Are you someone who likes to get to know all the features on the camera of your latest smartphone or do you tend to just open the camera app, press the shutter button and admire your photo? If you are in the latter category you are probably in the majority yet more and more people are realising the potential of the camera that is always at hand and want to know more about its capabilities. I have singled out 5 features that have helped me get the most from my smartphone camera and which many people don’t know about. 1. A quick way to open the camera on your phone. Sometimes we just have a split second to capture an image. Someone is in just the right place at the right time and the light is perfect to capture that great image. Our phone cameras are meant to be ‘at the ready’ but often by the time you waken your phone, key in your password or otherwise identify yourself on your screen and open your camera app the moment has passed. Sound familiar? It doesn’t have to be that way because the camera app can be accessed without even opening your phone by swiping on the lock screen from right to left (iPhone) or pressing the side button and swiping the camera icon upwards in a diagonal direction (Android). When you have the phone open it is a good idea to keep the camera icon in the dock at the bottom of the home screen to be ready to capture any image in a hurry. Being able to quickly open our camera app means we can even try to capture fast moving insects on plants. (There is a bee in the picture!) 2. How to set focus and exposure Most of the time your phone camera does a good job of focusing but it tries to keep everything in focus and at times you may want to choose which aspect of your scene you would like as your main subject. To set focus you just tap on the screen where you want to place your focus. To pinpoint the focus point more accurately you can pinch the screen to zoom in, set focus then zoom out again. In these two images I chose a different focus. In the first photo I focused on the waterfall in the background while in the second photo I placed the focus on the leaves in the foreground, while the waterfall looks blurry in the background To hold the focus in place you press on the square and hold until AE/AF Lock appears on the screen. You can then move slightly without losing your focus point. Tap on the screen again to change or undo the focus point. By tapping the screen where I want to focus I can ensure that I get a shot of the river, not the bars You can also set exposure on the camera screen. When you tap the screen to set focus a slider will appear. If your image seems too bright or too dark you can adjust exposure by moving this on-screen slider up or down. 3. Using Portrait mode (iPhone) Live focus (Android phones) This mode allows us to get a background blur which helps the subject to stand out in the frame rather than get lost in a cluttered background. While primarily useful for taking photographs of people, portrait mode is also good for taking images of pets or of flowers and plants. It is similar to using aperture priority mode on a dedicated camera. Although this feature on a phone camera doesn’t quite match the quality of bokeh obtained with a ‘real’ camera, it is improving with each new phone and these images from the iPhone 11 Pro have quite pleasing background blur. 4. Using Burst mode Burst mode is a common feature on many cameras and is great for times when we want to capture fast moving subjects or action shots. I recently attempted to take photos of my 2-year-old granddaughter playing with a balloon. As she was obviously engrossed in what she was doing, and not interested in my picture, without burst mode I would have struggled to get a shot where she was fully in the picture or properly in focus. Similarly, burst mode later allowed me to capture a picture of her bouncing on the bed!! Although I had my camera on the occasion below, it is not always easy to have a camera in the right place at the right time. That’s where the phone camera comes into its own. Burst mode ensures we’ll never miss those action shots. Burst mode is activated by either holding down the shutter button or, on newer phone models, swiping the shutter button to one side. The best shots can then be chosen from the burst and the remainder deleted. Update: With the latest iPhone software, iOS 14, if you press the volume up button while in camera mode you can take Burst photos. 5. Using the expanded range of lenses When you open the camera app on your phone it defaults to the regular wide-angle lens (1x) and it is with this lens that most photos are taken. Many phones now offer at least one other lens, most commonly a telephoto lens (2x) or an ultra wide-angle lens (0.5x). Each of these lenses gives a different perspective to our photos and it is worth experimenting with each. I particularly like the telephoto lens for getting closer to my subject although I can see how the ultra-wide angle will add a new dimension to landscape photography with a phone camera. Wide-angle, telephoto (with some cropping to balance the subject), ultra wide-angle Wide-angle, telephoto, ultra wide-angle We get a different perspective by simply choosing a different lens. This was one of my first attempts at a landscape image using the iPhone 11 Pro ultra wide-angle lens. Unfortunately it was a dull day with poor light but it shows the potential for the use of this lens Bonus iPhone feature: Live Photos As I have recently ‘migrated’ from Android to iPhone I have just discovered ‘Live photos’, a feature which seems to be exclusive to iPhone right now, although with advancements in phone cameras coming on-stream all the time I am sure other phone makers will soon have their own versions, if the latest ones don’t already. Live photos can be used for a similar purpose as burst mode, as it takes a short video before and after the photograph so that the best image can be chosen later. In the original 'key photo' the fishing rod could not be seen. By using live photos I could pick a key photo showing a raised fishing rod Live photos has other features too, my favourite being the long exposure option. This feature tries to emulate what can be done with shutter speed on a dedicated camera so it will be worth seeing whether this technology will be taken further in the future. Conclusion While the debate regarding smartphone cameras vs ‘real’ cameras continues, there is no doubt that very often the phone camera is the one we have with us and it is encouraging to see that the features of these cameras are improving all the time. Phone cameras are now becoming a viable option for photographers in some situations, so it is worth exploring some of their recently added features. There are lots of tips online, such as https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/the-iphone-11-camera-is-no-slouch-here-are-11-tricks-to-take-stunning-photos/ Why not check out one for your phone!

Updated July 2021 When I first wrote this post last year I, like most other people, would not have believed that one year on we still hear news stories about rising Covid cases and emerging new variants, we are still not encouraged to travel outside our own countries, and many of us are still living under certain restrictions which have changed the way we live our lives. Usually, this type of post would be termed ‘ways to improve your travel photography’. But since travelling abroad for photography is not an option for many people, especially those who are nervous about travelling abroad, it looks as though close-to-home photography or staycation photography has taken over from the concept of travel photography, at least for the immediate future. Even in what might be termed 'normal' times, while it would be great to be able to travel the world and photograph the iconic landmarks, for most of us that will never be possible. Add to that the current global pandemic situation and we have lots of reasons to turn to close-to-home photography. Having a camera on vacation gets you out into nature, into the local environment, into a mountainous or woodland area or by the coast, to explore what is on offer and discover new possibilities for your photography. Getting involved in photography near to where you live gives you the opportunity to treat your own country as though it is an exotic photography location and to explore your local area, your wider environment and indeed your country, through your camera lens. I didn't want to carry a camera on this strenuous hike on Fermanagh's Cuilcagh Mountain Boardwalk , but I managed to capture a few scenes with my phone camera Ways to improve your staycation photography Taking the current climate into consideration, and the subsequent need to engage in photography close to home, here are some tips that will help you improve your close-to-home or staycation photography. #1 Showcase your own area No-one knows a local area better than a local, so get out and about in your own local area and take photographs, as you would on holiday. Be a ‘tourist in your own town’ with your camera at hand to capture what you see. If you are a city dweller, you will know the different areas of interest in your city, places where people might not always go but which offer many photography opportunities. Local parks or city parks will always be good for a photograph, as will woodland areas. Cities and towns will also be perfect locations for a spot of people watching, and capturing some of those interesting candid moments that happen on the streets will be a bonus. Dublin's Stephen's Green is a great place to people watch, and capture a few candid pictures If you live near a coastal area there will be ample opportunities to make some images - of people by the sea, coastal landscapes such as rock formations or vegetation, sunrises and sunsets over the sea, silhouette images when the light is right, or even seascape photography by getting close up to or into the sea to capture the action of the waves. This is an image from Sandymount beach, Co. Dublin, looking towards the nature reserve This is a much photographed image of the Poolbeg chimneys, which are an iconic landmark on Dublin's skyline. The chimneys are a relic of the recent industrial past and despite the fact that they are no longer in use they have been saved from demolition due to their cultural significance. On entering the country into Dublin by plane they are the first structures you see and they're the last that you see when you fly out. In that sense, they have significance for Irish people, because they are a symbol of either leaving the country or coming home. This image was taken in Bray, Co.Wicklow, at sunset Dun Laoghaire harbour is always a great place to find images. I particularly love this place in the late evening I am lucky enough to live near the coast, so I can regularly make a trip to explore what the coastal area has to offer. My local parks and river walks also provide ample photography opportunities. River Dodder, Dublin #2 Moving further afield If you don’t live near the coast, it is probable that a staycation will involve some travel to a coastal area of your own country. It could be that you prefer hiking in the mountains – take some photographs to document your hikes! Maybe you will take a river cruise, stopping off regularly at different locations. Taking time in an isolated spot, close to nature, might be your idea of the perfect holiday, but that place can still yield some great images. Staycationing is an opportunity to get to know parts of your country that you normally don’t get to visit, so treat them like a foreign country and capture their secrets on camera. One of my favourite counties to visit in Ireland is Sligo. It has something for everyone; history, culture, a beautiful coastline