1. Capture Close-Up Details

For an intimate vibe, try getting really close to your subject. Fill the entire frame with the subject to place maximum emphasis on the important details. With no background distractions, the viewer’s attention won’t wander.

Photographing subjects like flowers from up close allows you to capture intricate detail that you wouldn’t be able to see in a photo taken from further away.

We often forget to get in close to the objects we’re shooting, but there’s so much beauty to be found in close-up subjects.

You might not think to get this close when photographing a cat, but look at the amazing detail and texture that I’ve captured here. You can almost feel the softness of its fur.

Keep in mind that the iPhone’s camera won’t be able to focus if you get too close to the subject. If you want to get really close to an object you’ll need to use an add-on macro lens.

2. Fill The Frame With The Subject

Another way to focus the viewer’s attention on a particular detail is to fill the entire frame with the subject — even if you’re not shooting it from up close.

This works particularly well when it’s the pattern or texture of the subject that you want to convey in your photo.

Including just part of a subject like this tends to create an abstract image because you’re removing it from its context.

All of the emphasis is being placed on the patterns, lines, shapes, textures, and colors – and this allows the subject to take on a whole new life.

3. Photograph Textures

Textures are an amazing detail to capture in your photos. They give your images a tactile feel and really bring them to life.

Keep your eyes peeled for different kinds of texture such as blistering paint, rough wood, rust, soft fur, feathers, leaves, grass, and anything else that makes you want to reach out and touch it.

If you shoot an autumn leaf up close you can clearly see its beautiful texture and how the wind and rain has taken its toll on it.

Now you get a feeling that the leaf has its own life.

Most textures are best captured up close, like the feather above. But sometimes you might want to shoot from further away, like I did when photographing this pile of logs.

It’s also a great idea to look out for different textures in a single scene, such as the old wooden fence and the leaves in the photo below.

4. Capture Details In Nature

Nature offers some wonderful opportunities to capture intricate details in your images.

Water droplets are perfect for adding a magical quality to your nature photos.

Be sure to venture out after the rain or early in the morning when you’ll often find dew drops on flowers, leaves, and spider webs.

Keep your eye out for tiny insects like the stunning yellow ladybird in the photo below. You often don’t notice them until you start looking more closely.

When shooting landscapes, how about including some close-up flowers in the foreground?

This really gives context to your image, showing the viewer exactly what you were experiencing out in nature.

5. Photograph Water

Water provides some excellent opportunities to capture beautiful and unique detail in your iPhone photos.

The ripples in a lake, river, or ocean create amazing patterns and texture.

Try filling the frame with just the water to emphasize the texture, color, and light reflections.

Maybe you could include some overhanging leaves like I did in the photo below to add a bit of extra color and detail.

Or take a photo on a misty day so that water gradually fades out to white. This will create a beautiful minimalist image like the one below where the focus is just on the color and texture of the water.

If you’re shooting at the beach, watch how the water creates interesting detail when it reaches the shore.

Capturing water splashes and bubbles will add a fantastic sense of energy to your water photos.

You could also experiment with including water in your indoor photography.

A few water droplets added to a leaf or flower will add a jewel-like quality to your still life photos.

6. Look For Architectural Details

Architecture is another fascinating subject that offers endless opportunities for finding interesting details to photograph.

You’ll often find that it’s easier to take great photos of buildings if you focus in on the smaller details.

Explore the exteriors and interiors of buildings, keeping your eyes peeled for any architectural details that might make an interesting photo.

Look for lines, patterns, textures, shapes and colors. Think about how you might compose your architecture shot to make the most of these features.

Filling the frame with a particular part of the building can create a stunning abstract shot.

Explore both modern and older buildings as they’ll offer very different photo opportunities.

Older buildings are great places to find rust, peeling paint, weathered wood and other interesting textures.

And don’t forget to explore other architectural structures such as bridges, industrial structures, electricity pylons, etc.

7. Capture Interesting Light

When you take a photo, you’re always capturing light in some form. But certain kinds of light are more interesting than others.

If you’re shooting on an overcast day, the light is soft and diffused. While this is great for avoiding harsh shadows in your photos, the light itself isn’t that interesting.

A sunny day provides you with more opportunities to capture beautiful light in your pictures.

Look out for interesting sun flares and beams of light that will add a magical quality to your photos.

These are especially noticeable in forests where the light streams through the gaps in the trees.

Light and shadow play offers another great photo opportunity. Wherever there’s a strong light source, you’re sure to find interesting shadows.

If you’re shooting indoors, notice how the light streams in through the window, casting shadows on walls and floors.

Explore the same location at different times of the day to get a sense of when the shadows will appear.

Shadows add a sense of mystery and drama to a photo. The darkness makes the viewer intrigued about what might be hiding in the shadows.

If you’re shooting at night or in a dark building, try using an artificial light source such as a lamp to create interesting light and shadows.

When you’re shooting in sunlight, try to notice how the color and quality of the light changes throughout the day.

Harsh midday sun is very bright and will cast dark shadows in the scene.

Shooting around the golden hours of sunset and sunrise is a great time to capture long shadows. It also produces a beautiful warm light that adds a golden glow to your photos.

Most things looks beautiful with a dash of natural light, so rather than just looking for interesting subjects for your photography, try to notice interesting light too.

8. Reveal Just Part Of The Scene

If you want to create an intriguing photo with a wonderful sense of mystery, try capturing just a part of the scene in your composition.

Rather than photographing the entire scene, focus in on a certain part of it or on certain details that will capture the viewer’s imagination.

Excluding parts of the whole story will make the viewer think for themselves. This allows their imagination to run wild so that they’re free to create their own story.

It will make them ask questions, such as: Who’s that person? What are they pointing at? What’s that object doing there? Who does it belong to?

Don’t be afraid to crop off body parts, or parts of an inanimate subject, leaving just a part of it in your photo.

Experiment with different compositions where your subject is creeping in from the edge of the frame.

Try leaving lots of negative (empty) space around your subject as this can actually help to draw attention to the important smaller details.

Focusing in on a certain detail also gives it more prominence in your photo.

In the photo above, focusing in on just the baby’s feet shows exactly what captured my attention and made me want to take a photo. The bold pattern of the fabric adds extra color and interest to the picture.

Choosing what to include and exclude from your photo might be tricky at first, but with practice you’ll learn to recognize a good composition.

Remember that you need to include enough detail to give your photo meaning, but leave out enough to create a sense of mystery and intrigue.

9. Reveal Something About Yourself

In a world full of blatant “selfies” we want to avoid the typical selfie face-shot as there’s nothing creative about them. But that doesn’t mean you can’t include yourself in your pictures.

The trick is to do it in a more subtle way. The purpose is to tell the viewer something about yourself without getting too personal or intrusive.

For example, I love the color green. So including my hand or arm in a scene full of green leaves, or holding a single green leaf against a green backdrop of grass is the perfect way to add a more personal touch to these images.

If you have a tattoo or are wearing jewelry, include it in the shot to give the viewer a little hint of who you are.

If you love flowers, include your own hand within a bed of your favorite blooms.

If you have a musical instrument that you want to photograph, include your hand within the shot to indicate that you’re actually playing the instrument.

Another technique I like to use is to include my hand in a shot to show that I’m exploring the scene and taking you on a journey.

If I hadn’t included my hand in the photo below, it would have been a fairly ordinary shot of some crops in a field. But the hand shows that I’m about to venture through these crops to explore the location.

Another option is to include your feet within the scene to show what environment you’re in. This is a classic kind of shot that can be varied to no end depending on your where you’re standing.

You might want to do this if you find a beautiful floor, if you’re at the beach, or if you find some nice colors on the ground that contrast with your footwear.

Not only does it place you within the scene, but it also creates a focal point in your photo – somewhere for the viewer to focus their attention.

If you spot a puddle on the ground, how about including your feet in the shot while capturing the rest of you as a reflection in the water?

10. Look For The Unusual

If you want to tell more interesting stories in your iPhone photos, look out for unusual details that will captivate the viewer.

You wouldn’t normally find red roses or a ball of red wool discarded in the grass. Therefore, it makes an interesting photo because it gets the viewer thinking about the scene.

Anything that will intrigue the viewer and make them want to know more about it is a great subject for a photo. You want the viewer to ask questions so that they become more interested.

Of course, you don’t just have to photograph found objects. Try using interesting props and placing them in usual places to create your own stories.

Little details like an unusual object or prop can make an ordinary scene appear extraordinary.

Once you start looking for unusual details, you’ll begin to spot little stories all around you.

For example, the flower in the photo below was once a proud member of this beautiful bouquet, but now its time has come while the rest of the bouquet stands strong.

Little details like this can be used to create wonderful stories and metaphors. Of course, the viewer will interpret every image in their own unique way… and that’s the beauty of photography!

Conclusion

Photography isn’t always about capturing the bigger picture and revealing as much as possible about the scene.

Focusing in on the smaller details and capturing just a certain aspect of the subject often creates more interesting and intriguing images.

Seek out beautiful or unusual details, and get up close to capture them in all their glory. Create a bit of mystery by leaving something to the imagination.

Aim to evoke emotions in your viewer, and use little details to create magical and captivating stories that the viewer can immerse themselves in.

The post How To Take Interesting iPhone Photos By Capturing Small Details appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Choose A Good Background

The background is just as important as the subject in a portrait photo. If the background is ugly or distracting, it’ll take away from the beauty of your subject.

A good background should enhance and complement the main subject, and it can even be used to contribute towards the story of your image.

The apple tree in the photo above looks great, especially as the colors match well with the colors of the subject’s hair and clothing. But it also tells a story about autumn when the apples are ready for picking.

Matching the color of the background with the color of your subject’s clothing can create a powerful visual impact.

In this photo, the colors of the leaves match perfectly with my subject’s scarf. Again, these autumnal colors add to the mood and story of the photo.

A good background could be a simple white or colored wall, or it can be something more imaginative like the examples here.

You can even use the ground as your background. Ask your subject to lie on soft green grass, amongst autumn leaves, or on some beautiful old floorboards, and then shoot from directly above.

2. Shoot Close-Up Portraits

If you want to capture the expressions in the face of your subject, you’ll need to shoot up close.

Facial expressions help to convey the emotion of the person in your photo. If you shoot from a distance, it might be difficult to tell whether the person looks happy, sad, serious, etc.

Another benefit of shooting up close is that you’ll capture beautiful catchlights in the eyes. These are the little reflections of light that you can see in the eyes of my subject in this photo.

Don’t be afraid to get really close to your subject, even if it means that you don’t include all of their head or face in the frame. Cropping in close will place maximum emphasis on their facial features and expressions.

3. Add An Interesting Prop

A smart way to draw attention to your subject is to add an interesting or colorful prop. This is especially useful if you’re shooting your subject from a distance.

This red umbrella instantly catches your eye, drawing your attention to it and the person holding it.

Props can really spice up your iPhone photos, turning an ordinary photo into something much more interesting.

Using props is a great way to change or enhance the mood in your photos. For example, the prop that you choose and the way you include it within the scene might add a fun, humorous, calm or sinister mood to your image.

Using props is an excellent option when photographing children as it gives them something to interact with, and you’ll often get some really unexpected results.

You can also use props to tell a story about the person you’re photographing. For example, if your subject likes flowers, ask them to hold a flower or place a flower somewhere within the scene.

It’s so easy to add a prop to portrait photography, yet it can have an incredibly powerful impact.

4. Shoot A Portrait From Behind

For something a little different, why not try shooting a portrait photo from behind your subject? Even though you can’t see the subject’s face, it can actually create really interesting photos.

Shooting portraits from behind is a great way to draw the viewer into the image. It gives the viewer the sense that they’re seeing what the subject is seeing.

This allows you to create a very personal connection between the viewer and your image.

Photographing your subject from behind makes it feel like you’re about to follow them on their journey.

This works especially well if the person is standing on a path or road, as shown in the photo below.

Of course, this technique works best if you have an interesting or beautiful scene that the viewer can relate to. It probably wouldn’t be as effective if the photo was taken in your living room.

Another reason this technique works well is that it creates a sense of mystery and drama in the photo.

It makes the viewer ask questions like: Who is this person? What do they look like? Why aren’t they looking at the camera? What are they looking at?

Anything that intrigues the viewer and makes them ask questions is definitely a plus point in photography!

5. Play Around With Focus

Normally you’d want the person to be in sharp focus in your photos. But you can actually produce some really creative shots if you shoot with your subject out of focus.

Having your subject out of focus creates a distant and dreamy feeling. It also adds a sense of mystery because it obscures the detail of the person.

To create this kind of shot, place your subject in the back of the frame, then find an object you can put in the foreground which you can focus on. The foreground object can be anything, but I often use plants and flowers.

Once you’ve composed your shot, tap on the foreground object on your iPhone’s screen to set focus on this part of the scene.

