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Guide to Smartphone Photography

[For IDH, August 2023]

Environment portrait, Cartagena in Colombia. Samsung Galaxy S6 using Burst Mode

Mits anders vermeld: eigen foto's gemaakt met de Samsung's Galaxy-lijn en iPhone📱> Galaxy S6, S7, S10+ en iPhone 13 Pro

Introduction

In this compact guide, we delve into the art of smartphone photography, catering to both Samsung and iPhone devices. We cover tips and techniques for capturing beautiful nature photos, expressive portrait shots, and detailed images in various styles. From vibrant landscapes to minimalist compositions, from daylight to evening shots.

Hopefully, you'll be able to elevate your skills to a higher level, both for your upcoming travel adventures and your daily Instagram posts. Take your time to go through the guide and experiment with the different techniques. If you have any questions or comments after reviewing the guide, feel free to send me an email or message me through whatsapp.

Enjoy the process of learning and creating, and above all, capturing the beauty around you, whether that's on work site, vacation or in your own home.

Very best regards,
Maarten

July 29th, 2016, Santiago de Cuba. Galaxy S6. World journey, #break, #withgalaxy

Above you'll find a photo of two 'vigilant' dogs on a balcony in Santiago de Cuba, taken in 2016. During my extensive journey, I had only a mobile phone with me, which was quite unusual at the time. Nevertheless, I relied on the quality of the camera. This trust was rewarded because after sharing the photo on Instagram, Samsung Netherlands asked if they could use this photo and the accompanying series. This marked the beginning of my interest in smartphone photography, which I later further integrated into my work and photography endeavors.

Outline

👀 Essential Elements

👤 Learning

📷 Practice

🎨 Editing

I'd like to take you through the outline of this guide. We begin by examining examples and addressing the question: what makes a beautiful photo? We look a some essential elements of good photos first.

Next, you'll learn about the basic settings of your smartphone camera and techniques to gain control over exposure, depth of field, and perspective. We'll also delve into composition and how to play creatively with elements. We'll provide tips on adding more depth to your photos, as well as when and how to use different modes. This section concludes by addressing frequently asked questions from learners.

Following that, you'll receive tips for practical exercises, where you'll set and lock the exposure, experiment with focus and perspective, and utilize special modes such as Night, Portrait, and Panorama.

Lastly, you'll learn about post-processing techniques like color balance, atmosphere and exposure adjustments, contrast enhancements, straightening or tilting, blemish removal, cropping, and creating more depth of field through blurring.

Essential photo elements

What Makes a Good Photo?

The definition of a good photo is subjective and can vary depending on one's taste, experiences, and the current cultural context. Nevertheless, there are several factors that contribute to the appeal of a photo for me:

Emotion: A good photo evokes emotions and tells a story. Atmosphere and light play a crucial role in eliciting these emotions in the viewer.
Beauty: Whether it's nature, art, black and white, or color, visual allure enhances the impact of a photo. What one finds visually attractive is personal, but strong composition, geometry, and color balance often contribute to beauty.
Sense of Presence: A powerful photo creates a feeling of being there, achieved through depth, framing, and a clear, sharp subject.

While the interpretation of a good photo can vary, these elements often ensure that an image leaves a lasting impression. When you've taken the photo yourself, it often transports you back to the place and moment it was taken, creating an emotional connection with the image. This means the photo doesn't need to be 'objectively' beautiful, but the emotions it evokes in you are subjective and unique to you.

Practical Tips for Better Photos

To enhance your photographic skills and create compelling photos, you can apply the following tips and techniques:

Understand the elements that make a photo appealing, such as light, composition, photographic technique, and perspective.
Study high-quality photos to gain inspiration and recognize the techniques employed.
Apply the learned techniques in your own situations and experiment with various angles and compositions.
Plan your photo sessions around specific themes or elements you wish to capture, such as lighting effects, color contrasts, or unique perspectives.
Exercise patience and remain vigilant for the right moment to take a photo; sometimes luck plays a role in capturing the perfect scene.
Learn from your experiences and evaluate your results to further develop your skills.
Experiment with different photo editing tools to enhance your photos and create the desired style and atmosphere.
Share your work with others and seek feedback to learn from their perspectives and ideas.

