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1. Shoot Forests And Water For The Moodiest Landscape Pictures

What are the best subjects for moody landscape photography?

There are a number of great subjects for moody landscape photos.

But I have two favorite subjects…

(Subjects that I recommend to everybody.)

First, shoot in forests.

You see, forests have a wonderful atmosphere. The branches tend to be grim and gnarly. The light is usually patchy and dark.

Basically, you can’t go wrong with a moody forest landscape.

Second, shoot by the water.

Water tends to have dark blues and greens—which add to the moody atmosphere.

Plus, water causes a lot of low-hanging fog. And fog is fantastic for moody photography!

(More on this later.)

So search out these two subjects.

And if you find them, photograph them!

2. Shoot In Bad Weather For Incredible Moody Landscape Photography

Here’s another tip for incredible moody photography.

(This one is essential.)

Here you go:

Shoot in bad weather.

And your photos will instantly be catapulted into ‘moody’ territory.

What do I mean by ‘bad weather’?

First, fog is incredible for moody landscapes.

It adds a mystical feeling to photos. And that’s why I love it.

If it’s a foggy day, get out and start shooting.

You’ll never get a better opportunity to shoot beautiful, moody landscape photos.

But what if it’s not foggy?

When can you shoot?

Rain and snow are other forms of weather that work pretty well.

The rain and snow will give a dark, moody feel to your shots.

But you have to be careful. Make sure your iPhone stays dry. And periodically wipe the lens, just to prevent any stray droplets from ruining your photos.

You can even try shooting moody landscapes on dark, cloudy days.

While dark clouds aren’t quite as interesting as rain and fog, they can still make for some great moody shots.

3. Find A Single Focal Point To Capture Attention

Now that you know how to find moody landscapes, let’s deal with another important part of moody landscape photography:

Composition.

How do you frame the elements in your photo?

How do you create an aesthetically pleasing image?

First, I recommend that you use a single focal point in your photo.

That is, you should choose one subject.

And you should compose the photo so that the viewer focuses on that subject.

This will capture people’s attention. And it will prevent the viewer from feeling confused or lost when first observing your photo.

It might seem difficult to isolate a single subject. But just move your iPhone around while looking at the camera screen.

You can also try walking around a bit. This will help you find fresh compositions that you might not have considered.

Ideally, your single subject will be an attention grabber.

A single knotted tree, for instance, would make for a great subject.

The same goes for a single person, standing by a river or lake.

Both of these subjects command attention.

4. Use Minimalism For The Most Powerful Compositions

Minimalism is a type of compositional style.

Minimalism emphasizes simplicity. So a minimalist photo has very few elements in the frame.

Minimalist photos tend to have lots of negative space, as well.

Negative space is the empty space in a photo. That is, negative space is the part of the photo where nothing is going on.

Sky often counts as empty space.

Open water can be empty space, too.

But what’s so great about minimalistic photos?

First, minimalism creates very moody landscape photography (which is precisely your goal).

A large amount of negative space creates a sense of loneliness and emptiness. And this is perfect for moody landscape pictures.

Second, minimalistic compositions emphasize the subject. By putting negative space around the focal point of your photo, you draw the eye directly to that focal point.

And this makes the photo more powerful overall.

Minimalism might seem difficult, at first. But it gets easier.

And soon you’ll be a master of minimalistic compositions.

5. Use Leading Lines To Draw The Viewer Into Your Landscape Photo

Here’s another tip for stunning moody landscape photography:

Use leading lines whenever you can.

What are leading lines?

Leading lines are simply lines that guide the viewer into the frame.

They tend to start at the bottom of the photo. And then they lead the eye up and into the scene.

So what can you use as leading lines in your landscape photography?

Rivers and streams make wonderful leading lines. So do paths, roads, and railway tracks.

You could also use fences or walls that lead into the distance.

Even shadows and reflections in the foreground can act a leading line.

Without leading lines, the viewer will find the image aimless.

Because leading lines give direction.

They take the viewer on a journey deep into your photo.

So, before you take your photo, search for some leading lines.

And incorporate them into your compositions.

6. Get Down Low To Add Depth To Your Landscape Images

One great way to add mood to your photos is to create depth.

