1. Choose The Perfect Background For Brilliant Street Photography

Do you want to take amazing street photographs? The first step is to find the perfect background.

In street photography, a great background is essential. A great background provides an exciting setting for your photo. It also helps the subject stand out.

What does the perfect street photography background look like?

The perfect street photography background is straightforward and uncluttered. It prevents the viewer from becoming confused or distracted.

Therefore, find a location with a simple background. You want to isolate your main subject. You want them to stand out. In the photo below, the person is framed by an uncluttered backdrop. Nothing distracts. Nothing takes away from the subject.

Also, consider how date and time affect the background. For instance, early mornings before rush hour are often ideal. Empty streets make for great backgrounds.

Therefore, if you’re looking to do amazing mobile street photography, start by finding a great background. It’s a quick way of ensuring your street photos become far stronger.

2. Photograph Strangers For More Compelling iPhone Street Photography

The best street photography has a compelling subject. What are the most compelling subjects?

In street photography, the most compelling subjects are strangers.

Strangers act naturally. Their actions tell stories. While you can use models for street photography, I don’t recommend it. Compelling street photography storytelling requires openness and diversity.

Plus, compelling street photography is all about capturing unique moments. You want to photograph people going about their daily lives.

Therefore, you need to photograph strangers.

However, photographing strangers can be tough for a beginner. It often causes anxiety. After all, you’re taking pictures of people you’ve never met. What if they get angry?

Fortunately, your iPhone is the perfect tool for unobtrusive street photos. The iPhone is small and barely noticeable. Plus, you can always pretend you’re using the iPhone for something else—when you’re actually snapping photos!

Here’s another street photography tip: You can take photos with the volume buttons on your iPhone! Just press the Volume Up or Volume Down button while on the camera screen. Your iPhone will snap a picture!

Here’s an even better tip for discreet photos: You can take pictures using the volume controls on your Apple headphones. Make sure your headphones are plugged in. Then press the Volume Up or Volume Down button. Your iPhone will immediately take a shot.

Both of these techniques are fantastic for getting great street shots without people noticing.

Another technique is to blend in with your surroundings.

Don’t stand in the middle of the road with your iPhone held out. Instead, stand against walls or sit on benches.

If you want to nab incredible street photographs, you have to photograph strangers. Your iPhone is the perfect tool for this task. It will allow you to photograph unobtrusively. You’ll blend right in, and nobody will notice that you’re taking amazing photos.

Thus, from now on, photograph strangers.

3. Use Burst Mode For Fantastic Shots Of Moving Subjects

Do you want to photograph moving subjects? A lot of the best mobile street photography is of people moving: walking, running, or skateboarding.

However, capturing shots of moving subjects can be difficult.

For one thing, it’s easy to capture a moving subject in a bad pose—when they’re overlapping with another person, for instance.

How do you deal with these issues?

You use burst mode.

Burst mode is an iPhone camera feature that allows you to take about a dozen frames per second. Therefore, burst mode ensures that you capture the perfect moment.

How do you activate burst mode?

It’s simple! To activate burst mode, hold down the shutter button. Your iPhone will immediately take a series of shots. Once the moment has passed, let go of the shutter button. Your iPhone will stop taking photos.

You can then choose the best photos from the sequence. To do this, find your Burst of photos in the Photos app. Tap Select. Then scroll through and find the images you like. When you’re finished, tap Done. Your selected images will be saved. The rest will be deleted.

If you want to capture incredible photos of moving subjects, use burst mode. Your keeper rate will shoot right up!

4. Use The Telephoto Lens To Get Close To Your Subject

In iPhone street photography, it’s often tough to fill the entire frame with your subject. If you want those in-your-face shots, you have to get close—sometimes uncomfortably close.

Is there a way around this?

If you have the iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XS, or iPhone XS Max, then yes!

All of these iPhones have a telephoto lens in addition to the standard wide-angle lens. A telephoto lens magnifies the subject. It allows you to get more powerful, full-frame images of strangers.

How do you switch to the telephoto lens?

Fortunately, it’s quite easy. All you have to do is tap the 1x icon at the bottom of the camera screen. This will immediately activate the telephoto lens. The 1x icon will switch to 2x.

When you’re done using the telephoto lens, tap the 2x icon. This will reactivate the wide-angle lens.

Therefore, if you want to get those compelling, in-your-face shots, use your telephoto lens! You won’t regret it.

5. Photograph Architecture For Unique Urban Street Photography

Street photography isn’t all about photographing people. If you want to shoot more unique urban street photography, then photograph architecture!

Towns and cities are full of great architecture. Yet how do you photograph it?

First, find an interesting building. Try capturing it from the outside. You might also focus on part of the building to create a more abstract shot.

Then photograph the building from the inside. Try out different angles to create unique compositions or symmetry. For the shot below, I pointed my iPhone straight up. This resulted in a very unique image.

If you want more unique street photos, then try photographing architecture! It’s a lot of fun, and this type of urban street photography will really expand your portfolio.

6. Look Down For A Creative Street Photo

Do you want to create a street photo that stuns the viewer? Do you want to capture an image that is beautifully disorienting? Then make sure you look down!

What do I mean by this? I mean that you should pay attention to what’s beneath you. Look down at the ground!

The ground offers all sorts of interesting photo opportunities. For instance, cracks in the pavement can make for wonderful abstracts. Discarded objects can be interesting subjects, as well.

Pay attention to puddles and shiny metal.  You can often capture stunning reflections in these surfaces. For a more intriguing approach, try flipping your image upside down in post-processing. I did this for the image below.

Alternatively, shoot from up high to get a bird’s-eye view of the scene. Try standing on a bridge or a balcony and shooting straight down on a busy street scene.

Stairwells also make great locations for this kind of shot. Try to be creative when shooting stairwell photos. For instance, a person makes for a great focal point!

If you want to shoot more creative street photography, look down! You’ll be surprised by the wonderful world that awaits.

7. Get Close To Capture Magical Macro Scenes

Street photography isn’t all about capturing vast street scenes. Great street photographers often capture close-ups.

Try getting up close to your subject. Capture the small details.

For instance, why not take a close-up shot of peeling paint on an old building? Why not photograph the umbrella of a person walking in the rain?

You can even use props of your own. Just place them in your street scene, then shoot!

For instance, I added my watch to the scene below. You can still make out famous landmarks in the distance. However, the close-up of the watch adds beautiful detail to the scene.

Another interesting technique you can try out is to capture a close-up of raindrops on a shiny surface. In the shot below, I managed to get a close-up of raindrops—with a building reflected through them!

If you want to capture more unique, magical scenes, then try some close-up street photography. You’ll be amazed by what you can find!

8. Shoot During The Golden Hours For Amazing Light

If you want to capture incredible street photographs, you need to shoot in the best light. Great light can make a huge difference in your photography.

In fact, among a group of street photography tips, this one stands out.

How do you find the best light?

A failsafe way to find the best light is to shoot during the golden hours. The golden hours are the hour or two just after sunrise and just before sunset.

These are the times when the light is soft and golden—hence the term, “Golden hours.” The golden hours result in incredible photographic opportunities. Such beautiful light casts a wonderful glow over the streets—and makes for amazing photography.

The golden hours are also the perfect time for capturing stunning silhouettes. Point your iPhone toward the sun, find a nice composition, and shoot!

If you want to capture amazing street photos, shoot during the golden hours. They’re one of the best times to do street photography.

Another great time to do street photography is covered in the next tip!

9. Shoot In Harsh Light For Dramatic Street Photos

The golden hours are a great time for street photography. However, are there any other times that you can shoot?

As it turns out, yes. You can capture amazing street photographs at other times of the day. One of the best times to do street photography is during midday.

Why is midday so great? It’s during midday that the sunlight is harsh. The sun beats down on your subjects from above. This results in very dark shadows. It also results in dramatic, contrast-heavy images. For instance, the photo below was taken during the middle of the day:

Midday light adds drama and mystery to your photos. During midday, look for locations that have bright areas and dark shadows. Buildings are great for casting large shadows over a scene.

If you want to capture dramatic street photos, go out during the middle of the day. Look for lots of light and shadow—and then start snapping away.

Street photography shadows are a really great way to take your images to the next level!

10. Venture Out In Bad Weather For Atmospheric Photos

If you’re looking to capture extremely dramatic, atmospheric images, then shoot during bad weather.

Rain, snow, and fog make for unbelievable street photos.

For one thing, rainy days result in a great prop: umbrellas! Umbrellas add a lovely splash of color to your images.

Water droplets, reflections, and textures on wet roads are also great additions to your images.

One of my favorite techniques is to take advantage of little water droplet formations on windows. You can find these at bus stops or coffee shops on a rainy day. Shooting strangers through the droplets can lead to incredible abstract street photos.

Fog is great for isolating your subject. It provides a simple, white backdrop for your photos. Plus, you can create powerful images by photographing tall buildings that disappear into the fog.

Finally, snow creates a beautiful environment for street photography. Snow adds a lovely sense of atmosphere to the scene.

So wrap up warm and venture out into the city in bad weather. I guarantee you’ll find some great street scenes to capture with your iPhone!

The post 10 Tips For Unbelievable iPhone Street Photography appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Be Discreet

Try to go unnoticed as much as possible when shooting street photography. In most cases, if your subject is aware that you’re taking their photo, they’ll change their behavior and the story you wanted to tell will be gone.