The person in the background should now appear slightly blurred. If your subject doesn’t appear blurred, get closer to the foreground object with your camera and try again.

The closer you are to the foreground object, the blurrier the background will appear. You can also experiment with positioning the subject at different distances from the foreground.

6. Create A Sense Of Scale

I love to play with scale and the relationship between human and nature. Trees are great for creating a sense of scale in your people shots.

When you find the perfect tree, ask your subject to stand beneath it, and then shoot from a distance so that the person appears tiny in comparison to the tree.

The idea is to make the tree look as big as possible. Without the person next to it, you won’t get a notion of how big the tree really is.

You can use this technique with a single tree, or in a forest where the person is surrounded by tall trees.

If you’re shooting in the city, tall buildings can be used in the same way. You can shoot a person standing next to a single building or capture them in an alleyway surrounded by tall buildings.

Another fun thing you could try is to use a technique called “forced perspective” to play around with the sense of scale in your photos.

This involves placing a small object such as this globe in the foreground, and having your person in the background so that they appear small relative to the foreground object.

This tricks the eye into thinking that there’s a tiny person in your photo! You can create really fun shots by getting the person to appear as if they’re interacting with the foreground object.

7. Capture Movement

Movement adds another dimension to a photo, making your image more dynamic and alive. So rather than always photographing people as static subjects, try to capture their movement in your shots too.

Photographing a person running or cycling adds a sense of energy to your photo. It also tells a more interesting story than a photo of them just stood still.

If you spot a nice scene, compose your shot and then wait for someone to move into the frame before snapping your shot.

Use burst mode to fire off a series of shots as the person moves through the scene. To activate burst mode, just hold the camera’s shutter button down.

After taking a sequence of shots with burst mode, you can then choose the best one with the person in the perfect position.

If you’re photographing someone you know, how about asking them to jump so that you can capture them in mid-air?

Of course, you could always use yourself as the subject if you don’t have anyone else to photograph. Just set your camera on an iPhone tripod or steady surface, then use the self-timer or a remote shutter to take the shot.

8. Catch Unique Moments

Capturing unique moments is all about preserving memories. If you have children, try photographing the special little moments as they grow up.

A moment can be anything that feel you want to preserve forever in your photos, such as your child playing in the mud, reading bedtime stories, or taking a nap.

These moments might not always result in the most beautiful photos because you often don’t have time to think about lighting and the best composition.

The goal is to catch the moment before it’s gone. My trick is to just watch my children play and have my iPhone ready to shoot at any moment.

Try to catch those moments when they don’t know you’re shooting. As soon as they notice you they’ll change their behavior and act up for the camera.

So stay in the background, observe, and shoot when the right moment arises. By capturing these unique and special moments, you’ll have hundreds or thousands of photographic memories to carry close to your heart.

9. Create A Sense Of Mystery

When photographing people, you can often create more powerful iPhone photos by not revealing the whole story to the viewer.

I like to make the viewer do their own thinking by adding elements of mystery to my images.

There are several easy ways to do this. One technique is not to show people’s faces in your photos.

We’ve already explored photographing people from behind, but there are other ways that you can hide the faces of your subjects.

Asking your subject to wear a hood or hat is an easy way for them to cover their face.

Experiment with having them face forwards and sideways, using the hat or hood to obscure their face from the camera.

You might choose to reveal part of the face, such as the eyes or mouth, but keep the rest hidden. In the photo below my subject used her scarf and hands to hide the lower part of her face.

Another way to hide facial details is to create a dark silhouette. Ask your subject to stand in front of a bright light source such as the sun or a bright sky, then tap to set focus before swiping down on the screen to reduce exposure.

Silhouettes work particularly well when capturing the side profile of a person as you can see the shape of their face but not the details or facial expressions.

I also like to experiment with only including a small part of my subject within the frame, such as their arm or hand.

By not revealing the whole picture, the viewer will start to think about the things they can’t see. This is a great way to create more intriguing and memorable photos.

10. Create The Unexpected

Placing a person in an unexpected location or an unusual pose will definitely give your people photos the wow factor.

Anything that makes the viewer wonder why that person is there or what they’re doing will create an interesting and intriguing image.

For example, this photo of a child alone in an underground carpark has a wonderful sense of drama because it’s not somewhere you’d expect a child to be.

In the photo above I composed the shot to make it look like the jumping man is flying through the air with an umbrella.

The element of surprise is not to be underestimated in photography. So try to think of unusual ways to photograph people with your iPhone.

This is another one of my favorite techniques when photographing trees and people. I simply make it appear as if the tree is growing out of the person’s head!

It’s not always easy to be original, but it won’t hurt to try. Explore your area for some unusual or interesting locations, and think about how you could place people within these scenes for an original and unexpected result.

The only limit is your imagination!

Conclusion

There are so many different ways to photograph people, but I hope these tips have given you some good ideas for capturing different kinds of portrait photos with your iPhone.

Whether you want to capture the facial expressions and emotions of your subject, or create something more mysterious and unusual, always choose a good location and background for your subject.

Once you have your location and subject, experiment with different props and poses until you create a picture that tells some kind of story or evokes some kind of emotion in the viewer.

Of course, having a willing subject makes it easy to try out these techniques, but you can also photograph strangers who walk into your scene.

And if there’s nobody else around, you can always use yourself as the subject to create some interesting self-portrait photos.

The post 10 Great Ways To Take More Interesting iPhone Photos Of People appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Experiment With Perspective & Angles

There are so many ways to photograph an object, and capturing it from an interesting angle or perspective will make your photos more unique.

Rather than always taking the shot from standing height, why not try capturing your subject from high up or low down? Or how about moving closer, moving further away, or taking a few steps to one side?

Shooting from a low angle is a great option if you want the object look big, mighty and powerful. It can also allow you to capture more foreground detail which is perfect for creating depth in landscape photos and for shooting puddle reflections.

A low angle is also a good choice when you want to eliminate a distracting background. The ski lift in the photo above is actually in the middle of the city, but shooting it from a low angle allowed me to get just the sky in the background.

Shooting from a high vantage point has a completely different effect, making the subject appear small compared to its surroundings.

And when you shoot from a high angle, the ground becomes the backdrop for your photo which works really well for creative portraits like the one below.

As well as experimenting with the height that you shoot from, you can also get creative with your shooting direction. Rather than always photographing your subject from the front, you can often create more interesting shots by photographing them from behind.

This is especially effective when photographing people. Hiding the person’s face from the viewer creates an air of mystery and suspense.

It can make the viewer intrigued about who that subject is and why they’re not looking at the camera. Mystery is a great way of creating an interesting story in your photography.

Whatever subject you’re photographing, always explore different shooting angles, perspectives and viewpoints. It’s amazing what a difference it can make to the creative impact of your photo.

2. Play Around With Scale

Creating a sense of scale is a great way to show the true size of your subject. To give the viewer an idea of the size of the subject in your photo, you need to include another subject of a known size as a reference point.

For example, when I was photographing the tree shown above, I decided to include a person standing next to it. This emphasizes just how huge the tree is. Without the person in the scene it would be difficult to gauge its true size.

Scale can also be manipulated for creative effect. By using a technique called “forced perspective” you can create the impression that certain objects are bigger or smaller than they actually are.

This is a fun technique to try out and you can end up with some really creative results. To create this effect, simply position your iPhone close to a small object in the foreground, such as the globe in the photo above.

Then position a larger object such as a person behind it. The person needs to be far enough away so that they appear very small relative to the foreground object.

This optical illusion of scale will add a fun and creative edge to your photography, and it’s so easy to set up. You should definitely give this a go!

3. Create A Shallow Depth Of Field

Depth of field refers to how much of the image is in focus from front to back. A large depth of field means that everything is in focus. A shallow depth of field has only a small part of the image in sharp focus, while the rest of it appears blurred.

A shallow depth of field is great for placing the main focus on a certain object within the scene. The viewer’s eye will naturally be drawn to the sharpest part of the image.

On a DSLR camera you adjust the aperture setting to control depth of field, but you don’t have this control on an iPhone.

Do you want to know how to blur background in photos on your iPhone? It’s actually very simple. All you have to do is make sure you have an object close the the iPhone’s camera lens, then tap the screen to set focus on that area of the scene.

Focusing on a close-up subject will automatically blur the background to create a shallow depth of field. If the background doesn’t appear blurred, just get a bit closer to your foreground subject.

Alternatively, you can use the Portrait mode feature of your iPhone camera!

A shallow depth of field also works well if you want to create a sense of mystery in your image. For instance, by blurring out a person in the background, the image can become more intriguing because the viewer will wonder who that figure is.

Depth of field is great fun to play around with and will produce some really interesting results. Just remember to always tap on the subject that you want to appear in sharp focus.

4. Create Abstracts

Some of the most creative photography comes in the form of abstracts. Abstract images can be created by photographing fundamental elements such as textures, patterns, lines, shapes, colors and light play.

An abstract photo tends to just capture the essence of the subject, rather than the entire thing. So when you spot a subject that would make a good abstract image, always move closer and fill the entire frame with the texture, pattern, etc.

By capturing only a small part of the subject without any of its surroundings, you’re taking the object out of its context. This allows you to take a very ordinary subject and create something new or different.

While getting close to your subject is a great way of capturing intricate textures and detail, not all abstracts have to be shot from close up.

A field of crops or the waves on an ocean can also make great abstracts, even when photographed from a distance.

However, the same rules apply as close-up abstracts. You should still fill the entire frame with the abstract element that you’re attempting to photograph.

Abstract photography is easier than you might think. There are so many objects that can be used to create an abstract.

You just need to start looking at everything a little differently and train your eye to notice the patterns, textures, shapes, colors, etc. around you.

5. Include A Person In The Scene

One of my favorite ways to make an ordinary scene more interesting is to add a person into the composition. This is such an easy thing to do, but it has a huge impact on a photo.

Including a person in the scene is a great way of adding a strong focal point. This is especially useful in landscape photography where you have large expanses of open space without any defining features.

Having a person in the scene gives the viewer something to focus on – a place for their eye to rest. This is really important in photography as a photo without a focal point isn’t very interesting to look at.

People also add a wonderful storytelling element to your photos. They bring the photo to life, creating a connection between the viewer and the subject.

The viewer will try to identify with the person in the photo, creating a story in their mind about what’s going on. I can’t emphasize enough how powerful this technique is!

If you want to capture people in your photos, you might be lucky enough to get some great shots of strangers, especially in street photography.

But if you’re shooting out in the countryside you’re unlikely to find many people, so ask a friend to join you to act as your model.

Photographing someone you know gives you more control over where you place your subject in order to tell the story that you envisioned.

You can even ask them to wear certain colored clothing or bring props that will add an extra visual element to the image.

If you’re out shooting on your own, don’t worry. You can simply use yourself as the subject.

All you need is a small iPhone tripod. Then use the self-timer in the camera app or a remote shutter to give yourself time to position yourself in the frame before you take the shot.

6. Create Silhouettes & Shadows

Silhouettes and shadows offer an exciting way to create more intriguing images. The darkness will add a wonderful sense of mystery and drama to your photos.

Capturing them is all down to knowing how to make the most of the available light. To create a silhouette, start by positioning your subject in front of a light source.

If you’re shooting outdoors, this could be the sun or a bright sky. And if you’re shooting indoors, just place your subject in front of a window or an artificial light source such as a lamp.

Once you’ve composed your shot, tap on the screen to set focus where you want it, then reduce the exposure by swiping down on the screen. The aim is to darken the image until your subject appears as a dark outline against the brighter background.

To capture dramatic shadows, you’ll need to shoot in harsh light. A bright sunny day will create the strongest shadows.

If you want to capture really long shadows you’ll need to shoot when the sun is low in the sky, so the golden hours of sunrise and sunset are the perfect times for this.

If you want to create a mysterious portrait, ask your subject to wear a large hood or hat. You can then position them so that it creates a dark shadow over their face.

You can also create shadows photos indoors using window light or an artificial light source.

Keep your eyes peeled for interesting shadows throughout the day. They’ll change in appearance as the sun moves through the sky, so each new hour will present a different shadow opportunity!

7. Use Props

I love to use props in my photography. They add a fun and creative element to your photos, and you can use them in so many different ways.

Umbrellas are one of my favorite props. You can use them to add a fantastic splash of color to your images, and their strong shape creates a great focal point in your composition.

Another prop I like to use is a little red chair. It’s perfect for spicing up an ordinary landscape shot, and it contrasts especially well with a green background.

Props are also useful for portrait photography. You could ask your subject to wear a hat, hold a flower, or hold up an empty picture frame around their face.

I love the way this yellow hat matches the color of my subject’s clothing, as well adding an air of mystery by hiding her face.

If you take a few minutes to look around your home, you’re sure to find a whole range of props that you could use to enhance your next photo shoot.

8. Photograph Your Subject In Different Ways

When you find something you want to photograph, challenge yourself to find at least three different ways to photograph it. This will really improve your creative eye and develop your skills as a photographer.

