Just about everyone likes to take cellphone photos nowadays. As the cameras on these devices get smarter and smarter, we are quickly moving beyond selfies, and using these little hand-held gadgets to take some really good pictures.

Virginia State Parks are wonderful places to master your cellphone photography skill, and to share it with others. That is what social media is all about. 

I could not write any further without sharing a couple stunning photographs taken by Bob Diller at Grayson Highlands State Park:

Bob Diller takes amazing cellphone photographs like this one

Grayson Highlands State Park taken on a Samsung Galaxy

Beautiful texture and capture of droplets in this close-up of a caterpillar by Bob Diller

Top Ways to Instagram Virginia State Parks

1 | Step closer. Without much forethought you can snap a great image with a cell phone, just by stepping forward into the picture.

Click here and here for real examples.

2 | Instagram edit. Use the basic Instagram tools to straighten the horizon, crop the image to make the focal point more attractive, or brighten the image. If your camera is set on auto (which most of ours are) then the image can often be too dark or too light. You can adjust this easily in Instagram. You can also change the coloration to add more saturation, or whitewash it, or use one of their filters. 

Click here and here for real examples.

3 | Different angles. Stoop down, use a selfie stick but put the camera down low versus high, all are fun techniques that allow you to test and try different angles for unusual photos. Try taking three different angles from the same spot: one down low, one at eye level and one from above your head with hands extended. You may find one is more appealing to you. Alternatively you can change the angle of the image within Instagram in the editing tools.

Click here and here for real examples.

4 | Keep it simple. Find something you want to take a photo of, and stick to it. A grander approach that tries to capture everything in the same frame will oftentimes just show up as too busy. You'll miss the forest through the trees.

Click here and here for real examples.

5 l Collage. If you take ten of the same scene and don't want to post ten different images, you can always use a collage tool (app) to put a handful of photos together. This is a fun way to make a theme with your photos. 

Click here and here for real examples.

6 | Be inspiring. Whatever you see that catches your eye, that you think someone else might enjoy, or inspire them, then capture it and share it. Individual state parks might also have a hashtag like #douthatstatepark, but if you use the tag #vastateparks we are sure to see it.

Click here and here for real examples.

7 | Be quirky. We all love unusual stuff, we like to see kittens and puppies, but we aren't too shy to admit we also like the quirky stuff on social media.

Click here and here for real examples.

8 | Be Fun. It's okay to be silly and fun. We all need to let our hair down once in a while. It's good to relax and enjoy where we are, and who we are with. That really is the whole essence of going to a Virginia State Park.

Click here and here for real examples.

9 | Most importantly. Make memories. Capture them, share them and save them in your wheelhouse for a later time. Then you can draw strength from them, happy times, good times always make us smile.

Click here and here for real examples.

How cool to see a bunch of different photos of one park by various people

There are many more ways to Instagram a Virginia State Park. My list were just a few of the things I consider when I am outside enjoying a park and want to share some images.

Here is another helpful guide for taking great cellphone photos "Phone Photography 101: How to Take Good Pictures with Your Phone."

If you love photography then you are probably already on Instagram, we invite you to follow us @vastateparks and hashtag us #vastateparks when you visit our parks. We appreciate all the check-ins at the park on Facebook, but don't forget us on Instagram.

If you aren't on Instagram, then spend a couple minutes setting up an account. We would love to see and share your images. When we see photos you hashtag with #vastateparks we like to share them, and we currently have 14.8k followers on Instagram.

No fancy camera equipment necessary

We love seeing your photos on Instagram #vastateparks

Visit our Instagram page to see hundreds of neat photos from Park'rs like you taken over the years.

We look forward to seeing Virginia State Parks through your eyes.