and great places to eat. Mullaghmore is a picturesque seaside village, situated 25 km form Sligo town, which is renowned for its big wave surfing. It is a perfect spot to spend a relaxing staycation, with beach and cliff walks and bracing sea air. Most images of the village show the busy harbour area (above) but I spent some time finding some different angles from which to show off this beautiful coastal village and surrounding area #3 Take a different view Seeing the sights of your own country that tourists normally come to see might not appeal to you as a photographer. You probably see these as well photographed places whose images adorn all the postcards outside souvenir shops. But why not take a different view, photograph these places and landmarks from a different angle or unusual perspective? In Drumcliffe Churchyard, the location of W.B Yeats' grave, I liked the symmetrical image offered by the church door... ...and a view of Ben Bulben from the church grounds Hook lighthouse, Co. Wexford Alternatively, find some out of the way spots which are off the beaten track and see what image-worthy subjects you can find. I love this secluded spot in Co. Leitrim which has provided me with lots of photography opportunities in all seasons and at all times of day Images: Mohill - Cloonboniagh North, Co.Leitrim, Ireland You can also use the weather to your advantage. I like these images taken on a misty morning just before the sun broke through. #4 Capture everyday moments Life in every country goes on as normal for most people while others are on holiday, so watch how the local people live in the location you are visiting. Capture people at work, doing what they always do. I love this aspect of travelling, no matter which country I am in. I love to see how the locals live, what they do, what life is like for them. It is usually very different than for those who stay in hotels and visit the best places. So, blend in, talk to locals, and get some candid shots that record the real place rather than the tourist place. These are all images that depict everyday life. I like to find these whenever I can #5 Look for beauty in the mundane Photography is not all about photographing fabulous locations and landscapes. A simple image can have just as much meaning because it reflects a part of life. Some objects prompt us to think of the human life around them. We might ask, Who left the object there and where are they now? What is or was their life like? These questions build the story that our photograph shows. I love to find images that get me thinking about the human story behind the object #6 Tell a story This can be an important part of documenting aspects of your own locality. You see the people in their own environment, you know their struggles in life, you know their story. Sometimes an image can stand on its own and tell its story, but sometimes by talking about your images, telling the viewer why you chose to take this particular image and how it speaks to you, you can add to the story that the image tells. By explaining your thought process behind your image you can also engage more fully with your viewer. This image stands on its own and it allows the viewer to imagine the story This provides the context for the first image. This local man collects fish that are discarded by the fishermen and cuts them up to feed the gulls. He allowed me to take his photograph and I watched him finish the task and go off with his bucketful of fish (Hook Peninsula, Co. Wexford, Ireland) #7 Make notes When I travel abroad I always make notes about the places I visit, when I visited and something that will be a reminder of my time there. This can be done with our staycation photos too. I can say when and where I took the image, and also a note about why I took the image, what I was thinking when I took the image, why I photographed it in this particular way, and so on. I was drawn to the sky in this scene as well as the reflection in the water Mohill - Cloonboniagh North, Co.Leitrim, Ireland Conclusion People travel for all kinds of reasons – to satisfy their sense of adventure, to experience different lifestyles and cultures or just to enjoy a leisurely sunshine holiday. These are the things on which many of us have to compromise at the moment, but we can make some changes to ensure that we have an alternative to travel photography. So, pack your camera, a lens or two and a spare battery when you are heading off on holiday this year and take the time to make some photographs. Who knows, you might come home with that gem you’ve been waiting for! Further reading Book: The Skelligs: Islands on the Edge of the World. This is the third book by Cork based photographer Peter Cox, who claims that, despite having photographed 'most of the world's most stunning landscapes', nothing can match 'the drama and grandeur of the Skelligs in Kerry.' He says, “I’ve travelled all over the world, I’ve photographed in Greenland, Antarctica, Iceland. The Skelligs is probably my favourite place to photograph — it is a place that is very special to me personally, but also photographically." Read more here A great recommendation for close-to-home photography! You might also be interested in my post Travel Photography Without Too Much Travel “Some people look for a beautiful place. Others make a place beautiful.” – Hazrat Inayat Khan

Have you ever found yourself faced with a perfect photo opportunity and lamented the fact that you haven't got your camera with you? Have you ever turned a corner and encountered a beautiful sunset but know that by the time you take your camera out of its bag and attach the right lens, the moment will have passed? These are the occasions when I am glad that I have a capable phone in my pocket. Having relied on my phone camera on numerous occasions I no longer see it as inferior to my 'real' camera but as a tool that can enhance my photography practice and allow me to make the most of every opportunity for making photographs. I wrote this post last year and find myself re-reading it as I set out with my new iPhone camera. *********************** I’m always on the lookout for the perfect photo opportunity. I find myself constantly looking around while out walking – for patterns, colour, unusual objects or interesting sky formations. Even when driving I often spot a picturesque scene and find myself stopping to assess its potential for a photograph. This may be what commentators call beginning to think like a photographer, beginning to look at the world from a photographer’s point of view, even without having a camera at hand. It is also one of the reasons that mobile phones have helped photography, as they are usually immediately available to turn that potential image into reality. I don’t imagine that many serious photographers give a lot of credence to pictures taken with mobile phones. Although there are many wonderful images taken with mobile phone cameras, they tend to be dismissed by those for whom DSLR or mirrorless cameras represent real photographic equipment. But apart from developing the photographer’s eye, and being a camera in the right place at the right time, I would venture to say that my phone has actually improved my own photography practice in a number of different ways. Practice! Practice! Practice! As with any pursuit, improvement in photography comes with practice, and indeed, in order to make good progress, daily practice is what is required. That being said, it is not always possible to have a camera on hand at all times, given the busyness of our everyday lives. That is where the mobile phone comes into its own. While walking to my local supermarket on a winter morning I was able to capture the first frost of the year that had covered this bunch of leaves. Similarly, on an evening walk I was surprised by the changing colours of the sky and managed to capture a few images. As mentioned above, having a ‘photographic eye’ (or maybe more accurately a photographic mind) is a major part of developing as a photographer, and it is good to assess a scene or subject from the viewpoint of how it could be framed as a photograph, but it is an added advantage to be able to immediately translate that vision into an image because we have a camera in our pocket or bag. The next few images were taken unexpectedly on a Sunday trip to the countryside. I love the tranquility in these two images, and the sense of waiting. Someone will come to take the boat and all will change! Experimenting with image making There are a few aspects of mobile phone photography which are particularly helpful in improving at the art of photography. A lot of photography teachers will say that the most important elements in a photograph are subject, composition and light. It is essential to an image to have a clear and strong subject or focal point and in order for this subject to stand out in the frame we need to pay attention to the way in which the image is composed. Naturally, how the light affects the image will be of utmost importance and these are all elements of photography that we can ‘play around with’ using a phone camera in order to improve our technique. Turning on the camera’s gridlines can make a big difference to composition and go a long way to balancing our shot. With the gridlines turned on we can easily see how to place points of interest in the intersections or along the lines to create more pleasing images. Setting the camera’s focus is another option that is easy to use on the phone camera and the simple act of tapping on the screen to focus has helped me become more aware of the need to choose a focal point in all my shots rather than simply let the camera choose where to focus. In this image I placed the focus on the post in the foreground, but was also aware of the reflection in the background. Working with single focal length is an interesting aspect of mobile photography. I try not to use the digital zoom on my phone as it doesn’t give a good quality image, and while this does tend to limit the type of shots I can capture I have found that the lack of an ability to zoom forces me to become more creative by varying my perspective and angle, getting closer and looking for interesting subjects that will work will within the given focal length. With my particular phone camera I have the choice of three focal lengths and I can vary the type of shots I take accordingly. Working with my phone camera, and taking into account that I can’t change lenses, has encouraged me to focus on close-up images a lot of the time, and I love capturing small, delicate details that could easily be missed. Capturing textures and colour works well on a mobile phone also, and these are images that I tend not to take with my bigger camera as they are often things I come across unexpectedly. Since photography is essentially ‘painting with light’ it is good to take opportunities to play with different light sources and to make images in all types of light. I enjoy making silhouette images or capturing an unexpected play of light. I have experimented with the phone’s exposure, adjusting exposure manually if the camera is not getting the light just right, and sometimes deliberately underexposing to obtain a certain effect. Candid photos Another area where the phone camera has been an invaluable tool is in taking candid images when out and about - in the street, at the beach, in the park. Wherever there are people doing interesting things there is potential for an interesting photograph, and the phone camera leaves us in a good position to capture those shots. Editing on the go Editing images can be a valuable part of our photography process but editing images from our cameras on a pc in Lightroom, Photoshop or other editing program does take time. Having said that, it is worth making subtle improvements to our photographs from time to time so mobile apps such as Snapseed or Lightroom mobile can fit the bill. They give us a lot of the functionality of a more complex editing program but are quick and easy to use. Conclusion I have outlined just some of the ways in which my mobile phone has actually helped my photography, despite the fact that it might be technically inferior to my bigger camera. But of course, photography is about taking photographs so the main value of the phone camera is that it gets me out there taking pictures. Many of them are consigned to the bin fairly quickly, but below are a few that have survived. Someone's addition of the band around the arm of the sculpture caught my eye! The person at the end of the street drew my eye, but I should have moved closer to get a better shot. All of these images were taken with my mobile phone, and all have taught me something about composition, subject, perspective and focusing. They have also helped me discover the types of photographs I am most drawn to, and given me ideas for improvement. Leica, Schmeika, the camera doesn’t make a bit of difference. All of them record what you are seeing. But you have to see. ~ Ernst Haas Before you go, why not check out my latest post 5 Great Smartphone Features That Most People Don't Know About

