What You Need to Know for Shooting Landscapes on a Smartphone Camera
As we've said in other blog posts, the technology in camera phones has accelerated in recent years to where they can produce stunning images. In many ways (but not everything), they can compete with professional cameras. The most obvious difference is how portability.
Professional cameras can't compete with the size and weight of a smartphone's camera. They are designed to be a grab and go device. So, if you're tempted to leave your bulky photography gear at home when you want to head out to shoot landscapes or on your next vacation, try it.
You might be amazed at the quality of landscape images you can produce using your smartphone! Below we offer some valuable tips for shooting landscape photos.
Note that you can use a sophisticated editing software for post-processing images shot on a smartphone. But as with any camera, getting the best images possible out in the field can make post-processing far easier. To shoot the best pictures possible, you'll need a few pieces of gear aside from the smartphone.
Here are the three most important items to bring with you - aside from a smartphone camera:
Phone lenses
Filter adapters
Portable phone charger
1. Phone lenses
Let's face it. One element where DSLRs and other pro-level cameras beat smartphone cameras hands down is their lenses. It's tough for a pocket-sized, grab-and-go device to compete with a telephoto lens. But, it's not all bleak. You do have a few options. If you own an iPhone 11 or a Galaxy plus, your phone has a built-in wide-angle mode.
If you don't own one of these two, then you can purchase a clip-on phone lens. There are several good quality clip-on lenses available today that can make it easier for you to transform your images. They can be particularly useful when you're traveling and want to take pictures of the landscape.
2. Filter adapters
Filter adapters make it possible to use pro-quality filters on a smartphone. You will be able to easily slide a filter into the ring of the adapter's holder. They can be invaluable when you're shooting - no different than using a filter on a regular camera. Once you've attached an adapter, you'll be able to shoot very professional looking images using filters. The filter can elevate an image from ordinary to extraordinary. If you're shooting a wide landscape, try using a graduated neutral density filter. Check out our blog post on how.
3. Portable phone charger
It goes without saying that running out of battery when you're out touring for the day is a huge inconvenience and will cost you some great shots. Rather than lugging around cables and searching for outlets, invest in a reliable phone charger. You want to be sure to select one that will have enough power to recharge your phone more than once in 24 hours. Anker is one of the industry leaders and makes some great chargers.
Five things to consider when shooting landscapes
1. Timing
Timing is everything in photography and never more so than with landscape photography when you're reliant on natural light. The sun or lack of light can dramatically affect the colors of the landscape. The best time to shoot when you are relying on natural light is at sunrise or sunset.
It's also the most dramatic time to shoot because the sun's angle can create dramatic shadows. As with all photography, you will want to avoid shooting at midday when the sun is at its strongest and can washout an image. If you must shoot at midday, consider using a filter.
2. Shoot on manual
Yes, you can shoot some great images on auto, but go ahead and set your camera to manual or pro mode and take things up a notch or two. If you don't have a manual or pro mode, try an app that allows you to adjust your settings as if on manual. They also allow you to shoot in RAW format. (Lightroom's app will enable you to do that.) RAW images allow you far more flexibility to change your settings without too much image degradation.
Once you're set to manual, whether through your camera's settings or an app, go ahead and adjust your settings just as you would on any camera. If you're already an experienced photographer, then you understand the enormous value of being able to shoot on manual and adjust your camera's setting to compensate for the scene.
When shooting landscapes, this can be especially useful. You'll be trying to balance the colors and tones from the sky in the upper half of the image and the ground/landscape in the lower part of the picture. While shooting landscapes can be more labor-intensive, they can also be some of your most rewarding work and well worth the effort.
3. Weather
Use the weather to your advantage, just as you would do with natural light. Depending on the landscape or the desired effect you're striving for, the weather can either help or hinder, improve or ruin a photo. Think of the countless stunning landscape images that include lightning or storm clouds. The weather, even when it's miserable weather, can lead to some fantastic pictures.
4. Don't forget composition
Don't forget the composition when shooting landscapes on your camera phone. The basics still apply. Two critical things to consider:
Leading lines
Add intrigue by using leading lines to add benefit and intrigue in an image. They can be particularly important when shooting landscapes! What elements, both natural and manmade, creating leading lines in the composition?
Foreground
When shooting landscapes, photographers sometimes forget to consider what is in the front of a scene, focusing mostly on the horizon or background. Look for foreground interest in your composition. That can be anything that will draw the viewer's eye, adding interest. Are there rocks, trees, or even walkways?
Background & mid-ground
How do the background and mid-ground feature in the composition? What do you want viewers to focus on? What is the most interesting or what detracts from the scene? Don't forget that the sky, while part of the background/horizon, can be a critical element in the scene. How does it interact with the rest of the composition, or how does it affect the lines?
5. Post-processing editing
Like all photography, you'll probably want to do at least some post-processing edits. Mobile editing app can come in handy on the road. (Lightroom Mobile makes one that integrates well with its desktop software.) For the more novice photographer not well-versed in Lightroom, Snapseed offers a simpler alternative for free, but with limitations on what it can do.
Lightroom Mobile can transform an image from pretty to beautiful by adjusting highlights, white balance, and contrast. Have some fun experimenting with edits - after all, these are your images and your perspective on what you saw, and of course don’t forget about presets for Lightroom Mobile, they can save your time! How you choose to capture a scene is entirely up to you!