Don’t be satisfied with just one decent shot. Push yourself to explore more creative options so that you come away with several great photos of the same subject.

Below is photo of a mosquito net out in a garden. It instantly caught my eye as it was catching the beautiful light from the setting sun.

The net was swaying gently in the wind, creating a dreamy scene where it looked like it was dancing across the garden. That was the first thing that I wanted to capture, and so I took the photo shown above.

I was happy with the shot and started to walk away. But then I realized this net could maybe offer some more photo opportunities.

So I moved closer and found the texture of the net to be quite captivating. The sunlight that hit the net created dramatic shadows and lines.

The pattern was highly abstract but I found it mesmerizing and started shooting. For good measure I stuck my hand in there, and at last I got a shot that I really liked.

Even though I’d already taken several great shots, I still wanted to experiment with the net some more. So I called my daughter over and asked her to play around in the net. Adding a human presence created a completely different photo again.

These examples show how I captured one subject in several ways to create three very different photos. Using this technique on any subject that you’re shooting will train you to think in a more creative way.

9. Look For The Common Elements

Another very effective approach is to look for the same thing in different environments. What I mean by this is that no matter where you’re shooting, you could look out for common elements such as leading lines, symmetry or colors.

If you enjoy composing your urban shots using strong leading lines and symmetry, try to look for the same things in nature.

For instance, you can create very similar symmetrical compositions in a subway station, on a street, and with a row of trees along a country path.

Or how about finding similarities using the same shooting angle? The two photos below are an example of this.

If you look directly above you while standing beneath a tree, the lush canopy can be portrayed in the same way as a futuristic and symmetrical ceiling in a mall. The fact that both images contain a strong yellow element helps to emphasize the similarity.

As well as training your eye to spot common compositional elements in different kinds of scene, this technique also encourages you to come up with ideas even when you’re not out shooting.

For me, the process of creative thinking is just as important as executing the shot itself. Many of my shots are the result of spending time thinking about what I want to capture.

This thinking process can lead from one thing to another, based on common elements of different types of scene.

So once you start thinking about that tree you want to photograph from a certain angle, that can lead to other ideas for shooting different subjects in a similar way.

10. Revisit Places You’ve Already Photographed

A good way to develop your creativity is to revisit places that you’ve already photographed and challenge yourself to take a completely different picture than you did the last time.

Choose any place or object that you’ve photographed before, such as a building, tree, lake, spiral staircase, etc. Then go back and attempt to create some different shots.

Maybe you could visit at a different time of year, in different weather, or in different light. This can really alter the mood of the photo.

Try shooting the subject from different angles and from different distances. Add a person or prop into the scene to create a new story. Sometimes it’s enough to just add a hand or a foot into the frame to get a brand new version of an old shot!

Conclusion

Boosting your creativity is all about pre-visualization, practice and experimentation. By thinking about what you’d like to create before you actually pick up your iPhone, you’re taking the first step toward a more creative approach to photography.

And the more photos you take using different techniques and in different environments, the more interesting and unique images you’ll begin to create.

The techniques covered in this article are a great starting point for developing your photographic eye. And once you’ve mastered them you’ll be equipped to keep on growing as a photographer.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – it’s all part of the learning process! If something doesn’t work out, evaluate what went wrong and think about how you could improve the photo next time around.

The great thing about photography is that you learn something new every time you take a photo. Your creative development is ongoing, so you can only get better!

The post 10 Easy Ways To Shoot More Creative iPhone Photos appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Explore Your Area To Find The Best Trees

Trees are the most obvious subject to photograph during fall because of the dramatic change in the color of their leaves. You’ll see an explosion of red, yellow and orange at this time of year, giving you endless colorful photo opportunities with minimal effort.

The great thing about this kind of photography is that you can find trees pretty much everywhere, whether you live in the countryside or a busy city.

Explore your area to find the best trees for your photos. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a beautiful woodland, a dense forest, your local park or a simple tree-lined street.

Just make sure you put aside some time to get out and find the best locations while these beautiful colored leaves are on display.

Try to capture the trees during the entire fall season, from the time that the first leaves start falling to the ground, to when the tree branches are completely bare.

This scene will look completely different in a few weeks time. It’s worth capturing the same location at different points throughout the season so that you can document the changes.

When you’ve found a good location, experiment with different shooting angles and compositions to create the most interesting photos.

Tree-lined streets are great for creating symmetrical shots. Use the road or path as the central line of symmetry when composing your shot.

The road and the rows of colorful trees will act as leading lines, drawing the eye into the image and creating a strong sense of depth. The combination of symmetry, depth and vibrant colors is hard to beat.

If you’re shooting towards the end of autumn, most of the leaves will have fallen from the trees. But there will still be a lot of color where the leaves have fallen to the ground, so make sure you capture this in your photos.

Bare branches add a sense of drama, so it’s definitely worth shooting during late autumn, just as winter is about to begin.

2. Find A Lone Tree

Lone trees are one of my favorite subjects to shoot. The lone tree is loaded with symbolism, and it will often leave the viewer with a stronger impression than if you had photographed a group of trees.

A minimalistic scene with a single tree allows you to create a strong composition with few elements in the frame. This kind of shot will always stand out amongst the crowd when sharing your images on social media.

Whenever you’re outdoors exploring the landscape or walking through the city, keep your eyes peeled for single trees that stand apart from other distractions.

If it’s not the right time to shoot, make a note of the tree’s location. You can then revisit it when you have more time or when the weather conditions are perfect.

When photographing lone trees, try to eliminate any unnecessary distractions from the frame so that the tree remains the focal point of your image. Shooting from a low angle will help you to get more plain sky behind the tree.

Play around with the composition until you achieve an image that you’re happy with. You could experiment with placing the tree in the center of the frame, as well as using the rule of thirds to create an off-center composition.

There’s no right or wrong when it comes to composition – it’s all just a matter of taste. And a lone tree tends to look great however you choose to compose your image!

I often like to include a person in the scene when photographing a lone tree. This can create a more balanced composition, and it helps tell a more interesting story.

3. Shoot Leaves Against The Sky

A blue sky is a great complement to the strong, warm colors of the leaves at this time of year. Any kind of tree will work, as long as the colors of the leaves have started to change.

Experiment with different compositions to vary the amount of sky you include in your photo. A plain sky is great for creating a minimalist feel, so don’t be afraid to include a lot of empty space (sky) in your images.

Alternatively, try shooting straight up into the tree canopy to create a busy photo with an abstract quality. A bright blue sky will contrast wonderfully with the autumnal colors of the leaves, creating a beautiful and vibrant image.

Even if the sky is dull, it can still work as a great background for your tree and leaf photos. Shooting with the light behind the leaves creates wonderful backlighting that reveal amazing color and detail.

4. Capture Fallen Leaves

Autumn is a time when the beautiful colored leaves start falling from the trees. Fallen leaves can be a great tool to help you tell an inevitable story… summer is over and winter is coming.

This fact is packed with emotions that most people can relate to, making your image more engaging. Photographing fallen leaves will create an emotional, moody and memorable photo.

There are many different ways that you can photograph fallen leaves. You can use them in the foreground of your photo like I did with the image below.

When creating this kind of photo, shoot from a low angle, and include something of interest such as a person or tree in the background. This will add depth and an extra storytelling element to your image.

Another effective technique is to shoot from directly above. This allows you to capture the wonderful variety of leaf shapes in all their glory.

I often like to arrange leaves that I find into a pile on the ground. Or for a more strict and sober look, I’ll arrange the leaves into a simple pattern. For maximum visual impact, use a contrasting background such as grass or a path.

There are endless ways that you can arrange fallen leaves to create an eye-catching image. Adding one leaf of a different color is a great way to break the pattern and create a strong focal point.

Don’t be afraid to get close to the subject. Leaves are rich in detail, so try to capture their intricate veins and texture in your photos.

To add an extra element of interest, how about including a colorful prop such as an umbrella? This will add a strong focal point to your photo, as well as creating more visual interest and meaning.

Finally, on a wet day, you could look out for puddles covered with fallen leaves. Wet leaves will appear glossy and the colors will be more vibrant.

5. Photograph A Single Leaf

Photographing a single leaf has a similar affect to using a lone tree as your subject. By singling out one particular leaf, you create a very strong subject that’s often more powerful than a group of leaves together.

When choosing a single leaf to photograph, try to select one that has a unique or interesting feature, such as the hole in this leaf that I found.

Once you’ve found your leaf, experiment with different ways to photograph it. You could hold it up against the sky so that you get a beautiful blue background. The light shining through the leaf will reveal patterns and texture that wouldn’t be visible without this backlighting.

Alternatively, place your leaf on a solid surface and photograph it from above. Try out different backgrounds such as grass, textured wood, pebbles, sand, concrete, water, or even your hand.

Rather than just photographing it from above, try different shooting angles. In the photo above I chose to shoot from this particular angle so that I could include the beautiful background scenery in the shot.

Another good option is to go out and collect leaves to shoot at home. This can make it easier to get a good photograph as you have more control over the background and lighting.

This is especially useful if you’re shooting on a blustery day when the wind will just blow your leaves away if shooting outside.

Once you get home with your chosen leaves, try out different backgrounds such as white paper, a white table cloth, or a baking tray. Try to use something that will contrast against the color and texture of the leaf.

When shooting in your home, think carefully about the lighting. Artificial indoor lights and lamps tend to ruin the colors in a photo, and can cast ugly shadows and reflections. The best option is to shoot near a window so that you can use natural light to illuminate your subject.

6. Take Outdoor Portraits

Fall is a great time for taking outdoor portrait photos of people. I love to use leaves and the colors of the season as a backdrop for my portrait photos.

Adding a human to the scene will give your photo an extra dimension. It helps the viewer connect with the image, naturally making it a stronger photo.

There are many ways that you can use an autumn scene for the backdrop of your portrait photos. You could simply photograph a person standing in a landscape full of vivid colored trees.

But also try doing something a bit different. You could ask your subject to lie on the ground amongst the fallen leaves, then photograph them from directly above. Or ask your subject to stand in front of a tree or bush, using the leaves as an interesting backdrop.

Here I chose to put my model in front of an apple tree. I wanted to capture the season by highlighting what this time of year has to offer. The apples makes a distinct visual impact, and they tell you that summer is over. They also add a wonderful pop of color.

Look for subjects that really represent the season, and use them to your advantage. Fill the frame with your subjects to create an intimate feel and a strong theme in your portrait photos.

To get an extra intimate feel, I sometimes try to color-match the subject with the background. In this photo, the yellow scarf of my subject works as a link to the backdrop, making the two blend together in perfect harmony.

So catching the season is more than just visuals and colors. It’s a great opportunity to tell a story about what’s going on or where we’re heading.

Remember that photographing people doesn’t just have to involve full body or head shots. A simple image of a hand reaching into a pile of fallen leaves can have a powerful impact too.

7. Shoot In Mist & Fog

Photographing during fall isn’t all about capturing the stunning colors of the foliage. It’s also about taking advantage of the changes in the weather.

Mist and fog start to appear more frequently in many locations during autumn, and this provides a fantastic opportunity to create a moody and mysterious atmosphere in your photos.

Whether you’re shooting landscapes or urban environments, fog will completely change your surroundings. This can add a strong sense of drama and foreboding to your images.

A completely quiet and empty street will definitely get the viewer’s mind going. The same view in sunshine wouldn’t get as much attention.

Depending on the thickness of the fog, the visibility of the landscape will differ greatly from normal weather conditions. This will give you the opportunity to really put emphasis on certain objects that would normally become lost against the distracting background.

During this kind of weather, venture out early to capture the best light and fog. You’re also likely to find beautiful dew drops on cobwebs, grass and leaves on a foggy morning.

Adding a person into a foggy landscape is a great way of creating a mysterious and dramatic story. If the light is right, the person will appear as a silhouette in the fog, naturally making them the center of attention.

Besides the strong visual impact, the viewer will most likely wonder who that person is and what caused them to be there in the first place. This helps to engage the viewer, making them more intrigued about your photo.

Try adding a person into a foggy scene in different locations, such as a plain field, amongst trees in a forest, or on a deserted street.

Whatever your chosen location, fog is a tool that will help you take the most beautiful photos. Just remember to keep your hands steady to avoid camera shake and blurry photos in these low light conditions.

8. Enhance Colors In Post-Processing

I’m not a big fan of enhancing or changing the original colors too much when I shoot nature. But when it comes to fall photography, it’s a different story.

Depending on what kind of mood you want to create, you can either make the colors more vibrant or more muted. You can easily do this using many photo editing apps, including Snapseed and VSCO Cam.

If the leaves in your photo appear a bit faded, you can create richer and more vibrant colors by pushing up the contrast and color saturation.

This will really highlight the colors without creating an unnatural or exaggerated look. I mostly use the VSCO photo editing tools and VSCO filters.