Depth draws the viewer in.

It makes them get lost in the photo.

And depth adds a feeling of intimacy to photos.

A feeling of intimacy is perfect for moody images.

Now, leading lines are a great way to add depth to photos.

But here’s another way to add depth:

Simply change your angle.

You’re probably used to taking photos from chest height.

But while this can create some gorgeous images, you can do better.

You just need to get down low!

If you shoot from down low, you’ll show people a perspective they’ve never seen.

And if you shoot from down low, you’ll capture lots of foreground detail—which then contrasts with the scenery in the background.

This creates depth.

So, if you want to create depth, find some nice foreground detail.

You could use a rock, some leaves, or just an interesting stick.

Then get down low.

Be careful to show your foreground subject with great detail.

That’s what will stun the viewers.

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1. Shoot People By The Water For The Best Silhouette Subjects

Do you want to capture gorgeous silhouette photos?

If so, you should start by finding the perfect subject.

(The subject is the main focus of an image.)

Fortunately, there are a few simple guidelines you can follow for gorgeous silhouette subjects.

First, people make amazing silhouette subjects.

For one thing, people are very recognizable (even as silhouettes).

And human figures draw the eye. So you can immediately identify the main subject of a human silhouette photo.

Basically, human silhouettes make for a simple yet pleasing image.

Second, try to photograph by the water.

This is for a few reasons.

First, water sits low on the horizon. So when you have water behind your subject, the water doesn’t distract from the focal point of the image. The subject can really pop.

Second, water allows for amazing silhouette reflections.

(You’ll discover how to shoot jaw-dropping reflections later on in this article.)

I live by the sea, so I spend a lot of time shooting at the beach. And I highly recommend it.

However, lakes are great for silhouette photography, too. So don’t let your location prevent you from taking amazing images.

Here’s the bottom line: if you want gorgeous silhouette photos, photograph people.

And—if you can—shoot by the water!

2. Use Evening Backlight For Impressive Silhouette Photography

Backlight comes from behind your subject.

(To get the strongest backlight, shoot toward the sun.)

And backlight makes for amazing silhouette photos.

Why is this?

Backlight results in a very bright background. So when you take a picture of your subject, the subject is rendered extremely dark.

That is, the subject is rendered as a silhouette, like the birds in the photo below.

To capture backlight, you have to locate the sun.

Then point your camera in the direction of the sun—so that the sun is in the frame (or nearly in the frame).

This is best done when the sun is low in the sky (for instance, around sunrise or sunset). That way, the sun will be directly in front of your camera. And this makes for very strong backlighting.

Finally, wait for a subject to move into your frame. Then take the picture!

Follow these instructions, and you’ll get a powerful silhouette.

3. Use Manual Exposure To Ensure A Sharp Silhouette

If you want a perfect silhouette, then you should use your iPhone’s manual exposure.

(Exposure refers to the brightness of an image.)

Normally, your iPhone will automatically expose for a scene. This often works quite well. However, when doing silhouette photography, your iPhone may struggle to capture a dramatic silhouette. The image may turn out too dark or too light.

This is why you should use manual exposure.

To use manual exposure, simply tap on the brightest part on the iPhone camera screen.

(This is generally the sun or the nearby sky in the background.)

A yellow box will appear where you tapped.

Your iPhone’s camera will automatically darken the scene to compensate for the bright background.

If you’re not happy with the brightness levels of your photo, here’s a trick you can use: Simply swipe up on the screen to lighten the image or swipe down to darken the image (as shown in the photos above).

By using manual exposure, you’ll capture dramatic silhouettes.

4. Get Down Low For A Wonderful Silhouette Photo

Do you want to capture beautiful, compelling silhouettes?

Then you should get down low.

The best silhouettes have simple, clean backgrounds. And when you get low, you can often get the cleanest background of all: the sky!

Even when the sky is cloudy, it’s a blanket of bright, uniform color. And people standing before a bright, uniform background makes for a powerful silhouette photo.

This is what you get if you shoot from down low:

Notice how simple the background is. That’s exactly what I was going for!

On the other hand, if you shoot while standing up, the background is often filled with objects. This can result in a messy silhouette photo. In fact, the horizon line might run right through your silhouette!