Being discreet allows you to capture people being their natural selves within a city environment.

Luckily, the small size of the iPhone makes it easy to be stealthy while attempting to take a photo. But there are certain ways to make sure you go unnoticed.

One technique is to photograph your subjects from behind so that they don’t see you. This also allows you to preserve the anonymity of the people you’re photographing.

Rather than standing in the middle of the street taking photos, hide away in the shadows or sit down on a bench.

Keep your iPhone close to your body rather than shooting with your arms out in front of you. Holding the phone in vertical orientation will make it less obvious that you’re taking photos.

Another way of shooting without drawing attention to yourself is to pretend you’re listening to music with your earphones plugged in while holding your phone.

The volume button on the headphones can be used as a shutter release so that you don’t have to tap the screen to take a photo.

2. Watch For Interactions Between People

Photographing interactions between people on the street is a great way to tell interesting stories that will capture the viewer’s imagination.

Look out for people having conversations, meeting and greeting each other, holding hands, or interacting in some other way.

It’s easy to catch people having conversations in the morning before work, on a lunch break in front of office buildings, and at recreational spaces like parks.

These interactions will get the viewer’s mind going, making them intrigued about what the people were talking about or why they were meeting.

Some of these interactions may be very brief, so be sure to use burst mode to capture moments like people hailing a cab or shaking hands as they meet.

To activate burst mode, simply hold down the shutter button in the camera app to fire off a series of shots in quick succession.

The most powerful aspect of storytelling is that a viewer may relate to the photo in many different ways other than the intended caption.

So remember that your job is to capture a moment in a photo, but the viewer gets to interpret it in their own way.

3. Isolate The Subject

A typical street scene is often busy, so it’s really hard to focus on a subject when the rest of the scene is distracting.

Isolating your subject from their busing surroundings will create a stronger subject and give an overall powerful visual impact to the story.

A great strategy is to find a good location like a wall or building facade, and then patiently wait for someone to appear in the frame.

Try to capture them in a position where they’ll be most visible. For example, if they’re wearing dark clothing, capture them against a bright part of the background, and vice versa.

Another option is to get to a high vantage point and shoot down at the ground in order to capture a subject without any of their distracting surroundings.

Generally, periods before rush hour or on weekends in certain parts of the city might be less busy, making it easier to isolate the subject from their surroundings.

Try to get an idea of when your city is less busy so that you can go out to shoot at these times.

Even at busy times of the day, it’s possible to isolate subjects during small windows of opportunity, such as when people are crossing the road.

Another great way of isolating subjects in a busy scene is to take advantage of lighting. In certain instances, harsh sunlight can cast dark shadows which can often hide other people who are walking within the frame.

Even if they’re visible in the original capture, a bit of photo editing can easily eliminate the distracting figures within the dark shadows of the scene.

4. Capture Facial Expressions & Emotions

Capturing the facial expressions, body language and emotions of your subjects will go a long way towards helping you tell a particular story in your street photography.

For example, is your subject happy, excited, sad, angry, frustrated, bored, etc?

To capture facial expressions you need to get quite close to the subject. This can be difficult to do in candid street photography as you have to maintain a balance between being discreet and keeping a good distance.

Try to capture your subject just as they walk past you, or when you’re sitting on public transport for the best chance of getting a close-up shot.

Alternatively, if you meet a stranger on the street and start up a conversation with them, they might agree to pose for you if you ask politely.

Another non-candid way is to simply stage a shoot with a friend on the streets. In the photo above, there’s enough body language to bring this photo to life.

5. Capture The Daily Commute

People are constantly on the go in street photography. You’ll often find people walking, running, sitting, cycling, or waiting as part of their daily commute.

There’s a lot of action to be photographed, especially when people are crossing the streets.

You’ll often find people on their phone or listening to music while they’re walking. Watch for interesting body language, interactions and moments, and be ready to capture them with your iPhone.

Use burst mode to fire off a series of shots in order to get at least one photo with the subject in the perfect position and stride. You can easily delete the other unwanted photos after.

Make sure you hold down the shutter button to activate burst mode just as the subject enters the frame, and don’t stop shooting until they’ve gone.

Another great place to capture the daily commute is on the subway – both on the platforms and on the trains.

Here you’ll capture all sorts of interesting moments and interactions. I especially like to photograph the energy and atmosphere of street performers in these locations.

6. Take Photos At Events

Be on the lookout for interesting events happening in the community. Protests, sporting events, marathons, parades and carnivals are perfect opportunities to capture incredible storytelling moments.

Each event will have a different atmospheric feeling that you can capture in your photos to tell a particular story.

For example, at a protest you may capture sadness, frustration or anger. At a holiday parade you’ll capture a different type of energy amongst the crowd.

Sporting events are another great place to photograph crowds of people and emotional moments.

In the photo above, even though it’s a busy scene, the crowd adds an extra storytelling element to the image.

7. Venture Out In Bad Weather

Rain and snow provide great opportunities to capture the atmosphere of the city and tell a profound story, especially when there are people in the frame.

Look out for umbrellas as their bold colors and geometric shapes will add a strong focal point to your composition.

On rainy and snowy days, couples often tend to huddle together under umbrellas. Capturing these moments can add a romantic and atmospheric feeling to your photos.

Watch how people act differently in bad weather, for example, rushing to get out of the rain or having fun in the snow with friends.

Capture these moments to tell a story of the weather in the city on that particular day.

On a rainy day I love to shoot through raindrop-covered windows at bus stops and coffee shops.

This adds wonderful visual interest to your photo and really conveys what the weather was like.

8. Capture Silhouettes & Shadows

Part of storytelling in photography includes creating a cinematic atmosphere.

Silhouettes and shadows are perfect because they add a sense of mystery and drama to your photos.

They make the viewer more intrigued about what’s hiding in the darkness. Anything that intrigues the viewer and makes them ask questions will make your story more powerful.

Using shadows to create negative (empty) space in a scene adds an intense atmosphere where the viewer becomes aware of the depth and scale of the surrounding area.

To create silhouettes and shadows you need a strong light sources such as harsh sunlight.

Look out for interesting shadows cast by the architectural elements around you, then capture a person as they walk into the illuminated part of the scene.

During the golden hours of sunrise and sunset when the sun is low in the sky, you’ll be able to capture wonderful long shadows.

To create a silhouette, the light source must be behind the subject. After tapping to set focus, swipe down on the screen to reduce the exposure until the subject appears as a dark outline against the brighter background.

Conclusion

Storytelling is all about living in the moment and being quick enough to capture the interactions and emotions of your subjects. It also requires you to be patient, waiting for just the right moment that will tell an interesting story.

To capture people in their most natural state, try to be discreet. Once they become aware that you’re taking their photo, the moment you wanted to capture will probably be lost.

Remember that light and weather will have a big impact on the atmosphere of your photos. So make use of shadows, silhouettes and bad weather conditions to add drama and mystery to your images.

The post How To Tell Compelling Street Photography Stories With Your iPhone appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Keep Steady For Sharp iPhone Photos

If you move your iPhone at all when taking a photo, your image can appear blurred due to camera shake.

This is especially common in low light conditions when the camera needs to use a slower shutter speed to allow enough light in to create a decent exposure.

If you’re getting camera shake resulting in blurry photos, you’ll need to steady your iPhone somehow.

If you have an iPhone tripod and iPhone tripod mount, be sure to use them. Otherwise you can improvise by placing your phone on a solid surface such as a wall or railing.

When you’re using a tripod, it’s a good idea to use a remote shutter to trigger the shutter button so that you don’t have to touch the iPhone at all.

You can use a remote bluetooth shutter release like the Muku Shuttr, or just plug in your Apple earbuds and use the volume buttons to fire the shutter.

Another reason for blurry images might be because the HDR photo mode is on in the iPhone camera app. The HDR setting takes three quick shots at different exposures and then combines them together to create a single well-exposed image.

But if you move the camera while the different shots are being taken, the resulting image can appear blurred. So if you’re shooting in low light with HDR on, it’s best to use a tripod.

2. Set Your Focus Point

Getting your main subject in sharp focus is essential. While your iPhone’s camera does have a good autofocus feature, I would recommend that you always set the focus point manually to ensure you’re focusing on just the right part of the scene.

For example, in a portrait photo you’d normally set the focus point on the face of the person. In the photo below, the watch is the focal point so that’s where set my focus.

To set your focus point, simply tap your main subject on the screen in the camera app. A yellow box will appear around the area where the focus has been set.

Setting the focus manually is especially important in close-up shots. The closer the subject is to the camera’s lens, the shallower the depth of field will be.

A shallow depth of field means that only a small part of the image will be in focus while the rest of it appears blurred.

Therefore, it’s vital that you tap to set focus on your main subject, otherwise the subject might appear blurry while the background is in focus.

3. Expose The Shot Correctly

Exposure refers to the brightness of your photo. It’s essential to create images with good exposure levels to ensure you can see plenty of detail in the important parts of the scene.

If the image is under-exposed, the detail will be hidden in the dark shadows. And if it’s over-exposed, you’ll lose detail in the brighter highlights.

So how do you get the exposure right? It’s actually very simple on the iPhone.