This blog was first published in July 2019. Updated September 2020 When I consider travel photography what comes to mind is the shiny photographs of fabulous landscapes in National Geographic magazines, the unique viewpoints of famous landmarks in amazing far flung locations or the perfectly composed candid images of people of various nationalities in celebration of their culture. It is quite far removed from the holiday snapshots I usually take when visiting a new place, even though there may be one or two nice backgrounds among them. Even though the images might not be great, they still provide us with memories of places we have visited Most serious travel photographers would not agree that strategically placing a person next to a famous landmark or in a beautiful scene constitutes travel photography. There is widespread agreement that this type of photography needs to capture images that reflect the culture in which they are set as well as local people in their natural environment. It is primarily about documenting a place, its people, environment, culture and traditions. If travel photography is to be part of my photography journey I have to think of ways to incorporate this genre into my craft within the constraints of my own personal circumstances. I am not likely to be able to travel extensively with professional camera gear in tow, so does that mean I can’t do travel photography? I would like to think not. To me, travel photography can start in my own country by visiting different parts of the country with the specific aim of making images. With photography in mind, every place can yield some potential for a decent image. What will be the difference between travel photography and holiday snapshots? A number of things. Composition will be important, so will remembering the techniques I have learned and applying them to my practice. Doing photography while travelling gives me an opportunity to put into practice the tips and techniques I have learned while in a variety of different settings and situations. I took these images on Rosslare beach in Co. Wexford. Getting down low with my smartphone camera seemed to be a good position to capture these stakes, placed in the late sixties/early seventies to prevent coastal erosion. The stakes also create a leading line out to sea. The image below is a candid photograph of a boy as he tried to fish from the rocks. Travelling along the Wexford coast from Hook Lighthouse I came across this tiny spot which looked to have some potential in terms of photography so I felt it was worth stopping here. After chatting for a while to this local man who was cutting fish to feed the seagulls I did indeed manage to get some photographs that created a story. In the same spot I was walking along the cliff when I met this group of canoeists returning from their adventure. I looked behind when they had passed and I like the shot that I managed to grab. I took some other images in this location, a place that has no claim to fame but can still offer plenty of opportunities for photography. Many images of the Irish coastline are produced by professional photographers and they can make the natural environment stand out as places of great beauty. Not having the equipment or know-how to do this, I concentrated on a few photography techniques such as choosing the place I wanted to capture and then waiting for a person to walk into the frame or taking a well photographed landmark from a more unusual position. The gallery below offers a few images, taken in different locations, as attempts at travel photography. Does a beautiful scene always translate into a good image? Most people visit an area to view the beautiful scenery and any well known landmarks associated with the place. It is true that we often look at a beautiful scene, beautiful landscape or beautiful subject and think, “that will make a wonderful photograph”. We take the picture and, sadly, it turns out to be nothing like we intended. So what do we do? How do we compensate for the fact that the camera can’t see as the eye does? Photographer and photography trainer, Anthony Epes, has said that just because something is beautiful doesn’t mean it will necessarily translate into a beautiful image. When I heard this statement it struck a chord with me because I tend to confuse a photograph of a beautiful scene with what might be called a beautiful, or even a good, photograph. Usually when I come across a beautiful scene I want to take a photograph but the truth is that these scenes have been photographed so often by professional photographers that there is no way my images will compete. What I need to do is admire the scene but chose something less famous for my own photographs. Photographs of famous landmarks or taken at famous viewpoints, taken as part of our travel, are often quick shots which as images are frequently disappointing. Often, the composition of these images leaves a lot to be desired - many times the exact subject is not defined and everything is vying for space in the frame, with nothing for the viewer to focus on. The amateur photographer might be better served by taking photographs of subjects that are not inherently beautiful but where the task of making the image has involved some intention and planning, some use of composition ‘rules’ and some degree of effort on the part of the photographer that will help us produce images that are photographs rather than snapshots. Alternatively, we can try to get our own unique view of a beautiful scene, again, employing some photography 'techniques'. Ben Bulben, Co. Sligo, is a well photographed landmark. I took this image from Drumcliffe Graveyard using the technique of natural framing. The foreground is in focus with the mountain providing a beautiful background Conclusion Travel photography is a photography style that has yielded amazing images from countless photographers all over the world, photographs that have been printed and re-printed, and many of which have become iconic. Most of us will never reach those dizzy heights with our photography but we can still travel, even in our own country, and we can still take good photographs on those travels. All we need is to be true to our own unique view of the world around us and we will begin to produce our own unique images. "The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes". - Marcel Proust

"There are beautiful photo opportunities all around you and as a photographer your job is to learn how to recognise them." Emil Pakarklis Let’s face it, not all of us can travel to iconic photography locations all the time. Many of us don’t live close to areas that might yield ‘epic’ images. Over recent months most of us haven’t even been able to travel far outside our own local area, so our photography has been focused on making images close to where we live. And while this might have seemed like a novel challenge at first, it soon began to feel that we were shooting in very boring locations. Yet the best photographers will insist that photography does not have to be about ‘epic locations’ and that we can make decent images wherever we are if we can change our view of the ‘boring’ landscape around us, go out exploring and try to see what we can find. If we are open to experimentation, to being curious; if we enjoy being out and spending time with the camera, then we will find those images wherever we are. This is the opinion of photographer Thomas Heaton, whose recent video, ‘Landscape Photography in the World’s Most Boring Location’ shows Heaton set himself a photography challenge called 'The Boring 10 Miles.' In the challenge the photographer cycles 10 miles of boring landscape close to where he lives and challenges himself to make 10 images, one every mile. Heaton concedes that all his images may not be good, but he wanted to see what he could learn from the experience and how he could begin to see his local area in a new way. Heaton's video gave me the inspiration to take on a similar challenge and see what images I could make in an ordinary, even boring, location. I decided to take this challenge over a regular weekend, when I wasn’t planning to be in an area with an amazing landscape, and to see what results I achieved. Part of my challenge took place on a drive through a flat, farm landscape, which had no particular beauty spots. The first location I stopped at yielded these images. I was driving along when I spotted this ploughed field, which I thought made a nice foreground for the image of the trees in the background Further along the road was this image of a lone tree, side lit by the setting sun I travelled towards home and found myself stopping at a haulage yard. As it was late in the evening the yard was closed, and I wasn't sure if it is still in use, but I looked around for possible photographic interest. I liked the way the sun lit up this unfinished, and apparently abandoned, building Inspired by Thomas Heaton, I took this shot of a pole and powerlines, aiming to capture an angle not usually seen This is not my usual style of image, and not a particularly good one, but it does prove that there are photo opportunities all around us The birds seem to be ignoring the No Parking sign! The next two images were taken when I stopped at a farm gate. I felt compelled to take them as part of the challenge I had set for myself, and I did like them in a way. I like old metal and old wood, and the two come together here. They tell a story of rural living and how old objects still have their uses Something drew my eye to this image of an abandoned trailer with a muddy line (sort of) leading the eye towards it, while the beauty of nature exists alongside I took this photo near my home. Again, it is just something ordinary that I would not ordinarily bother with. The clouds added a bit of drama on this occasion Abstract images can also be a way to make something from an otherwise boring landscape I enjoyed setting myself this challenge. Taking these photographs took me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to think differently and to look for images in places where i wouldn't normally look. A challenge such as this is something that I think would be worth doing again in the future. I hope this post and Thomas Heaton’s video have inspired you to take out your camera or phone close to your home and just make some images. There might even be a gem among them! If you know someone who might like this post, please share it.