(And that makes for an extremely confusing shot.)

Now, when I say you should get low, I mean that you should get really low.

I often shoot silhouettes while lying flat on the ground. I may look funny, but I’m a lot happier with the shots that I take.

The backgrounds are so much better.

So make sure that you get as low as you can. Your silhouette photos will immediately improve.

5. Use Burst Mode To Capture Perfect Silhouette Poses

You’ve discovered how to find the best silhouette subjects and backgrounds.

But how do you make sure that your subject is striking a perfect pose? A bad pose can ruin your silhouette photography.

First, let me give you an example of a perfect silhouette pose: A single figure, walking or running in full stride.

This way, the outline of the person is clear. The person doesn’t overlap with any other passersby. And the person’s limbs don’t overlap either.

Notice how clear the outline of the runner is in the photo above. That is one of the best silhouette poses you can get.

Fortunately, there is a simple way to ensure you capture this pose.

You use burst mode!

Burst mode is an iPhone camera feature that allows you to take over 10 photos per second.

To activate burst mode, just hold down the shutter button with your finger. Your iPhone will immediately begin taking photos. It won’t stop until you let go of the shutter.

Burst mode can fill up your photo library fast, but the result is well worth it. You’ll never miss a perfect silhouette pose again.

Plus, you can easily delete your burst mode photos in your photo library:

Open a burst mode photo. Then tap Select. Now you’re free to choose your favorite burst mode photos–and discard the rest!

Here’s how I recommend you use burst mode.

Start by finding a potential silhouette scene.

(Ideally, this is by the water.)

Then simply wait for a person to walk by.

As soon as the person steps into the frame, start using burst mode. Don’t stop taking pictures until the person has left the frame.

Once your photo outing is over, you can go back through your images.

I guarantee there will be some great silhouettes in there!

6. Hold Your iPhone Close To The Water For Gorgeous Silhouette Reflections

If you want especially gorgeous silhouette photos, then I have a trick for you.

You can take incredible silhouette reflections—you just have to have some water.

This is one of my favorite silhouette techniques.

Start by finding some water on the ground. The depth of the water isn’t important. It can be a tiny puddle or a vast lake.

Then get down as low as you can. You can do this by crouching or lying on the ground.

Hold your iPhone over the water. Then—here comes the trick—take note of your iPhone’s camera. Then turn your iPhone so that the camera is positioned just above the water.

Now your iPhone camera will be extremely close to the water. Angle your camera so that part of the water is framed in the shot. This makes for amazing reflections. Just make sure you don’t drop your camera in the water!

Finally, wait for a person to walk into the frame. When they do, snap several shots.

(You should probably use burst mode.)

When you look in your photo library, you’ll see some gorgeous silhouette reflection photos.

7. Use The Rule Of Thirds For The Perfect Silhouette Compositions

Do you want to capture jaw-dropping silhouettes?

Then you need to create beautiful compositions.

(Composition refers to the arrangement of objects in a photograph.)

But how do you create powerful silhouette compositions?

A great tip is to follow the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds states that pictures are extremely pleasing when the main elements are off center.

More specifically, you should place the important elements of a photo a third of the way into the frame.

In other words, you should place the important elements along one of the rule of thirds gridlines (as shown below).

For a more striking silhouette photo, you’ll want to place the subject along one of the points where the rule of thirds lines meet.

You’ll also want to place the horizon along one of the horizontal gridlines.

In general, I find that the horizon looks good along the lower gridline.

If you want to apply the rule of thirds consistently, I suggest you activate the iPhone camera grid.

You can do this by going to the Home screen. Tap Settings, then Camera. Finally, tap to activate the Grid.

The next time you open your camera, you’ll see a grid on the screen. And you can use this grid to consistently follow the rule of thirds!

So use the rule of thirds in your iPhone silhouette photos. It will ensure you capture some beautiful compositions.

The post 7 Tips For Stunning Silhouette Photography On iPhone appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Photograph The Sea For Compelling Water Photography

Do you want to create photos of water that really draw in the viewer?

There’s one simple trick you can follow to create photos of water that are truly compelling…

Take photos of the sea.

But why choose the sea? After all, there are so many potential water photography subjects. What makes the sea so special?