By applying these tips and techniques while practicing regularly, you'll refine your photographic abilities and produce more captivating and appealing photos.

Interesting scene, balance, clear subject, lines to create depth

Symmetry/balance, colors, perspective, scale.

Macro, clear subject, blurred background ("bokeh": Japanese word for blur).

Emotion, story, depth of field, focus.

Terms, Functions, Techniques

Basics

There are several basic settings you should know and understand. These settings will give you control over the focus, exposure (shutter) and balance of your photos.

Additionally, you can also utilize important menu settings such as HDR, grid lines, and leveling. Familiarizing yourself with and comprehending these settings can aid you in capturing better and more professional-looking photos.

Focus

Tap to focus, hold to lock. iPhone: yellow square, Samsung: white circle

Exposure, lighting

Compensate for too much or too little light. Creatively over or underexpose. Extend dynamic range by enabling HDR. On iPhone, it's 'Smart HDR'; on Samsung, it's 'HDR'

Balance

Handy tip: enable the 3x3 grid

Control:

Shutter Release: Use the on-screen button or volume buttons. Samsung: additional 'floating' on-screen button possible, voice or palm gesture. Extra: Use Bluetooth remote control.
Burst Photo: Capture a sequence of photos, useful for action shots or quickly moving objects like children, where timing might be challenging. Later, select the best photo(s). iPhone: slide and hold the shutter button to the left Samsung: slide the shutter button downwards.
Set Focus Point: Tap on the subject you want to focus on. Be aware of your minimum focusing distance.
Adjust Exposure: Modify exposure by tapping and moving the screen up or down.
Lock Focus and Exposure: Use AE/AF lock to fix the focus point and exposure.

Settings in the Menu:

HDR or Rich Tone: Activate High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode to combine different exposures for better photos (auto, on, or off).
3x3 Grid or Guidelines: Implement guidelines to enhance the composition, symmetry, and balance of your photo.
Leveling: Utilize the leveling tool to ensure your photos are taken straight, whether it's upward or downward. iPhone: plus sign, Samsung: circle and bubble.
Other Relevant Setting: With the volume buttons, you can also set them to start video recording or capture burst photos.

Highlighting Exposure

How do I adjust the exposure?

Manually: Focus and move the exposure icon (the 'sun' symbol) up or down on the screen. This is referred to as underexposure and overexposure.
When: Apply this technique in challenging lighting situations (such as during a sunset) to correct incorrect automatic exposure or for creative purposes.

Also good to know:

Impact of adjusting exposure: It affects the atmosphere and color intensity of the photo.
HDR: HDR (High Dynamic Range) helps you automatically by combining different exposure levels. You can set HDR to auto, on, or off.
With 'live' photo mode enabled (top right), you can create a long exposure shot [iPhone]."

Slightly too much light, so adjust the exposure. The adjusted exposure during sunset (underexposed) creates a dramatic and warmer scene. Reality: much brighter. Technique: Locked focus on foreground + underexposed.

Too little light: the Night kicks in to compensate. In reality, it was pitch dark. It's incredible what the automatic Night mode can achieve.

Examples of artificial lights include fluorescent lights (TL), neon lights, LED lights, as well as natural sunlight, fire, and more.

Capturing a lot of darkness and light using HDR. Do you recognize the "HDR look" in your photos?

Depth

How to create Depth and Dimension?

Depth in a photo is crucial for a 3D sensation. You can employ various techniques to enhance depth and captivate the viewer, such as blurring, lines, lens usage, contrast, and perspective:

Blur: By intentionally blurring elements in the background, viewers can focus on sharp foreground elements, enhancing the sense of depth:

Utilize distance variation between foreground and background to create natural depth of field. Use elements like the ground, walls, ceiling, pillars, or framing as reference points for distance. Shoot from a high or low perspective to enhance the feeling of depth.
Using Portrait Mode on smartphones (starting from Samsung S10 and iPhone X), you can artificially reduce depth of field. This works not only for portraits but also for many other subjects. Adjust depth of field further in the editing feature if needed.