Photographer Clifford Pickett talks of times when we may wonder about going out to make images because the weather is ‘a certain way’. However, he urges us not to see weather as good or bad for photography, just to see it as a certain way and make the most of it. Certainly, weather is important in photography, and it is particularly important for landscape photography. Our weather on a particular day will often decide the type of light we have to work with, and light is crucial to good photography. So often we are faced with dull, grey days when there is poor light. As photographers those might be the days when we decide that there’s no point going out to do photography. Sometimes we could experience day after day of weather which does not seem to be conducive to photography, and if we allow it to, it could leave us feeling unproductive and frustrated. Alternatively, we can have too much light. We often hear that the optimal time for shooting is around golden hour or blue hour, and indeed those times do allow us to work with the best light possible, meaning that the success or otherwise of the resulting images is down to our own expertise. Yet most of us are not somewhere beautiful all the time to capture amazing sunrises or sunsets or to make the most of that light. Many of us go shooting during the day and often the sun is just too harsh. So, when faced with either extreme of dull days with poor light or very sunny days, also with poor light for photography, what do we do? Well, despite the weather all is not lost and there are plenty of options for those ‘not ideal for photography’ weather days. Here are some suggestions that might work and make photography possible on those days. #1. Change your thinking (and your depth of field). When I have a trip planned to a particular location where I know I can get some nice landscape images I am very dependent on having the weather live up to my expectations. I might arrive in early morning or late evening, knowing that these are good times for landscape photography, but if the sun has not made an appearance any images I make are likely to turn out flat and lifeless. One solution to this is to accept that I can’t change the weather and so try to change my expectations, abandon the bigger picture and go for a narrow depth of field. I can spend some time experimenting with different apertures and getting close to parts of my subject while having the wider vista in the background. In this way I don't need a blue sky or fluffy clouds, yet my chosen background becomes part of the overall image. #2. Fill the frame. Again, this technique is one which doesn't necessarily require amazing light. It's not something I do very often but it does work in this type of scenario where we arrive at a location intending to make some great landscape images and the weather works against us. It can be challenging to find subjects which make good candidates for this type of photography, so I find I have to work a bit harder and really scout around the scene. Filling the frame gives an opportunity to look for interesting textures or shapes that might work well. #3. Try some macro photography I don't have specialized macro lenses so I rely on my phone camera to get as close as possible to a subject. While the images are not great they do give me a flavour of what is possible if I want to invest in a macro lens, and it is an ideal type of photography to practice on those days when the weather won't allow us to capture good wider landscapes. #4. Capture parts of the subject. While I like to photograph parts of objects in the normal course of photography, it fits well with photography on a dull day. While having light fall on part of a subject will undoubtedly enhance any image, it is still possible to make a decent image of this type on a dull day. The challenging part of this is trying to find interesting parts of subjects, varying the angle you shoot from, looking for a unique perspective from which to make your image. If the image itself is a worthwhile one, the lack of good light may not be so obvious. #5. Use the time to experiment. While we all like to come home with some decent images after a photo shoot, we should take opportunities to just experiment. If I go out with my camera or phone and use the opportunity to take multiple images and try different things, I am constantly learning something new and improving my skills. Sometimes I deliberately take my camera out on a dull day with the intention of perfecting a particular skill that I have not yet mastered. For example, I am continually working on improving my use of shutter speed as I am not yet satisfied with the images I have made so far, so days when the weather is not ideal for getting good shots provide perfect opportunities to do this learning. By going out with the intention of experimenting I am not expecting wonderful images, so I give myself permission to try and fail and try again. Instead of focusing on how I want a photo to turn out, I use these opportunities to learn something new and see this as a positive in my photography journey. When we don’t have the pressure of capturing that great shot, and we take the time to stop, question what we are doing, analyze the shot and test different compositions, we will ensure improved results for future shoots. #6. Think in black and white. I like black and white photography and while I realise that images that are to be converted to black and white need good light just as much as colour images, I find that on days when the images themselves may not be great, I do get to spend time thinking in black and white, looking for good texture or tonal contrast and visualising scenes that would make good black and white conversions with the addition of better light. It can also be true that on days when the light is soft we can make better black and white images than in harsher light, so it’s worth having a go if you like to convert to black and white. A day with strong cloud formations can give us good black and white cloudscape images #7. Embrace the weather. We can often get spectacular images after a rain shower, on a foggy day, even mid-day on a very sunny day. All we have to do is embrace whatever nature gives us and adjust accordingly. I have captured a few raindrops on leaves, stopped to grab an image on a foggy day or walked around a subject until I found an angle that wasn't covered in a sun haze. In harsh light, when the sun is high, I just need to spend time looking for the best angle from which to shoot. As the saying goes, “You can’t change the wind, but you can adjust your sails.” I had an opportunity to photograph this ancient tomb but the sun was high and it was difficult to get a good image. I decided to move around until I found the best possible angle that avoided harsh shadows #8. Shoot in RAW, adjust in Lightroom. While no image editing program has a magic formula for rescuing a bad photograph or turning a dull image into a great one, it is possible to make some enhancements using Lightroom or other similar program. When we shoot in RAW initially, we give ourselves more information to work with and more chance of being able to brighten our image and make it pop, but even JPEG images can be enhanced. We can simply do basic edits, use the radial or graduated filter or adjustment brush to brighten parts of our image or try pre-sets. All of these options in an image editing program can transform our thinking about our bad weather photos as we give them a digital makeover. A black and white conversion can make a big difference to an image... ---so can adding a vignette OR Experiment with Colour Grading I find that the colour grading option in Lightroom adds a bit of creativity to the editing process and is another way of re-imagining your final image. Instead of staying at home on a dull day and taking no photographs, you can go out, shoot lots and experiment with the outcomes. They may not be ‘show’ images, but they can provide you with an outlet for your creativity. #9. Experience and enjoy the mental health benefits of photography. Photography is a therapeutic activity for me. It is my escape. I find that when I go out with my camera I can get lost in the image making, I get a break from the worries of everyday life and I enjoy the creative process. I can be in the moment, become observant of the world around me and appreciate what I see and try to capture. It is important that I don’t allow ‘bad’ weather to take this joy away from me, so it is essential to find alternative ways to do photography when the conditions are less than ideal. On some of these days I have what I call my observation days. I will go out without a camera and spend time observing closely what I see, considering possibilities for my next photo shoot, seeing things that I had not seen before or noticing familiar things in a new way. This increases my sense of curiosity, a characteristic associated with positive mental health. Often, I see something I want to photograph and make a note of it for a time when I can go back with my camera. In so doing I bring my photography mind with me wherever I go, I come up with ideas for future photographs and I enjoy a pleasure which inclement weather cannot spoil. Taking time to ourselves, time to recharge, time to daydream, can inspire us and in turn make us more productive. Strolling around my home area or driving to a new destination helps me to appreciate familiar places, discover new places and value all that is around me. Days like these have helped open the door to mindfulness and encouraged my mindful photography practice. Regardless of weather, there is no day when we cannot appreciate the subjects that make our photography possible. Even on a bright sunny day we can pick out a subject to focus on Conclusion Even if the weather doesn’t co-operate for our photography, it doesn’t mean that we can’t be productive. We can experiment, learn something new, work on some images in post processing or just go out and look for locations or spots to go back to when conditions are better. I’ve heard it said that photography is a marathon, not a sprint, meaning that you don’t have to get fabulous images every time you go out. There are lots of ways to grow as a photographer and some of this growth can be achieved even when the weather is not the photographer’s friend. Deciding to make images regardless of conditions has helped me to put less emphasis on the results and to experience the joy of the journey. I hope that maybe I have inspired you to go out and do the same. If you have found this post useful, please feel free to share.