For this photo I wanted to warm up the colors to really make the leaves stand out against their bleak surroundings. So I pushed up the color saturation and warmth settings.

Sometimes you might want to tone down the natural colors in your photo. Subtle colors will create a different kind of mood, and it’s definitely worth trying this out on some of your photos.

Here I choose a filter that washed out the colors a bit. There’s less contrast between the colors in this photo, creating a more tranquil mood.

You can use filters to quickly adjust the colors, or take full manual control using the adjustment sliders for color saturation, contrast and warmth.

The aim with editing your photos is to bring out the beautiful fall colors in such a way that it enhances the mood that you intended to create when you took the picture. If you can achieve that, then your photo is a success!

The post 8 Tips For Taking Stunning iPhone Photos During Fall appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Swipe To Access Camera From Lock Screen

When photographing fleeting moments or moving subjects, you’ll often miss the shot by the time you’ve unlocked your iPhone and opened the Camera app. But did you know you can open the Camera app without having to unlock your phone?

Simply press the Home button to wake up the phone, then swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the Camera app. Within a second or two you can be shooting!

2. Set The Focus

To ensure your main subject is perfectly sharp, you should always set focus manually rather than letting the camera autofocus. To do this, simply compose your shot then tap on the screen where you want the focus to be set, e.g. on your main subject.

Anything in front of or behind that subject may appear out of focus, especially when shooting close-up subjects where the depth of field will be very shallow.

Click here to find out more about how to blur background in photos on your iPhone.

3. Adjust Exposure

Exposure refers to the brightness of the image, and it’s important to get it correct at the time of shooting. If the image is too bright (over-exposed) or too dark (under-exposed) you’ll end up losing detail in the bright or dark areas of the photo.

After tapping to set focus, check the brightness of the image. If you need to make it brighter or darker, swipe up or down on the screen to access the exposure slider. Swipe up to make the image brighter, or down to make it darker.

4. Keep The iPhone Steady

If you move the iPhone (even very slightly) when you take the shot, your photo can end up blurred due to camera shake.

This is a particular problem when there’s not much light in the scene because the camera will use a slower shutter speed to allow enough light in to expose the shot correctly. During this longer exposure time there’s more chance that you might move the phone.

If you can’t hold the iPhone steady enough, use an iPhone tripod or steady your phone on a solid surface. Then use the self-timer to fire the shutter without you having to touch the screen. You can also fire the shutter using the volume button on your Apple earbuds.

5. Use Burst Mode For Moving Subjects

If you’re photographing a moving subject, use the Camera app’s burst mode to fire off a series of shots in quick succession. You can then choose the best photos from the sequence and delete the rest.

This is particularly useful if you’re photographing children, sports events or music concerts. To activate burst mode, simply keep your finger on the shutter button in the Camera app, then release when you’ve finished shooting.

6. Turn The Camera Grid On

Use the on-screen camera grid to help you compose your pictures and arrange the key elements in the scene. The grid is really helpful when you want to compose your shot according to the rule of thirds, or make sure your subject is perfectly central when shooting symmetry.

It’s also great for landscape photography as you can use the grid to ensure your horizon is level. To turn the grid on, go to Settings > Photos & Camera > Grid.

7. Use The Rule Of Thirds

The rule of thirds is a composition technique that states you should position the key elements off-centre within the frame. This helps to create a harmonious and naturally balanced image that’s pleasing to the eye.

Use the on-screen grid to help you position your main subject at one of the intersections where the gridlines meet. The horizon can be positioned along one of the horizontal gridlines, and tall subjects such as trees can be placed along one of the vertical gridlines.

8. Shoot Symmetry

For a more dramatic composition, use central subject placement to create symmetry. Symmetrical compositions are extremely visually powerful and will instantly catch the viewer’s eye.

When creating symmetrical shots, ensure you compose your shot so that the line of symmetry runs through the middle of the frame. The aim is to create a photo where one side mirrors the other.

9. Use Leading Lines

Leading lines are lines in the picture that lead your eye from one part of the frame to another. They’re a great way of creating a very strong and distinct visual experience.

Leading lines help to create a sense of depth by leading the eye deeper into the scene. They’re also useful for drawing the viewer’s attention towards the main subject.

Try to compose the shot so that the line leads from the foreground of the scene towards the main subject or point of interest.

10. Create Simple Compositions

Simple, minimalist compositions are often the most powerful. The simpler the scene, the more eye-catching a photo becomes, and the more emphasis is placed on the main subject.

Keep the background simple, use as few colors and objects in the frame as possible, and leave plenty of negative (empty) space around the subject.

Make sure the color of the subject contrasts with the backdrop color. If possible, keep your shots down to one, two or three dominating colors

11. Use Blue Sky As A Backdrop

A clear blue sky makes the most gorgeous backdrop for a photo. When shooting outdoors, look for a flower or whatever eye-catching object you can find, then get down low on the ground so your subject is the only thing in the frame except for the sky.

This is especially useful when there are a lot of distractions in the scene, allowing you to create a clean and minimalist feel in your photos.

12. Capture Dramatic Clouds

To add a sense of drama to your landscape photos, shoot on a cloudy day. Large clouds will create a vivid backdrop and add extra visual interest to your image.

Large white fluffy clouds look great against a blue sky, but dark storm clouds will have the most dramatic effect. Be brave and go out when the weather is bad!

13. Shoot During Golden Hour

Avoid pointing your iPhone at the sun during the main part of the day. In strong sunlight, your shot will often end up with exposure and color problems, and the sun will appear as a bright blob of light that ruins the photo.

If you want to take beautiful photos of the sun, wait for sunset or get up at sunrise. During these golden hours, the light will be less harsh and contrasty, and the colors of the sky will be more stunning.

14. Create Silhouettes

Silhouettes are one of the most powerful ways to grab the viewer’s attention. Their dark shape is visually striking, and they often create a wonderful a sense of mystery in a photo.

To create a silhouette, position your subject in front of a light source such as a bright sky, the setting sun, or a window if shooting indoors. Set focus, then swipe down on the screen to reduce exposure until the subject appears as a dark silhouette.

15. Capture Reflections

Reflections are beautiful and intriguing. Whenever there’s water in the scene, look out for reflections and try to capture them in your photos.

Reflections will add an extra dimension to the scene, allowing you to create beautiful symmetry in your images. Whether you’re shooting reflections in a large lake or a small puddle, you’ll always get stunning results.

16. Include People In Your Photos

While your shooting location might be interesting or beautiful, it will often look much better if you include a person in the scene. This adds a strong focal point and helps tell a more interesting and powerful story.

If you don’t have another person to photograph, use yourself as the subject. Mount your iPhone on a tripod, then compose, focus and expose the shot. Turn on the self-timer, then run to where you want to place yourself within the frame.

17. Convey A Sense Of Scale

Add a sense of scale to the scene by including an object of a known size, such as a person. For example, when photographing a large object such as a building or tree, have a person standing next to it.

Or if you’re taking a photo of a vast landscape, include a person in the scene to convey just how big that space is. A well-executed shot where you can really feel the scale can be the most beautiful and powerful thing.

18. Capture Small Details

Get closer to your subject and capture the smaller details that tell a story. For example, the rough texture and peeling paint of an old wooden boat, dew drops in the grass, or the wrinkled skin of your elderly subject’s hands.

We often forget the small things when we’re out hunting for great photos, especially in landscape and street photography. But capturing the smaller details gives the viewer a more intimate experience of your subject.

19. Create Abstracts

Look for repeating patterns that you could use to create interesting abstract images. A good abstract will hold the viewer’s attention while they try to work out what the subject is.

The repeating pattern could be anything, for example, a field of crops, the texture of wood grain, or the windows on a building facade. Experiment with the composition until you find a way to create a beautiful yet simple abstract photo.

20. Use Props

Whether you’re shooting landscapes or portraits, making use of props is guaranteed to spice up an ordinary photo. For example, ask your subject to hold an umbrella or flower, or include a colorful chair in an empty landscape.

Any prop that adds a splash of color will make for an eye-catching photo. Try to use a color that really stands out against the background or landscape. Red works particularly well against grass or water.

21. Reduce Grain In Low Light

When shooting in low light your photos can end up looking grainy. This grain is referred to as “digital noise” in the world of digital photography, and it usually ruins the quality of the image.

In low light, you can create sharper, noise-free shots by reducing the exposure levels (swipe down on the screen after tapping to set focus). Reduce the exposure so that the shadows become darker and you’ll notice less grain in your photos.

This is particularly useful if you’re shooting at night, or in places without natural light such as tunnels or subway stations.

22. Follow The Change Of Seasons

The changing seasons offer new photo opportunities all year round. Revisit the places you usually shoot at as soon as the season changes.

Notice how different the scene looks compared to the last time you were there. By doing this you’ll get to know the landscape better and you’ll have a completely different scene to work with every time!

23. Explore More

Grab your bike, your car or your walking shoes and get out! There’s no better way to find new inspiration and develop your photography skills than exploring your surroundings and finding new places to shoot.

It’s particularly rewarding since you’ll most likely end up in places that you’d never visit otherwise. It doesn’t matter whether you travel to a completely new city or landscape, or just explore the streets and parks around your home – as long as you make the effort to get out and shoot.

24. Shoot With Other People

Try to find like-minded people to shoot with. It’s fun and you’ll always have someone to pose for you in your photos. Shooting in groups often helps to spark each other’s creativity. You’ll learn a lot from other people and you also get to share your own knowledge.

Instagram is a great platform to find other iPhone photographers in your area. Look out for organized Instameets and don’t be afraid to join in – you’ll have a great time and make new friends in the process!

25. Take Lots Of Photos

Finally, when you’re out shooting, take as many shots as possible. Try lots of different compositions, angles and perspectives. There’s nothing worse than getting home after a shooting session and realizing that the two shots you took of a particular object are no good!

The downside is that you have to delete a lot of shots afterwards, but it’s more likely that you’ll get what you intended to capture if you shoot more. And by doing this you’ll also train your photographic eye, which in turn will help you to become a better iPhone photographer.

The post 25 Quick & Easy Ways To Improve Your iPhone Photography appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Analyze Other People’s Photos

One of the best ways to improve your iPhone photography is to look at other people’s photos. Photography is a visual medium, so it makes sense that looking at photos can be just as effective in your learning process as reading about photography theory.

Analyze other photographer’s photos to help you get a sense of what a good picture can look like. Study how they compose their images and what kind of angles they shoot from.

Work out what type of light they shoot in and how it affects the final image in terms of exposure, shadows, etc. Look at the colors they use, and what kind of photos they convert to black and white.

Ask yourself what kind of subjects work well in these people’s photo. Great photographers can make even the most mundane object look interesting, so analyze how they manage to do this.

Try to get an idea of how a photographer creates their own unique style. It could be through their choice of subject, location, lighting, editing, etc.

This isn’t about copying or trying to reproduce other people’s work. It’s just a way to find inspiration and get a better idea about photography in general.

You still have to go out and shoot for yourself to grow as a photographer, but studying other people’s photos is a great learning tool. It will motivate you to try out new techniques and analyze your own photography too.

So which photographers should you study? You can start by searching for photographers who are really popular. Popularity isn’t everything but they must be doing something right!

Look at how these photographers compose and edit their photos so you get a sense of how to create beautiful images.

Then look for photographers who really inspire you, whether they’re popular or not. Inspiration is very important when it comes to creating visual art, so it makes sense to find photographers who shoot a genre or style that you like.

Once you’ve analyzed the images of your favorite photographers and you’ve got an idea of how a good picture can be created, try to shoot the way they shoot. After a bit of practice you should be able to re-create a similar effect, but hopefully with your own twist on it.

Feeding yourself with inspiration will motivate you to start creating new things. And when you’ve created enough, you’ll find your own photographic style and language that’s unique to you.

For example, when I look at my very first photos I can see that the edits were very poor – too much contrast and too much color. But once I started looking at other people’s photos, I finally realized that less is often more.

This helped me to developed my photographic style, and nowadays I try to keep my edits as clean and tidy as possible. Since joining Instagram and looking at the amazing work of other photographers, my own photography has been getting better and better.

2. Experiment With A New Genre

If you always shoot the same kind of subject, you’re going to limit your abilities and restrict your creative potential. Challenging yourself to try a new photography genre is an excellent way of helping you to grow as a photographer.

Photographing subjects and scenes that are outside of your normal comfort zone will force you to solve new problems in terms of light, composition and subject matter.

As a result you’ll learn new photography techniques and discover new apps that will help you create the photos you envisioned. It’ll help you to use your iPhone to take great photos in any situation.

Experimenting with different genres will help you get to know yourself as a photographer. You’ll discover what you like and what you don’t like. And you’ll become less fearful of the unknown.

It’s not much different from trying a new food or traveling to a new city. Until you try it, you don’t know whether you’ll like it! And in the process you’ll discover new things that will make your life more interesting.

