How To Capture Landscapes With a Smartphone

You don’t necessarily need an expensive camera to capture studio-quality images. Smartphone cameras have improved to a professional level and completely changed the quality of the pictures they capture. Anyone, regardless of experience or photography skills, can take breathtaking images with their smartphone.

Of course, no less important is the post-processing of the picture. When editing nature photos, we recommend using Luminar Neo. It is the best HDR photo editor with professional landscape tools. Thanks to it you can easily create a real masterpiece.

Today we will share with you tips on how to take beautiful nature photos on your smartphone.

Take Pictures on Manual Settings

Manual mode does not require you to fully adjust the smartphone camera but allows you to set a few important parameters that affect image quality.

In the standard iPhone camera, you can adjust the focus, exposure, and shutter speed yourself. More manual settings are available in apps. For example, you can use Lightroom, in which you can edit the finished photo.

On most Android smartphones professional camera mode is available (PRO, manual, etc.), in which you can make all the necessary settings – adjust the exposure and focus, correct white balance, set the aperture and ISO.

To get a clear photo at the right moment, practice focusing beforehand. Take pictures of any moving subjects, such as seagulls on the beach or your pet on a walk.

Take Pictures of People Wherever Possible

https://unsplash.com/photos/Ovz3oM-95rE

A simple way to make a picture of nature more interesting is to add a person to it. How it can improve the photo:

• Add dynamics to the frame. You can, as we said earlier, take a picture of a pet running next to a person, or a girl on a swing in the middle of a flower meadow.
• Turn a simple photo into a little story. Feelings and emotions are reflected in facial expressions, movement, and gaze – all this creates the atmosphere of the picture. And if the person is dressed unusually, you stand a good chance of making a cinematic image.
• Show the scale of the other objects. The actual size of the objects in the photo is better understood in comparison. A human figure against the background of mountains, ruins of an ancient city, or centuries-old trees shows their magnificence.

With these simple techniques, you can make a photo more interesting and emphasize your personality. Later you can use an app with HDR editing to make the photo even better.

Lower the Gadget to the Surface of the Water To Create a Cool Reflective Effect

An interesting trick that can make a photo mesmerizing is taking pictures of reflections. You can experiment any way you like: 

• Take a photo of an object and its reflection in equal proportions of the frame or capture only the reflection; 
• Choose a natural spring (a pond or puddle) or pour some water yourself where you want to make a shot; 
• Take a mirror for a walk in the woods to create reflections or take a series of pictures with your smartphone mounted on the roof of the car.

Reflections have long been an inexhaustible source of inspiration. Such pictures turn out to be truly captivating!

Use HDR and Save the Original Frame at the Same Time

HDR (or high dynamic range) is an indispensable assistant for those who want to get high-quality images without bothering with manual settings. HDR allows you to maintain a high level of detail because it creates a photo from several pictures taken at the same moment with different exposures. If you capture at sunset or with the sun rising, this mode will produce a much higher quality result. Another option, use the HDR photo merge feature in Luminar Neo.

https://unsplash.com/photos/LYIFtMXzo10

Some Practical Tips for Taking Pictures

In addition to the above information, we want to give you some tips to make your images even better:

• Try different angles. Before you take a photo, think about how you can capture it better. Try to find a better angle, and see what the composition lacks. Don’t strive to shoot masterpieces in the most touristy places, rather try to notice the beauty in new, even if more simple, locations.
• Use the built-in filters. You can take pictures with a filter right away, or you can use one during post-processing. Both of these options can help add to the mood of the scene. Try macro mode. It can take beautiful images of flowers, insects, and small details.
• Use a tripod. It’s convenient. A tripod allows you to take pictures of moving objects or make high-quality photos in low-light conditions. For a smartphone, you can choose the simplest tripod, not getting bored with the characteristics, its main task is to stand firmly on the ground.
• Add a lens. If you don’t think your camera’s functionality is enough, experiment with lenses. They give you more artistic results.

Finally, once again, let’s talk about photo processing. It will allow you to put the finishing touches and make the image perfect. For such purposes, use HDR photo editing software, such as Luminar Neo. We wish you success!