Have you ever been tempted, when you come across a beautiful landscape, to take out your camera or phone and turn it into an image? Most of us have, and despite my belief that landscape photography might be an area of photography best left to professionals, or at least to amateur photographers who have invested in expensive camera and lenses, when I see a beautiful area in my country, I just want to make some images. Ireland is full of beauty spots, many of them largely unknown. They are not on tourist trails, and they do not feature on any visitors’ brochure because they are tucked away on side roads, off the beaten track. They might be close to where tourists travel, but not quite there. They are an even more hidden part of an already hidden Ireland. These are the spots I like to find and photograph. I don’t have many views of our most iconic landmarks, but I do have images of places that are beautiful and special to me, and that is what my photography is all about. This is an image of a monastery ruins in Fenagh, Co. Leitrim. It is not an image seen in many books of Irish landscapes but it is an image of an important part of our history I am passionate about taking a more mindful approach to photography, and landscape photography lends itself to a mindful approach because if we are going to capture good landscape images we need to move away from the busyness and noise of everyday life and spend time in a quiet space, connecting with the place, being aware of our surroundings, being in the moment. It is this connection with place that helps bring part of ourselves to our photographs. On the day I took these images I spent some time wandering, looking, being. I was attracted to this leading line, and genuinely wondered where it led. I followed the path and it brought me to a rest spot overlooking a beautiful mountain vista. It is in the grounds of an ancient church and visitors are invited to sit awhile and be still away from the busy world. Anyone who has read my earlier posts, or even my About Me page, will know that I returned to photography after a long absence, so in that sense I am still a beginner, with much to learn. I have built up some basic equipment but do not have the type of professional lenses required to do proper landscape photography. Yet I haven’t allowed that to stop me. In fact, I am not alone in the belief that we can do landscape photography with a phone camera, and there is a very popular landscape mastery course to prove it! Even with basic camera equipment, there are ways in which we can make successful landscape images, images which, while they may not win any awards, will be images that we are proud to say are ours. Through some of my photography lessons, my own experimentation, and a lot of learning through failure, I have come up with some tips which will help you to make better landscape photographs, even with basic camera gear. Here goes. 1. See with your eyes before seeing with your camera. Observation is key to good landscape photography, and it is a skill that improves with practice. I have recently come to appreciate the importance of spending time observing a scene before I take any shots. I admit I have been guilty of arriving at an amazing scene, getting my camera out and snapping away, hoping that the scene will make the photograph for me. It doesn’t. You have to work hard to make the most of any scene in photography, otherwise you end up with nice snapshots rather than good images. Finding a good location for your landscape photography shoot is the first consideration. I always look for a location I like, somewhere in which I can feel a connection to the environment around me. It is then that I begin to browse around, without a camera, to get a feel for the place, to appreciate its beauty and to become aware of any potential opportunities for image making. I might sit or stand for a while and ask myself, Why this scene? What is it about the scene that will give me the image I’m looking for? When making the images below, I stopped at a parking space and took a walk around the area, travelling around the road by the side of the lake, watching how the light was forming reflections in the water, discovering standing spots which might give me a good view, and making some mental decisions about the images I would try to capture. I took a few images with my phone then went back for my camera and set out again. On this occasion the distance around the area was short so it was possible to walk along without my camera at first. On other occasions, when I need to walk far away from my car, I take my camera with me but I still do a lot of looking before I take my first shot. It is often said that if you are too quick to pick up your camera you risk seeing nothing, and I tend to agree with the statement. Indeed, I have often left a scene after walking around for some time because the light was just not right, or the area didn’t yield the opportunities that I had expected. I went for a walk along the beach on the evening of my arrival at this location. It was too late to take good photographs, but I observed what was around with a view to making some images next day. 2. Take your time and make lots of photographs. One of the advantages of digital cameras is the fact that you can take as many photos as you want, bring them all home and evaluate them later. Cloud storage options mean that we do not have to delete immediately but we can give ourselves time to really consider whether a certain image is what we want. I usually sort my images into three groups. The first group consists of images that I like and will import into Lightroom straight away, the second group has images that have potential and that I won’t discard just yet, the third group will be images that I won’t keep. These images may be blurred, badly composed or images that I just don’t like. The main point is that you should take lots of photos to give yourself plenty to choose from. It’s always better to delete photos you don’t want than to regret the ones you didn’t take. 3. Shoot from different perspectives. One of the best pieces of advice I have learned from photography tutors is not to take all photos from the position of a standing adult. I try to incorporate this advice into my photo shoot by getting down low and shooting from that perspective, finding a high point and shooting down from there or pointing the camera upwards. The main aim is to have at least a few images taken from a more unique position than we are normally used to. I often stop and look up while walking through a woodland area. There is always an interesting world up there that we seldom see. 4. Make use of natural framing. Using natural elements that are in the location to frame your subject is a technique used in landscape photography to add emphasis to the subject. Trees, flowers, rocks, even clouds, can provide a frame. I use this technique when it seems natural to do so but it’s important not to overuse it or your images will begin to look too similar. I think a photograph of this house on its own might be less interesting than seeing it framed naturally by the branches of nearby trees. 5. Have a focal point in your image. A wide vista can be beautiful to look at in reality, as your eye can wander to any part of the scene, but with a photograph you have to choose which part of the scene you want your viewer to focus on, so it is important to have a focal point in your image. This could be a building, a tree, a person or animal in the scene, an unusual rock, a reflection, or an interesting sky. If you ask yourself when taking your photo, ‘what is my focus?’ it helps to ensure that you include a focal point on which the viewer can focus. In this image my focal point was the boat and the surrounding landscape provides a context. 6. Make use of leading lines. Leading lines are used to lead the viewer’s eye through the image to the main point of interest. They can help to add depth to an image that might otherwise appear flat. They may be actual, visible lines or implied lines. For example, a group of rocks or stones may be arranged in such a way that they lead the viewer’s eye to the centre of the image. A shoreline can act in the same way. When I spent some time observing this scene, I noticed that the stones in the water made a curved shape which created a line leading the viewer’s eye along the shore to the land further along. 7. Add some foreground, middleground and background interest. Your aim in landscape photography is to try to convey a sense of depth in your images, to make them appear as close as possible to how your eye sees the scene. If you concentrate only on the background of your image it will lack depth and look rather flat, so it is important to have some interesting elements in the foreground and middle ground of your image. This is what is known as layering and it can add a sense of depth to your image as your eye is led beyond the foreground subject, through the middle to the scene behind. Having a distinct foreground, midground and background in your image also helps you to convey the scale of the location to your viewer. You can also create variety in your images by using a large aperture when focusing on a foreground subject, which will then blur your background scene. To some photographers this may not technically count as a landscape image, but you can be the judge! Which brings me neatly to the next point… 8. Make the images you want to make. I often feel under pressure when photographing landscapes to make images that will withstand criticism. I think that since my equipment is not top notch and my techniques are still in the infancy stage, my images will not come up to standard. Yet, I need to ask myself, whose standard am I using to judge my images? The only person I should judge myself against is the photographer I was last week or last year. When you make the images that you want to make there can be no judgement. And often, when you take away the expectation and pressure to make certain kinds of images you will allow your curiosity to run free and you may end up with some wonderful shots. 9. Give your images a little love (aka do some photo editing). Some photographers will argue that the authentic image is the image that comes straight out of camera, without any enhancements, while others will contend that no image straight out of camera is the finished product. I tend to agree with the latter view, and while I don’t like to make too many changes to the original image, I do believe that some enhancements in a post processing program are necessary for the majority of images, particularly when we shoot in RAW format. Even JPEG images are not fully processed by the camera and some adjustments to white balance, exposure, contrast and colour vibrancy may be required to produce images that are closer to what our eyes actually saw. In the images below you can see that I made only minimal adjustments, but the image looks richer and more vibrant. I don’t overdo saturation and try to keep my images as true to the look of the original scene as I can. While it is obviously better to pay attention to your horizon and to the edges of your frame while shooting, editing does give you the chance to straighten and do any necessary cropping to improve minor details before sharing an image. Conclusion These are a few tips on how to make better landscape photographs, even without having top of the range gear. But even on those days when you come home with disappointing images, all is not lost. You have spent time in nature, enjoying the beauty around you and being creative. You have learned by doing and hopefully you have enjoyed the experience. Review your images, look at where they have succeeded and where they could have been better. Build on what you see; learn from the good and the bad and bring your learning with you to your next location. Remember, photography is a marathon, not a sprint. It is about progress, not perfection. It is about the journey rather than the destination. Enjoy the ride. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ If you found these tips useful, please share them. You might like to read my previous post One Small Sentence That Completely Changed My Perspective on Landscape Photography