So if you normally shoot landscapes, why not have a go at portrait photography? If street photography is your passion, how about purchasing a macro lens and taking close-up photos of flowers, insects and other small objects?

If you enjoy capturing busy scenes, learn how to create strong minimalist compositions instead. If you primarily shoot nature photos, explore an urban landscape and discover how to take amazing photos of architecture.

If you like shooting still life photos, have a go at photographing moving subjects instead. Or if you’re only comfortable with shooting when there’s lots of light, try your hand at night photography.

If you usually edit your photos with vivid colors, try creating only black and white images for a while. If your edits are normally clean and minimal, why not try some creative edits using textures or double-exposure? You could even blur the background of a picture.

Experimenting with new genres has been an important factor in my own progress as a photographer. I’ve basically tried it all!

It’s helped me develop a better understanding of photography in general, and it’s also made me realize just how skilled other people really are.

I started out shooting symmetry and urban scenes in the streets and subway stations. It was fun, but not fulfilling. I felt that I took the same shot over and over again, and that my photography was limited by finding good places to shoot.

So I started to shoot portraits of my family members. This broadened both my photographic skills and my desire to be able to capture more than just a static scene.

Then I moved on to shooting nature and landscapes. I brought the same ideas of symmetry and perspective that I used when I shot urban objects to my nature photography. I searched for symmetry, lines and objects that stood out in the natural landscape.

I also began to include a human element in my landscapes – a person stood in a field, a headshot against a tree, or a hand reaching into a bed of flowers.

This was probably what started my quest to find my own photographic voice. And I’ve kept on trying new things just to avoid becoming static in my photography.

So whatever kind of photography you enjoy, challenge yourself to try something new. It’s guaranteed to improve your photography skills and creativity.

And you never know – you might discover a new passion that will change the course of your photography. Don’t be afraid of traveling in a new direction – you can only learn and grow from it.

3. Take Lots Of Photos

The only way to improve as a photographer is to shoot, shoot, and shoot some more! Of course you can work on ideas and inspiration at home without picking up your camera, but to transform the ideas into actual images you need to shoot.

It’s so easy to shoot digital – you can take as many photos as you like at no extra cost. Don’t worry about filling up your Camera Roll – it’s easy enough to delete your unwanted photos.

Once I started shooting more often, I began to learn more about my iPhone camera, photo editing apps, light and composition. The more photos I took, the more I developed as a photographer.

Shooting more isn’t just about increasing the number of photos you take. It’s also about exploring the objects you’re shooting and trying out as many different ways of photographing it as possible.

Take a photo from every angle to see what effect it has on the subject. Shoot from different distances to play around with scale. Shoot in lots of different kinds of light. Try it all.

Look back at every photo and analyze what worked and what didn’t. The whole point of shooting a lot is that you learn from all of these photos.

Study your pictures to discover what kind of composition and angle has the most impact. Work out what type of light best complements your subject or photographic style.

In post-processing, create lots of different edits of the same photo. Experiment with different editing styles – black and white, vivid colors, high contrast, textures, vintage filters, etc.

Then analyze each one. Which ones are you happy with? Which ones didn’t look so good, and why? What kind of editing style do you prefer, and how could you develop this into a consistent style throughout your photography?

Obviously, your time might be limited. If you’re like me and have a full-time job and a family, you may not be able shoot as much as you’d like.

If you lead a busy lifestyle, try to plan your photography into your daily activities. Combine your photo shoot with a stop at the playground with your kids, a family walk in the park, or a visit to a flea market with friends.

Take pictures as you walk to work. Photograph interesting light and architecture in your workplace. And edit your photos when you’re traveling on public transport, having your hair cut, or any other time that you’re sitting doing nothing.

Shoot, edit and analyze as often as you can. There are always things to learn – and it’s fun too!

4. Shoot With Other Photographers

If you use Instagram to share your iPhone photos, you might have heard of “Instameets.” Maybe you’ve even attended an Instameet in your local area.

An Instameet is simply an organized gathering of photographers with the aim of shooting together for the day. It’s an excellent way to learn new skills and become a better iPhone photographer.

If you attend an Instameet you’ll meet lots of friendly, like-minded people who are passionate about photography. And they’ll be more than happy to share their thoughts and tips about photography with you.

You can learn a lot from watching other people shoot. Observe how each person takes on the same subject in terms of shooting angle, composition, etc. You’ll often discover a completely new approach to shooting certain things if you watch other people in action.

An added bonus, of course, is that you’ll have a great group of willing subjects who will pose in your shots! Hopefully they might bring a few interesting props too.

Don’t worry that you don’t know anyone. It’s very easy to socialize since everyone shares the same interest. And it’s likely that you’ll make some new friends who you can go out shooting with in the future.

To find a local Instameet, search the Instagram hashtags for your location or keep an eye out for any advertisements promoting a meet in your area. If you can’t find an Instameet nearby, organize one yourself!

Of course, you don’t have to attend a dedicated Instameet. You could just get together with a group of like-minded friends. Explore your city, take a trip to the countryside, or head out for a night shoot.

5. Conquer Your Fears & Learn From Mistakes

The fear of failing can often hold us back from doing things. In photography you will fail! If you accept this, it makes it much easier to move on when your photos don’t turn out as you want them to.

Nobody can produce a great shot every single time – not even the seasoned professionals. They just make it look like they always take the perfect photo because they don’t share their bad shots!

The only way you can succeed in photography is to brush away your fears and keep on shooting. Don’t let a bad photo shoot put you off. If you fail completely at a photo session, just take notes on what it is you don’t like about the shots you took.

Was it the lighting that didn’t work? Was the location too busy and distracting? Could you have composed the shots in a cleaner and simpler way?

Then all you have to do is return and take the shot again. Now it will be much easier to create the image you originally had in mind because you’ll know what you can do better this time.

Don’t give up when you feel that you’re not making progress anymore. If you’re lacking confidence, inspiration or motivation, just keep on shooting and things will get better.

I often get caught in creative droughts that sometimes make me want to give up photography. But I’ve learned that the droughts will end, and after a while I’ll start producing photos that I’m happy with again.

Remember, you don’t have to share work that you’re not happy with. So it doesn’t matter if you take bad photos because nobody has to see them.

But if you stop shooting altogether when your confidence gets knocked, you’ll never have the opportunity to improve your photography. So conquer your fears, learn from your mistakes, and keep on shooting with your iPhone!

6. Learn By Teaching Others

How can you learn by teaching someone else? Surely you learn by being taught! Well this isn’t necessarily true. The very act of teaching someone how to do something helps in your own learning process too.

I often meet people who are very curious about how I create my images. And to share that process by talking about it has actually helped me get to know myself as a photographer a little better.

We often just go out and shoot without giving our craft any thought. But to talk about your photographic process and show other people how you create your images will force you to take a step back and analyze your own technique.

To teach someone how to do something, you have to think about your subject logically. You have to go through the procedure step by step.

Very often this process will give you new ideas. You’ll start thinking of other ways to approach a certain shooting situation. You might realize here are more options than your usual routine, or that there’s a simpler way of doing something.

For example, when I told people that I look for good light in my photography, I realized that different kinds of light might be good for different occasions. This made me think about light in a new way, and I started experimenting with it more in my photography.

Of course, teaching someone how to take great photos with an iPhone doesn’t mean you need to go out and teach a class on photography. Just show a friend or family member how they might be able to take a better photo with their iPhone.

Show them how to set focus, adjust exposure, or use burst mode when photographing moving subjects. Teach them how to create a silhouette photo or convert an image to black and white.

Explain some of the basic rules of composition and how they can be used to create a more striking image. Show someone how a simple idea can add a lot of creativity to a photo.

As you’re teaching someone how to do something, they’ll ask questions that will get you thinking even more about your subject.

You’ll have to find solutions to problems that they might come up with. And your student might even give you some new ideas, or teach you a trick or two!

Putting more thought into the techniques that you use will help you progress more quickly, allowing to truly blossom as a photographer.

Once you start thinking logically about what you’re actually doing, new ideas and inspiration will start flowing. And ultimately you will become a much better iPhone photographer!

The post 6 Steps To Becoming A Better iPhone Photographer appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Capture A Dramatic Scene

The most obvious tip is to photograph something dramatic. But what does this actually mean? Basically, it’s anything that evokes strong emotions in the viewer and gets the imagination going.

Anything mysterious, exciting, scary or unusual is bound to create a dramatic mood in your photo. Try to tell a story using your inner fears.

Think about how you could create a dramatic photo in the simplest way possible. This photo of a child standing alone in a parking lot is so simple, yet incredibly powerful.

The main goal with photography is to tell a story, and a dramatic one will be much more interesting. Dramatic pictures fuel our imagination and cause us to react with strong emotions.

Try to capture a scene that intrigues the viewer, making them react in some way. As soon as the viewer feels some kind of emotion, such as fear, excitement, etc. they’ll become connected with your photo.

And this is ultimately what we’re all aiming for with our photography – to draw the viewer in, make them feel something, and prompt them to want to know more about the story behind the picture.

Creating a sense of mystery is one of the easiest ways to convey drama in a photo. You want to intrigue the viewer so that they start to ask questions about what’s going on in the image.

Who is that person? Why can’t I see their face? Why are they there? Why are they alone? What will they do next? Why is it so dark? What lies beyond that thick fog? Is there anyone hiding inside that old house?

Many things can be portrayed as mysterious or dramatic – an empty street, an old abandoned house, a stormy sky, a portrait with the person in an unusual pose, or just a notion that something bad or exciting is going to happen.

The most ordinary subjects and scenes can be portrayed in a dramatic way if you use a little imagination.

For example, if my subject in the photo above had just been sitting on the straw bale it would have been a fairly ordinary photo. But having her lie in this unusual pose creates a much more dramatic and mysterious mood.

2. Use Darkness & Light

Darkness is one of the best ways to create a sense of drama in your iPhone photos. We like to be able to see everything around us, but if you restrict the light you’ll create dark shadows in the scene.

Shadows create a wonderful sense of mystery in photography because we can’t see what’s hiding in the darkness. This can evoke strong emotions as we tend to fear what’s lurking in the shadows.

Darkness brings out our inner fears, making us feel uneasy and maybe even afraid. Often what makes a photograph is not what you can see, but what you can’t see.

But you can’t just photograph darkness. You also have to include light. And it’s the contrast between light and shade that helps to create a more dramatic photo.

Contrast is both visually and emotionally dramatic. The combination of bright highlights and dark shadows create a strong visual impact that instantly attracts our attention. But the light also emphasizes the darkness, making the mysterious shadows feel more ominous.

In bright sunlight, look out for harsh shadows created by tall buildings or other structures You can use these areas of darkness to add mystery to your composition.

At night or in low light situations, use artificial light sources such as lamps, torches or street lights to create areas of light and shade. In the photo above, the bright lights create a strong contrast to the dark and mysterious doorway.

Bear in mind that darkness and light doesn’t necessarily have to be created by light – or the lack of it. For example, the contrast of the dark road and white markings in the photo above create a very dramatic image with a strong visual impact.

3. Photograph Dramatic Skies

If you want to start taking more dramatic landscape photos, you should go out and shoot on a cloudy day – just when it seems that the sky will open up at any second. Nothing can create drama like dark clouds.

While it might not be that tempting to head out when it’s about to pour with rain, these are the conditions that will produce the most amazing photos, even in ordinary landscapes such as a plain field.

Dark clouds speak directly to our dramatic nerve. Capturing the same landscape in different kinds of weather will evoke completely different emotions in the viewer.

A field of crops with a bright blue sky will create a peaceful and blissful image, but the same field photographed with storm clouds in the sky will create a very different image. It generates a dramatic photograph.

Dark clouds will always add a strong sense of drama to your images. If you feel that your cloudy sky isn’t dramatic enough, you can always darken it a bit in post-processing!

Dramatic skies don’t always have to include dark clouds though. On a sunny day you can create dramatic rays of light that add an exciting element to your images.

To create this kind of photo, you need to shoot towards the sun, experimenting with the angle of the lens until the rays of light appear where you want them.

Having an object such as a tree directly in front of the sun will prevent the bright light from creating a large over-exposed area in the sky.

Whenever you’re shooting landscapes, always be aware of the sky and how it will affect your photos. If you manage to catch the sky at the right moment, you can create the most amazing pictures with very little effort. Let nature do most of the work!

4. Capture Movement

Movement is a great way of creating more dramatic and engaging iPhone photos. Conveying a sense of motion creates more dynamic images, and these kinds of pictures are much more interesting than a static scene.

Whether you’re shooting landscapes or street photography, movement tells you that something is going on. It instantly draws the viewer in and creates a connection with the subject.

To catch a man walking across the street will surely make you wonder who he is or where he’s heading to.

The faster the motion, the more drama tends to be created. So photographing a running person will add even more drama to your photo. The viewer will wonder why he’s running, what he’s running from, or where he’s running to.