The sea is great for a few reasons.

First, the sea varies constantly. It’s always changing–and this makes for a never-ending stream of photographic opportunities!

For instance, you can photograph the sea on a calm day. On calm days, you can capture a beautiful water reflection.

Or you might photograph the sea on a rough day, and capture the power of the waves and the swirls of the sea foam.

The sea changes color, as well–because the sea reflects the color of the sky. Therefore, the sea looks different depending on the weather and time of day.

Blue skies make for a deep blue sea. Gray skies make for a more moody, gray sea (such as in the image below). Both of these colors can work–but they evoke different emotions.

However, there’s another reason to photograph the sea…

It resonates with people.

There’s something so fundamentally deep and calming about the sea. It’s something that affects us all–and makes sea photos extremely powerful!

If you want to create water photos that are more compelling, use the sea as your subject. You’ll be amazed by all of the unique opportunities that it presents!

2. Include More Than Just Water For Beautiful Compositions

You’re off to a good start. But what else makes for a stunning water photograph?

Here’s a question: Should you include elements aside from water?

The answer is an emphatic “Yes!”

For the best water photos, you need to include additional elements. It may seem counterintuitive, but it’s true.

Because water photos are best when they capture more than just water.

That is, water photos need an element of interest that goes beyond the water itself.

In practical terms, you need to include an additional element in your photo that complements the water.

For instance, if you’re shooting a seascape, you can make sure to include some land. Try incorporating cliffs into your photos–because cliffs work great in sea images.

I made sure to include some cliffs in the photo below.

Another thing to include could be a boat or a person swimming. But be careful–you don’t want them to dominate the scene. Make sure you keep the boat or person small in the frame.

One trick is to put an item of interest in the foreground–and the water in the background. Let the item of interest draw the eye into the scene.

For instance, I sometimes include grasses or flowers in the foreground when shooting beach scenes. They create depth and direct the eye through the photo.

Notice how I included foreground grasses in the photo below.

So include elements beyond just water.

If you do, your compositions will be stunning!

3. Include A Water Reflection For Unbelievable Photos

What’s another tip for doing incredible water photography?

Take photos of a reflection in water!

Reflections are one of the most underutilized types of photography. They can make for some really beautiful images–and they’re not hard to do!

So how do you take stunning reflection photos?

First, find some water. Lakes can be great for this, as they tend to be very still. Even tide pools on beaches can work well–they offer lots of water reflection opportunities!

You can also photograph wet sand on a beach. Wet sand acts as a mirror. Look at how it reflects the walkers below!

Once you’ve found a good reflector, figure out what you want to appear in the reflection. Then adjust your angle to make sure you include that subject in your photo.

For instance, if you want some clouds reflected in your photo, you might choose to shoot from higher up. This allows you to capture reflections of clouds that are overhead.

If you want a sunset reflection in water, you could crouch down low. This will make sure that the horizon is reflected in your photo.

Notice how the clouds on the horizon are reflected by the wet sand below.

Another tip: Get your iPhone as close to the reflective surface as possible. This will ensure the best reflections!

It’s also important to note that achieving striking reflection shots takes a lot of trial and error. Don’t just settle for a couple of reflection shots. Take lots and lots. Then choose the best one later!

If you can capture good reflections, then you can take some truly beautiful photos. Make sure you use these tips to get your own stunning reflection shots.

4. Photograph In Bad Weather For Moody Water Images

If you’re looking to create moody water photos, then photograph in bad weather.

By ‘moody,’ I mean dark, desaturated, and bleak.

This type of shot can be powerful. In fact, moody images have the potential to really strike the viewer.

And to capture the best moody photos, shoot in bad weather.

Photograph in rain, snow, or fog.

Bad weather will give a very urgent feeling to your water photography!

And in extreme weather, you can see rain impacting the surface of a lake, or snow piling down among the waves.

In fact, bad weather is great for all kinds of water photography. Rain and clouds add drama to photos. And the cloudy, diffused light is extremely easy to work with. It eliminates shadows and produces more even tones.

As shown in the photo above, fog can make for especially incredible water photography. Fog rising off the water makes for unbelievable photo opportunities!