Why would you waste your time doing landscape photography? This is a question I have heard asked a few times. The argument goes: After all, · You won’t sell your images often, if ever. · You’ll need expensive equipment to get good shots. · No one wants to look at photographs that don’t include people. · Most of the best landscapes are already ‘taken’. Despite this, landscape photography is a popular genre, and it is also an extremely rewarding type of photography in many ways. So what is in about landscape photography that appeals to amateur and professional photographers alike? Over the last few months I have found myself increasingly drawn to photographing landscapes, in particular ‘hidden landscapes’. I have a particular fascination with driving off the beaten track and finding some hidden gems – beautiful lakes, mountains, forest areas or small coves which lie unspoiled and bypassed by ‘mainstream’ landscape photographers. Being in these places brings me closer to nature, alive to beauty and appreciative of all that the natural world has to offer. And because I am capturing images for myself, in my own secret places, I am not in competition with 'proper' landscape photographers. Will I sell these photographs? No, but they have given me precious moments that are worth more than money. Do I need expensive equipment? No, but I have made the most of the equipment I already own and have even taken pleasing landscape photos with just my smartphone. What I do need is a good subject, an understanding of how to compose my image well, some technical knowledge, good light, a bit of artistic vision and a love of the location in which I am shooting. I often take out my phone camera if I see a view worth capturing Will anyone want to view my landscape photographs? They may not have general appeal, but some people will like them for the beauty of the places they show. For others, they will be a reminder of other landscapes they have loved. Still others might see them as images that spark reflection on the beauty of nature. Are most of the good landscape images already taken? Most of the world’s most iconic landscapes are indeed already immortalised by good photographers, but the world has a never-ending supply of beauty to reveal, a bottomless resource that can always be tapped into by new photographers. Is landscape photography worth doing? Absolutely. Rather than waste your time, you would spend your time wisely if you chose to photograph landscapes. The rewards are manifold, as I have discovered. Landscape photography has encouraged me to get up at an unearthly hour to view an amazing sunrise. It has brought me to various locations to witness stunning sunsets, fantastic cloud formations, rugged cliffs or wild seas. It has enhanced my appreciation of breath-taking views while driving, without needing to stop and take a photo. All I need to do is to breathe deeply and take it all in. In short, landscape photography has brought me to many awe-inspiring scenes that I wouldn’t have the skills to turn into good images. Most of all, landscape photography has brought much pleasure and joy as I indulge in an activity that has opened a world of sights, sounds and emotions, and an appreciation of the world around me that previously eluded me. To landscape photography, and all the hidden landscapes I’ve found, I owe a debt of gratitude. What is your experience of doing landscape photography?

With the rise in popularity of mobile phone cameras in recent years has come a growing range of resources to help us make the most of our mobile camera technology. Below I have outlined 6 main areas in which I have found useful resources for getting started as a mobile photographer and/or discovering how to make the most of your mobile phone camera, which I hope you will find useful. #1 Online course iPhone Academy offers an online course which starts with basic, but sometimes unknown, tips for getting started with mobile photography and moves gradually to more advanced techniques. Each video lesson is explained clearly and there is an opportunity to comment or ask questions after each module. While the lessons are applicable to all smartphones, the Facebook group, where participants can post their photos in response to each challenge, is confined to iPhone users. The blurb for the course promises that, “within a few hours, you’ll be taking better photos with your iPhone than most people can take with their big cameras!” It’s a lofty claim, but the comprehensive set of lessons do deliver what they promise. Improving the composition of our phone camera images is a strong focus on this course What I like The course is a great introduction to mobile photography. It covers the main aspects of photography such as composition techniques, different photography genres, becoming a creative photographer with iPhone, advanced tips for using the iPhone camera and other camera apps, an introduction to editing on iPhone using the Snapseed app, as well as giving a number of bonus modules including one in which the instructor Emil looks at participants’ images and does a photo analysis, which I found to be very useful. The course was recorded a few years ago but has been updated to include the new features on the latest iPhone models, and the comments section is up-to-date and is moderated daily. Emil’s teaching style is easy to follow and he explains each technique in detail while not appearing patronising. iPhone Academy is part of iPhone Photography School, www.iphonephotographyschool.com, a site full of tips and techniques related to iPhone photography, ranging from tutorials on getting started with mobile phone photography to more advanced techniques. Almost every aspect of iPhone photography is covered, and the site really is a one-stop-shop for anyone wishing to develop their phone photography skills. #2 YouTube video How can we improve our image just a little bit more? This is the question that photographer Clifford Pickett constantly asks in his series of YouTube videos, iPhone Landscape Mastery, a series in which Clifford demonstrates simple yet effective techniques for improving your iPhone landscape photography. In the video below Clifford reveals the ‘one more added element’ that completely changes the composition of a landscape photograph. Find out what that is here Clue. While nowhere nearly as compelling as Clifford Pickett’s images, these shots do incorporate the added element that he speaks about. What I like These videos are short yet very informative and the feeling you get after watching them is, I could do that too! The videos are part of a comprehensive iphone landscape mastery course and they give a good taste of is covered in the course. I like the presenter’s easy style, his enthusiasm for his subject and his sense of humour. Be sure to check them out, and look out for regular discounts. #3 Tips and tutorials site A very valuable resource for photographers of all kinds – beginners, improvers and advanced photographers – is Digital Photography School (https://digital-photography-school.com). Described as ‘your ultimate resource for practical photography tutorials, ideas and advice for every photographer’, this is my go-to site for photography advice. There are tips and tutorials on all aspects of photography, on post-processing and camera gear as well as several courses and eBooks. When you subscribe to the site you will receive a weekly email with information on the latest articles as well as an invitation to participate in the weekly challenge. What I like This site has everything you need as a photographer. I have not yet looked for information on any aspect of photography that I haven’t found here. The numerous articles containing tutorials, tips and reviews are all written in easy to follow language and well-illustrated. While the site is mainly focused on general photography, the principles are the same regardless of the tool we use so are easily applicable to smartphone cameras. Having said that, there are also several articles dedicated to smartphone camera use. A simple search for smartphone photography will bring up all the smartphone related articles, or just follow this link #4 Book Books are not the first resource you go to for information on smartphone photography, but the book ‘smart phone, smart photography’ by Jo Bradford is worth dipping into as a coffee table reference guide. While the information in the book has been overtaken by advances in mobile camera technology, this is not as big a problem as you might imagine as all the suggestions for composition and subject matter are possible even on older camera phones. To quote the author, ‘I firmly believe that the key to taking a good photograph has far more to do with understanding how to use your camera, and has far less to do with having all the most expensive kit’. Her aim is to help the reader tap into the potential of their portable digital camera, and this is where the book succeeds. The book is divided into short chapters (mostly a two-page spread) each with a conversational style and illustrated with the author’s own photos taken on smartphones. The author covers every aspect of smartphone photography that you would want to know about, including a section on editing your images. What I