Leading Lines: Converging or vanishing lines can intensify the sensation of depth and guide the viewer's eye to specific elements in the image.
Lens Usage: By employing different lenses, such as ultra-wide or compressed lenses, you can amplify the sense of depth in an image in ways the human eye cannot perceive. (ultra-wide 0.5x)
Contrast: Utilizing strong contrast between light and dark in an image directs the viewer's attention to specific elements, thereby enhancing the sense of depth. (see example photo on the right)
Perspective: Employing various perspectives, like a low angle or shooting from a high viewpoint, strengthens the feeling of depth in an image.

Noordwijk, Netherland, June 2022

Lens Usage, on the beach

Same location, different lenses (here: 0.5x)

(1x)

(3x)

Natural lens blur while close to foreground (iguana). Taken with a Galaxy S6, 2016

Lens usage (2x), blurred foreground while on the ground, lines to the subject (boy on the scooter)

Converging Lines

Leading Line

Low Perspective:

Low to the ground, seeking lines, a converging line. In this case, they lead toward the two silhouettes on the beach. Unfortunately, the silhouette is interrupted due to someone standing in front of the two individuals on the left.

Exercise: How is depth achieved in the photo above?

You can reveal the answer by double-clicking below in the empty box:

A wooden fence on the bottom left disrupts the otherwise horizontal lines of the horizon, waves, and beach. The fence is also blurry because it was photographed up close, similar to the photo on the left. The silhouettes are nicely separated from each other. The lines of the concrete slabs provide depth, and because the silhouettes of the boys playing soccer are smaller, they also add more depth to the photo.
Detail: The reflection of the sun (bottom left) on the lens elements of the camera creates a light source on the bottom left. This can easily be removed in post-processing.

Two more examples where timing and focus create a different perspective and depth

Lens Perspectives

The Ultrawide Lens (0,5x)

Expanding Your Horizons The ultrawide lens takes you beyond the standard, capturing breathtaking vistas and sweeping panoramas. Offering a 0.5x zoom, this lens brings more into your frame, allowing you to embrace the grandeur of the scene before you. But it doesn't stop there – the ultrawide lens's macro capabilities let you explore the minutiae of the world, discovering beauty in the tiniest details.

The Wide-Angle Lens (1x)

Finding the Familiar At 26-28mm, the wide-angle lens is your faithful companion for everyday photography. Its versatility ensures that the world as you see it can be captured authentically. From street scenes to group portraits, this lens captures life's moments in sharp focus, vivid colors, and stunning clarity.

The Telephoto Lens (2-3x):

Drawing You Closer Exclusive to the Pro models, the telephoto lens brings distant subjects within reach. With a 3x zoom, this lens allows you to capture intricate details from afar, making it ideal for wildlife, sports, and candid shots where getting physically closer might not be possible.

As an example of more smart functions on modern phones, I can mention the iPhone. The iPhone 14 also boasts a range of features that enhance your photography experience. The advanced flash system, powered by two white LEDs, ensures well-lit shots even in challenging lighting conditions. The inclusion of a depth camera, utilizing LiDAR technology, aids in achieving accurate depth perception, elevating your portrait photography to new levels of artistry.

Essential Knowledge for Portraits and Selfies:
Lens Distortion

Understanding lens distortion is crucial when it comes to capturing portraits and selfies. Every lens has a certain level of distortion, which is why there are specialized lenses designed for portraits that present the face in flattering proportions. The standard lens on your mobile device, however, doesn't possess this feature. As a result, when taking a close-up photo, your features, such as your nose, might appear larger. The farther away you are from the camera, the more natural your facial features appear.

[Tip: utilize the zoom function/Portrait Mode*] When photographing a group or multiple people, and they are not too close to the camera, the standard lens works well. Distortion is minimized, ensuring that facial features remain true to their natural proportions.

Effective Techniques for Nature and Urban Photography: Depth

Moreover, each lens portrays distances to elements differently (such as those among flowers, trees). It's important to understand that the wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle lenses capture a vast portion of the scene, including streets, yet houses, people, and landmarks might appear distant and small in the frame. This might not replicate how our eyes perceive the scene. To align with our natural sense of distance, use the 3x zoom to bring the environment and distances closer to what we experience.