First you need to tap to set focus on your main subject, then simply swipe up or down on the screen to adjust the exposure.

Swipe up to make the image brighter and down to make it darker. The aim is to ensure your main subject is correctly exposed with plenty of color and detail visible.

In high contrast scenes like the one above where you have dark shadows, it’s fine for these areas to appear dark or even pure black.

In fact, dark shadows can add to the mood and atmosphere of the image. The important thing is to ensure that your main subject isn’t under or over-exposed.

If in doubt, slightly under-expose the photo. You can usually brighten up the shadows a little in post-processing, but over-exposed “blown out” highlights that appear pure white and lack any detail can never be recovered in editing.

4. Pay Attention To The Light

When you’re taking photos, pay careful attention to the direction of the light. This is especially important in portrait photography when you want to ensure that the facial details are clearly visible.

In the photo below, positioning the subject with his back to the light means that his face is in dark shadow with very little detail visible.

In the next photo you can see that by simply turning my model towards the window, the light falls onto his face at a much better angle.

Of course, there are still shadows created by the window blinds, and one side of his face is in shadow, but this was a creative choice to add some visual interest and drama.

If you want to fully illuminate your subject’s face to show maximum detail, you’ll need to ensure the light is shining directly towards them like the example below.

5. Be Mindful Of Movement In The Scene

When shooting photos, you’ll notice that anything moving in the scene may appear blurred, especially in low light when the camera uses a slower shutter speed.

Sometimes motion blur can add to the story of your photo, for example, the blur of this speeding train shows how fast it was traveling past me.

However, if you want your entire image to appear sharp with no motion blur, it’s best to shoot stationary subjects.

If there is movement, introducing more light into the scene will reduce the chances of motion blur because the camera can use a faster shutter speed.

For example, shooting in a bright spot of sunlight on the street will mean that the camera can use a faster shutter speed than if you were shooting in the darker shadows.

If there’s any moving subjects in the scene, use burst mode to give yourself the best chance of getting at least one sharp shot without any motion blur.

To activate burst mode in the native camera app, simply hold down the shutter button to fire off a series of shots.

6. Avoid Grain

Grain or “digital noise” is usually considered a bad thing as it degrades the quality of your photos, reducing their sharpness and clarity.

Grain can be caused by several factors including low light, over-processing or a poor camera sensor.

The newer models of iPhone have better sensors which is why they tend to look clearer and sharper, but no matter which iPhone you have, there are certainly steps you can take to reduce grain in your pictures.

Have you noticed that your low light and night photos often look grainy? This is a common problem as the camera tends to use a higher ISO setting to create a brighter exposure.

But the downside of a high ISO setting is that it results in a grainy or “noisy” image.

In such cases there are two things you can do. One is to increase the light levels if possible by switching on a light or moving to a brighter area.

The more light in the scene, the lower the ISO setting will be, and therefore the less grain will appear in your photos.

If you’re struggling with low light and still getting grainy photos, swiping down on the camera screen to reduce the exposure will help.

By telling the camera that you want the image to appear darker, you can make the shadows appear pure black.

This basically prevents the camera from trying to brighten up the shadows and show detail (which results in grain).

Alternatively, try using a long exposure app like Cortex Cam, NightCap Pro or Average Camera Pro.

These apps work by shooting and combining multiple exposures of the scene, resulting in a smoother and less grainy image with better overall exposure.

Cortex Cam is my favorite app for shooting in low light. It combines multiple shots into one grain-free image in a matter of seconds.

It also doesn’t require a tripod, as long as you maintain a steady hand. However, for best results I would recommend using a tripod if you have one.

Finally, be careful when editing your photos. If you go overboard with strong editing effects, it can bring out the grain in your pictures. The photo below has been over-processed and the grain is especially visible in the sky.

When using editing apps to enhance your photos, pay careful attention when applying each effect to ensure that it doesn’t add grain.

In particular, brightening shadows and applying HDR effects can introduce grain into your pictures.

Rather than brightening all of the shadows in an image, a good tip is to use Selective tool or Brush tool in Snapseed to make precise selective enhancements.

In the photo above, I used the Snapseed photo editing tools to brighten up the subject’s face and give it more detail without brightening up any of the other areas in the scene.

7. Sharpen Photos In Post-Processing

The final tip in this tutorial is to use an editing app to sharpen your photos in post-processing.

This can help you achieve even sharper looking photos with a crisp and high quality appearance, ready for sharing on social media or printing.

Apps such as Snapseed, VSCO, AfterLight, FilterStorm Neue, Faded and PS Express have great sharpening tools that will give an image a quality look.

For rainy day shots, I like to use the Details tool in Snapseed and the Clarify feature in AfterLight to give raindrops more detail.

Keep in mind that caution should be exercised while using sharpening tools.

Over-sharpening can make the image appear grainy, so keep the sharpening subtle. The aim is to enhance the details without introducing grain.

A final tip is to try increasing the contrast a little bit when editing your photos as this can make an image look sharper.

The post 7 Tips For Taking High Quality Clear & Sharp iPhone Photos appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Use Strong Leading Lines

Leading lines are one of the strongest design elements that you can include in your photography.

Urban environments are full of lines in the form of roads, bridges, train tracks, alleyways, fences, staircases and other architectural elements.

These lines can be used to convey a sense of depth, and to keep the viewer grounded in the scene without getting lost in the details of the photo.

Our eyes are naturally captivated by leading lines because of how they converge towards a strong focal point or vanishing point.

Leading lines by themselves will create a striking image, however, you can further enhance the composition by placing a subject along the lines or at the point where the lines meet.

The leading lines instantly draw your eye directly to the subject, creating a really strong focal point, even if the main subject is small within the frame.

Another kind of leading line that you’ll find in urban environments is the spiral staircase.

These make beautiful subjects for your urban photography, and the spirals will gently lead your eye into the image.

Try shooting both from the top and the bottom of a spiral staircase for different effects.

If possible, have a person standing somewhere on the staircase to add a focal point and a storytelling element.

2. Look For Geometric Shapes

Shapes are an integral part of urban design. These geometric elements have well-defined shapes that immediately catch the viewer’s eye.

Look out for strong shapes in architecture and other urban elements. You’ll find squares, rectangles, triangles, circles and other abstract shapes all around you in the city.

You can use these shapes to create wonderful abstract images where the shapes themselves become the focus of the photo, rather than the actual subject that the shapes belong to.

Abstract images leave a lingering impression because it can take a while for the viewer to understand the entire photo. The viewer will become entranced by the photo’s elements.

As well as using shapes that are part of the urban environment, don’t forget that you can always improvise by incorporating other objects into the scene.

In this photo I used a crystal ball to create a bold, circular shape in the center of the composition.

3. Find Patterns

Patterns can be found in many places within in an urban environment, and they’re perfect for adding an abstract quality to your images.

When you’re exploring your city, look for repetition in shapes that create interesting patterns within the scene.

You might find patterns in decorative architectural detail, rows of windows or balconies on a building’s facade, the railings on a bridge, or interesting flooring designs.

Filling the entire frame with a repetitive pattern will create a striking abstract image.

Another place to look for repetitive patterns is in buildings that include tall columns.

Converting this photo to black and white and increasing the contrast in post-processing emphasizes the patterns created by the many lines and shapes in the scene.

Black and white urban photography can be incredibly powerful. Stripping away the color emphasizes the shapes, lines, and patterns in a photo.

4. Seek Out Frames

Another really effective technique is to look for urban design elements that can act as a “frame” around your subject.

Look for shapes such as squares, circles and triangles in architecture that you can shoot through to the scene beyond.

Make sure you include the shape within your composition so that it acts as a frame around the subject or scene.

Having a well-defined border around your subject draws the viewer’s attention to this part of the photo, creating a stronger focal point.

There are many elements within a city environment that you can use to frame your composition. Try using window frames, doorways, arches and the underside of bridges.

The frame can go right around the subject on all four sides of the photo, or around just a part of the scene.

In this photo I stood beneath the sculpture so that I could use it as a frame around the top of the photo.

5. Use Color Coordination

Colors are an essential part of urban design. Every building and architectural element has been given a certain color to make it stand out or create a specific mood.

You can use these colors to your advantage in a number of ways. For example, you could coordinate the color of your subject’s clothing or a prop with the colors in the scene.

For a harmonious composition, try matching the colors of your subject with the colors of the architectural surroundings.

The green clothing of the person in the photo above makes it look like she really belongs on this green staircase.

A completely different approach is to include contrasting colors, such as the red clothing on the black staircase above.

Another great color combination is black and white. In the photo below, the woman wearing black clothing really stands out against the white surroundings.

You could also look out for colorful architectural elements to frame your subject, such as the yellow triangle shape in the photo below.

When it rains, look out for colorful umbrellas that will add a splash of color to a grey urban scene.

This is an easy way to create a strong focal point that will immediately catch and hold the viewer’s attention.

6. Photograph Reflections

City environments are full of reflective surfaces that you can use to capture amazing urban reflection photos.

If you’re shooting indoors, look out for reflections on shiny floors and other mirrored surfaces. You can create striking symmetrical compositions in these situations.

Including a person in your reflection photo will add a strong focal point and more meaning to your picture.

