One page, one giant list of discounted airfares. This is why we like the JetBlue website, it's easy and full of ideas.

Attack, Attack, Attack.)

That’s the mantra JetBlue has taken now that nearly every other airline has started offering tickets at super discounted prices.

For travelers, that means discounts for you. Just go here and check out JetBlue’s Giant Wall of Savings.

There are tickets from Long Beach to San Francisco for $49, Portland to Long Beach for $59, New York City to Barbados for $99.

You have to book the tickets by July 30 and fly between September 7 and December 15.

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However, the Internet has proven otherwise — not everyone is an expert — by a long shot.

So Olympus, through one of its professional photographers Jay Kinghorn, offers up three easy to follow tips on taking better pictures.

Tip No. 1: Move closer.

Kinghorn quotes war photographer Robert Capa, “If your pictures aren’t good enough. You aren’t close enough.”

Indeed, moving closer will give you a better image. Take a look at these examples from our own travels.

Here's a boring shot we took at the Floating Market in Amsterdam.

Here's a much more interesting picture of one thing for sale at the market.

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Just zooming in and taking another step closer help transform a boring goods shot into something that is simply more interesting.

Rule No. 2:

The Rule of Three: Move the subject out of the center of the frame. Kinghorn suggests dividing your frame into thirds and move the subject off to one side. This creates a new tension in the picture and makes it more interesting. The composition then becomes inspiring and fun. It’s also just a better picture.

You can say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but a good picture just feels right and using the rule of three makes things more balanced.

Check out this example from Olympus:

The final rule is pretty easy to remember too:

No. 3: Tell a Story.

A close up of your friend at a bar may be something personal and interesting to you, but really, no one else cares as much about it unless there’s a story to go along with it. Sometimes this story may include scale or other interesting details.

Here are two examples we’re offering from a recent 4×4 trip:

This picture says nothing. The Jeep is crossing some rocks that may or may not be difficult. Yawn.

This picture is a little more interesting, there's depth and a sense of of how hard it might be to cross these rocks.

Now we have a story. This is some hard work. Additionally, there's a sense of a story, the tire in focus is at the 1/3 in the frame and despite it being a still, there's a sense of action.

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It doesn’t take much to get a good photo, other than thinking about it before you shoot.

Ask yourself – what story do I want to tell? What are the elements that need to be in the frame, what doesn’t need to be in the photo.

Finding the best picture is more than a matter of shooting a lot of photos, it’s about thinking about it before you shoot and seeing what you want to capture.

Yes, there are great photos that break all of these rules and professionals like Kinghorn know how to capture all of those images. But travelers like us, people who hope to grab a great pic while half drunk sitting on a bar stool need to think a little more about it.

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Oh wait, hurricanes are a seasonal event — which is why many people, like meteorologists, refer to the time frame from June 1 to November 1 as Hurricane Seasons. We even have a National Hurricane Center, created to cover these natural phenomenon.

But every year around this time, as tropical depressions become hurricanes there’s almost a surprise. So imagine our surprise this morning when we learned that, gasp, there are some growing systems in the Caribbean that might bring some rough weather to Mexico, Cuba and other Caribbean islands.

Now, media reports are acting slightly surprised that these systems might become stormy weather in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean have a 40 percent chance of becoming hurricanes. Sheesh, it happens every year, and some annual events should come as a surprise.

For those traveling to places like Cancun, Mexico City and Cuba, these big storms could rain on your holiday — but that’s also one of the reasons there are so many special offers during this time frame. It’s because there is almost always a chance of showers and strong winds.

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Reporter Sarah Pascarella took a stab at all of those pay for a discount cards and found out — most of them are not nearly as good of a deal as you might think.

The City Passes Pascarella looked into — in New York, Chicago and San Francisco may have had a big face value savings of up to $58 but does it really do that much for you? Well, first of all — and we could have told you this — you only save that much if you get all of those discounts at every place it offers a discount.

Pascarella was too polite to say “no one wants to spend a long weekend just going to tourist spots in a new city” but the truth is, nobody does.

A trip to Chicago that spends too much time at the Field Museum, the John Hancock Observatory and the Museum of Science and Industry is not a trip worth taking. A little culture is nice, but exhibit after exhibit is pretty boring. You’ll probably save more money during happy hour on Rush Street.

The investigation didn’t end there, though — as she dug into AAA hotel discounts and AARP travel discounts. Both didn’t offer much of a discount over what you can find by other discounts that don’t require you fork out some cash and collect a little plastic car. Then again, if you have a beater of a vehicle, the AAA card might come in handy if it stops running and the AARP includes that nifty monthly publication.

Pascarella looked into a few more discount programs, mostly surmising that, if it sounds too good to be true, well, you know how that goes and while there is some savings, you should always figure out how much you’re going to actually use the program before spending your money to join it.

No one should go broke saving money.

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The US State Department wants to remind you that if you need to get a passport or want it renewed, it’s going to cost you more after July 13 — when it raises the $100 fee to $135.

In fact, the State Department is raising fees for just about every service it does from passport cards to illegal and unwarranted wire tapping. (These fees are charged separately.)