The wide-angle (0.5x) lens offers the opportunity to capture perspectives that extend even beyond the natural limits of human vision. In this example, a bottom-up shot of an artwork is taken. The presence of people within the frame not only provides scale but also adds an element of wonder to the composition.

Combining Foreground and Background:

Utilizing the 2x or 3x telephoto lens, you can effectively bridge the gap between the foreground and background. This optical phenomenon is referred to as compression in photography. By doing so, the distinct layers of your composition are brought closer together, creating a more visually unified image. While the 1x or 0.5x lenses are certainly capable of capturing the foreground aptly, the background would appear significantly smaller (1x) or entirely absent (0.5x) in comparison.

This technique empowers you to orchestrate a harmonious interplay between the various elements in your frame, delivering a compelling visual narrative that draws the viewer into the scene.

By selectively isolating elements, you can craft photographs that exude a sense of minimalism and elegance. Deliberately concealing or not revealing every aspect in the frame can spark the viewer's curiosity and thinking, prompting them to engage more deeply with the image.

Compositie

Composition is the art of arranging and constructing elements within an image to create a harmonious and appealing coherence. It stands as a fundamental aspect of photography, allowing you to direct the viewer's attention and effectively convey your narrative.

Several ways to organize elements in an image include the use of symmetry, geometric shapes, and repetition (do you recognize these traits on the right?). Consider the intended purpose and aspect ratio, such as for use on a website or social media. Pay attention to the space around the image elements and avoid unnecessary cropping. It's often better to capture a broader frame and trim it later. Play with light, incorporating backlighting and shadows, while maintaining a simple frame. For portraits, avoid busy backgrounds unless there's enough contrast to distinguish the subject from the background.

Practical Tips:

Grid: Enable the 3x3 grid to explore various compositions. Can you identify the 'rule of thirds' in the image on the right?

Movement: Change your own position and rearrange elements to try out different options.

Masking: Place something in the foreground to hide distracting elements or divert attention away from them.

Creativity:

Draw inspiration from others and nurture your unique creative style. Experiment with different compositions and techniques to craft engaging and distinctive images. Hence, here are some creative tips to set you on the right path:

Inspiration: Gather ideas from fellow photographers on platforms like Instagram and Pinterest.
Reinvention: Adapt successful concepts from previous shots and apply them in new scenarios.
Arrangement: Practice setting up scenes for portraits, flat-lays, and other styles.
Depth and Framing: Play around with depth and framing to make your compositions more intriguing.
Save and Bookmark Ideas: Store inspiring concepts for later use and as references for upcoming projects, locations, and travels.

Continue fueling and developing your creativity by constantly experimenting and learning from both your own work and that of others.

Compositions in Portraits: Framing the Essence

When capturing a portrait, deciding which part of a person to include in the frame is crucial. Do you go for a full-body shot, and if so, how much of it? What elements to incorporate and what to omit? Understanding how to take portrait 'croppings' is explored in detail through resources like PetaPixel and PhotographyTalk. One overarching guideline is to avoid cropping at or just below joints. This principle ensures that the portrait remains harmonious and the subject's essence is preserved.

Experiment with Positioning:

Lowering your perspective towards the water, you capture not only the sun's reflection but also the surfer. Additionally, she's positioned on the 'golden ratio' which provides visual harmony. It's visually pleasing that the surfer is entering the frame, guiding the viewer's gaze inward. On the right-hand photo, where the surfer exits the frame, there's a sense of unease. Similar feelings arise when someone at the edge or corner of the frame gazes outward instead of into the photo's space.

To capture the motion of the surfer moving through the water, consider utilizing the 'burst' mode, enabling you to freeze the sequence of his movement in a captivating manner.

Capture Vertical Photos for Impact:

Opt for vertical orientation in your photographs. The dark sand in the foreground serves as a compelling foundation, imparting strength to the composition and anchoring the top portion of the image. The strategic application of the 'rule of thirds' is evident here; all key elements are positioned along one-third of the frame, delivering visual balance and engagement.

The jellyfish in the foreground doesn't contribute significantly. It's too small in the frame, is not well-lit, and have a odd form due to the wide-angle lens.