If you’re shooting outdoors, look out for reflections on the outside of glass or metallic buildings.

These can be especially beautiful during the golden hour when the warm colored light is reflected.

After the rain, try to find puddles that you can use to create stunning puddle reflection photos. Try capturing the reflection of a building or person in the water.

When shooting puddle refections, crouch down and place your iPhone just above the water to capture both the reflection and the scene above it.

Alternatively, you could stand and shoot from a higher perspective in order to capture just the reflection on its own, as I did in the photo below.

Try flipping your puddle reflection photos upside down in post-processing to create a more interesting version of the image that will momentarily confuse the viewer.

Once you start looking for shiny surfaces and reflections, you’ll begin to spot them all around you.

The photo above is a reflection in the shiny surface of “The Bean” sculpture in Chigaco.

And in the photo below I captured the reflection of a subway station by holding my iPhone really close to the side of a train.

In the next photo I captured the reflection of clouds and a tall building in a metal rail on a rooftop.

Always be on the lookout for reflective surfaces in urban environments. You’re sure to find great photo opportunities in the least unexpected places.

7. Use Height To Create Depth & Perspective

One of the biggest challenges in photography is trying to get the viewer to feel as if they’re immersed within the scene.

In urban environments you can use height to create depth and perspective that will “pull” the viewer into the photo.

When you’re surrounding by tall buildings, look up and shoot them from this angle to create a strong sense of depth and perspective.

The lines on the building’s facade will converge towards the top of the structure, accentuating the depth in the photo.

This technique really makes the viewer feel as if they’re standing there in the photo with the building towering above them.

Alternatively, try shooting a looking down perspective to capture depth from a height.

This a great technique to use when you’re standing at the top of a tall stairwell. Just be careful not to drop your iPhone over the railings!

Adding a person into a scene like this will create a strong focal point and a sense of scale.

Conclusion

Urban design elements are all around you, and they can be used to great effect in your iPhone photography.

Once you start seeing elements such as lines, shapes, patterns, colors and reflections, you’ll be able to combine them flawlessly into a striking image.

Make use of these design elements to create beautiful abstracts, frame your subject, add depth and perspective, and create striking symmetrical compositions.

The most creative shots are made by finding beauty in places that are often overlooked. So take the time to explore your urban environment.

It’s full of interesting design elements that are just waiting to be used in your iPhone photos!

The post 7 Ways To Use Urban Design Elements For Creative iPhone Photos appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

Conceptual photography involves planning your image based around a particular idea or message. This might be a story you want to tell, a dramatic or emotional moment, or a light-hearted and fun take on reality.

It starts with using your imagination to come up with an idea. Then you have to plan what you need to take the photo, such as location, subject, costumes, lighting, props, etc.

You can then bring together these elements to create a powerful and intriguing image that evokes some kind of emotion in the viewer.

Keep in mind that all photography is subjective, so each viewer will interpret the image in their own way. The important thing is to come up with a strong idea, and then use your skills to create what you envisioned.

Now let’s take a look at six ideas that you can use to get started in the wonderful world of conceptual iPhone photography.

1. Shoot A Conceptual Portrait

Most conceptual photography is based around portraits. Including a person in your shot is one of the best ways to tell a story and convey a particular mood.

Shooting a conceptual portrait is about capturing emotion in an interesting or unique setting. This is typically different from a headshot portrait for professional use.

When you’re planning your shot, think about what kind of story you want to tell, or what you want the viewer to feel when they look at your photo.

Think about the pose, facial expression and body language of your subject. How could you use them to create a certain mood in your photo?

Decide whether you want to create a sense of drama, mystery, happiness, peacefulness, melancholy, etc. Then direct your subject to pose in a way that creates that particular mood.

You’ll also need to choose a location for your portrait. The space around your subject is an important storyteller, so use interesting spaces such as art museums, abandoned buildings, a forest, or a field full of flowers.

Consider using smoke bombs to add a sense of mystery or a dreamy atmosphere to your location. Try shooting from unusual perspectives such as top-down or through another object.

For a vibrant appeal, make use of colorful and flamboyant clothing, or even colored body paint.

Use movement to create a sense of energy. For example, consider asking your subject to run away from the camera.

This will create an intriguing story in itself. Where are they running to? Or what are they running from?

If your subject has long hair, ask them to shake their head as you take the photo so that their hair swishes around in the air.

This technique works particularly well when the subject is backlit as their hair will glow in the light.

A rainy day is perfect for conveying a melancholic feeling in your portrait photos. A great idea is to have a person stand on the other side of a window covered in water droplets

Bus stops, cars and coffee shop windows are great places to execute this concept. On a rainy day, you can create a story around a person who’s feeling sad or missing someone.

Somehow, portraits taken in the rain seem to portray really powerful emotion, and it’s one of my favorite techniques to use.

2. Use Geometric Spaces

Once you’ve chosen a subject for your conceptual photo, you need to find a good location for your photo shoot.

Of course, the location should be chosen based on how it will help you tell the story or convey the message you have in mind.

But one of the most powerful ways to create visually striking images is to shoot in geometric spaces that have strong shapes and lines.

These geometric architectural elements can be used to create incredible compositions that really catch the viewer’s attention.

Make a point of exploring buildings with the purpose of finding lines, squares, rectangles, circles, triangles and other geometric shapes that you can use to form a solid composition around a subject.

One of my favorite techniques is to use spiral staircases. In the photo below, the curves and lines draw the eye deep into the image.

Make sure you include a person somewhere on the staircase to add a storytelling element. Think about unusual ways that you could pose your subject to convey a certain idea.

To draw attention to your subject, try framing the person within a geometric shape, such as the triangle in the photo below.

To make this photo more intriguing, I rotated the image in post-processing. This creates the impression that the subject is defying gravity, as if she’s in a space station.

Even if your subject is quite small within the composition, using geometric architectural elements to frame them will help to draw the viewer’s attention towards them.

This is especially useful if you’re shooting your subjects from a distance, as I did in the photo above.

3. Use Interesting Props

Props are often used in conceptual photography. They add a strong visual appeal and help you tell a story or portray a particular mood.

There are endless options for props that you could use in your photos. It all depends on the overall atmosphere you want to create.

Some easily accessible props include helium balloons, umbrellas, books, watches, glasses, hats, masks and picture frames.

You can also find props out in nature, such as leaves and flowers. Or how about getting creative with colorful smoke bombs?

Thrift stores and antique shops are great places to find some hidden gems that can be used as props in your photos.

Often, an idea for a conceptual photo can start with a prop. So be sure to surround yourself with interesting and unusual objects to get some inspiration.

Think about how the prop will fit in with the environment, and where you should position it within the scene so that it supports your creative idea.

In this photo, I used the helium balloons to cover the subject’s face. This creates a wonderful sense of mystery and it appears as if she’s buried in deep, floating thoughts.

4. Make Good Use Of Color & Background

When planning your conceptual photo, think carefully about the colors that you’ll include in the scene.

Pay attention to the color of your subject’s clothing, the color of your props, and the color of the background and surroundings.

The best concepts are well executed when there’s perfect color coordination. For example, matching the person’s outfit with the backdrop will have a powerful impact.

In the photo above, the subject’s outfit complements the green color of the railings on the stairwell.

Colorful walls and interesting art murals are another place where you can have fun with backdrops and colors.

You may even find murals that have some sort of action that could easily be imitated.

Have fun by having your subject either emulate the action or pose in a way that complements the backdrop. Such photos can convey a strong sense of energy and emotion.

Even a colorful umbrella can be used as a vibrant backdrop behind your subject.

Keep in mind that different colors can evoke different emotions in the viewer. For example, greens and blues tend to conjure up feelings of peace and tranquility, whereas vibrant red can indicate energy or even anger.

5. Use Lighting To Create Mood

Lighting always plays a key role in photography, and it’s especially important in conceptual photography. This is because the type of light that you shoot in can dramatically affect the overall mood of the scene.

Factors such as the strength and direction of the light, the time of day that you shoot, and whether you’re using natural or artificial light will all play a big role in how your photo turns out.

Shooting during the golden hours of sunrise and sunset allows you to capture warm, golden light for a fairytale, atmospheric look.

During the day, try taking advantage of strong, harsh sunlight. It’s often argued that harsh light will ruin your photos, but it can actually help you create drama in your images.

The contrast between the bright highlights and dark shadows creates a strong visual impact. Including shadows in the scene is great for creating mystery and intrigue.

Don’t be afraid to include large areas of dark shadow in your photo. This negative (empty) space can help to add tension to your image.

At night or in dark buildings, you can use artificial light to achieve a similar mood. Try using lamps and ceiling lights to create a spotlight effect on your subject.

Think about whether you want to include the lights in the scene, or just capture the light emitted by them.

In the photo above, I chose to include the lights in my composition as they add lots of extra interest to the scene.

But in the photo below, I just captured the light on my subject without including the actual light source itself.

If you’re shooting out on the street at night, try positioning your subject beneath a street lamp to create a dramatic spotlight effect like this one.

Another great technique is to capture the reflection of street lights in raindrops on a window. Simply ask your subject to pose on the other side of the glass.

6. Capture Reflections

Reflections are one of the most interesting elements to add to any photo. They act as an extension of your imagination that can be interpreted in many different ways by the viewer.