Here’s the bottom line: If you want beautiful, moody photos, shoot during rain, snow, or fog. It will add a lot of atmosphere–and you’ll come away with images you can be proud of.

5. Use Leading Lines For Incredible Water Compositions

Composition refers to the arrangement of elements in a photo.

And do you want to know a great tip for composing photos with water?

Use leading lines!

Leading lines guide the viewer’s eye through the scene. They start in the foreground, then move toward the background.

And they’re perfect for creating compelling, engaging compositions.

Can you see the leading line in the photo above? It’s the shoreline! Notice how it directs the eye through the photo.

Leading lines are especially great for composing water photos.

Why is this?

Because water photos can include one of the greatest leading lines of all: rivers!

Rivers can easily lead the viewer’s eye through the frame. Just make sure that you place the river so that it flows from the foreground to the background.

For the photo above, I made sure that the river directed the viewer through the frame.

Pro tip: Make sure that the line actually leads the eye to the photo’s subject–rather than aimlessly around the frame. Aimless leading lines make for chaotic photos.

If you want the best water photography compositions, then you need to use leading lines. Find a river and put it in the foreground–and let it lead the eye through the photo!

6. Shoot Both Portrait And Landscape Photos For Powerful Water Photography

Photographers often find themselves shooting in one particular orientation.

That is, photographers often shoot with the camera held upright (portrait orientation, like the photo above). Or they get in the habit of shooting with the iPhone held sideways (landscape orientation, like the photo below).

But this is an issue. Because the best photos often come from a lot of experimentation–and not from doing the same thing all the time.

This is especially important for water photography. Specifically, it matters a great deal when shooting seascapes.

Why is this?

When photographing the sea, you have two options. You can shoot a landscape orientation photo–and emphasize the vast, sweeping vista of the ocean. That’s what I did for the photo below.

Or you can shoot a portrait orientation photo, where you emphasize the water or the sky. That’s exactly what I did for this photo:

Neither approach is better than the other.

But sometimes one is better for a particular scene!

When would I recommend using portrait orientation?

If the sky is covered with gorgeous, cotton candy color clouds, you probably want to shoot a portrait orientation photo. You can position the sky so that it takes up most of the frame.

That way, you can emphasize the beautiful clouds!

Portrait orientation is also great if you’re using leading lines. Portrait orientation gives extra space for the leading lines to wind their way through the frame.

Look at how portrait orientation accentuates the river in waterfall pictures like the one below:

But when should you use landscape orientation?

If you’re working with a bright blue sky, you might want to shoot in landscape orientation. Bright blue skies tend to be boring–so you probably want to emphasize the vastness of the vista (rather than the colors in the sky).

Do you want to take powerful water photos? Then experiment with different orientations!

7. Shoot At Different Angles For The Most Creative Photos

Lots of people take photos of water.

But do you want to take photos that rise above the rest? Do you want to take creative photos?

If so, then you should try shooting at different angles.

You’re probably used to shooting from a standing position, with your iPhone held at chest height. This can work well–but it can grow boring after a while. And it’s what everyone does!

Why not try to mix it up?

Change your perspective.

Instead of shooting at standing height, try crouching down extremely low.

This can be great for creating more dramatic images of water–images where your iPhone is just inches from the water itself! That’s what I did for the photo below.

You should also consider raising your camera above chest height. Hold it over your head with your arms! Or find a vantage point and shoot downward. This can give a more creative perspective!

This can also work if you have a very compelling foreground subject. For the photo below, I shot at a downward angle–and this emphasized the beautiful plants in the foreground.

Do you want to take more creative water photos? Then shoot at different angles! You’ll capture plenty of original images.

The post 7 Tips For Stunning Water Photography On iPhone appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Shoot Through Raindrops On Windows

Raindrops on windows offer a great opportunity for creative iPhone photography. And since you need to be on the inside of the window, you don’t have to stand out in the rain to take your shot.

You can also capture these shots after the rain has stopped as the droplet formations will remain on the glass for some time.

Look for a window with water droplets that also has an interesting scene outside. It might be a busy street full of people carrying umbrellas, a view of the city from a tall office block, or a lone tree out in a landscape.