like I like the user-friendly layout of the book and the wealth of easy to digest information it provides. If you would like one book to dip into as a quick reference guide, to my mind this is the one. #5 Magazine (online) Mobiography magazine is a digital magazine about mobile photography. It caters to both iPhone and android systems. Describing itself as ‘a leading go-to resource for those looking to make the most of the camera in their pocket – the smartphone’, the magazine’s aim is ‘to showcase, teach and inspire others how to take better photos with their smartphones’. The magazine covers all aspects of mobile photography and is an excellent learning resource. The magazine is subscription based, with some back issues available free. What I like The magazine has a great variety of informative articles and useful advice and it is supplemented by www.mobiography.net which also has a range of excellent articles, tutorials, reviews and interviews. #6 Editing app While I do not purport to know everything about Snapseed, I will say that I have used it often to make adjustments to my phone images and find it to be a quick and easy way to enhance my photos. Now owned by Google, Snapseed is available for iPhone and android phones and is free to download. I include Snapseed in my list of resources as it is my go-to app for improving my mobile photography. There are many other apps available for use with your phone camera. I have not investigated all of these but Clifford Pickett has a section on his website which covers most of the best apps available https://www.cliffordpickett.com/screenshots-iphone-photography-2019, or you can check out https://www.mobiography.net/apps/ for further recommendations. What I like Editing with Snapseed can be as simple or as complex as you wish to make it. You can do a quick edit, such as adjusting white balance, cropping or straightening using basic tools, or you can use the Tools Menu to perform more complex edits. You can convert a photo to black and white or remove an unwanted object. In fact, most of the edits you want to make can be made using Snapseed. There are even tutorials to follow to achieve more creative effects. As the app is free, it is a great edition to your set of tools and will help you create amazing smartphone images. https://www.mobiography.net (mentioned above) gives an excellent Snapseed tutorial https://www.mobiography.net/apps/snapseed-app-tutorial/ If you are interested in making the most of your smartphone photography please check out some of these resources, share this post or share some of your own resources in the comments section. UPDATED JUNE 2021

UPDATED JUNE 2021 Does the smartphone camera have potential for ‘real’ photography or is it solely for taking snapshots and social media sharing? Since it is the camera I always have on hand I decided to investigate its potential. With the numerous advances in smartphone camera technology in recent years the camera in your pocket has become a very capable image-making device and I don’t believe that smartphone cameras can any longer be totally dismissed as being inferior to ‘real’ cameras. Many of the modern phone cameras produce excellent image quality and, additionally, provide many of the opportunities for ‘real’ photography provided by dedicated cameras. Photography purists will insist that only a DSLR or mirrorless camera will provide the quality necessary for real photography, although an increasing number of photographers admit that they use smartphone cameras on occasion. In reality, not everyone will always have a DSLR with its many lenses with them and, ultimately, it is better to have a camera than to have none, particularly if it is one of the better smartphone cameras. Clifford Pickett is one photographer who uses an iPhone to take professional landscape photographs and he has several training videos demonstrating his techniques. These have been instrumental in giving me confidence in using my phone camera and sharing my results knowing that the quality of the images is not compromised because they are shot with a phone camera. How to shoot dramatic landscape photos on iPhone Advantages of phone cameras Apart from the fact that the phone camera is always with us, there are several other advantages of these highly portable devices. Instant storage and immediate sharing Photos are easily stored online. There is no software to contend with, no worries about having a USB lead or other file transferring system to transfer photos onto a pc. Online storage options mean that photos are there immediately on both phone and pc for uploading to a website, sharing on social media or post-processing. Geotagging When travelling around the country I often know the general area in which I take my photographs but I find it is very useful, when I come to share or work on my photos, to have the exact geographical location identified. Lough Owel, Portnashangan, Multifarnham, Co. Westmeath, Ireland I knew the general location in which I stopped to take these photographs as the sun was going down over a beautiful lake, but my phone gave me the exact location. Range of portable accessories to make for a better photography experience Although many recent phone cameras have two, three or even four lenses built in, many need the addition of external lenses to give a variety in focal length. Fortunately, many excellent quality add-on lenses are available, and I find that the macro lens, in particular, is a useful addition to the phone camera repertoire as it makes this interesting aspect of photography possible. Optical stabilisation is becoming more common on phone cameras but for that true photography feel, and a reduction in camera shake, a tripod and remote shutter release give us numerous possibilities such as long exposure (possible with some newer phone cameras) time lapse photography or shooting in low light conditions. Some sturdy but extremely portable mobile tripods are widely available. Discreet tool for photography in variety of situations There are always occasions when you want to blend into the background with your camera. Doing street photography is one occasion when you want to capture candid images therefore need to be as discreet as possible. Street photography often requires the photographer to watch and wait. You almost have to read the future, interpret how the elements are going to line up to make an interesting picture, be in the right place at the right time to catch that fleeting moment, and of course have your camera on hand to capture it. Almost no-one takes any notice of someone holding a phone so you can wander and watch discreetly. Photographing at a family occasion or public event is a time when you want your camera to be as inconspicuous as possible, as are occasions when you are taking natural, candid photographs of your children or grandchildren. A phone camera does not draw attention to the same extent that a DSLR with its large lenses does and children are generally unaware of its presence. Apps available for post processing and various enhancements There is a great range of mobile apps available, from both Android Play Store and Apple App Store, which add interest and various possibilities to your smartphone camera. Many different editing apps as well as apps that allow you to add copyright information to your images, apps that allow you to do long exposure photography with your phone camera or apps that help you achieve bokeh (blurry background) are just some of the apps available. A Google search for best smartphone apps will return lots of results, or for a quick overview of apps available in different categories, check out: https://www.cliffordpickett.com/screenshots-iphone-photography-2019 Easy to learn Perhaps this is the most important advantage of all. Phone cameras are very intuitive, and it is super easy to learn how to operate the camera itself and to master some skills which will elevate your photography to a new level. More on this in the next section. Since I don't have to get to grips with buttons and dials I can concentrate on experimenting with different compositions Creative phone photography All forms of photography are basically about utilising the same set of skills, regardless of what device you use to capture your image. Skills such as achieving a well composed image, displaying a unique perspective, finding and making use of good light and having an emotional connection to what you are photographing are as important, if not more so, than the equipment you use. Creating images with your phone camera not only allows you to experiment with composition techniques but also with focal length, exposure and perspective. You can also inspire your creativity by shooting in different land or seascapes, on the streets, by investigating macro or by taking portraits of people and pets. Depth of field can now be achieved with some phone camera modes and long exposure images are achievable with some newer phone cameras. The lack of real optical zoom is a disadvantage with smartphone cameras, but it does force us to become more creative, to zoom with our feet and adjust our compositions to accommodate this weakness. We may not be able to take a close-up image of a distant subject but finding a leading line to draw the eye to the subject can make for a compelling image and compensate for the lack of zoom ability. With the addition of an ultra wide angle lens on my iPhone 11 Pro I have had many opportunities for experimentation. Conclusion While many people use their smartphone cameras for casual photography and social media sharing, there is a lot more to smartphone photography than just this. If, like me, you are always on the lookout for good photo opportunities, interested in varying your compositions and experimenting with technique, light and colour, the smartphone will allow you to be spontaneous and creative. I find that I am constantly looking around while out walking – for strong patterns, vivid colours and unusual objects or scenes which might make an interesting picture. I often stop when driving if I come across a lake or mountain range, even a country lane, to assess their potential for a photograph. When you begin to look at the world from a photographer’s point of view, to assess every subject for its photographic potential, the mobile phone is immediately available to turn that potential image into reality, and this is where its real strength lies. While the smartphone camera may not replace my dedicated camera just yet, it certainly does have its merits and is worth taking seriously as an important item in the beginner photographer’s toolkit. *** If you are interesting in exploring the potential of the smartphone camera you might be interested in my earlier posts https://www.wildwillowways.com/post/how-my-phone-has-helped-my-photography https://www.wildwillowways.com/post/5-great-smartphone-features-that-most-people-don-t-know-about https://www.wildwillowways.com/post/can-a-smartphone-really-rival-a-dslr-for-the-average-photographer