Grant it a place within the frame, positioned here in the foreground.

Horizon on One Third

Horizon on Two Thirds

In the middle, mirroring the hot air balloon nicely.

V-arrangement

Additional Features

Have you ever tried out all the available photo modes on your smartphone? Familiarize yourself with the auto mode, portrait mode, burst mode, night mode, macro, panorama, pro mode (Samsung), as well as slow-motion and timelapse videos.

Remember to adjust the white balance when dealing with challenging light sources, and consider using apps like Halide (iOS) or Pro mode (Samsung) for manual adjustments to your settings.

Other Modes to Explore:

Auto Mode - Recognizes Objects and Scenes
Portrait Mode - Creating Artificial Depth
Burst Mode - Mastering Timing and Patience
Night Mode - Auto, Off, and Manual Settings
Macro Mode - Understanding Minimum Focus Distance
Panorama Mode - Holding Your Device Vertically
Pro Mode (Samsung) or Using the Halide App (iOS) - Manual Control over Shutter Speed, ISO, Sharpness, and White Balance*
Video - Including Slow-Motion (triggered by movement) and Timelapse/Hyperlapse

*Please note that availability may vary based on the smartphone model and the camera app you are using.

Panorama Photography

When capturing a panorama, there are several important tips to keep in mind for the best outcome:

Correct Positioning: Hold your smartphone vertically for horizontal panoramas and horizontally for vertical panoramas.
Smooth Pivot: Rotate your entire body rather than just moving your arm. This technique results in a seamless transition between different segments of the panorama.
Starting and Stopping: Don't hesitate to initiate and conclude the panorama process as you see fit.
Retrying for Distortion: If you notice distortion or uneven horizons, feel free to retry and correct until you achieve the desired result.

The panorama feature of a smartphone can prove advantageous in various scenarios, such as:

Capturing Expansive Landscapes or Cityscapes: Ideal for when encompassing everything within a single frame is challenging.
Architectural Photography: Useful for capturing wide buildings or structures while retaining both detail and perspective.
Photographing Large Groups or Objects: Great for events, weddings, or occasions where numerous people or objects need to be captured.
Creative Exploration: Allows you to experiment, creating curved lines or circular compositions by moving the camera during the panorama capture. Don't hesitate to try vertical panoramas as well.
High-Resolution Images: Utilizing the Ultra Wide Lens (0.5x) limits you to sensor resolution (typically 8-12MP), but with panorama, you can generate images as large as around 80MP.
360-Degree Photography: A specific mode enables the creation of a 360-degree image by revolving the camera around yourself.

Granada in Nicaragua

Blyde Rive Canyon in South Africa

Laguna 69 (4600m) in Peru

Burst-mode

Burst Mode Burst mode is a feature that enables you to capture a continuous sequence of photos by holding down the shutter button to the left (iPhone) or downwards (Samsung).

On modern iPhones or Samsung devices, there's virtually no limit to the number of images you can capture in burst mode, with a rapid shooting speed of around 25 frames per second (fps). This feature proves convenient as it allows you to later select the optimal photo from the burst series, ensuring you choose the perfect shot.
When utilizing burst mode, keep in mind that you won't have the extended range of HDR (high dynamic range) available, which may affect the dynamic lighting contrasts in the photo.
Burst mode becomes especially advantageous when photographing motion, whether it's in nature with birds or children, as it allows you to capture swift movements and select the best frame afterwards.

Night Mode:

The night mode, automatically activated in low-light conditions, aids in capturing clear and sharp photos in dark settings. Available from Samsung Galaxy S9 and iPhone 11 onwards, here are some tips to make the most of it:

Stability: Keep your smartphone as stable as possible while shooting in night mode.
Support: Look for something to lean your smartphone against or use a tripod. Consider using a timer delay (3s, 5s, or 10s) or a remote control to reduce hand vibrations.
Minimize Movement: Night mode works best with stationary subjects, as moving objects can cause artifacts in the photo.
Creative Exploration: Experiment with motion for artistic effects, such as light trails. For this purpose, consider using paid apps like Slow Shutter Cam (Android) or Halide (iPhone). Additionally, explore the possibility of converting a Live Photo into a Long Exposure photo (Example hereunder)

