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HOW I LEARNED TO USE THE IPHONE FOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
Quick Guide
Written by Diane Wehr
HOW I LEARNED TO USE THE IPHONE FOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY // © PHOTZY.COM 1
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I have a propensity for making things complicated. What you will learn from this guide
My decision to learn to use my iPhone for street • The challenges that must be overcome to use a
photography (that I love to shoot) is probably an cell phone camera for street photography
example of that.
• How to train yourself to work with a “fixed” lens
Why in the world would I not just stick with my old,
reliable Olympus? • How to make the change from relying on a
zoom lens to utilizing the camera position for
First of all, it is the challenge. I see beautiful, even composition
extraordinary street photography created with mobile
devices displayed on Instagram every day. I decided • The advantages and disadvantages of a cell
to give it a try. It did not really occur to me how much phone camera
of a learning curve there would be to shift to this • Using “App” processing
type of camera.
• An introduction to the street photography
technique called “Fishing”
HOW I LEARNED TO USE THE IPHONE FOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY // © PHOTZY.COM 2
WHY SHOOT WITH A
CAMERA PHONE?
Part of the challenge is that I am used to
having a zoom lens with a focal length of
24mm to 80mm on my Olympus.
I generally shoot in the 80mm focal length
range because I am not the bravest street
photographer out there.
If you read about street photography,
then you know that the best of the street
photographers often use fixed prime
lenses.
The lenses on cell phones are fixed
optical 30mm lenses (plus or minus a
little), depending on the phone.
Here is the learning opportunity that I
have carefully avoided until this moment...
I will learn to move me, instead of the
lens, to get the picture that I want.
It seems to me that it will be a valuable
skill even when using the trusty Olympus
camera that I’m used to.
Photograph by Thomas Leuthard
This delightful example was taken by world-renowned street photographer, Thomas
Leuthard. It was shot with an Olympus 17 mm F/1.8 “prime fixed focal length “lens.
HOW I LEARNED TO USE THE IPHONE FOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY // © PHOTZY.COM 3
Key Lesson: Using your cell phone
camera for street photography will force
you to develop the skill of recognizing
good camera POV (point of view) for
composition rather than relying on a
zoom lens to compose.
Another compelling reason to master a cell
phone camera is that you always have it with you.
This opens up a whole new world of opportunity
– opportunity to take pictures of people going
about their everyday lives, and those are the
images that I particularly like to take.
Without an iPhone, I would never be able
to create as many of these types of pictures;
a normal camera simply attracts too much
attention.
Key Lesson: By always having your
cell phone camera with you, you have a
greater chance of capturing unique “spur
of the moment” photographs that would
be difficult to capture with a “regular”
camera.
Photograph by Diane Wehr
HOW I LEARNED TO USE THE IPHONE FOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY // © PHOTZY.COM 4
There is one last reason that I am determined If you are new to street photography, or would like to
to learn to use my cell phone camera for street expand your camera options for street photography,
photography. I invite you join me in this learning experience to take
street photography using a mobile camera device.
Street photography is very exhilarating.
I would like every photographer to at least give street Key Lesson: A cell phone camera does not
photography a try, just to experience the fun that we have to be held up to the photographer’s eye,
have taking street pictures. which gives an extra boost to your stealth
mode when taking street photos.
The DSLR cameras used by photographers in
other genres are often poorly suited for street Note: If you’re interested in improving your
photography. They are large and heavy, and they post-processing workflow, check out Photzy’s
generally have to be held up to your face. A subject Understanding Masking premium guide. It has a
on the street will generally always notice a DSLR section for Lightroom and Photoshop, as well as
camera in your hands. Snapseed for mobile users too.
Almost everyone has a mobile device with a camera,
and almost no one on the street will notice it.
HOW I LEARNED TO USE THE IPHONE FOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY // © PHOTZY.COM 5
THE DIFFERENCE IS IN THE DISTANCE
The first problem that I had to overcome was my Key Lesson: With cell phone photography,
poor understanding of how close I had to be to the you must be more alert to filling up the frame,
subject when creating various types of street photos. as you don’t have as much resolution to work
This was particularly true with the “close-up” images with when cropping.
taken by other mobile camera photographers that I
have admired so much. I already knew I was in trouble with subject size
because I had asked John Farnsworth, whose gallery
Aside from the issue of being limited to a 30mm I suggest you peruse on Instagram, how he had
camera lens, which feels like a fairly wide-angle lens, taken his beautiful cell phone close-up images.
the opportunity to crop in post-processing is also
limited by the resolution of the image file. “Easy,” he replied. “I get a seat on a ledge, and
when someone interesting comes along, I raise my
My 4/3rds Olympus, with its 16-megapixel file, does phone and click.”
not set records for file size, but pictures from my
iPhone 7 are only 12 megapixels. So I did that.
