has its own social network with photos that will inspire you to create stunning photos.

Tanah Lot in Bali

2. Afterlight

One way or another, Cereal Mag and Kinfolk influence Instagram users upon seeing how clean and minimal the attacks are. When I couldn’t achieve the light vibes of the photo from VSCO Cam, I switch to Afterlight. I first encountered the app when I needed a light leak effect to my photo and that’s the strength of Afterlight – the film effects that include dusty, light leak and instant film. The rest of the manipulation mechanics are the same with VSCO Cam.

Monkey Forest in Ubud

3. Mextures

What I like most about the post-editing app Mextures is the ability to mix a number layers of gradients, light leaks, textures and to combine it with in-house lomo film filters in addition with the basic controls in exposures, brightness, etc. And all these can be saved as formulas for future use.

In the example above, I want to boost the greens on the right side and play around the temperature on the left side in one editing. In Mextures, there are readily available gradients with at least two shades which you can rotate as layers. This generates a non-destructive workflow compared with exporting and re-importing photos.

University of the Philippines at Diliman

4. Deluxe Colors

Deluxe Colors is the primitive version of Mextures. As of writing, it is capable of overlaying two solid colors, half-half an image. I am using the app over Mextures when the image has a recognizable line that partitions the image. In the example above, the road versus the wall. I want to boost the asphalt with bluish shade while the rest with warmer temperature. Using VSCO Cam or Afterlight next is part of the workflow.

National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shrine in Taipei

5. Snapseed

For some mobile photography fanatics, Snapseed will suffice. But I am using this app from Google for one reason – enhancement of panoramic shots in an instant because of its built-in HDR handler. It is a lazy and default post process for my Panorama Project Photos. I haven’t chosen Snapseed as my default because I find the workflow of the controls complex.

Old Hill Police Station in Singapore

6. Skrwt

At this point, you might find me obsessive-compulsive about keeping a number of apps for different features. True enough. Skrwt is a keystone and lens-correction tool. With this app, you can now correct horizontal and vertical perspective distortion. This is also a great fix for images with GoPro and fisheye lens. Skrwt is a best symmetry helper for architecture enthusiasts.

I stumbled upon this app because of the need for the effect I want to achieve as seen on this collage. The photos were taken at different times and therefore with different viewpoint angles. Thanks to Skrwt and lines converged like magic. All hail symmetry!

Scroll left or right to view the panorama.

Batanes

7. 360 Panorama

Speaking of panorama, I am recommending 360 Panorama app to capture the scene in full circle, um, sphere. The native Camera app of iOS is only capable of taking a 180-degree panorama so this one gives your audience more of what you see from where you stood. I like it when it stitches the frames automagically! Like what the app promises – Say “wish you were here” in a whole new way.

Fihalhohi Island Resort in Maldives

8. Picframe

Most of the users download Picframe to compose a collage of pictures. But I am using the app differently. The original photo above was taken from a panorama. I only post squares in my Instagram account. And cropping that particular section of the panorama, the water bungalows, will render rectangular image. So I used Picframe to create a collage of two but the same image. I simply mirrored the photo to give way for whitespace.

Instagram Photo Map

9. GeotagMyPic

The native iOS camera is capable of geotagging photos as you capture. However one of the limitations of smartphones is the battery life. I put the phone in airplane mode to conserve battery juice. But that would turn off the geotagging in turn. Because I am obsessive-compulsive even to the geolocation of the photos, with GeotagMyPic, I can pin-point the location of the photos where I took them. Nifty right?

Bacolod City Fair

10. Adobe Photoshop Express

I haven’t fully utilized the powers of Photoshop Express by Adobe but the features such as red-eye correction and blemish removal tool are promising. I haven’t taken too much close-up selfies to be posted in Instagram so that’s why.

Which of the following apps listed above do you also use? Which post-processing app do you think stand as the king? Share your apps and techniques by commenting below.