December 21, 2025

Greetings!

I’m in Los Angeles for one day, having disembarked Vista after a very happy and productive month on board, traveling from Barcelona all the way to the West Coast of the USA. This put the cap on a busy autumn season that began in the Adriatic and Eastern Med in early September on Seabourn Encore, and then the Western Med on Seabourn Ovation.

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It has been marvelous to spend so much time at sea, and on shore. Highlights of this autumn have been numerous visits to Malta, special days, meals, and markets in Sicily and Southern Spain, seeing good friends in Valencia and Valletta, visiting Troy with my sister, and another astonishing transit through the Panama Canal

Today’s newsletter will be slightly different, as I’ve invited my friend and colleague, Erin Manning to take the spotlight slot and share some of her excellent advice on how to get the most out of the powerful camera you are carrying around with you all the time: your phone!

I sailed with Erin last year and attended all of her workshops, which are lively, and always enlightening. I learned a ton about how to use my phone to capture fantastic images.

I love my DSLR camera(s). I learned how to do food photography on them and am so happy I did. I have a Leica Q that is an utter joy to work with, but I also love the spontaneity of having the phone with me at all times and — thanks to Erin — I know how to get the most out of it.

Erin graciously agreed to share some key tips with us today, as well as some of the magnificent images she’s taken with her phone. It’s a true pleasure to have her on today!

Spotlight on: Erin Manning and How to Get Great Photos with Your Smartphone

Hi everyone! I’m absolutely thrilled to be featured here on Jennifer’s wonderful newsletter. I'm Erin Manning - a photographer, educator, and firm believer that creativity thrives when it's shared. My work centers on helping people capture meaningful moments without getting lost in technical complexity. Instead, I like to focus on what really matters: curiosity, simplicity, and the joy of creative exploration.

My camera has taken me from photo studios to cruise ships to live TV sets, but what stays with me most isn't the travel; it's the transformation. There's something magical about seeing someone move from uncertainty to the spark of recognition when they capture an image they're proud of. That moment keeps me teaching.

My creative journey has taken many forms over the years, from authoring photography books, developing educational videos for digital imaging companies, speaking at events, hosting a national TV series, and appearing on major networks. Through brand partnerships and teaching thousands of students, I’ve built my career on a simple mission: to make photography feel accessible and joyful for anyone, with any camera. I always say it’s the wizard, not the wand, that makes the magic, whether you’re shooting with a smartphone or a pro camera, use whatever brings you joy.

Here's a simple creative exercise you can try with your smartphone:

You don’t need complicated gear to make compelling images, just a little curiosity and the willingness to play. Here are three fun, beginner-friendly ways to spark creativity the next time you take a picture:

Try using Pano Mode​
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A panoramic photo (pano) is a long, wide picture that your smartphone creates by blending several frames together as you slowly move the camera. Your iPhone can capture wide panoramic (Pano) photos right from the Camera app. By default, you pan left to right, but you can switch directions anytime by tapping the arrow on screen.

A Panoramic Photo

Open Camera → PANO → tap the shutter → move your phone along the arrow → tap again to stop.

Want to shoot tall scenes instead? Turn the phone and create a vertical Pano by panning up or down. That’s how I captured this beach shot with feet, sand, waves, sky, and sunset all in one frame.

Tip: Start with an interesting anchor point and end with one. A pano feels strongest when it has a beginning and an ending.

Switch to Portrait Mode for Artistic Focus

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Portrait Mode isn’t only for faces, it's perfect for capturing small subjects with interesting details, like this high-heel planter filled with flowers. The shallow depth of field softly blurs the background, helping the bold red shoe and pink blooms pop from the scene.

Just tap on the subject to focus, and let the background melt away for a polished, professional look. And remember, you can fine-tune the blur later in the Photos app to get exactly the effect you want.

Use Framing to Guide the Eye

Framing is a composition technique where you use elements in a scene, archways, trees, windows, railings, even shadows to surround or partially surround your subject. It’s like placing your subject inside a natural frame to guide the viewer’s eye exactly where you want it. Framing adds depth, creates a sense of place, and makes images feel more intentional and compelling. A small shift with a big visual payoff.

Here’s an example: on my visit to the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca this year, a friend photographed me using the framing technique. The arch becomes a built-in picture frame, directing attention to both the subject and the mosque behind. It adds depth and atmosphere, turning a wide-open space into a striking and purposeful composition.

These creative choices have a way of turning casual snapshots into images that feel thoughtful and alive. Try them, you may fall in love with what you see.

If you’d like to learn with me, follow along, or explore upcoming classes, you can find me here: erinmanning.com
linktr.ee/erinmanning.

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We travel onwards! Tomorrow, we are headed to the East Coast of the US to celebrate Christmas, and then it’s back on the Queen Mary 2 for the trip back across the Atlantic. As always, that’s a lovely, elegant, fun, and restful interlude and a superb way to begin 2026.

After that, I’ve got more than a month in Riga, and I am so looking forward to rolling up my sleeves in the Test Kitchen and trying to replicate many of the wonderful dishes I’ve enjoyed on this year’s cruises.

Did you miss the most recent newsletter? Here are links to the three most recent editions.

​🇵🇦 The Eighth Wonder of the World 🇵🇦​

​📚 Books for Travelers | December 7, 2025 📚​

​🇮🇹 Savoring Splendid Sardinia 🇮🇹​

I hope you've enjoyed this edition of the Destination Curation Newsletter. If you'd like to share it with a friend, just forward them this link. Or copy and paste the URL and share it in any way you wish! I deeply appreciate your support for my work! https://jennifereremeeva.com/subscribe/​

I love hearing from you -- let me know how I can help make your travel meaningful. I am rolling out new 8-Hour Guides to popular cruise destinations and love getting suggestions for new ones from this amazing community of readers.
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This will be my last newsletter of 2025: I’m going to unplug next week as best I can and enjoy spending time with friends and family, whom I don’t see nearly enough of, and finishing a busy year with some quiet reflection. But don’t worry! I will be back in your inbox on January 4, 2026, from the middle of the Atlantic Ocean with more books to enjoy, places to discover, and travels to dream about.

Thank you for being part of this newsletter community. I’m so grateful to everyone for your support, interest, and curiosity. I hope that never leaves you!

Happy and Joyful Holidays to All, and a Marvelous New Year!

Safe onward travels!

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