'Macro' Photography

Macro photography is a technique where you get very close to your subject to capture small details. Below are practical tips to help you capture sharp close-up photos with your smartphone:

Determine the Minimum Focus Distance: Find out the minimum focus distance of your device. For example, the iPhone 13 Pro has a macro mode using the wide-angle (0.5x) lens with a minimum focus of about 2 cm when 'macro control' is enabled. Some devices, often Samsung models, have a dedicated macro lens accessible through the 'More' tab.
Pre-Focus: Focus on a nearby object first (and lock focus with AE/AF-lock) before gradually moving towards the actual subject.
Use a Remote: If reaching the shutter button is difficult or pressing it causes camera movement, use a remote control.
Burst Mode: When dealing with moving subjects like insects, use burst mode to capture multiple shots rapidly in succession.
Adequate Lighting: Ensure sufficient lighting, as shooting up close can cast shadows that deprive the camera of light.
Sharpness: Be critical and pay close attention to the sharpness of your photo.
Telephoto Lens: Consider using a telephoto lens for more background blur in your macro photos. This can help your subject stand out.

By following these tips, you can master the art of capturing intricate details with your smartphone's macro photography capabilities.

Ensure Sufficient Backlight for Close-Up Photography

When capturing close-up images, having adequate backlight is crucial to enhance the quality of your photos. In the image above, the sunlight coming from behind accentuates the details of the leaf's texture and veins, even revealing the individual grain of green. This backlighting effect can add depth and visual interest to your close-up shots, making the subject's features stand out and creating a captivating composition.

iPhone 13 Pro, 2022 (2x zoom), Grasshopper, Slovenia, 2022

iPhone 13 Pro, 2022, 0,5x via macro-modus, Flower stamen at home

Galaxy S6, 2016. Costa Rica

Chlorophyll

iPhone 13 Pro, 2022, Flower

iPhone 13 Pro, 2022, eye

iPhone 13 Pro, 2022, Beer bubbles

Answers to FAQ

Below, you'll find tips that cover the different lenses, the night mode in low light, and the live mode for simulating motion.

Issue:
I cannot capture the depth or the height of elements like mountains in a photograph.

Understanding how our eyes perceive depth and distances is crucial in such situations.

Using the standard wide-angle lens (1x) often makes mountains appear farther away than they truly are, due to differences in how our eyes perceive depth and proportions. This is where the use of a telephoto lens, such as the 2x or 3x zoom, can be valuable when photographing mountains and aiming to convey a sense of depth.

To convey the correct size and proportions of elements in the photo, compositional hints can be incorporated. This may involve framing, composition, foreground and background elements, contrast, and (un)sharpness.

Including an object in the photo, like a person or a recognizable item, can serve as a reference to understand the scale and size of the mountains better. In essence, grasping how our eyes perceive depth and distances can aid in creating photos with a sense of depth. Employing compositional hints can help convey accurate size and proportions. We'll delve deeper into this topic later on.

Which elements add depth to the photo?

Ultra wide-angle (0,5x)

'Tele-lens' (2x)

Bij tegenlicht

In Backlight To improve exposure in situations with backlighting, you can use the HDR (High Dynamic Range) feature on the iPhone. This function automatically takes multiple photos with different exposures and combines them into a single image. Enable the HDR feature through Settings, and verify its activation by checking for the HDR icon on the screen. (Starting from iPhone 13, the icon is no longer visible but is automatically activated.)

If the subject appears too dark, you can also manually adjust the exposure. This might result in overexposing the bright background but ensures proper exposure of the subject.

When capturing portraits, it's often best to shoot with the sun at your back, meaning you're shooting with the light. This way, the light falls on the subject's face, ensuring proper exposure. If this isn't feasible, consider changing your own position or asking the subject to move to a different spot. The use of fill lighting or flash could also be an option, although it might lead to unnatural lighting and shadows.

Sometimes, backlighting and creating silhouettes are exactly the effects you want (for example, for atmosphere or simplicity).

Problem:
Photos often appear "too flat," failing to convey the feeling of the moment.