You could use a window in your home or office, a coffee shop window, the glass panes at a bus stop, or even the window of a car or bus.

In most cases it looks best if the water droplets are in sharp focus, while the scene outside appears blurred.

If you don’t know how to blur background in photos on your iPhone, here’s how to do it. Simply hold the iPhone fairly close to the window, then tap on one of the water droplets to set the focus point.

If there’s movement outside, you’ll need to lock the focus so that the iPhone’s autofocus doesn’t refocus every time something moves in the scene. To lock focus, tap and hold the screen for a few seconds until you see AE/AF Lock at the top of the screen.

If the water droplets appear blurred, try changing the distance between the iPhone and the window, then tap to focus again.

When you’re shooting a busy street scene, capturing a moment is really important. Wait patiently until you spot something interesting, such as a stranger carrying a colorful umbrella or wearing a bright colored rain coat.

Alternatively, ask a friend to stand on the other side of the window so that you can shoot a creative portrait photo through the raindrops.

2. Capture Reflections In Water Droplets

If you take a close look at water droplets, you’ll often notice tiny reflections within the droplets. They’re especially noticeable when the water droplets are on windows or metallic reflective surfaces such as cars.

In the photo above I used a side window of a car to capture both my reflection in the glass and also the tiny reflections in the water droplets.

To capture the detail in these tiny reflections, you’ll need to get quite close to the water droplets. If you have a macro lens, use it to take extreme close ups that will capture incredible detail in the water reflections.

For the best results, ensure there’s something interesting being reflected in the water droplets, for example, an iconic building, a tree, a car, or a person,

If you’d like to purchase a macro lens for close-up photography, check out the lenses from Moment, Inmacus and olloclip.

3. Create Abstracts With Water Droplets

Raindrops provide many opportunities for you to create interesting abstract images. Abstract photography is all about producing really creative photos that present ordinary subjects in a unique and imaginative way.

In heavy rain, try shooting through a window, using the water to blur and distort the scene outside.

The photo above was taken through the windshield of a car. I loved how the raindrops distorted the trees outside, so I waited for a person with an umbrella to walk into the frame, then snapped this shot.

Water droplets on reflective surfaces are also great for creating abstract images. Fill the frame with the droplets so that they create an abstract pattern.

If you photograph water droplets on a reflective surface, you might be able to capture interesting reflections too.

In the photo below, it’s not easy to identify what’s happening at first. The combination of reflections, water droplets and the strong yellow line create an abstract image that catches the viewer’s attention and pulls them in while they try to work out what’s going on.

The photo is actually of water droplets on the trunk of a vintage car, with the tall buildings from the street being reflected in the metallic surface.

With abstract photography, the viewer is able to appreciate the beauty of the art, even if they can’t immediately identify what’s going on in the scene.

Abstract photography gives you so much creative freedom over your photos, and rain offers the perfect medium.

Just keep your eyes peeled for water droplets or the flow of water on any surface, then compose an interesting abstract image to make the most of the patterns and textures.

4. Look For People With Umbrellas

On a rainy day, you’ll find an abundance of umbrellas which make great additions to your photos. They add a splash of color and a strong geometric shape to your images.

Umbrellas are also great for creating a sense of mystery and intrigue in your images because they hide the faces of your subjects.

Rain typically creates a dark, gray mood, so a colorful umbrella will appear especially vibrant against these surroundings.

Umbrellas will create a strong focal point in your composition, which is great when photographing busy street scenes.

Without the colorful umbrella in the scene above, the person crossing the road would have become lost amongst the other busy surroundings.

But the umbrella instantly catches your attention, drawing your eye into the scene and directly to the subject of the photo.

How about getting really close to the umbrella so that it fills a large part of the frame? This allows you to capture the detail of the water droplets on the umbrella.

Rain at night tends to create a romantic and magical atmosphere because of the warm reflections of the street lights on the wet roads and sidewalks.

Look out for couples huddled together with their umbrellas as these kinds of shots will tell wonderful stories.

Another way to capture umbrellas is from a high perspective. Go up to a high vantage point such as a bridge, then look down and capture someone walking by with an umbrella.

Capturing umbrellas from a bird’s eye perspective provides you with an interesting focal point that emphasizes their strong shape.

