( CNN ) -- With about 150 million active users , the mobile photo-sharing app Instagram has become a popular way for people to document their lives . It lends itself particularly well to travel , when even the most reluctant photographer can be tempted to take a few pictures . The most Instagrammed places in the world last year included an airport , amusement parks and a Las Vegas casino . CNN journalist and avid Instagram user Jethro Mullen has racked up nearly 800,000 followers on the app . Here are his tips for getting the best out of your phone camera when you travel . 1 . Get high . Everything looks better , or at least different , when seen from above . Viewing platforms , sky bars , cable car rides and overhead walkways are great for expansive perspectives . If you 're shooting through a window , get your lens as close to the glass as possible to reduce unwanted light reflections . 2 . Learn from locals . Nobody knows a place better than the people who live there . You can discover photogenic spots in the places you 're going to visit through hashtags , geotags and the feeds of local Instagram users . When I visited Atlanta last year , a photographer I knew through Instagram pointed me in the direction of the colorful staircase you can see in photo no . 2 above . 3 . Be on the look out when you 're on the move . Do n't tune out while in transit . Architecture and human activity at airports and rail stations often provide rich photo opportunities . And the views from planes , trains and automobiles can be compelling . Window seats offer great shots . Flights from southern China to Europe can provide majestic views of mountains on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau , for example . 4 . Get lost . Avoid hopping from landmark to landmark . Some of the most satisfying and memorable pictures from a trip can be those you stumble upon when exploring a less frequented area . Take some wrong turns , wander , see what you find . 5 . Pack some extras . A number of gadgets allow you to get more out of your phone camera . Lens attachments , like the Olloclip , provide fisheye , wide-angle and macro options . Flexible tripods , like the GorillaPod , allow you to set up long-exposure shots using apps like Average Camera Pro and Slow Shutter Cam . Make sure you check any gear you buy is compatible with your make and model of phone . 6 . Use the right apps . Native Instagram filters can undoubtedly jazz up a run-of-the-mill image . But their effects can be heavy , bludgeoning subtler elements of a photo . Editing apps like Snapseed , Afterlight ( both of which I used in photo no . 6 above ) and VSCO Cam allow you to tinker in a gentler manner with brightness , saturation , contrast and other aspects . I edit nearly every Instagram I take using these tools . 7 . Embrace bad weather . Rain can put a dampener on a vacation , but it creates a range of appealing subjects for pictures : puddle reflections , colorful umbrellas , raindrops on windows . What 's more , the sky can be at its most dynamic before and after stormy weather . To optimize puddle shots , turn your phone upside down so the lens is closer to the water 's surface . 8 . Plan your sunrises and sunsets . Think about where you want to be for the often rewarding light conditions at the start and end of the day . Consider how the sunlight is likely to interact with the surroundings , like trees , buildings or water . Apps like Sun Seeker can tell you the sun 's predicted path through the sky . 9 . Look up . In outdoor areas where your surroundings feel cramped or cluttered , try tilting your head back and seeing what lies above . In cities , clusters of skyscrapers or geometrically arranged facades work well . Natural surroundings , like forests of tall trees , can also be eye-catching . Jethro Mullen is the newsdesk editor for CNN Digital in Hong Kong , and a popular Instagrammer .
CNN 's Jethro Mullen gained nearly 800,000 Instagram followers . He shares some tips for improving pics when you travel . Get up high , get lost and use editing tools are just some of his suggestions . Instagram has around 150 million active users .