HOW I LEARNED TO USE THE IPHONE FOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY // © PHOTZY.COM 6
My first time out was not exactly the
outcome I was expecting, but the picture
does have its charm (photo on the left).
To become more familiar with distance
and subject size, I used a fire hydrant as a
test subject. (It was very cooperative and
stayed in one place.) I took pictures from
approximately 6’ (1.8 meters) to 48’ (14.6
meters) away from the hydrant.
Photograph by Diane Wehr
HOW I LEARNED TO USE THE IPHONE FOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY // © PHOTZY.COM 7
Photograph by Diane Wehr
HOW I LEARNED TO USE THE IPHONE FOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY // © PHOTZY.COM 8
PRACTICE SHOOTING
Now it was time to start practicing,
because in the end good photography is
to a large degree a matter of practice.
The benefit of always having my iPhone
with me became immediately apparent.
In fact, every shopping trip, every time
I was out in my community, I could take
pictures.
My trips to the store were a good place
to start because I did not have to move in
too much, and there was some geometry
to the buildings, and the equipment, that
could help strengthen my compositions.
The first picture taken in my new
endeavor was in a grocery store parking
lot. I like catching the quirkiness of
life. This umbrella fixed to the top of a
hydraulic lift drew my attention (photo
on the left). Then, I noticed for the first
time that when a brick building is being
painted, it could be painted one brick at a
time. Who knew?
Photograph by Diane Wehr
HOW I LEARNED TO USE THE IPHONE FOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY // © PHOTZY.COM 9
The next big opportunity came inside
of a Walmart store. Here, I realized two
things. I have to hold my iPhone a little
higher than my Olympus because if I
don’t, I cut off the subject’s head.
I also missed the Olympus camera flip
screen because I learned that holding
an iPhone in the angled position that
is necessary to see the screen does not
produce a sufficiently vertical picture.
Unfortunately it is also a big tip off to a
potential subject that you are taking a
picture and not just texting someone.
Photograph by Diane Wehr
HOW I LEARNED TO USE THE IPHONE FOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY // © PHOTZY.COM 10
POST-PROCESSING CELL PHONE IMAGES
During the Walmart photo excursion, I came to The reality is that no matter which camera you use,
understand post-processing a cell phone image. you cannot practice street photography “too much.”
The better you can anticipate a set of events, or
Often you will see filters used on such pictures. recognize bits of irony in what you see, or find the
I used a filter on mine. I processed it in Snapseed, best light in a given moment, the better your pictures
which is a free and powerful post-processing app will be.
developed by Google. Several filter steps later, my Even with the iPhone mobile camera, I fell back to
final step was applying the Snapseed Drama 2 filter. the comfort of known street photography strategies.
I am not sure that it will ever be award-winning post- For example, it was comparatively easy to “fish.”
processing, but it helps overcome the challenges Fishing means choosing a background that will be
of resolution and focus that are often an issue with the cornerstone for the composition first. It can be
these wide-angle, relatively low-resolution photos. I chosen because of the lines, color, or text of signage.
like it! It is something different.
In the end, theory is just theory, and it was time to
get lots more practice. I would have to say that my
practicing is still in the early stages.
HOW I LEARNED TO USE THE IPHONE FOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY // © PHOTZY.COM 11
Then, it is a matter of patience – waiting
for the right person, or people, to walk
through the scene.
When I am fishing, I practice; that is, I
take picture after picture as I wait.
As a practical matter, practicing on a
cell phone does not include changing
the exposure settings as I would with
my Olympus, at least not until I started
using the ProCamera shooting app,
which is another free app for cell phone
photography.
Shooting with the ProCamera app,
instead of the built-in iPhone camera
software, allows for incredible expanded
choices including image file options such
as shooting in the raw format and even
shooting in the manual mode.
I am definitely not that fancy yet, but the
app allows me to easily set the exposure
selection point in a different place than
Photograph by Diane Wehr the focus selection point.
I also use the exposure compensation
option so I can vary the light coming into
the camera.
HOW I LEARNED TO USE THE IPHONE FOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY // © PHOTZY.COM 12
Key Lesson: There is numerous
shooting apps for cell phones.
Many of them are free or very
inexpensive. Don’t be afraid to try
them out.