5. Shoot Puddle Reflections

After the rain, you’ll find plenty of puddles that  can be used to create wonderful puddle reflection shots.

Look out for puddles in parking lots, potholes, curb corners, sidewalks, and even on outdoor tables and other surfaces.

There are so many different ways to capture reflections in puddles. First of all, look for puddles that reflect interesting objects from the surroundings.

Trees, buildings, people and vehicles all make great subjects that you can capture in a puddle reflection.

Experiment with different shooting angles until you find the best perspective to capture the reflection. Move around, and experiment with shooting from both high and low angles.

You could include both the reflection and the background to create a symmetrical composition like the one above. Alternatively, try filling all or most of the frame with the reflection.

Remember there’s no right or wrong angle, and the best perspective will depend on the components within the reflection and your own creative vision.

Flipping your image upside down in post-processing often creates a more unique reflection photo, helping the viewer to appreciate the reflected elements of the image.

While puddle reflection photography can be done after the rain has stopped, shooting while it’s raining allows you to capture beautiful ripples as the raindrops hit the water’s surface.

6. Capture Reflections On Wet Surfaces

Another way of capturing beauty in rain is by paying attention to wet surfaces. An ordinary road or sidewalk can be transformed when it’s wet because it suddenly becomes a reflective surface.

Without water and reflections, the roads and sidewalks would normally appear very dark in your image. But when it’s wet, light reflected off the water creates a much brighter foreground than you’d be able to get in dry weather.

The reflections create a lot of color and visual interest in the foreground. This adds depth to the scene and draws the viewer’s eye into the image.

Reflections on wet streets are especially impressive at night. The reflections of the street lights and neon signs will create a wonderful warm glow in the lower part of your photo.

In the photo above I captured an explosion of colors on the streets because of the lights reflecting off the wet road. If I’d been shooting in dry weather, I wouldn’t have been able to capture this kind of shot.

7. Photograph Water Splashes

Rain provides some great opportunities for capturing amazing water splash photos. Photographing someone jumping into a puddle is an easy way to create a unique action shot with your iPhone.

Another option would be to throw a stone into a puddle and capture the splashes and ripples that are formed.

Taking photos of water splashes is all about timing. To ensure you capture the splash at the perfect moment, use the burst mode feature in the camera app when you shoot.

Burst mode simply captures a series of photos in quick succession. You can then choose the best shots from the sequence. To activate burst mode, just keep the shutter button held down.

Make sure you start shooting just before they jump into the puddle, and don’t release the shutter button until the splash has finished.

If you’re shooting close up splash photos, I’d recommend using a waterproof iPhone case such as the Lifeproof case to ensure your phone stays dry.

Conclusion

While the rain might initially put you off heading outdoors to take photos, I’d highly recommend shooting in this kind of weather.

Wet weather offers endless unique and creative photo opportunities that would be impossible to capture on a dry day.

So the next time it rains, venture out to see what you can capture. You can even shoot great rain photos from indoors by photographing the water droplets on windows.

If you’re worried about your iPhone getting wet, be sure to invest in a waterproof case to minimize the risk of damaging your phone.

With your iPhone protected, you can get much more adventurous with your rain photography!

The post 7 Fun Ways To Take Amazing iPhone Photos In The Rain appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

@mariacristinacucaQK

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Which one of these photos is your favorite? Please let everyone know in the comments!

How to Enter the Next Photo Contest

We recently published a great tutorial written by Karyn Teno which covers 10 Easy Ways To Capture More Dramatic Light In Your iPhone Photos.

The article explores a fantastic selection of techniques for using light to create more drama and mystery in your iPhone photos.

Light can be used in to create silhouettes, shadows, reflections and lens flare which all add a unique quality to your images.

Window light is perfect for creating dramatic indoor portraits as you can angle your subject so that part of them appears in dark shadow.

The article also explores tips for capturing the golden light of sunrise and sunset, shooting in harsh sunlight, and using artificial light to illuminate your subject.

So the new contest theme is Light, and any iPhone photos that make use of dramatic or beautiful light can be submitted.

To participate, simply tag your iPhone photos using IPS2015Light tag on EyeEm.