Answer:
If you frequently find that your photos lack depth and fail to capture the essence of the moment, there are various techniques you can employ to add more dimension to your images. Firstly, it's crucial to understand that a photograph is 2D while the world is 3D. To create the illusion of depth, you can incorporate cues within the photo. Here are several techniques you can use:

Utilize the lens positions strategically to shoot past objects, lines, etc. This can help create a sense of depth within the photo.
Frame the scene and look for framing or foreground elements that contribute to the image. This can also assist in creating depth and guiding the viewer's eye to the subject. Refer to the example photos below with explanations.
Use objects of known size to introduce scale to the photo. For instance, place a person in the foreground and a building in the background to illustrate size proportions within the photo.
Ensure that objects are clearly distinguishable and not blending into each other. This can be achieved by seeking contrast, such as placing a flower against a light or dark background or positioning a person against a plain backdrop.
Employ converging lines to direct the viewer's gaze towards the subject and establish a sense of depth in the photo.

Also, refer to the chapter on Depth for more insights.

Problem:
Achieving sufficient sharpness in photos, especially when zooming or in low-light conditions.

Answer:
If you're encountering issues with achieving sharpness in your photos, particularly when zooming or in low-light situations, there are several techniques you can use to capture sharper images.

For capturing sharper close-up shots, utilize the macro function and lock the focus when necessary. This can be done by enabling the Macro control in the camera settings and selecting the flower icon at the bottom left. See also Macro photography.
When zooming, it's advisable to use optical zoom (up to 3x) and avoid excessive digital zooming, as this won't enhance image quality. If needed, you can crop the photo later to achieve the desired level of zoom.
In low-light conditions, your iPhone will naturally demand more light (visible as a yellow counter at the top). It can be beneficial to use your iPhone's automatic Night mode. Keep your phone steady and follow the on-screen prompts, as Night mode extends the shutter speed to gather more light. Manual adjustment of the shutter speed may also be necessary. Keep in mind that capturing moving subjects may prove challenging, and the Live Photo feature is unavailable in Night mode.

Yvette van de Laar: My Son Sanctuary, Vietnam, 2017

Unframed. Elements do not provide any indication or hint of depth.

Fanal, Madeira, 2020. Framed, mist/atmosphere, contrast

Framing is the use of elements in the foreground to frame the subject of the photo. It can help guide the viewer's attention to the subject and create more depth. For example, you can take a photo of a landscape with a tree in the foreground, where the branches of the tree frame the landscape and create more depth. Or, as shown above, a tree framing another tree.

Problem:
Photographing in complete darkness can be challenging. How do I proceed when it's pitch black?

Answer:
Nighttime photography can indeed be tricky, especially when dealing with moving subjects or very low light conditions. However, with the Night mode feature on the iPhone, you can capture beautiful photos even in extremely low light.

To use Night mode, keep your iPhone steady and tap on the Night mode icon that appears when the iPhone detects a dark environment.
Optional: For situations like photographing stars, you can manually adjust the exposure. Tap and hold the exposure button on the screen and then swipe up or down to adjust the exposure. This can help capture more details in the dark parts of the photo and enhance the colors. Additionally, using a sturdy tripod, setting a timer for the shutter release, or using a Bluetooth remote control can further improve the quality of your nighttime shots.

In this photo, you can use the Night mode to capture the blooming purple heather after sunset. Additionally, manually adjusting the exposure can help bring out more details and enhance the colors. This combination of techniques can make the photo more vibrant and visually appealing.(Taken with a Samsung Galaxy S10, Leusden, 2010)

Utilize the Night mode with an extended exposure time to capture the stars in Madeira. You can manually adjust the exposure to capture more details in the sky and make the stars more visible. Don't forget to use a flashlight to help with the exposure. This technique will help you create a stunning shot of the night sky in Madeira.

(Samsung Galaxy S10, Madeira 2020, 30 sec exposure)

Simulating Motion (iPhone only)

Extra: How to add more motion to your photo?

Converting a 'Live' photo into a 'Long Exposure' can be used to introduce more motion into a photo. For instance, this technique can result in a smooth flow or waterfall effect for running water. In street photography, it can capture the motion of traffic and people as smooth streams or streaks. This helps enhance the dynamics and sense of movement in the photo.