Look for reflections in mirrors, on shiny and polished surfaces, and on bodies of water such as ponds, lakes, rivers and puddles.

A good tip is to flip your iPhone to get the camera’s lens closer to the reflective surface. This allows you to create stunning symmetrical compositions.

In the case of a window or a floor, contact can be made with the surface for desired symmetry. If you’re photographing water, get your phone as close as you can to the surface without getting it wet!

Try to think outside the box by looking for other reflective surfaces where you’d least expect to find them.

For example, in the photo above, the reflective surface of a watch was used to create this abstract reflection.

You can create fantastic illusionary effect with reflections, and you can even play around with them in editing to make them more interesting.

Upon taking a closer look at the photo above, you’ll notice that the reflection doesn’t match the original subject. Apps like Image Blender and Juxtaposer can be used to create this effect by blending two photos together.

If you want to create this kind of edit, make sure you shoot both photos using the exact same composition but with the subject in different poses. This will make it easier to create a seamless and symmetrical blend.

Conclusion On Conceptual iPhone Photography

Conceptual photography is all about coming up with creative ideas and executing them to convey a story or message in your photo.

A good conceptual photo should always leave the viewer in a thoughtful mood. It should evoke some kind of reaction, emotion or questioning.

People and props play a major role in conceptual photography, offering you endless creative options.

Make sure you choose a location and background that helps you tell your story.

Use of architectural geometry such as lines and shapes, as well as color co-ordination to create strong visual appeal.

Think about what kind of lighting will create the mood you want to convey, and then shoot at the right time of day or in artificial light to create a particular atmosphere in your image.

Finally, make use of reflections to create symmetry and optical illusions that will captivate the viewer.

Conceptual photography can take a bit of practice and patience. So take your time to come up with ideas and enjoy planning the shoot.

The results are immensely rewarding and you’ll learn so much about photography in the process.

The post 6 Ideas For Amazing Conceptual iPhone Photography appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Include A Person In The Scene

In order to get an idea of the size of an object in a photo, you need to include another object of a known size.

This gives the viewer a reference point which allows them to work out the size of one object by comparing it to another object that they already know the size of.

Everyone knows the average size of a person, so including a human in your photo is a great way to add a sense of scale to the scene.

This is a really great technique to use when photographing architecture.

Without a person in the scene it can be very difficult to convey the size of a building that you’re shooting.

Having a relatively tiny person in a vast space helps the viewer to realize just how large the surrounding objects are.

The person also creates a strong focal point, making sure that the viewer doesn’t get lost in the scene.

2. Use Other Objects Of A Known Size

In addition to people, try to think of other objects that you could use to add a sense of scale. As long as the viewer knows roughly how big that objects is, it will work perfectly well.

In cityscapes, great examples, include cars, bicycles and trains. Without the car in the photo above, you might not get a sense of just how tall the surrounding buildings are.

We normally think of trains as being quite big, but when captured next to these tall buildings it appears dwarfed by them. This creates a fantastic sense of size and scale in the image.

Any object of a known size will help the viewer relate to the scene you’re photographing, especially when they’re not familiar with the other elements in that location.

3. Include Lots Of Negative Space

If you want to emphasize the vastness of a scene, try including lots of empty space in your composition. In photography, this empty space is referred to as negative space.

You can use this technique in landscape photography and in urban environments.

Having a person stand in front of a large wall, or including a large amount of sky overhead makes the subject look small compared to their surroundings.

You can even use large areas of dark shadow as negative space in your photos.

Make sure you include a focal point such as a person somewhere in the scene. Having a small main subject within the negative space helps to convey the huge scale of the scene.

The focal point also draws the viewer in and gives them somewhere to focus their attention. The negative space will actually help the main subject to stand out, even if they’re very small within the frame.

4. Shoot From A Low Angle To Make The Subject Look Larger

If you want to make your main subject look larger than they actually are, shooting from a low angle is a great option.

By crouching down when I took the photo above, I was able to make the man appear strong and powerful, as if he’s towering above the buildings in the distance.

Compare this to the photo below. It was taken at the same location with the same subjects, but I shot it from standing height and a little bit further away.

In this second photo the man appears much smaller and becomes easily lost amongst the taller buildings in the background.

By shooting from a much lower perspective, you’re able to keep the viewer’s eyes immediately focused on the larger subject since it stands out much better.

5. Shoot From High Up To Make Everything Look Tiny

If you want to make your subjects look smaller and more vulnerable, you’ll need to find a high vantage point to shoot from.

An aerial view of a city will make everything look tiny, as if it’s a miniature toy model.

This is a great example of creating a unique perspective that most people never see. It’s especially useful when familiar landmarks at ground level are seen from a different perspective.

Normally we only see buildings and other landmarks from ground level where they tower above us, but shooting from high up creates a completely different sense of size and scale.

You can also use this technique inside large buildings. Try shooting from high up on a balcony or from the top of a stairwell.

I particularly like taking photos from the top of a spiral staircase. The concentric lines help to draw the viewer right into the focal point.

Having a person at the bottom of the stairwell allows you to create a really strong sense of depth and scale, giving the photo a very strong visual impact.

6. Shoot From A Distance

Another easy way to make your subject look tiny against its surroundings is to shoot from a distance.

This works particularly well when photographing people in both landscapes and urban environments.

When you shoot from a distance you’re able to include lots of negative space or tall buildings within the frame.

This has the effect of making the subject look even smaller in comparison to their surroundings, adding to the sense of size and scale in the photo.

Shooting from a distance also allows you to include foreground objects, such as the road markings in the photo above.

Because these foreground objects are closer to the camera, they appear much larger in comparison to the person who’s further away. Again, this allows you to play around with the sense of scale in your photo.

If you’re shooting a scene that has leading lines converging from the foreground into the distance, try placing a person in the distance where the lines meet.

Even if the person isn’t actually that far away from you, the lines will create a strong sense of depth, making the person appear further away than they actually are.

7. Shoot Through A Frame

Using an object in the foreground to act as a frame around your scene is a great way of drawing attention to your focal point. But it can also help to create a sense of scale to your photos.

This is because you’re making the scene beyond appear smaller and more distant by including a close-up framing object in the foreground. The viewer is able to appreciate the foreground as well as distant elements.

Typical framing elements that you could use in your photographs include constructed objects like a fence, door frame, window frame or peephole.

But a good frame doesn’t necessarily have to go around all four edges of the image.

Shooting from a low angle through this person’s legs allowed me to create an interesting frame in the foreground. Catching people walking in the distance within the frame adds to the sense of scale.

8. Use Forced Perspective

You’ve probably seen photos of the Leaning Tower of Pisa where it appears that a person is pushing against the tower. Of course, this is an optical illusion called “forced perspective.”

Forced perspective is a fun way of playing around with how the eye perceives size, scale and depth within a photo.

Here I’ve used a wristwatch in the foreground to appear as if it’s replacing the letter “O” on the sign in the background.

These optical illusions are achieved by making a subject appear larger, smaller, closer, or much further away than its original appearance.

By shooting from a very low angle and positioning my subject in just the right place, I was able to make it appear as if she was taller than some of the buildings in front of her.

Playing around with forced perspective is a great way to add a fun element to your iPhone photography, and it’s bound to grab the viewer’s attention.

Conclusion

Conveying a sense of size and scale in your iPhone photos is important for creating strong images that people can relate to.

Creating a relationship between the elements in the scene is the key adding a sense of scale to your images. It helps the viewer to get a better idea of the size of the objects that you’re photographing.

You can use people or other objects of a known size to create a reference point in your images.

To convey the vastness of a scene try including lots of negative space in your composition.

Shooting from different angles will change the viewer’s perception of the size of your subjects.

For example, shooting from a low angle will make your subject look larger and more powerful, whereas shooting from high up or far away will make them appear smaller and more vulnerable.

Try using framing elements and other objects in the foreground to create depth and scale in your photos.

And don’t forget to have fun playing around with forced perspective to create wonderful optical illusions involving size and scale.

The post How To Convey Size And Scale In Your iPhone Photos appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Add Drama With Moody Skies

Creating drama in your iPhone photos is one of the best ways to produce more interesting pictures that really grab the viewer’s attention.

Dark and stormy skies add a wonderfully dramatic mood to your photos, so pay careful attention to the cloud formations shortly before it rains.

Locations that have a lot of space and not much clutter, such as the countryside scene below, work really for this kind of shot.

For the most dramatic atmosphere, compose your shot so that the stormy sky takes up a large proportion of the frame. In the photo above, I used the rule of thirds to ensure the sky dominated the scene.

Using leading lines, such as the road in the photo above, will draw the viewer directly into the dark, dramatic clouds. This creates a really powerful image with lots of drama.

Another way to add a moody effect to your stormy sky shots is to incorporate a silhouette into the scene. Moody skies and silhouettes often work well together since they both have dark and dramatic qualities.

To create a silhouette in your iPhone photos, ensure you’re shooting into the light. Then simply tap to set focus, and swipe down on the screen to reduce exposure until the subject appears as a dark shape against the brighter background.

This kind of shot often looks great when converted to black and white. Removing the color intensifies the mood and mystery, creating a more dramatic atmosphere.

2. Shoot During & After Rain

Many people avoid shooting in the rain, but once you realize the huge potential for creative photo opportunities, this will quickly become your favorite kind of weather!