Photography is the only language that can be understood anywhere in the world. - Bruno Barbey One of my favourite photography quotes is from well-known photographer Dorothea Lange, who said, “The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.” I have found the quotation particularly relevant during this winter when there have been some particularly dramatic sunrises and sunsets, during which the sky has shown its beauty, its calm and its anger in varying proportions. At some of these amazing vistas I could only stand and stare and marvel at the beauty and magnificence of it all, while at other times I attempted to capture some of that beauty in an image. I discovered that the magnificent reds, oranges, yellows and purples allowed for brilliant contrasts with the surrounding landscapes, so by reducing the shadows on my images I was able to produce some pleasing silhouettes. I recently read a blog post entitled 70 Inspirational Quotes for Photographers compiled by American photographer Tammy Jean Lamoureux. While reading the quotes I tried to visualise how each of them might relate to my own photography practice and I decided to further refine the list by picking out the twenty quotes that I find most applicable to my view of photography. I have also tried to place the quotes into categories and match them with my own photographs and reflections. Photography is seeing “To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place… I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.” — Elliott Erwitt “The picture that you took with your camera is the imagination you want to create with reality.” — Scott Lorenzo “Essentially what photography is is life lit up.” — Sam Abell “I really believe there are things nobody would see if I didn’t photograph them.” — Diane Arbus “When people ask me what equipment I use – I tell them my eyes.” — Anonymous Sometimes I like to seek out different subjects or little things that might otherwise go un-noticed. Indeed, I often walk past such things myself unless I make a conscious effort to stop, look and shoot! Observation, and in particular the act of becoming more observant, are important attributes in photography, attributes that we can constantly strive to improve. Using our eyes is surely the best equipment. I particularly like to think of photography as ‘life lit up’. This works in two ways. The act of taking photographs gives value and meaning to our lives, gives focus and great enjoyment and can light up our lives in that sense. In another sense, by photographing a scene or subject we bring it alive to ourselves and others. It is certainly true for myself that, since I started photography, I use my eyes more and see more of the world around me, a world which has indeed become a brighter place. Often on a photography walk I will try to capture images of subjects that are not so obvious. By choosing a good point of view, ordinary objects can be emphasised and highlighted. Photography is feeling “Photography for me is not looking, it’s feeling. If you can’t feel what you’re looking at, then you’re never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures.” — Don McCullin “Taking pictures is savoring life intensely, every hundredth of a second.” — Marc Riboud “Great photography is about depth of feeling, not depth of field.” — Peter Adams Even though I like black and white photography I do love to capture life in colour and am often drawn by the richness of colour in nature. Sunrises and sunsets are beautiful at any time of year but they are particularly amazing in winter. I like to feel something for the images I make. In that way, although they may not be great images, they are of value to me and they show me what it is possible to achieve. I have actually discovered that when I don’t feel anything for an image I almost always delete it immediately. Photography is capturing a moment in time “Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.” —Dorothea Lange “If you see something that moves you, and then snap it, you keep a moment.” — Linda McCartney “What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.” — Karl Lagerfeld This is one of the truths that makes photography so special – it can capture a moment in time, whether an amazing sunset or a child’s beautiful smile, a moment that would otherwise be lost. Every photograph, whether it is of a vital action in sports photography or the capture of a gently lapping wave, has this capacity to freeze a moment and hold it forever. Photography is communication “There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.” — Ansel Adams Photographer and educator, Anthony Epes, states that photography is essentially a relationship between photographer and viewer, and that the photographer tries to convey emotion in the viewer through his or her images. As a viewer of photography I don’t always know how to describe how I feel when I look at a fabulous photograph, but I do know that some photographs elicit strong feelings within me. Those feelings may or may not be what the photographer was trying to convey, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is that there is a communication between photographer and viewer and both are enriched by that communication. Good photographers leave visual clues for their viewers so that the viewer will have some idea of what they intended their viewer to see and feel. “A good photograph is one that communicates a fact, touches the heart and leaves the viewer a changed person for having seen it. It is, in a word, effective.” — Irving Penn I think the secret is not to try too hard to control the emotion we want the viewer to feel, but simply to shoot what appeals to us, because those are the images in which we will invest ourselves. They will be more honest, more authentic images and hopefully they will speak more deeply to others. One of our greatest methods of communication is through story. Story in photography can be suggested through a single image or a series of images. Often the viewer makes his or her own interpretation of the story being told, and although this may vary from the photographer’s original intention, it is nonetheless a valid interpretation. Sometimes story is suggested in one image... It is an interesting challenge to try and tell a story in three frames Photography is our record of the world as we see it “You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” — Ansel Adams “I wish that all of nature’s magnificence, the emotion of the land, the living energy of place could be photographed.” — Annie Leibovitz Recently, while driving at sunset, I was captivated by the colours of the sky as they unfolded before me. I had to stop and try to capture something of the glory of the changing sky. Although the light was fading rapidly I did manage to capture some wonderful colours and was able to create a few nice silhouettes. I believe, though, that there is truth in Annie Leibovitz’s words when she wishes that the emotion of the land, of the place, could be photographed. The emotion is what we feel and often that cannot be captured accurately in an image. Yet, maybe that image is all the better for having some emotion invested in it by the photographer. Before we compose the beauty we have to see that beauty, and that is what Matt Hardy refers to in this quote: “Beauty can be seen in all things, seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph.” — Matt Hardy Photography is constantly developing and striving for better “I never have taken a picture I’ve intended. They’re always better or worse.” — Diane Arbus “Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.” – Henri Cartier Bresson “Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow.” — Imogen Cunningham I understand this last quote as it suggests that we are never perfect, always striving to be better. Sometimes, however, it is important to evaluate our work and pick out some favourite images. For me, this exercise gives encouragement and a sense that, while I still have much to learn, I am picking up some techniques that suggest potential and ways in which I can develop. Evaluating my progress provides challenges and encourages growth, and that is what keeps life, and photography, interesting. I felt drawn to this lake one evening recently. What I wanted to capture was the tree silhouetted against the evening sky and reflected in the water below. I didn’t particularly want detail in the bushes so I deliberately underexposed the image. I later pushed down the shadows in Lightroom. Despite the fact that the light was poor I knew I wanted to keep the image and make the best of it. ************************************************************************** “Life is like a camera. Just focus on what’s important and capture the good times, develop from the negatives and if things don’t work out, just take another shot.” — Unknown What is your favourite photography quote?

In October 2020 Adobe officially released Lightroom Classic 10.0, a Lightroom Classic upgrade which removed the familiar Split Toning panel and replaced it with a new panel called Colour Grading. Instead of the familiar sliders which allowed you to add tones to the highlight and shadow areas of your images, you now have colour wheels which allow you to color the tone of shadows, highlights and, additionally, midtones, independently. The Colour Grading tool also has controls for blending and balance. Take your images to new creative heights by adjusting the color wheels in any combination to create subtle, vivid, complementary, or contrasting looks (Adobe Feature Summary) For a comprehensive starter guide to the new Colour Grading panel, check out this video from photographer Mark Denney: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HzUXR8V-Qo I enhanced the colours of one of my images, similar to that used in the video, using the Colour Grading tool instead of the HSL panel. See before and after images below. Below is an image from my phone camera. The first image is straight out of camera (iPhone 11) In the second image some experimenting with Colour Grading produced a warmer tone In the third image I simply adjusted the midtones The tool gives plenty of creative control over colour enhancement although it could easily be overdone. Despite this, with some more practise and experimentation I can see greater use for this tool than for its predecessor, Split Toning. ************************************ Adobe provides a step by step guide to the Colour Grading tool here