So it’s not the actual movement that creates the drama – it’s the thoughts and questions it raises in the viewer that makes it a dramatic photo.

When photographing moving subjects, use the burst mode feature in the Camera app to capture a series of photos, then select the best image from the sequence.

To activate burst mode, simply hold down the shutter button. The camera will keep taking photos until you release the shutter.

5. Emphasize Scale

Another highly effective technique for adding drama to your photos is to emphasize scale. Conveying how large or small a subject is can create a big impact.

To accurately show the size of a subject in your photo, you need to include another object of a known size (such as a person, car, chair, etc.) so that the viewer has something to compare it to.

When I photograph large trees, I love to include a person in the photo as this gives the viewer a point of reference. You know how big a person is, so having them stand next to the tree gives you a better sense of just how big the tree actually is.

Emphasizing the huge size of these trees by including a small child in the photo creates a sense of drama and foreboding. Shooting from a low angle emphasizes their size even further, showing them towering above the subject.

Another way to create a dramatic sense of scale is to include a lot of negative (empty) space around your subject. Photographing a person from a distance, surrounded by a landscape and vast sky is a great way of emphasizing just how small that subject is in relation to their natural surroundings.

If you want to get creative, try playing around with scale by having one subject far away and another one close to the camera. The subject close to the camera will look much larger than the distant subject, even if this isn’t the case in reality.

6. Shoot In Fog

Thick fog is great for adding a sense of drama to your photos. It creates an eerie atmosphere, and if you shoot at the right time and place you can create some very unsettling and spooky pictures!

Fog hides subjects in the distance, which creates a sense of mystery and intrigue in your photos. The viewer has to imagine what lies beyond the fog.

Because subjects gradually fade out into the distance, fog is excellent at creating a greater sense of depth in your photos. For the most dramatic effect, include a strong subject in the foreground, such as a tree or person.

A really powerful technique when shooting in fog is to use leading lines, such as a road or path, to lead from the foreground of the image into the fog.

The viewer’s eye can’t help but follow the line into the fog, helping to emphasize the sense of mystery as they wonder what lies beyond.

Depending on where you live, you might not get foggy conditions that often. So when fog does appear, be ready with your iPhone and make the most of it. Go out and chase some fog. The results will be wonderfully mysterious and dramatic images.

7. Create Silhouettes

Creating silhouettes is one of the easiest, yet most effective ways to add drama to your photography. A silhouette is where the subject appears as a dark shape against a brighter background.

Silhouettes are extremely visually powerful. They create a strong focal point and catch the viewer’s attention instantly. Because no detail can be seen in the subject, it leaves the viewer intrigued about what or who they’re looking at.

A silhouette photo tends to hold the viewer’s gaze while they wonder more about that dark, mysterious subject. This naturally creates a longer-lasting impression of the image.

To create a silhouette photo, start by placing your subject in front of a bright light source such as the sky, the setting sun, or a window if shooting indoors.

Then tap on the screen to set focus on your subject. Now swipe down on the screen to reduce the exposure, making the subject appear as a dark silhouette against the brighter background.

Using a dramatic sky as the background will add an extra sense of drama to your picture. A stunning sunset or a stormy sky is perfect!

Shooting from a low angle will help you get more sky behind your subject, ensuring that the silhouette stands out well against the bright background.

8. Hide The Subject’s Face

If you’re shooting portraits of people, why not do something a bit different? Instead of photographing your subject face-on and looking at the camera, you can create more dramatic results by adding a bit of mystery.

One simple way of doing this is to ensure the viewer can’t see the subject’s face. Photographing your subject from behind is an easy way to achieve this.

Just find an interesting backdrop and ask your subject to face away from the camera while you shoot. If they’re wearing a jacket with a big hood that hides their face, you could also try having them face to one side.

Because this kind of portrait isn’t the norm, it can be unsettling for the viewer. It will make them wonder who that person is, and why they don’t want their face to be seen.

If you can get a high vantage point, you could even capture your subject from above so that you see the top of their head rather than their face. This shows your subject from an unusual perspective that you wouldn’t normally see.

Another technique is to cast a shadow over the subject’s face so that little or no detail is visible. This is easy to achieve if they’re wearing a hat or large hood.

Alternatively, you could have them hide just a part of their face with their hands, a scarf, an umbrella, a large leaf or any other prop of your choice.

9. Exclude Parts Of The Subject From The Frame

Another simple trick to create dramatic and mysterious photos is to only include part of your subject in the frame.

Just find an interesting backdrop and decide which part of the subject you want to include in the frame. You could shoot anything, as long as you don’t reveal the big picture.

I love to take photos of people where I just include a small part of them in the frame – maybe just be the person’s arm, hand, foot, etc.

Excluding part of the subject will make the viewer more intrigued. They’ll start to imagine what they can’t see, building their own story into the photo.

This technique is also useful when you don’t have another person to photograph – you can simply use yourself as the subject. In the photo above I included my own feet in the frame when photographing this small puddle on the ground.

Another simple technique is to hold your hand out in front of you so that it becomes the subject in your photo. Just make sure you have an interesting backdrop and that your photo tells some kind of story.

The post 9 Tips For Creating A Sense Of Drama In Your iPhone Photos appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Explore Your Region

The most obvious thing you need for landscape photography is a landscape! I often hear people say that they can’t shoot landscape photos because they don’t live in a place with amazing mountains, crystal clear lakes, beautiful waterfalls, etc.

But you don’t need to live in areas of stunning natural beauty to take great landscape photos. No matter where you are, if you take the time to explore your region you’ll find some excellent opportunities for taking amazing landscape photos with your iPhone.

Although I live in an urban area of Stockholm, there are lots of areas surrounding the city where I can find natural landscapes to photograph.

Even if you live in the countryside, you’ll probably need to do some exploring of your local area to find the best scenes and natural features for your photography.

The problem I find is that the nature in my region isn’t that impressive compared to other parts of the country, and indeed the rest of the world… at least not at first glance.

But if you take the time to explore and really look at everything around you, you’ll always find beautiful places to shoot, even in the most ordinary landscapes.

I explore my surroundings whenever I can. I travel by bike or car, constantly searching for a good location. I even use Google and maps to find interesting sites and locations.

Not far from my city I find hundreds of small lakes, seascapes, mighty forests and lots of farmland. The trick is to understand that you don’t need a vast and dramatic landscape to take interesting photos outdoors.

A simple field that includes a lone tree or a person will make for dramatic landscape photography as long as you frame it with a little thought. You can even take beautiful landscape shots in city parks if you compose your shot carefully.

So wherever you live, and whatever your motivation for wanting to take landscape photos, the first step is to get out and explore your surroundings. If you don’t do this, you’ll be missing out on so many amazing photo opportunities!

2. Include A Focal Point

A landscape photo without a main subject or focal point rarely turns out well. The problem with shooting landscapes is that they often look amazing in real life, but when you capture them in a photo the image doesn’t look that impressive.

One of the best ways to make a landscape photo more interesting is to include a main subject to act as a focal point within the scene. This is especially true with landscapes that don’t have any dominating features, such as the plain field in the photo above.

A focal point provides the viewer with a place for their eye to rest once they’ve looked around the rest of the scene. It helps to make the picture more complete and more satisfying to look at.

You could use anything as a focal point, as long as it stands out and catches the viewer’s attention. Common objects to use as a focal point in landscape photos are trees, buildings and people, but you could use any object you want.

In the photo above, the small island serves as a focal point. If I’d composed the shot a bit to the left or a bit to the right, my photo would have only contained sea and sky. Without the focal point it wouldn’t hold the viewer’s interest for long.

But the island creates a point in the scene that immediately draws your eye into the photo. It also adds a storytelling element that might make the viewer wonder what’s on that island and how they would get there.

Many of my landscape photos are taken in a flat field of grass or crops, or on a small hill. But by carefully composing the shot and including an interesting focal point, I manage to make something out of the most ordinary outdoor scenes.

3. Create Simple Compositions

When you first start shooting landscapes, you might end up with very busy compositions. Landscapes can include a lot of different features, both natural and man-made, and when you have too many competing elements it can confuse the viewer.

If you take a few minutes to explore the location, it’s likely that you’ll find a better vantage point that will allow you to create a cleaner and more minimal composition. This allows you to place more emphasis on your main subject within the landscape.

Composition is very important in landscape photography, and you shouldn’t rush this step. Once you find a scene that you’d like to photograph and you’ve chosen your main subject or point of interest, take a few minutes to find the best viewpoint to shoot from.

Poor composition can lead to weak photos that no one remembers. Keeping the composition simple so that your main subject is clearly visible is the best way to create powerful landscape photos with a strong focal point.

Try to compose your shot to eliminate any unwanted parts of the scene. Get closer if necessary, so that distracting elements don’t appear in the frame.

Changing your shooting angle can make a big difference to how your photo turns out. Shooting from a low angle allows you to get more plain sky behind your subject which is great for creating minimal compositions where your main subject really stands out.

4. Capture The Smaller Details

Rather than always shooting wide landscape photography, mix it up a bit by focusing on interesting features of the environment. When you’re out exploring, try to notice the smaller details found in nature and capture them with your iPhone.

Look out for pretty flowers, colorful leaves and small insects. Keep your eyes peeled for textures, patterns and color combinations that will add visual appeal to your photo collection. Don’t be afraid to fill the entire frame with your subject.

As you’re walking through a landscape don’t just look straight ahead into the distance. Explore every part of the location.

Look down at the ground to see what’s there, look up into a tree canopy as the light shines through, or get close to the water’s surface of a lake to capture the texture of the ripples.

Including close-up pictures of nature along with your wide angle landscape shots helps to tell a more complete story and adds variety to your photo feed.

5. Shoot In Interesting Light & Weather

Light and weather conditions are crucial for good landscape photography. Bad weather is often better for shooting landscapes as it creates more interesting light and dramatic skies.

I love to shoot on a really cloudy day, so that the clouds create a big dreamy backdrop. Shooting in these conditions is more likely to make your photos stand out from the crowd.

Big dark clouds add amazing drama to a scene, so if you like to create dramatic and moody photos, get out with your iPhone camera when the sky is “angry!”

With regards to light, the most beautiful time of day to shoot is around the golden hours of sunrise and sunset. The colors will be warm and vibrant, and the low position of the sun creates wonderful long shadows that add visual interest to the foreground of your scene.

Shooting into the sun will turn your subjects into silhouettes, whereas shooting with the sun behind you will cast wonderful warm light onto the scene.

Shooting with the sun behind you makes the sun work like a huge flashlight, lighting up the whole area you’re shooting. Almost anything looks beautiful in really good light, including these plastic wrapped bales!

6. Include People In The Scene

One of my favorite ways to make a landscape photo more interesting is to include a person in the scene. The person will act as a strong focal point, especially in big empty landscapes.

With a person as your main point of interest, it becomes easier to build your composition around them. Just place the person where you want them in the scene, then experiment with your shooting angle and framing until the composition looks good.

Ask a friend to join you to act as your subject, or find a group of people that want to shoot the same things as you. Alternatively, use a small iPhone tripod such as the Joby GorillaPod so that you can appear in the photo yourself.

When using yourself as the subject you can either set a self-timer so that you have time to run into the shot, or invest in a remote shutter release such as the Muku Shuttr so that you can trigger the shutter button when you’re ready.

Whether your background is a simple field of grass or a more scenic view, including a human presence creates an extra dimension that inanimate objects can’t generate.

Depending on how you pose the person and frame the shot, adding people to your landscape photos can create a wonderful sense of mystery and intrigue.

Photographing the person from behind so you can’t see their face is a perfect way to achieve this. Creating silhouettes is another method that you could use.

Creativity can often be sparked when you meet up and shoot with other likeminded people. Experiment with different ways to include the person within the landscape. Have fun and see if you can make your photo a bit different by adding a unique or humorous element to the shot.

Try to think about what your subject should wear so they stand out well against the background. Dark clothes often work best as they contrast well against most colors that you find out in nature.

If the landscape is plain or dull, try using bright and vibrant clothing for an extra pop of color. Red works really well in most situations.

7. Use Props To Create Interest

Adding a simple prop to a landscape can add so much to the image. It has the same purpose as including a person, in that it creates a strong focal point, but a prop gives you more creative options.

You can choose just about any object to spice up your picture. Items such as umbrellas, chairs, flowers and frames are my favorite props to work with.

Look around your home and find any colored object that won’t be too difficult to carry around with you. And yes, I do carry that red chair with me on landscape shoots!

Don’t be afraid of what people might think. Armed with your props you’re going to be the one getting the best shots.

Be imaginative in how you use your props within the scene. Here I used a globe in the foreground, while I positioned myself much further away. Playing around with scale is a great way to create more intriguing shots.

I like to have my props colorful for extra visibility and visual appeal. One of my favorite color combinations is red and green.