And the best thing about it is that you don’t even have to get wet to take great photos in the rain. Shooting through a window, car windshield or bus stop window pane will produce some really interesting results.

During a rainstorm, look around for water droplet formations on windows, then photograph the scene outside through the window. The droplets will distort the subjects, creating some amazing abstract images.

One of the best things about rain is that you’ll see lots of people with umbrellas, and these make great subjects in your photos.

Their bold shape and bright colors will create a really strong focal point in your image. They also help you to tell a story about the kind of weather you were shooting in.

When it stops raining, be sure to venture outdoors as the wet conditions provide you with many excellent opportunities for creative photography.

Pay attention to water droplet formations and capture them before the sun dries them out. Try filling the frame with the droplets to create an abstract image like the one above.

If you have a macro lens, use it to shoot beautiful close-up pictures of water droplets on leaves and flowers.

Another thing to look out for is puddles and reflections on wet pavements. Ensure you include an interesting subject in the reflection, such as a person, tree or building.

Reflections often add natural texture to the photo, giving an ordinary scene a beautiful painterly effect. You might even be lucky enough to capture a rainbow if there’s sunshine shortly after it rains.

3. Photograph In Snow

If you live in a part of the world that gets snow in winter, be sure to take advantage of this weather while it lasts.

Snow completely transforms landscapes and cities, giving you a brand new shooting environment for your photography.

One of the best things about snow is that it brightens up dark areas of a scene, creating a clean and fresh look in your photos. This makes for some amazing winter photography!

Be sure to get the exposure (image brightness) right so that the snow isn’t under or over-exposed. You can easily adjust the image exposure by tapping to set focus, then swiping up or down on the screen.

If the photo is under-exposed, the snow will appear gray. And if it’s over-exposed you’ll lose all of the texture and other detail such as footprints. So it’s really important to get it right.

If in doubt, it’s better to slightly under-expose the image, then you can always brighten up the snow in post-processing.

If the snow appears too blue in your photo, you can adjust the color balance using an editing app. The aim is to warm up the colors to eliminate the blue color cast.

Another advantage of shooting in snow is that people and traffic tend to behave differently, and capturing this behavior allows you to tell more interesting stories in your photos.

The photo above was taken during a blizzard when there were very few people in the streets. Even under such harsh conditions, the couple with the umbrella offers a beautiful and compelling winter tale.

During a snow storm, you can use the same window technique as in rainy weather. Capturing snowflakes on windows will add unique texture to the foreground, distorting the outside scene in interesting and artistic ways.

When shooting in freezing temperatures, keep in mind that your iPhone’s battery will run down quite quickly, so make sure your phone is fully charged before venturing out.

If you’re planning to be outdoors for some time, using an external battery to charge up your phone on-the-go will ensure you get much more shooting time in the snow.

4. Use Fog To Create Mystery & Intrigue

Fog might be considered a nuisance, especially when driving or walking in low visibility conditions. But it’s also amazing weather for creating a sense of mystery and intrigue in your images.

Shooting in thick fog makes an ordinary environment look more special by adding a dreamy or mystical atmosphere.

Fog is great for hiding distracting backgrounds, allowing you to shoot in locations that would normally result in busy and messy compositions.

It also adds a sense of depth to a scene because the subjects gradually fade into distance.

If you’re shooting in the city, take advantage of fog by creating look-up architecture shots of tall buildings.

Notice how the tall buildings fade into the fog in the photo above. This emphasizes the height of the buildings, making them appear as if they’re disappearing into the sky above.

Another effective way to shoot in fog is to find an elevated location and shoot down onto the fog. This works particularly well when you have tall buildings or trees emerging through the fog.

In foggy conditions, watch how the light interacts with the fog. Capturing sunlight and fog together can create images that appear dreamy and other-worldly.

Fog often occurs during the morning, so be sure to get up early before it disappears. However, it can occur during the day and even during sunset. Check the weather forecast for the best chances of finding fog in your area.

If you’re shooting landscapes, fog allows you to create beautiful minimalist landscape photos with a serene and dream-like quality.

Whether you’re shooting in a rural or urban environment, be sure to venture outdoors on the next foggy day to capture some truly sensational images.

5. Capture Movement On A Windy Day

Shooting on a windy day allows you to capture a fantastic sense of movement in your photos. While you can’t see the wind itself, you can certainly convey how windy it is by capturing the movement of objects.

On a typical windy day, you’ll be able to photograph interesting scenes such as waves crashing onto the shore, trees swaying, umbrellas blowing inside out, and people’s hair and clothing being blown in different directions.

Photographing this kind of movement on a windy day creates more dynamic and dramatic images that tell a story about the weather on that day.

When photographing moving subjects, capturing just the right moment can be tricky as you need to press the shutter at the perfect moment.

So a good tip is to use burst mode to capture a series of images in quick succession. You can then choose the best images from the sequence and delete the rest.

I love to photograph waves crashing onto the shore on a windy day as it allows me to capture a moment frozen in time. You can see the individual water droplets and appreciate the details.

If you want to create a more abstract photo of moving subjects in the wind, try using a slow shutter app to create a long exposure image and capture the movement as a blur.

Conclusion

Shooting in unfavorable weather conditions may not sound that inviting at first. But it’s actually a gift that provides you with so many creative opportunities that would be lacking in other situations.

While shooting in wet weather provides many excellent photo opportunities, be sure to protect your iPhone from water damage.

Either shoot from indoors through a window in heavy rain, or invest in a waterproof iPhone case such as the Lifeproof case.

Once you start shooting in bad weather and realize what amazing photos you can create, you’ll soon start to think of “bad” weather as”good” weather!

The post How To Take Incredible iPhone Photos In Bad Weather appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Shoot Through Raindrops On Windows

Raindrops on windows offer a great opportunity for creative iPhone photography. And since you need to be on the inside of the window, you don’t have to stand out in the rain to take your shot.

You can also capture these shots after the rain has stopped as the droplet formations will remain on the glass for some time.

Look for a window with water droplets that also has an interesting scene outside. It might be a busy street full of people carrying umbrellas, a view of the city from a tall office block, or a lone tree out in a landscape.

You could use a window in your home or office, a coffee shop window, the glass panes at a bus stop, or even the window of a car or bus.

In most cases it looks best if the water droplets are in sharp focus, while the scene outside appears blurred.

If you don’t know how to blur background in photos on your iPhone, here’s how to do it. Simply hold the iPhone fairly close to the window, then tap on one of the water droplets to set the focus point.

If there’s movement outside, you’ll need to lock the focus so that the iPhone’s autofocus doesn’t refocus every time something moves in the scene. To lock focus, tap and hold the screen for a few seconds until you see AE/AF Lock at the top of the screen.

If the water droplets appear blurred, try changing the distance between the iPhone and the window, then tap to focus again.

When you’re shooting a busy street scene, capturing a moment is really important. Wait patiently until you spot something interesting, such as a stranger carrying a colorful umbrella or wearing a bright colored rain coat.

Alternatively, ask a friend to stand on the other side of the window so that you can shoot a creative portrait photo through the raindrops.

2. Capture Reflections In Water Droplets

If you take a close look at water droplets, you’ll often notice tiny reflections within the droplets. They’re especially noticeable when the water droplets are on windows or metallic reflective surfaces such as cars.

In the photo above I used a side window of a car to capture both my reflection in the glass and also the tiny reflections in the water droplets.

To capture the detail in these tiny reflections, you’ll need to get quite close to the water droplets. If you have a macro lens, use it to take extreme close ups that will capture incredible detail in the water reflections.

For the best results, ensure there’s something interesting being reflected in the water droplets, for example, an iconic building, a tree, a car, or a person,

If you’d like to purchase a macro lens for close-up photography, check out the lenses from Moment, Inmacus and olloclip.

3. Create Abstracts With Water Droplets

Raindrops provide many opportunities for you to create interesting abstract images. Abstract photography is all about producing really creative photos that present ordinary subjects in a unique and imaginative way.

In heavy rain, try shooting through a window, using the water to blur and distort the scene outside.

The photo above was taken through the windshield of a car. I loved how the raindrops distorted the trees outside, so I waited for a person with an umbrella to walk into the frame, then snapped this shot.

Water droplets on reflective surfaces are also great for creating abstract images. Fill the frame with the droplets so that they create an abstract pattern.

If you photograph water droplets on a reflective surface, you might be able to capture interesting reflections too.

In the photo below, it’s not easy to identify what’s happening at first. The combination of reflections, water droplets and the strong yellow line create an abstract image that catches the viewer’s attention and pulls them in while they try to work out what’s going on.

The photo is actually of water droplets on the trunk of a vintage car, with the tall buildings from the street being reflected in the metallic surface.

With abstract photography, the viewer is able to appreciate the beauty of the art, even if they can’t immediately identify what’s going on in the scene.

Abstract photography gives you so much creative freedom over your photos, and rain offers the perfect medium.

Just keep your eyes peeled for water droplets or the flow of water on any surface, then compose an interesting abstract image to make the most of the patterns and textures.

4. Look For People With Umbrellas

On a rainy day, you’ll find an abundance of umbrellas which make great additions to your photos. They add a splash of color and a strong geometric shape to your images.

