How to take great summer photos

At the beach
By Rajveer Johal 
Johal splits her time between France and Italy, and her native Australia. She loves busy beach images, preferring the reality of "crowds and beach towels to get a playful shot".

RJ: My beach photographs aim to evoke the thrill of summer beside the seaside. To capture action keep looking around; ensure your camera is ready to shoot – and remember to ask permission before publishing photos that feature other people when possible.

RJ: I love Positano! Frame your shot to capture vibrant colours. Whether it's beach towels, umbrellas or the buildings/landscape, take advantage of the colours on offer. Take the photograph along the beach or back in towards the shore.

RJ: When searching for a backdrop look for something that gives a sense of where you are – and ensure the colours compliment your outfit!

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In the city by Sezgi Olgac

Olgac is a Turkish photographer based in Istanbul. She joined Instagram when it launched in 2010, has taken photos every day since and now has 158,000 followers. Three years ago Olgac became a professional photographer, specialising in creating social media content. She says: “Cities are like my playground – and they are best in summer when days are longer, the sky is blue and the trees are in bloom.”

SO: Noon is a time most photographers avoid … but you can take advantage of it. Observe the light and focus on the shadows around you. Cities are not just concrete walls and grey skylines. Keep your eyes open for colourful walls, houses or shop fronts that might create excellent backdrops. Mexico City, where I took the shot above, is filled with bright pinks, yellows and blues.

A post shared by Sezgi Olgaç (@sezgiolgac) on

SO: Adding foreground detail – such as flowers or trees – can help create a unique image. Get closer to the flowers or trees to frame your photo as I did in this shot on Kastellorizo in Greece, less than a mile from the Turkish coast.

On the road
By Jillian Mann and Kyla Trethewey
In 2013, best friends Jill and Kyla sold everything and set off on a road trip. They are still going, living out of their restored vintage trailer in the US, and beyond. Currently, they are melting in the Texas heat. Their ourwildabandon.com blog and Instagram account, which has 133,000 followers, document their life "on the run".

At sunset By Darin Tang

Tang is a Los Angeles-based photographer who enjoys shooting at the beach. His popular Instagram feed has 71,300 followers and perfectly captures balmy Californian evenings by the sea.

DT: My favourite time of day to shoot shadows is right before the sun sets. Here, the players' long shadows made a perfect path that leads the eye to the action and also meets the setting sun. If you include people in your photos, and are close up to them, ensure you ask for their permission.

DT: This classic surfer shot was taken at Venice Beach. Lighting is the most important thing to consider when taking a reflection photo. Here, I positioned my camera down low, allowing me to capture the full reflection of the scene.

– Guardian Service 2017