For a complete list of new and additional charges, click here to read the US State Department announcement.

Our favorite charge on the list is the $415 charge for the State Department to provide a seal and certification for something or another. It used to cost $70.

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Helpful Hipster hints on surviving your first dude ranch trip.

• Invest in your own pair of boots before you go, even if you’ve never ridden before and may not plan on riding again. Most of the ranches will loan out boots, but usually they don’t fit properly and I got that “not-so-fresh” bowling shoe feeling when I wore them. Boots canrange in price from $40 to hundreds of dollars.
• Bring oversized, comfortable, worn-in jeans for riding. Mounting and dismounting a horse requires flexibility, so leave the matchstick jeans at home.
• Dude ranches are used to hosting first-time riders. You will not be singled out or ridiculed, nor will you be their first. If anything, dude ranches are the most ideal place to learn because you are immersed in riding instruction and hands-on experience from skilled wranglers. I actually received more attention and guidance because I was a new rider.
• Pack more cotton socks (tall enough to reach mid-shin level) and light-colored shirts that wick sweat than you think you’ll need. Some ranches have laundry facilities but most don’t, and by the end of a long day of riding, the last thing you want to do is laundry.
• Load pocket-sized snacks like PowerBars or granola bars in your suitcase for in-between meals. The ranches will feed you well for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but I found myself hungry later at night and during longer rides.
• If you’re visiting a ranch at altitude (mine was at 9,000 feet), it will take a day or two to acclimate. Expect to feel dizzy and winded, even after walking up stairs. Drink more water than you can possibly stand and take Advil even if you don’t think you need it. Some people took Bonine, an anti-nausea travel tablet that doesn’t make you as drowsy as Benadryl.
• About to fall off your horse? As much as possible, roll with the fall. Easier said than done, but I witnessed a guy get thrown from his horse and as he was falling, he kept his body limp instead of locked. He dusted himself off and got back on.
• Invest in a durable, packable rain jacket with hood (Patagonia, The North Face).
• Ladies, leave the open-toed sandals at home. When you’re not wearing your boots, you’ll be walking around in dirt, dust and mud. Wear something with a tread: sneakers, or toe-covered sandals like Keen or Tevas.
• If you’re riding nose-to-tail on a trail, you will see an up-close-and-personal view of a horse’s ass and what comes out of it. Consider yourself warned.
• If you prefer caviar, pool-side drinks with mini umbrellas, and don’t want your manicure ruined, skip the dude ranch experience. You get dirty and sore and there’s no such thing as room service.
• Bring a bathing suit. Most ranches have pools and hot tubs.

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This particular delay — which the result of bad weather, an under worked customs office and a few other coincidences resulted in the flight from London being diverted from Newark International Airport to Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks (near Hartford), according to media reports.

While the plane landed at 8:20 p.m., the airport did not have any customs officers available and wouldn’t let the plane drive up to a gate — so people just sat there, and sat there and sat there. Three different people had to be taken away in ambulances, according to reports.

So what do you do if you’re stuck on a flight indefinitely.

1. Stay calm: There is going to be plenty of shrill people on the flight, pissing and moaning and whining at the top of their lungs. This does little good. You’re stuck, your rights are not being violated, the world is not going to end, so take it like an adult.

2. Stay dark: When the plane turns off its engines, the A/C is going to be turned off. Keep your window closed and your mouth shut because that little tube is about to become a smelly sauna.

3. Music: These unexpected delays should serve as a reminder to always keep your iPhone charged as much as possible. Having the ability to listen to a favorite band instead of that woman behind you.

4. Sky Mall: If all else fails, check out the offerings at the Sky Mall — you never know, maybe you really do need the planter that also serves as a little box or that mini spy camera pen.

5. Toilet: If someone makes an announcement that the unexpected delay has occurred, ask nicely if you can use the bathroom. Especially after a long flight, there’s not going to be much room left in the tank — and when it fills up, people are going to know about it. It’s better to be the last person to use it than the first not allowed.

6. Speak quietly: There’s going to be enough shouting on this flight as time goes on. A quiet demeanor may get you what you want as well as keep those around you level headed.

7. Take your shoes off: You’re not going anywhere, why act like you are.

8. Hydrate: If there is water on the plane and someone offers you some, drink it in small sips. The water will make you feel better, help hydrate and improve your state of mind. (And another reason to bring a bottle of water with you on the plane.)

9. Sleep: If you can, close your eyes and catch some shut eye. Your computer battery is dead, your phone doesn’t work and you’re stuck. Make the most of it.

10 Phone calls: Be judicious on who you call and what you say. First of all, it’s just rude to call someone, shout into your phone about how horrible things are. People sitting around you already know the situation. Feigning outrage to some friend no one else knows is just bad form.

Really, it’s an awful thing to be stuck somewhere with no real light at the end of the runway. But it happens. You’re welcome to bitch up a storm once you get off the plane. But raising holy hell on the plane may release some stress, but it doesn’t do much good.

Make the most of the delay — and let’s be honest. While you might like to think this is not true, but really, how important are you that disappearing for a few hours is really going to have any kind of impact.