Umbrellas are also great for creating a sense of mystery and intrigue in your images because they hide the faces of your subjects.

Rain typically creates a dark, gray mood, so a colorful umbrella will appear especially vibrant against these surroundings.

Umbrellas will create a strong focal point in your composition, which is great when photographing busy street scenes.

Without the colorful umbrella in the scene above, the person crossing the road would have become lost amongst the other busy surroundings.

But the umbrella instantly catches your attention, drawing your eye into the scene and directly to the subject of the photo.

How about getting really close to the umbrella so that it fills a large part of the frame? This allows you to capture the detail of the water droplets on the umbrella.

Rain at night tends to create a romantic and magical atmosphere because of the warm reflections of the street lights on the wet roads and sidewalks.

Look out for couples huddled together with their umbrellas as these kinds of shots will tell wonderful stories.

Another way to capture umbrellas is from a high perspective. Go up to a high vantage point such as a bridge, then look down and capture someone walking by with an umbrella.

Capturing umbrellas from a bird’s eye perspective provides you with an interesting focal point that emphasizes their strong shape.

5. Shoot Puddle Reflections

After the rain, you’ll find plenty of puddles that  can be used to create wonderful puddle reflection shots.

Look out for puddles in parking lots, potholes, curb corners, sidewalks, and even on outdoor tables and other surfaces.

There are so many different ways to capture reflections in puddles. First of all, look for puddles that reflect interesting objects from the surroundings.

Trees, buildings, people and vehicles all make great subjects that you can capture in a puddle reflection.

Experiment with different shooting angles until you find the best perspective to capture the reflection. Move around, and experiment with shooting from both high and low angles.

You could include both the reflection and the background to create a symmetrical composition like the one above. Alternatively, try filling all or most of the frame with the reflection.

Remember there’s no right or wrong angle, and the best perspective will depend on the components within the reflection and your own creative vision.

Flipping your image upside down in post-processing often creates a more unique reflection photo, helping the viewer to appreciate the reflected elements of the image.

While puddle reflection photography can be done after the rain has stopped, shooting while it’s raining allows you to capture beautiful ripples as the raindrops hit the water’s surface.

6. Capture Reflections On Wet Surfaces

Another way of capturing beauty in rain is by paying attention to wet surfaces. An ordinary road or sidewalk can be transformed when it’s wet because it suddenly becomes a reflective surface.

Without water and reflections, the roads and sidewalks would normally appear very dark in your image. But when it’s wet, light reflected off the water creates a much brighter foreground than you’d be able to get in dry weather.

The reflections create a lot of color and visual interest in the foreground. This adds depth to the scene and draws the viewer’s eye into the image.

Reflections on wet streets are especially impressive at night. The reflections of the street lights and neon signs will create a wonderful warm glow in the lower part of your photo.

In the photo above I captured an explosion of colors on the streets because of the lights reflecting off the wet road. If I’d been shooting in dry weather, I wouldn’t have been able to capture this kind of shot.

7. Photograph Water Splashes

Rain provides some great opportunities for capturing amazing water splash photos. Photographing someone jumping into a puddle is an easy way to create a unique action shot with your iPhone.

Another option would be to throw a stone into a puddle and capture the splashes and ripples that are formed.

Taking photos of water splashes is all about timing. To ensure you capture the splash at the perfect moment, use the burst mode feature in the camera app when you shoot.

Burst mode simply captures a series of photos in quick succession. You can then choose the best shots from the sequence. To activate burst mode, just keep the shutter button held down.

Make sure you start shooting just before they jump into the puddle, and don’t release the shutter button until the splash has finished.

If you’re shooting close up splash photos, I’d recommend using a waterproof iPhone case such as the Lifeproof case to ensure your phone stays dry.

Conclusion

While the rain might initially put you off heading outdoors to take photos, I’d highly recommend shooting in this kind of weather.

Wet weather offers endless unique and creative photo opportunities that would be impossible to capture on a dry day.

So the next time it rains, venture out to see what you can capture. You can even shoot great rain photos from indoors by photographing the water droplets on windows.

If you’re worried about your iPhone getting wet, be sure to invest in a waterproof case to minimize the risk of damaging your phone.

With your iPhone protected, you can get much more adventurous with your rain photography!

The post 7 Fun Ways To Take Amazing iPhone Photos In The Rain appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Shoot Toward The Light

To capture lens flare in your photos, you need to shoot into the sun. We’re often taught not to do this because the bright sunlight can ruin our images.

But if you get it just right you can capture dramatic lens flare without the negative effects of over-exposure and low contrast.

It usually works best if you have have an object such as a tree, person or building which you can position partially in front of the sun. This will reduce the amount of bright light while still allowing you to capture the rays from the sun

Whenever you’re shooting in bright sunlight, pay attention to the direction of light and use your surroundings to your advantage.

If you’re surrounded by large reflective buildings, you might even be able to capture lens flare from the sun’s reflection. This is exactly what I did in the photo below which was taken early in the morning shortly after sunrise.

Light from the rising sun reflected off the building at the end of the urban canyon, creating a strong golden lens flare complimented by shadows and light on the buildings.

The golden hours of sunrise and sunset are great times to capitalize on lens flare. This time of day often produces the best results because the light is warmer and softer. It’s also much easier to compose a photo with the sun in the composition when it’s lower in the sky.

2. Experiment With Different Angles

Lens flare only occurs when the sunlight hits the camera’s lens at certain angles. So you’ll need to experiment with the angle of the iPhone until you see lens flare appear in your photo.

Once you see the flare in your viewfinder, make small adjustments to the shooting angle until you get just the amount of lens flare you want. Changing the angle will also have an effect on where the flare appears within the image.

The lens flare should enhance your composition, rather than obstruct it. The best lens flare images occur when the subject and the flare complement each other perfectly.

In this photo, beams of light are raining down onto the subject, drawing the eye toward the focal point. The lens flare adds a magical quality to the portrait, enhancing the mood of the photo.

If the lens flare is too large or bright it will dominate the composition, so be sure to move around to hide certain parts of the flare with other objects in the scene.

A great way to create subtle lens flare is to use a solid object to cover the brightest part of the sun, with a subtle glow or flare around the edges.

In the photo above, I shot from just the right angle so that the man in front of me blocked the sun. The lens flare has been carefully streamlined so that it appears as a soft glow rather than an intense flare.

It creates a strong focal point, but also bathes other parts of the scene with beautiful golden light. Creating silhouettes in front of the sun can also result in a stunning rim light effect around the edges of the subject.

3. Shoot In Burst Mode

Capturing the lens flare exactly where you want it can be tricky. The intensity and direction of the flare can change with the slightest movement of the iPhone.

So a handy tip is to shoot using the burst mode feature while you make small adjustments to the angle of the iPhone. Burst mode allows you to capture a sequence of photos in quick succession, and then choose the best images from the series.

To activate burst mode, simply hold the shutter button down in the camera app. The iPhone will keep shooting photos until you release your finger.

Be sure to change the angle of your iPhone slightly as you attempt to capture the scene in burst mode. Keep a steady hand as you move the iPhone otherwise you might end up with camera shake.

An extra benefit of shooting in burst mode is that it’s great for action shots like the one above where the people in the scene are running. Burst mode allows you to capture the moving subject in the perfect pose.

Once you’ve finished shooting, open the burst collection from your photo library and tap Select. Select the photos you want to keep, then tap Done. Any photos that you didn’t select will be deleted, and the rest will be saved.

4. Reduce Exposure

One of the main problems with lens flare is that it can ruin a photo by causing over-exposure. If the sun is too bright within the composition, it’ll create a large bright area where no color or detail is visible, and the rays of light will lower the contrast within the scene.

So before you press the shutter, take a careful look at the image in your viewfinder to see if you need to reduce the exposure (image brightness) in order to make the image darker.

To reduce the exposure level of your image, start by tapping to set focus on the area of the scene that you want sharp, then swipe down on the screen to make the image darker.

The aim is to preserve as much color and detail as possible, which still capturing the lens flare from the sun.

The lens flare in this photo is quite subtle because I reduced the exposure. But it provides a nice focal point and the sunlight appears a lovely warm orange rather than a harsh bright white.

Reducing exposure helps to draw the viewer into the photo and toward the focal point, rather than being distracted by the super bright light.

5. Shoot With The Sun Slightly Out Of Frame

One of the challenges of shooting directly into the sun is that the bright light can ruin the photo. Even if you reduce the exposure, sometimes the sunlight is so strong that it will completely dominate the scene.

If the sun is creating a large over-exposed area that appears pure white, and the lens flare is reducing the contrast of the image too much, the best option is to shoot with the sun slightly out of the frame.

This doesn’t mean that the lens flare from the sun can’t be harnessed into an effective compositional element. You can still include the lens flare, allowing it to peek in from one edge or corner of the frame.

Having the sun slightly out of the frame often allows you to create a much more pleasing image. Try to compose your shot so that the rays of light point toward your main subject or draw the eye through the scene.

6. Create Or Enhance Lens Flare Using Apps

If you struggle to capture good lens flare, you could always add it to your photo in post-processing.

There are some great apps that allow you to add very realistic lens flares to your photos. LensLight and Lens Distortion both have a great selection of different flare effects.

