I thought I’d celebrate my 100th article here on TMO, by rounding-up my promised set of One Hundred Tips for Mastering iPhone Photography. Actually, this article – containing the final twenty-five tips – will be the capstone to the previous three, which you can access via these links: 25 Tips for Mastering iPhone Photography, 25 More Tips for Mastering iPhone Photography, and Yet Another 25 Tips for Mastering iPhone Photography.
Without further ado, as they say… let’s jump right in.
76.) Always strive to tell a story with your iPhone photos. Try using an element of mystery – it’s the best way to tell a compelling story in your images. The best stories are already in the mind of the viewer, so if you create mystery, the viewer can fill in the blanks and create a story that’s uniquely theirs. Examples of mystery in photography are: using silhouettes, roads winding away in the distance, and shadows jutting out from around a corner; shadows not that of your subject.
There is mystery in this photo. What is at the end of the road? Dark clouds approaching.
77.) Activate the HDR Mode when shooting landscapes – particularly when the sky dominates the scene.
78.) After acquainting yourself fully with the default Camera app loaded onto your iPhone, consider exploring third-party “camera replacement” apps. There are several excellent ones, all of which provide additional functionality, flexibility and utility when shooting images with your iPhone. The one app that is a long-time favorite among most iPhoneographers, including yours truly, is the Camera+ app by tap tap tap. It’s an incredibly useful camera app, and it’s universal. For much more information on the capabilities of this app, visit the tap tap tap website.
79.) Back in tip #36, I mentioned that using your earphone’s remote volume buttons to trip the camera shutter is very instrumental in helping you achieve sharp iPhone photos, particularly in low-light conditions. But, did you know that using the remote is also quite helpful when taking selfies? Rather than juggling the iPhone with one hand, fumbling for the on-screen shutter release button, and risking a blurred shot, control the earphones remote in your other hand for smooth, firm, award-winning selfies.
Press the volume-up or -down on the earphones remote to snap an iPhone photo
80.) Speaking of using your earphones volume control as a remote release, use it to help you capture those very high-angle shots. Shooting by holding the iPhone over a crowd comes to mind. Extreme low-angle shots as well, such as shooting a pet down at floor level.
81.) Here’s one last but cool way to use your earphones as an aide to stealth iPhoneography and street photography: wear your iPhone-connected earphones in public. While you pretend to be talking on the phone or listening to music, you can actually be shooting pictures. As an added bonus, no camera shutter-release sound will be betraying your real intentions.
82.) Do you like capturing and processing extreme HDR (High Dynamic Range) images? You know, the ones that photography snobs and pixel-peepers say do not represent real photography? Don’t worry what others think; don’t allow them to intimidate and influence you. You’re not making these photographs for them. You make photographs according to your vision, how you express your art, your own photographic and artistic goals, and more importantly, because they make you happy and you love them.
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