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Seaney says it takes a “really big data base” which he put to work to analyze all of the different travel deals, flight restrictions and other factors to figure out the cheapest flying day. Turns out, it’s Hump Day — Wednesday, the middle of the week — which makes perfect sense to us.

Here’s why: No one else is flying on Wednesday. Have you ever been in an airport on a

Load 'em up on Hump Day -- the cheapest day to fly

Wednesday? TSA agents call you by your first name and the line at Starbucks is one person — and that person is works in the book store and is just flirting with the cute guy with ear gauges and a green apron. Of course, the reason no one flies on Wednesday is most people have jobs and on Wednesday are busy updating their Facebook page.

Seaney applies a little more logic than our home spun theories. The three cheapest days to fly are Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday, but Wednesday is the cheapest due to the number of seats (more) and the routes the planes must fly. At the end of Wednesday, the planes have to be in the prime locations, where more people will need them on Thursday and Friday — the busy/expensive days.

What’s all of this number crunching by FareCompare.com mean? You now need to take five day weekends instead of four — or perhaps you should try to stretch your vacation by sneaking out of work a little early on Wednesday and flying in the late afternoon.

Also, while many people would prefer to come back on Sunday, we might suggest flying back Saturday. It might save you a few dollars and it gives you a respite before heading back into work. After long getaways, we’ve found that extra time back home has been a welcome relief, coming in late Saturday, sleeping in our own bed and then lounging about on a lazy Sunday, letting the travel bug wind down gently.

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But now we’ve got proof: Scott Burgess, the editor of HTG has made another appearance. He’s a guest on FareCompare.com‘s 4×4 offering all kinds of tips and advice on quick getaways.

Check him out here.

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And the recent announcement by Evil Spirits Airlines to begin charging people for

Want to know what you're taking? Fold it up and lay it out, all of it, then decide what you need, before you stuff it into your bag.

using the overhead baggage bins (up to $45) has made everyone rethinking their packing skills.

If you need proof, the next time you’re on a plane just look at all of the junk your fellow passengers are lugging around. It’s a phenomenon I’ve never understood. If you’re trying to get away, to see some place new, why are you bringing all of your stuff with you? It’s only slowing you down, literally.

After years of travelling, I can honestly say I could leave my house today with a fresh pair of socks and a second set of boxers and be gone for as long as the journey allows me. My packing list for a seven month trip to Israel, Egypt, Greece and Turkey – and I didn’t know where exactly I was going when I left – amounted to the following (some of which I was wearing):

2 pairs of trousers; 2 button down shirts (one long sleeve, one short sleeve); 3 T-shirts; 1 pair swimming trunks; 1 pair hiking shorts; 1 pair sandals ; 1 pair of boots; 1 light jacket; 3 pairs of socks; 3 pairs of boxers; 1 wool hat; 1 lightweight sleeping bag; 1 guidebook to Israel; basic toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, deodorant, plasters, small sewing kit); Ziplock bags; flashlight; pocket knife (with corkscrew); 20-foot length of rope; and a camera.

If I’d wanted to, I could have cut that list down even more. But I’m not a minimalist, I’m just lazy. So anything I can do to lighten my load, I do.

A small handy bag is always more useful because it limits what you can bring before you pack the first item.

There is nothing other than medication which keeps you from dying that is really necessary.

Over-packing is a disease caused by people over-worrying. When you’re going to new places and only meeting strangers, you don’t need to impress them with all of your outfits. Most strangers will never remember what you wore – honestly, they probably won’t remember you at all.

My tips for packing start before you even pull your bag out:

1. Know where you’re going: Take a look online at the weather forecast for your destination. If rain is likely, an umbrella or rain gear might be necessary. Look at the temperature highs and lows and then add / deduct five degrees to that, meaning you’ll have something to keep you comfortable no matter what happens. Look for things you don’t need, instead of what you do.
2. Pack the right bag: People will fill whatever bag they have in front of them. If the bag is smaller, they will pack less, so don’t take a steamer trunk when you’re going away for the weekend.
3. Write a list: It takes two minutes to think through your trip – even one without an itinerary – and to conjure up everything you want to take with you. Think through the activities you’re likely to do. A fancy dinner? Beach lounging? Coffee shop smoking? Take the right clothes, and see if some items might be able to serve more than one purpose.
4. Plan on buying stuff: Cash and credit cards are much lighter than shirts, shoes or anything else. You can shed pounds in your bag if you’re planning to buy a few things on your journey. Additionally, those purchases will stay with you when you return – a friendly reminder of your time abroad.
5. View everything: Pull out everything that you want to pack and put it on your bed. If the pile is too big, then ask yourself: “Do I need this?” If you have to really think about it, you probably don’t. Also, include the clothes you’re going to wear to the airport – and make those your heaviest items.
6. Be decisive: Just make up your mind, and never pack two things because you couldn’t choose between them. If you ever arrive home with clean clothes, you over-packed. Don’t let that happen again.

Paring back your packing list will lighten your load – and just in case something happens and you end up lugging your bag around for a few hours, you’ll be grateful for everything you didn’t bring.

Editor’s Note: Hipster Travel Guide first published this piece at Cheapflights.co.uk.

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