You can use props that aren’t colorful, but you should make sure they contrast against the background. For example, a black umbrella against a black wall won’t do the trick, but black on green will work!

8. Photograph Man-Made Objects

It’s not always convenient to include a person in your photo or to take an interesting prop out with you. However, you’ll often stumble upon man-made objects out in the landscape which can add a nice contrast to the natural surroundings.

Interesting buildings are great for including in your landscape photos. Whether the building is old or new, it’ll surely add an extra dimension and focal point to an otherwise empty landscape.

Old abandoned buildings are worth capturing up close too. Wooden objects often add a beautiful texture and history to your photography. The muted colors of wood are great for when you want to add a vintage feel to your photos.

If you’re shooting around water, look out for a beaten up wooden jetty that will be the perfect match against nature’s colors.

Boats also make great subjects to include in your landscapes. I love their strong shape and form, and their wonderful wooden textures.

Other man-made objects to look out for are railways, power lines, roads, bridges, gates, old benches, or any objects that people leave behind. Anything man-made can be a really great addition to your composition and will add soul to your landscape photography.

9. Shoot In Different Seasons

The change of seasons offers new photo opportunities every few months, even if you’ve already shot the place in question before. Make sure you get out into the landscape during each season to capture the variations in vegetation, weather and light.

Just imagine a cold and barren winter landscape compared to a colorful and lush summer scene. Both have their own charm, and both can be the most beautiful thing you’ve ever laid your eyes on.

I love to return to the same place every new season to see how it’s changed. Even though I’m shooting in the same spot I can take a completely different photo each time.

The photos above and below are of my favorite tree that I like to visit throughout the year. I took both photos from the same viewpoint, but they have a completely different look and feel due to the time of year that I shot them.

Spring is a wonderful time to get out into the landscape and shoot. When the first flowers pop out of the ground and the trees start to blossom, the landscape will be filled with delicate beauty.

And don’t forget to shoot during fall. The colors at this time of year will be stunning as the leaves begin to turn all different shades of orange and red.

10. Create A Sense Of Depth

Finally, taking everything into account that you’ve learned so far, it’s important to always do what you can to create a sense of depth in your landscape photos. Without this your images will look “flat” and won’t convey the scale and distance that you saw with your own eyes.

Luckily there are some simple techniques that you can use to show depth in your landscape photos. Composing your shot with elements at different distances from the camera is the key to creating a sense of depth.

The aim is to have objects in the foreground as well as in the distance. You could use rocks, plants, flowers, people, a tree trunk, or just about anything else that’s on the ground to add foreground interest to your landscapes scene.

Your eyes will naturally move from the objects in the foreground to those in the distance and back again. This tells your brain that there’s distance between each element, and therefore depth. Shoot from a low angle if you’re struggling to get the foreground objects into your frame.

If there’s nothing on the ground to act as foreground interest, maybe there are some overhanging tree branches that you could stand under and include along the top of your shot. Just make sure they don’t cover your main subject in the distance.

Another popular technique for creating depth is to use leading lines in your composition. Leading lines are simply lines that lead from one part of the scene to another.

By starting the line in the foreground the viewer’s eye will naturally follow the line, taking them deeper into the photo. This is also a means of including foreground interest.

If you can position your main subject at the end of the leading line or somewhere along it, this is even better. The line will lead the eye directly to the intended point of interest, creating an extremely powerful composition.

An added benefit of using parallel leading lines such as a jetty, road, bridge, railway track, or even parallel rows of trees, is that you can create wonderful symmetrical compositions as long as you position the lines perfectly central.

No matter what type of landscape you’re shooting in, always work towards finding some way to create a sense of depth. This will make your photo more engaging, and ultimately more memorable to the people who look at them.

So now you know how to take great landscape photos, get out there and explore with your iPhone to see what amazing pictures you can create!

The post 10 Tips For Taking Stunning Landscape Photos On iPhone appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

There are two main things to consider when you’re taking photos. What is your main subject? And what can you do to draw attention to it? Of course, you can’t ask the second question until you’ve answered the first one!

So the most important part is finding something of interest that will act as the main subject in the scene. Sometimes this is obvious, such as a person you want to photograph, but other times you’ll need to look a bit harder to find something that would make an interesting subject.

Once you’ve decided what your main subject is, that’s where the fun begins! You can start thinking about how to place the subject within your frame to create a strong point of interest. This is where the composition techniques come in.

Creating an interesting composition is pure joy to me. I just love aiming my iPhone at the scene and fitting objects in a certain position within the frame.

In this article I’ll be sharing my eight best tips on how to compose an image to create stronger and more distinct iPhone photos that will grab the viewer’s attention from afar.

1. Find A Strong Focal Point

If you want your photo to have a strong impact, you should ensure that it has a distinct center of attention. We call this the focal point because it’s what you want the viewer to focus on.

Without a focal point, your photo will most likely be forgotten as fast as the viewer takes their eyes from it. A strong focal point will leave a longer lasting impression and will create a much more impressive image.

A distinct focal point immediately gives the viewer a hint of what you’re choosing to present in a particular photo. Without the man in the picture above, this photo would be pretty boring – just a brown hill and a plain grey sky. By including a person in my photo, I’ve added a focal point that gives the viewer a place to rest their eye.

Including people in your landscape photos is great way of creating a strong impact, especially in landscapes that don’t have any outstanding features. A person or any other interesting object in a landscape scene will add meaning and a storytelling element to the photo.

Your focal point might be a person, tree, building, flower, umbrella, etc. Think of it as the most important part of the scene and the reason that you’re actually taking the photo in the first place.

Taking props with you when you’re going out on photo shoot is a great way of adding a focal point when you can’t find one in the natural surroundings.

Sometimes your image might include several focal points, such as the tree and the man in the photo above. That’s absolutely fine, as long as the subjects work together to create a strong image.

In the photo below I decided to place my hand in the foreground, reaching out towards the light and the smoke that you can see in the background.

Without my hand, the smoke and rays of light would be the center of the attention here, but placing my hand there creates a small visual story with the hand as the center of attention. When you have a busy scene like this, adding a strong focal point is very helpful.

2. Use Negative Space

My favorite trick for creating a strong focal point is to leave a lot of negative space in the photo. This empty space will create a minimal composition with strong focus on a single object that stands out against the background.

Using negative space allows you to photograph small subjects without them becoming lost in the scene. This is a great technique to use when shooting your subjects from a distance.

In the example above I was shooting from afar, so I included a lot of empty sky which has the effect of putting more emphasis on the tiny subject in the distance.

In this photo the focal point (a tiny island) in the centre of this frame is quite small, but because the rest of the scene is fairly empty it still acts as a strong point of interest that catches your eye.

Don’t be afraid to include a lot of empty space in your iPhone photos. In most cases it will help to give your subject more impact, creating a strong composition even though the subject is small within the scene.

3. Use Color To Your Advantage

Understanding color can be a great advantage in your photography. Using an object that has a much stronger color, or just a different color than the background, will create a very strong focal point. Anything can be used, whether you’d like to tell a story or just want to create a strong visual impression.

Here I was at a beautiful lake, and while the lake would be good for a nice photo on its own, I felt that I didn’t really have a focal point in the image. The solution was to put my sister who was wearing a red jacket in the frame.

The red jacket creates a strong focal point because the color really stands out against the muted colors of the background. This easy trick made the image much more interesting than it would have been if I’d just shot the lake on its own.

Here I used a rose that someone had dropped on the ground. Considering there was a huge field of green grass where I was, I immediately thought that the red color of the flower would serve as a strong focal point against the grass.

So I just put it on the ground and took the shot. The rose catches the attention of the viewer in a way that the grass on its own could never do. Just adding one tiny colored object into the frame completely changes the outcome of the photo.

As you can probably tell, I love to use red objects in my photos! Red is one of the most powerful colors, and it will stand out incredibly well in almost every kind of scene.

But try experimenting with different colored objects against different colored backgrounds and you’ll soon discover how effective this is.

4. Use The Rule Of Thirds

The rule of thirds is probably the most famous composition technique in photography. You should make a point of learning this “rule” as it will help you to position your main subject or focal point in the best part of the frame.

The rule of thirds is based on two horizontal and two vertical lines that create nine equal-sized rectangular areas within the frame as shown below.

The rule of thirds states that you should place your point of interest along one of the lines, or more accurately where they cross each other. The reason for doing this is that the human eye tends to be naturally drawn to these parts of the frame.

We perceive the placement of the object as more harmonious and balanced if it’s positioned according to the rule of thirds, as opposed to it being placed anywhere else within the frame. So in the photo above, I placed the woman and straw bale at the intersection where two lines meet to create a natural and balanced composition.

If you switch on the grid in your camera app (Settings > Photos & Camera > Grid) you’ll be able to see the rule of thirds grid on your screen.

This is great for helping you to position your main subject according to the rule of thirds. You can also use it to position the horizon on one of the horizontal lines, rather than across the centre of the image.

The rule of thirds can be used in all kinds of photography, such as urban, landscape, portrait, nature, sport, etc. While it’s not my favorite way of composing a picture, it feels natural to use the rule of thirds in a lot of cases.

Knowing where to position your main subject within the frame is an important skill to master. The aim is to position them in such a way as to draw the most attention to that point in the scene. The rule of thirds is a great place to start.

It’s a good thing to think about using the rule of thirds as much as possible when you’re a beginner. I used it a lot when I started out photography.

It helps you to start thinking in images, so to speak. If you start using the rule of thirds, don’t be surprised when you start composing your food on your dinner plate based on this principle as well!

When you’ve been photographing for a while and feel more secure about your images and composition, you’ll naturally let go of using the rule of thirds in all of your photos and you’ll start to seek out your own ways to compose a picture.

For example, you may often find that central subject placement works well when creating square images because this can create stunning symmetrical compositions. But the rule of thirds will always be there to support you. Never forget that!

5. Use A Shallow Depth Of Field

Shallow depth of field is where only a small portion of your image, from front to back, is in focus. Creating a shallow depth of field is an excellent way of isolating your main subject, emphasizing that object as the focal point in the image.

By setting focus on the main subject, the objects in the background will appear blurred. Your eyes will be naturally drawn to the focused object, allowing it to steal all the attention no matter how busy the background is. Of course the background will still be present, but it won’t be as important as the foreground.

A shallow depth of field is great for scenes that have a busy background like the one above. If everything had been in focus in this scene, the water droplets would have become lost amongst all of the other detail and they wouldn’t make such a strong focal point.

So, how do you get a shallow depth of field in your iPhone photos? It’s actually very easy. Just hold your iPhone close to the object you’re going to shoot, then tap that object on the screen to set the focus on that part of the scene. The result should be that your main subject is in focus and the background appears blurred.

If the main subject appears blurred, you’re probably holding the phone too close, so pull back a bit then tap to focus again. If the background doesn’t appear blurred, you’re not close enough to the subject, so move closer then tap to focus again.

The closer you are to the subject you want in focus, the more blurred the background will appear. Experiment with the distance between your object and the iPhone until you get the desired result.

When trying to set focus on small objects such as the water droplets on a spider web in the photo above, it may take a few attempts to tap on the exact part of the screen to get them in focus. Having a plain background, such as the sky, behind the subject should make this a bit easier.

Click here to discover more ways to blur background on iPhone, including the use of Portrait mode and the AfterFocus blur background app.

6. Use Leading Lines

Leading lines are an excellent way of drawing attention to the main subject. A leading line is simply a line in the scene that leads from one part of the image to another.

Leading lines will take the viewer’s eyes on a journey from the foreground of the picture where the line starts, to the point in the image where the lines end.

Not only do leading lines appeal to the eyes of the viewer, but they’re also the perfect way to lead the eye to your main subject or focal point.

So start by finding a place that has obvious attributes that can be used as a leading line, such as a road, a railway line, a corridor, a subway station, a field with tractor trails, a tunnel, etc.

Leading lines have a very strong impact on their own, but if you can include an object at the end of the line, or somewhere along it, this is the perfect scenario. The person at the end of this tunnel makes a great focal point as all of the lines in the image lead directly towards him.

I like my shots that are built on leading lines to be somewhat symmetrical. If you want to create symmetrical shots, make sure you have your camera grid activated before shooting. It will help you to keep track of all the elements in the frame that have to be aligned to gain symmetry.

You don’t always have to use straight lines. Curved and S-shapes lines such as rivers and winding roads also make great leading lines. I particularly love to shoot spiral staircases from above. Including a person somewhere along the line of the staircase provides an excellent focal point.

7. Fill The Frame With Your Subject

A very easy way to make a bold statement about the subject of your photo is to fill the entire frame with your subject. This leaves the viewer in no doubt about what the main subject and focal point of your picture is.

Don’t be afraid to get really close to small objects. It will allow you to photograph it out of its context without any distracting background, and you’ll be able to capture close-up detail that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to see.

