The 7 Instagram Filters Every Traveller Should Know and Love

August 23, 2014 Daniel Sendecki

Instagram is massive. Its community has grown to more than 200m Instagrammers globally, each capturing and sharing their lives every month. And they not only hail from all over the world—they travel it, too. That means there’s a bigger audience than ever to show off your insta-game.

With so many potential eyeballs on your travel photos, choosing filters at random is no longer an option. It’s time to step it up. Knowing which filter to use, and what effect it will create, will go a long way to improving your travel ‘grams.

Here are a few of our tips, showing what filters are best used in a selection of typical travel scenarios—from the streets of Europe to the African savannah. We’ve also provided a few sample images plucked from the G Adventures Instagram feed to show you exactly what effect these filters have and the best places to use them.

Hudson's particularly effective when taking photos of limestone buildings and monuments

Hudson’s particularly effective when taking photos of limestone buildings and monuments

For a European City

Here at G Adventures, we feel Hudson’s the perfect filter for city streets, particularly effective when taking photos of limestone buildings and monuments. The slight tint will ‘cool’ off the image and give a bit of a ‘colder’ look. As useful in London and Paris as it is in Lisbon and Barcelona.

Sierra's the perfect Instagram filter for fading back the Serengeti.

Sierra’s the perfect Instagram filter for fading back the Serengeti.

A Safari

Sierra’s the perfect Instagram filter for fading back the Serengeti and making the African landscape appear softer — allowing for your ‘subjects’ to really pop (be it lion, elephant or any of Africa’s ‘Big 5′). Used on a landscape by itself, it’ll make shots appear calm and soothing.

Make your rainforest shots a little more 'dramatic' with Sutro.

Make your rainforest shots a little more ‘dramatic’ with Sutro.

A Rainforest

Instagram’s Sutro will ‘smoke’ your image — with particularly emphasis on purple and brown highlights to achieve its effect. Make your rainforest shots a little more ‘dramatic’ with this filter — and provide a break from all the ‘greens’.

Toaster's all-round perfect for 'warm' shots.

Toaster’s all-round perfect for ‘warm’ shots.

A Sunset and The Beach

Toaster will burn out the centre of your image, ‘aging’ it a bit. It’s all-round perfect for ‘warm’ shots, sunsets, beaches, et al.

On a boat? Brannan's your buddy!

On a boat? Brannan’s your buddy!

Cruising

On a boat? Brannan’s your buddy! This filter will give you a ‘greyish’ tint that darkens images—perfect for making your ‘surf’ a little more ‘metallic’ (read dramatic). It’s ideal to reduce the glare of breaking surf — and when your image has strong shadows.

Hefe will make hills, valleys and peaks much more bold.

Hefe will make hills, valleys and peaks much more bold.

Mountains

Hefe will make hills, valleys and peaks much more bold and colourful because it ups the contrast and intensifies colours (perfect when flora and fauna is as prominent as rock and stone).

Inkwell's cool when you're in the deep deep south!

Inkwell’s cool when you’re in the deep, deep south!

Antarctica

Inkwell’s cool when you’re in the deep, deep south! Because there’s no complex shades to distract one’s eye, this filter increases contrast naturally. Its monotones work together to create a subtle dramatic look.

Conclusion

The best way to understand filters is to break each one down to its parts—and spend some time with them. Soon, you’ll have mastered Inkwell, high-fived Hudson and kicked Sutro’s butt—and will soon be standing out among that ever-growing community of ‘grammers. And remember—wherever they go, G Adventures travellers have captured vivid travel experiences — and are sharing them on Instagram with the #gadventures tag!


Getting There

Want to up your insta-game while on the road? G Adventures runs a number of departures encompassing a wide range of departure dates and activities to cater for different tastes. We’re thrilled at the prospect of showing you this big blue planet of ours — check out our small group trips here.

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