The most realistic results are usually achieved on photos where you’ve already captured the sun in the scene. You can then use the app to add some flare to the sun, or even enhance the lens flare that you’ve managed to capture.

Alternatively, you can add lens flare to a scene that doesn’t include the sun in the composition. But keep in mind that you should only add lens flare when you’ve captured a decent amount of light in the scene.

Adding lens flare to a photo taken in low light or on an overcast day won’t work well because you wouldn’t normally capture lens flare in these conditions.

When adding lens flare, always keep in mind the direction of the light, then add the flare in the direction that the sunlight would be coming from.

If you’ve captured or added lens flare in your photo, but the colors don’t complement the scene, a simple option is to covert the image to black and white.

A black and white conversion can also help to emphasize the lens flare. When the color is removed, the contrast between dark and light becomes more obvious, defining the individual rays of light within the scene.

Conclusion

While lens flare can be tricky to capture, the techniques in this tutorial will give you the best chances of creating beautiful sun flares in your photos.

So the next time the sun is shining, venture outdoors and start shooting into the sun.

Experiment with your shooting angle, use objects in the scene to partially hide the sun, and compose your shot with the sun slightly out of the frame if necessary.

To maximize your chances of capturing the perfect lens flare, shoot using burst mode while you slowly adjust the angle of your iPhone. If the sun appears too bright, reduce the exposure level in the camera app.

A good lens flare photo should use the sun’s light to enhance the composition, rather than letting it dominate the scene.

And remember, if you don’t manage to capture good lens flare at the time of shooting, you can always enhance it or add different flare effects using apps such as LensLight and Lens Distortions.

With a bit of practice you’ll soon be able to harness the sunlight to create dramatic and magical lens flare in your iPhone photos.

The post How To Create Stunning Lens Flare In Your iPhone Photos appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Shoot In Hard Light

We’re often taught to avoid taking photos in hard light as it tends to ruin photos. But you can actually shoot some of the most fascinating high contrast portrait photography using this kind of light.

Hard light is when you have a strong directional light source, such as the sun or a lamp, shining onto your subject. It results in crisp shadows being cast within the scene (as opposed to soft light which is diffused and casts much softer shadows).

Shadows can create wonderful patterns and lines that add an abstract quality to your photo. You can also use them to obscure part of your subject’s face to create an air of mystery or drama.

Shadows created from hard light take different shapes and forms depending on the environment you’re shooting in. And they’ll also appear differently depending on the time of day. The lower the sun is in the sky, the longer the shadows will appear.

To use hard light to your advantage, make sure you move around to find the right angle to shoot from. Your shooting angle and viewpoint will change where the shadows appear within your photo.

You can also move the subject around so that you have light and shadow just where you want it on their face. When positioned at just the right angle, shadows can help define the subject’s facial features. You can also use them to obscure part of their face, or put their face into the spotlight.

2. Use An Artificial Light Source

Natural light from the sun is great for shooting portraits, but what if you’re shooting portraits at night or in low light?

In these situations you can make use of artificial light sources to illuminate your subject. You could use a lamp, flashlight, street lamp, candle, or even the light from an iPad or computer.

It’s best not to use the flash on your iPhone because you won’t have any control over the direction of the light. It can only point straight ahead from where you’re shooting. You can, however, use the torch on a friend’s iPhone which can be directed at the subject from any direction.

Low light portrait photography creates a completely different atmosphere to shooting in daylight. The dark surroundings and directional light often create a dramatic mood in your photos.

When using artificial light, the direction that the light is coming from will make a big difference to how your subject is illuminated.

With portable light sources you can adjust the angle and direction of the light. But with fixed light sources, such as street lamps, you’ll need to move your subject instead.

In the photo above, the subject’s head is tilted upwards so that her face is lit up by the street lamp above her. Features such as the jawline are prominent because of the sharp contrast between light and shadow.

Using a small flashlight/torch can help you create a moody portrait when shooting at night. Direct the light toward the subject’s face, moving the light source around until you achieve the desired result.

If you shine the light so that only part of the subject’s face is illuminated, the result can look spooky and mysterious. For added drama, ensure you don’t illuminate any of the background.

3. Shoot In Rain

Rain is always a gift for photography, but many of us avoid it because we fear getting ourselves and our iPhones wet. However, being creative with rain photography doesn’t have to involve being outside in the pouring rain.

A great way of shooting creative portraits is to use the droplet formations on glass, such as bus stop window panes, coffee shop windows, etc.

Ask your subject to stand on the other side of the glass – you can wait until after the rain stops if they don’t want to get wet!

Make sure you tap to set focus on the raindrops, so that the droplets appear in sharp focus and the background becomes blurred.

Experiment with having your subject in different poses, such as looking up or placing their hand on the glass. Another great technique is to use the subject’s umbrella as a colorful backdrop.

Rain tends to creates a romantic, atmospheric feeling. Capturing this kind of shot at night, with the streetlights making the raindrops sparkle, can create a wonderfully dreamy mood in your images.

4. Shoot From An Interesting Perspective

You don’t always need to have your subject standing or sitting in a portrait photo. And you don’t always have to shoot straight ahead from standing height.

To make your portraits more interesting, experiment with shooting from more unusual perspectives. For example, you could ask your subject to lie down while you photograph them from above.

This technique worked really well in the photo above. There was interesting light and shadow falling across the floor, and shooting from this angle was the best way to capture this light on my subject.

In this photo, asking the subject to lie on the glass platform of a tall building meant that her hair could be splayed out for creative effect.

Shooting from a more unique angle will instantly give your portrait photos a more creative impact. Experiment with low angles and high angles to see just how different your images will look.

5. Use A Good Backdrop

The background is just as important as the subject in portrait photography. Whenever you’re photographing people, pay close attention to their surroundings.

If the backdrop is too distracting, move them to a better location. This might just involve moving a few feet, or you might have to adjust your shooting angle.

You can also try using the Portrait mode feature of your Camera app.

For instance, if you’re shooting outdoors and the background is very busy, shooting from a low angle will allow you to use the sky as your backdrop.

Shooting from a high vantage point allows you to use the ground as your background. This perspective works particularly well if your subject is standing on a staircase.

Our eyes are naturally drawn to leading lines and symmetry, so how about incorporating these powerful elements into the background of a portrait photo?

Even though the background in this city scene is quite busy, the leading lines draw the viewer’s eye right into the center of the photo toward the subject’s face.

When shooting in busy city locations, look out for symmetry and lines that you could use as the backdrop for your portrait photos. It can create a powerful composition with a strong sense of depth.

Whatever you choose as your background, it should complement the subject and allow them to stand out within the scene.

6. Add A Sense Of Mystery

It’s true that a person’s facial expression tells a story, but have you thought about keeping the subject’s face partially or completely hidden?

This can add a sense of mystery to the scene, making the viewer more intrigued about your photo and the subject.

By using a broken mirror for example, you can arrange the pieces in a manner that creates a visually appealing image with a wonderful sense of mystery.

Another way to create a mysterious atmosphere is to keep the subject “faceless.” Ask your subject to turn away from the camera, or use something to obscure their face such as their hair, a hood, a hat, a big leaf, their hands, etc.

Be on the lookout for other elements such as light that will enhance the magical mood of the portrait. In the photo above, light leaking through the plants gives the hair a lovely glow.

Smoke bombs are perfect for creating a more ethereal and mysterious atmosphere. These are especially powerful when you have light shining through the smoke.

Asking your subject to flip their hair creates a dramatic and mysterious faceless portrait which is unique by its own accord. When taking this kind of shot, use burst mode to capture multiple action shots.

7. Shoot Reflections

Reflections are a great technique to experiment with in portrait photography. A mirror is a really useful asset for creative portrait work. It could be a handheld mirror or another reflective surface such as the watch in the photo below.

When shooting reflection photos, play around with the the angle of the reflective surface and the angle that you shoot from. It can make a big difference to the appearance of the reflection.

Another thing to think about is how close your camera lens is to the reflective surface. In the photo below I got really close the reflection in the watch.

This created a really unique portrait that looks even more interesting when flipped upside down in post-processing.

By experimenting with the distance and shooting angle, you can create incredibly unique and surreal shots using reflective surfaces.

Conclusion

A great portrait doesn’t have to be a person in a traditional pose smiling at the camera. Candid shots and non-traditional setups will often result in far more interesting photos.

The best way to create more unique shots is to always try something completely new. Try to think of interesting ways to capture a portrait in a more creative way.

Experiment with lighting to create different moods and shadow effects in your image. Vary your shooting angle and the position of your subject, and don’t forget to use great backgrounds.

Don’t be afraid to create a bit of mystery in your photos. You don’t always need to show the face of your subject. Leaving something to the imagination will intrigue the viewer and keep their attention for longer.

Play around with props such as mirrors and reflective surfaces to capture a different take on reality. And the next time it rains, don’t just run for shelter – embrace the opportunity to get creative with water droplets in your portrait photos.

By experimenting with different techniques and ideas, you’ll always discover something new and your photography will never become stale. There really are endless ways that you can shoot interesting portrait photos.

So why don’t you find a willing subject and try out some of these creative techniques? You might be surprised at the amazing shots you can create together.

The post 7 Ways To Shoot More Creative Portraits With Your iPhone appeared first on iPhone Photography School.