Mainly though, I change how close I
am to the background and how close
the people are to me who are walking
through the background. I generally find I
get the best results with people closer to
the background.
Key Lesson: Develop a
shooting style that includes focus,
exposure, and positioning of the
camera to the subject to the
background.
Recommended Reading: If you’re
interested in improving your post-
processing workflow, check out
Photzy’s Understanding Masking
premium guide. It has a section for
Lightroom and Photoshop, as well as
Snapseed for mobile users too.
Photograph by Diane Wehr
HOW I LEARNED TO USE THE IPHONE FOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY // © PHOTZY.COM 13
LIGHT AND REFLECTIONS
I have also found that the light that is
good for my Olympus is, of course,
equally good for my iPhone.
I like to shoot in airports. They typically
have large windows that let in a lot
of light. There are also often highly
polished, reflective surfaces from floors or
counters. This provides an opportunity to
practice using my iPhone to take dandy
silhouettes that come from backlighting.
Photographing reflections is a low-stress
method of getting interesting street
photography pictures. People do not
typically recognize that they are being
photographed through a reflection, or if
they do, they do not seem to care.
Photograph by Diane Wehr
HOW I LEARNED TO USE THE IPHONE FOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY // © PHOTZY.COM 14
Using reflections as a background adds
interest.
Photograph by Diane Wehr
HOW I LEARNED TO USE THE IPHONE FOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY // © PHOTZY.COM 15
GETTING UP CLOSE
Finally, the prize of mobile photography
is the possibility of a close-up. I do truly
think that a cell phone is unmatched in
being available to take close-up photos.
Most of us have our phones with us
whenever we are out in public. Plus, it is
as discreet as any camera could be.
As I am new at using my iPhone for street
photography, I find crowded settings are
my best chance to get a close-up.
I attempted to get a picture of this
elegant lady from the moment we got
off of the plane. Finally, she and I were
wedged in a sea of people trying to get
luggage. Yes, it would have been better
if she had been looking toward me. The
compensation is the splendid “Welcome
to New York” sign in the background.
Photograph by Diane Wehr
HOW I LEARNED TO USE THE IPHONE FOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY // © PHOTZY.COM 16
FINAL
Whether you are new to street photography or want Self-Check Quiz
to try a new camera to take street photographs,
1. Why are street photos often post-processed
mobile device cameras offer a perfect opportunity
with filters?
to get in on the fun of this rapidly expanding
photographic genre. 2. When using a mobile device camera, what
distances will likely prove the most useful
There are some challenges – chiefly the requirement
for taking street photographs?
to get up a bit closer to take a picture (than some
people may be comfortable with). 3. What are some good street photography
practices that can you use to make it
Ultimately, you will use the same techniques that are
easier to start taking street pictures with
known to produce good street pictures with larger
your mobile device? For example, what is
DSLR and mirrorless cameras.
fishing?
You will adjust to the particulars of your mobile
4. Where is it easiest to take close-up pictures
camera just as you would with any camera. And, if
when using your mobile device?
you use the many opportunities a mobile camera
offers, your practice will improve your ability to
see the most interesting things on the street to
photograph.
Note: If you’re interested in improving your
post-processing workflow, check out Photzy’s
Understanding Masking premium guide. It has a
section for Lightroom and Photoshop, as well as
Snapseed for mobile users too.
HOW I LEARNED TO USE THE IPHONE FOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY // © PHOTZY.COM 17
SPONSORED Advertise with us
Hey there!
Let's get real for a minute... Learning photography can be super challenging! But
we're here to help you every step of the way! Here are 3 of our most useful (and
FREE!) photography resources:
3 Free Photography Cheat Sheets What is Your #1 Photography Killer? Free Photography eBooks
Grab 3 free photography cheat Take this 30 second quiz to find out Free access to our library of 250+
sheets that will help you the #1 thing holding your downloadable (pdf) tutorials on
understand the basics. photography back. everything you can imagine.
Download Cheat Sheets → Take Quiz → Download eBooks →
Want quick photography tips?
Check out our friends at DailyPhotoTips.com they'll send you 1 solid photography tip
to your inbox, 5 days a week. So you can start your day right, with actionable tips to
help you on your creative journey. Subscribe now →
(free for a limited time)
SPONSORED Advertise with us
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
IF YOU’D LIKE TO CONTINUE
LEARNING AND IMPROVING
YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY PLEASE
VISIT PHOTZY.COM
Diane Wehr is an amateur photographer and author with a
particular interest in street and travel photography. She travels
far and wide with her Olympus Mirrorless camera.
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/albirder/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dianewehr/
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