Remember that capturing motion with a 'Long Exposure' depends on the amount of movement in the subject and the stability of the iPhone during the shot. Using a tripod or stable surface to place the iPhone on can minimize motion and improve photo quality.

Steps for Converting to Long Exposure:

Open the camera app and switch to 'Live' photo mode (circle icon at the top-right).
Select the subject you want to photograph. For capturing running water or motion in street photos, the subject should be in motion.
Hold the iPhone as steadily as possible while taking the shot to avoid blurriness.
Open the 'Live' photo you just took. You can identify it by the 'Live' label at the top-left corner. Select 'Long Exposure.'
Wait for the iPhone to process the photo. This might take a few seconds depending on the amount of motion in the original 'Live' photo.
The resulting photo will have a 'Long Exposure' effect, capturing the subject's motion as smooth streams or streaks.
Use the built-in photo app, Snapseed, or Lightroom to edit the resulting photo if needed.

Normal photo with Live enabled.

'Live' information converted to Longe Exposure photograph.

Grote Marktstraat-Spui, The Hague

Everythings is moving :)

Practice

Here are more practical tips for smartphone photography:

Maintain a stable posture to avoid motion blur. This is less of an issue during daylight with sufficient lighting.
Use your arm to create interesting angles and perspectives.
Experiment with different angles and distances to make the subject more captivating.
Apply the rule of thirds for better composition.
Utilize burst mode for action shots to capture the best moments.
Play with depth of field by focusing on different parts of the subject.
Use the ultrawide mode to capture more of the landscape.
Employ the close-up/macro mode for capturing details up close.
Make the most of natural light and avoid using flash whenever possible.

Nabewerking

Adjust your photos to get the most out of them. Make adjustments to enhance the photo's realism or to reinforce a particular mood or feeling. We'll be using the free app Snapseed (available on iOS and Android) for this purpose.

Here are some editing adjustments that can be useful:

White Balance: Adjust the color temperature/tint for the right colors and atmosphere.
Exposure: Tune the exposure for a well-lit photo.
Details: Enhance certain elements with more texture and contrast to make them stand out.
Shadows and Highlights: Adjust these settings to reveal details in dark and bright parts of the photo.
Color Saturation: Modify the saturation for desired color intensity.
Local Adjustments: Apply changes to specific parts of the photo.
Straighten: Use the Rotate tool to correct a skewed horizon.
Perspective: Correct vertical and horizontal lines if the photo was taken at an angle.
Crop: Improve composition and eliminate unnecessary elements from the photo.
Expand: Use this before rotating to maintain balance. When you rotate, the photo becomes smaller, and you might lose important parts.

These adjustments can be done with Snapseed, and they can help you bring out the best in your photos and achieve the desired look or mood.

Here it is again: the washed-up jellyfish on the beach. Focus on the foreground with a slight underexposure to ensure the sunset is well visible. It's okay if the jellyfish appears quite dark in the photo, as you can adjust its visibility during post-processing.

Local Adjustments:

Darkened and added more color to the sky for a touch of drama. Brightened the jellyfish and foam to make them more visible. In my opinion, I might have brightened and added color and texture a bit too much to the jellyfish.
Remember, this is subjective, so feel free to experiment with your own style and preferences. Removed a few small foam bubbles in the reflection to create a calmer and cleaner reflection.

Note: During post-processing, all adjustments are allowed. Feel free to make choices based on your personal taste, style, and preferences. In the previous example, there was intentionally an exaggerated focus and editing on the jellyfish to demonstrate the editing possibilities.

Closing tips:

Give yourself time to learn and experiment: Patience is crucial, and allow yourself space to grow as a photographer. Practice makes perfect.
Seek inspiration: Draw inspiration from various sources like other photographers, art, photos, and films. This helps you generate new ideas and stimulate your creativity.
Analyze: Take a critical look at photos and question what makes them attractive or not. By observing, learning, and applying, you enhance your skills.
Discover your own style: Identify what personally appeals to you in photography. Developing your own style makes your work recognizable and unique.

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