It doesn’t matter if you don’t include the entire object in the frame. Photographing flowers like this works really well as it eliminates any unsightly background and puts all of the viewer’s attention on the beautiful and intricate detail of the flower.

Filling the frame is great for creating abstract images. Look for patterns or lines in any object, big or small, and then compose your shot so that you include nothing but the subject in the frame. Even the most trivial object can be transformed into an exciting piece of abstract art with this technique.

In the photo above, I noticed the movement of the water’s surface and the reflection of the light, and thought it would make a good photo. But when I photographed it with more of the surroundings and the sky, it lost its impact. By filling the frame with just the water, it puts the focus back onto the interesting light and textures that caught my eye in the first place.

Here’s another example where filling the frame puts all of the focus onto interesting texture and light. I was stood at the beach and the low setting sun created this pattern where light and shadows collided in the most beautiful way.

Of course I wouldn’t have gotten this result if I’d chosen to include the sea and the horizon in this image. So don’t forget to get in close, frame your shot tightly, and exclude what you’d normally include. By doing this a new world of photography subjects will appear!

8. Develop Your Own Unique Framing Techniques

Once you’ve mastered the composition techniques discussed so far, you might want to start getting more creative with your composition, breaking the “rules” and developing a style that’s more unique to you. It would be boring if we all took the same kind of photos using exactly the same kind of techniques, right?!

That said, you should always keep the basic rules of composition in mind. You can’t break the rules if you don’t know what those rules are in the first place!

Before taking a photo, always ask yourself, “What’s my main subject, and what can I do to emphasize that focal point and draw the viewer’s attention to this subject?”

Here I’m going to share with you my favorite way of composing a picture. It simply involves centering the subject at the bottom of the frame. I tend to compose pictures like this all the time, often unintentionally. I guess this is my idea of how the perfect picture should be composed.

When I put the subject in the center of the frame, I get a strong sense of balance and symmetry. That sense of balance is very important to me, especially when I’m presenting a series of images that are placed next to each other in a grid, such as on my Instagram profile.

It helps me to create a sober and clean impression of my work. I find that when composing a picture like this there won’t be any doubts about where the focal point is, even with a strong and colorful background.

The beauty of this technique is that you can vary it in all endlessness. Basically you can recreate the same image over and over again. Just using a different subject each time will give you a completely new image.

Even if this can be seen as operating within one’s comfort zone, it also sparks creative thinking. You’ll always be looking for new combinations and different subjects to create a simple image like this.

So from now on, hopefully even while doing the most boring garden chores, a golden opportunity to create an interesting image with a strong focal point will arise!

Experiment, try out new compositions, shoot from different angles, and you’ll soon be creating amazing iPhone photos with a strong focal point that will instantly catch the viewer’s eye.

The post 8 Ways To Create A Stronger Focal Point In Your iPhone Photos appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Create Silhouettes

Creating a silhouette is probably the easiest way to add a bit of mystery to your photography. A silhouette photo is where the subject appears as a dark outline against a bright background, and we tend to find them extremely visually powerful.

Because no detail can be seen in the subject, this will leave the viewer intrigued about what or who they’re looking at, and this naturally creates a longer lasting impression of the image.

So how do you create a silhouette? Start by placing your subject in front of any source of bright light, then tap on the screen to get your subject in focus. Now swipe downwards on the screen to reduce the exposure, making the subject appear as a dark silhouette against the brighter background.

One of the best sources of light comes naturally, in the form of the sun. Try to shoot around sunset or sunrise for the best results. During the golden hours (an hour after sunrise and an hour before sunset) the sun stands low in the sky so you can place your subject directly in front of it. At this time of day the light is soft and mellow, and the sky can be all sorts of wonderful colors.

You can also create silhouettes by positioning your subject in front of a window, or by placing an artificial light source behind them. Any situation where you have a bright light source backlighting your subject is perfect.

When creating silhouettes, aim to get as much plain background behind your subject as possible so that they stand out better. A busy background will be distracting and will take attention away from the silhouetted subject. An easy way to get more sky behind your subject is to place them as high as you can.

Look for big rocks or hills where you can position your subject, then shoot from a lower viewpoint. If this isn’t possible, try getting low to the ground with your iPhone and shooting from a very low angle. This will have the same effect as placing the subject higher, and you’ll get more sky behind the silhouette.

2. Include Only Part Of Your Subject In the Frame

This is a rather easy kind of image to create, which can add a fun and intriguing element to your photo. All you need to do is find your backdrop of choice and decide which part of the subject you want to include in the frame.

Human subjects are great for this kind of photography as you can just include an arm, a foot, their hair, etc. in the frame, leaving the rest of their body out of the picture. This creates an air of mystery, forcing the viewer to create their own version of the story.

Having someone else pose in the frame would be perfect, but if you’re stuck for a subject you could try photographing your own hand or foot reaching out in front of you. Or use an iPhone tripod and the self-timer to set up a shot where part of you can be in the frame without you having to hold your iPhone.

Spring and summer are excellent seasons to do this with all the flowers and greenery coming back to life. Just placing your hand in a bed of flowers, some lush green grass or a field of crops can make a wonderful and intriguing composition.

Try out different poses and angles until you get the framing right. Remember that the background is just as important as the subject. Without a good backdrop the photo won’t be very interesting.

3. Hide Your Subject’s Face

Taking photos of people where their face is hidden is a great way of putting a different and mysterious spin on a portrait photo. It’s much easier to create than a traditional portrait as you don’t have to worry about capturing the right expression on your subject’s face. It tends to create a dark and sinister mood which can be very effective.

One of the easiest ways to capture this kind of image is to photograph your subject from behind. Find an interesting backdrop, then ask your subject to turn around so that they’re facing away from you. Getting them to wear a jacket with the hood up creates even more mystery and forms a strong shape against the background.

This can also be a good way to photograph a person who doesn’t feel comfortable in front of the camera. They don’t have to be exposed in the same way that they would be if you were taking a traditional portrait photo. It should be relatively easy to find a friend who’s willing to help you out by posing for the image.

It’s also a good way of photographing strangers as it allows them to remain anonymous. You don’t have to worry about them noticing you and they won’t feel intimidated that you’re photographing their face.

Photographing your subject from this viewpoint while they’re looking out towards a scene is also a great way to imply that your model has some sort of connection to the backdrop. It leaves it up to the viewer to figure out the connection, and will definitely raise some questions in their mind.

There are plenty of other ways of hiding your subject’s face, even if they’re facing the camera. You could ask them to wear a hat, hood, scarf or veil that covers all or most of their face.

Or get even more creative with fun and interesting props. You could place a picture of someone else in front of the subject’s face to create a different identity for them. Ask them to hold a bunch of flowers out in front of them or cover their face with their hands. The options are endless!

4. Make Your Subject Small In The Scene

Another technique that helps to create a sense of mystery is to make the subject very small within the scene. The lack of detail in the tiny subject will make the viewer wonder who that subject is, and they’ll question what they’re doing so far away from the camera.

This kind of composition tends to create tension in the photo, with the viewer wanting to reach into the photo to get closer to the subject. This type of photography particularly suits wide open landscapes, but it can work in other situations.

Just make sure that you can place the subject you’re shooting far away from the camera, while still being able to separate your subject from the surroundings to make them clearly visible to the viewer.

The small size of your subject and a large amount of empty negative space will help emphasize the scale of the landscape. Scale can be very intriguing to the eye, and a small person against the might of nature will always spark an interest.

Placing your subject far away from the camera also helps to create depth in your photo. This will take the viewer’s eye from the foreground of the image towards the point of interest. The viewer’s eyes are invited on a small journey through the scene that they will definitely appreciate.

Here I found a place with some tracks on the ground. This detail in the foreground catches the eye, adds depth that leads the eye towards the main subject, and creates an extra layer of intrigue to the photo. If I’d cropped the image by the foot of the hill, I would have lost all this depth and interest, resulting in a much weaker image.

5. Pose Your Subject In A Mysterious Way

Anything that makes the viewer wonder what’s going on, or creates an illusion that tricks the eye, will help to add a sense of mystery to your image and hold the viewer’s attention for longer.

Try placing the person you’re shooting in an untraditional way to create an original and intriguing image. Instead of creating a traditional portrait photo with your model standing in front of you, why not get them to lie down or pose in an unusual way?

Try placing your model on an object you normally don’t find people on. The viewer will wonder why this situation has occurred and how.

The composition of this image creates an intriguing photo that makes the viewer question what’s going on. By photographing only the top part of my subject, it doesn’t reveal whether she’s standing up, where she is or why she’s there. At first glance you may think she’s standing, but she’s actually lying on the ground.

Having your subject close their eyes in a portrait photo can also add an air of mystery. Why have they got their eyes closed? Are they sleeping? The eyes tell you a lot about a person, so by keeping them closed you’re adding another layer of mystery to your photo.

A fun posing technique that I like to use when out in nature is to create a “tree hat.” I simply position my subject in front of a tree, creating the illusion that the tree is growing out of their head!

How you choose to frame your shot can also have an effect on the pose of the subject. Here I cropped the ground out so it appears as if my subject is drifting away among the clouds. Taking away the ground creates a more dreamy and interesting picture, that holds the attention of the viewer.

6. Use Selective Focusing

Creating a shallow depth of field can be a good way to add a sense of mystery to your iPhone photos. This is where only a small portion of your image from front to back is in focus. Anything that’s blurred will appear more mysterious as you can’t see as much detail in those parts of the image.

A technique I often use is to focus on something in the foreground, making my subject in the distance blurred.

Do you want to know how to blur background on iPhone? All you need to do is place your camera very close to an object in the foreground, and then tap that object on the screen to set the focus on this area. Any objects that are behind the focus point will appear blurry.

If the blurred out object is a human, the viewer will definitely wonder who it is and what they’re up to. This method will also create a stronger sense of depth in your image. The strongly focused foreground and the blurry background give you two completely different dimensions in just one image.

As you can see in my example images, this technique usually works best if you place your iPhone down low on the ground so that the blurry object in the distance will be more visible against the sky. This technique can of course be used on any object, such as a fence or a window with raindrops.

7. Use Leading Lines

Leading lines create wonderfully strong compositions, but they can also add an intriguing element to your image. A leading line is simply a line in the image that leads the eye from one part of the frame to another. Leading lines usually work best if they start in the foreground and lead into the distance.

So how do leading lines create a sense of mystery? Well, not all lines have this effect, but if you can’t see where the lines end up, it can leave the viewer wondering where they lead to.

For example, this photo of a road leading into the mist makes you wonder what lies beyond that mist in the distance. Mist and fog are great for creating mysterious images as it leaves the viewer to imagine what might beyond this natural veil.

Another technique you can use is to include lines that turn a corner, such as this subway tunnel. Your eyes follow the lines but because you can’t see what’s around the bend, it leaves you with questions about what you might find if you ventured further into the tunnel.

Lines that lead to light at the end of a tunnel can also be very effective. Because the light is so bright you can’t see any detail and it leaves you wondering what might be out there. Including a silhouetted person at the end of the tunnel will create an even more mysterious and dramatic image.

8. Create Abstracts

Abstract photography is all about creating images that concentrate on the lines, patterns, shapes, colors and texture of a subject. Normally, photographing just part of a subject is a great way of creating wonderfully intriguing abstract images.

By focusing in on a certain part of the subject, you’re only capturing an essence of the whole thing. The resulting image will be visually captivating, but can also create a sense of mystery as the viewer wonders what the actual subject is in its entirety.

Abstract images tend to look better if you fill the entire frame with just a part of the subject. Keep the background clean so that the patterns, lines and colors stand out well. Shooting from an unusual angle will create a more unique image.

Buildings and architecture make great abstract photos if you focus in on a particular section that contains an interesting and repetitive pattern. Shooting from a low angle so that you’re looking up at the architecture often works well as it allows you to capture the scene without any distractions on the ground.

9. Use Props

Props can be used for many purposes, such as adding a fun, colorful or beautiful element to your photos. But they’re also a great way of creating mystery and intrigue when used in the right way.

Photographing this old suitcase makes you wonder what the story is behind it. Who does it belong to? Why is it there? What’s in it? Has it been abandoned?

Adding props to environments where they wouldn’t normally be found is an excellent way of creating an intriguing photo. It’s not every day that you find a bright red chair in the middle of a country road. It makes you stop and wonder what it’s doing there. Anything that appears out of its usual environment is likely to make the viewer ask questions.

Umbrellas make great props in many situations. They add color and shape to a scene, and they can also be used to hide part of the subject to create a more mysterious photo.

The images that you can create with different props, poses, composition and lighting is endless. Experimenting with each of these will develop your iPhone photography skills and imagination, as well as making your photos more interesting, intriguing and mysterious. If you can arouse the viewer’s curiosity, your photo will definitely be a success!

The post How To Create Mystery & Intrigue In Your iPhone Photos appeared first on iPhone Photography School.