You can tag photos in the description field when you upload them, or when you edit the description of a photo that has already been uploaded (tap the three dots icon to edit a photo).

All photos must be shot and edited on iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Please upload photos to EyeEm in full resolution and without any watermarks to make sure we can feature them on the website. Please do not submit more than 10 photos each week.

The submission deadline is Sunday, November 29. Winners will be announced on Monday, November 30, and the winning images will also be featured on our iPhone Photography School Facebook page.

The post 30 Stunning Water Photos Taken With An iPhone appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Find A Source Of Water

Water appears in many different forms, making it an interesting and diverse subject for photography. Of course, there are the obvious places such as oceans, lakes, rivers and waterfalls.

But try to think of other places where you might find water. Puddles, wet roads, swimming pools, aquariums, waterparks and fountains all offer great water photography opportunities.

You could also look out for raindrops or condensation on a window, and water droplets on a spider’s web.

In your own home you could use water from a running tap, or a sprinkler in the garden. And don’t forget about frozen water in the form of ice.

Water is all around us, and it offers so many creative photography opportunities. Once you’ve decided on a water source to photograph, you can then use the techniques in this to tutorial to experiment with different ways to capture it in your photos.

2. Use Light For Creative Effect

As a photographer, light is your most important asset. The time of day and type of light that you shoot in will have a big impact on how the water appears in your image.

Water has a reflective surface, so you should always consider how the light will interact with it. The colors reflected in the water will have a significant effect on the visual impact and mood of the image.

If you shoot during the blue hour of early morning or late evening (when the sun is just below the horizon), the cool light will be reflected in the water, creating a monochromatic blue image like the one shown below.

Cool blue tones tend to create a sense of tranquility or melancholy. So if you’re aiming to create a feeling of calmness or sadness in your photos, blue hour is a good time to shoot.

When shooting at this time of day, bear in mind that there won’t be much light in the scene. In low light your iPhone will use a slower shutter speed to allow enough light in for a decent exposure.

This can increase the chances of camera shake, so take extra care to hold the iPhone steady to avoid blurring your photos. Using an iPhone tripod, such as the Joby GorillaPod, is the best option.

Your photos can also appear grainy in low light. To reduce the chances of grain, you could try shooting with an app like Cortex Cam which deals with low light photography better than the native camera app.

Shooting during the golden hours of sunrise and sunset will create a beautiful warm glow because the sunlight will be reflected in the water.

This kind of light creates a completely different mood to blue hour. The warm colors add a vibrant, magical and lively atmosphere to the image.

So if you want to create photos that are full of energy and happiness, golden hour is the perfect time to shoot. Just keep in mind that the light isn’t that bright during golden hour, so hold your camera steady to avoid camera shake.

Photographing water during the main part of the day can produce different results depending on the weather conditions.

Bright blue skies work well because the color will be reflected in the water, making it appear a wonderful vibrant blue. If there are white fluffy clouds in the sky, this will add extra interest to the reflections.

Shooting in bright sunlight during the middle of the day is often challenging due to the harsh light. However, it can make the water shimmer and shine as shown below.

You can end up with quite a high contrast image in strong sunlight, and it can be difficult to get the exposure right, but in certain situations you can get some good results.

An overcast or foggy day makes the water much less shimmery because the sunlight is being diffused by the clouds or fog.

This can sometimes make the water look a bit “flat” due to the lack of shimmer. It’s also likely to appear darker, less blue and more murky.

As you can see from these examples, the type of light has a big impact on the look and feel of your water photos. So always be mindful of the type of light that you’re shooting in, and use it to your advantage for creative effect.

To learn more about using light to create amazing iPhone photos, check out this great video tutorial where you’ll discover 7 Simple Tricks For Using Light To Create Beautiful iPhone Photos.

3. Capture Reflections

Reflection shots are a stunning way to feature water, especially when the water’s surface is fairly calm.

Reflections can be captured in lakes, rivers, puddles, and even tiny water droplets. Whenever you’re around water, look out for reflections of trees, buildings, boats, piers, people, birds, clouds, etc.

Reflections are great for creating symmetrical compositions. For perfect symmetry, ensure you position the horizontal line of symmetry across the middle of the frame.

You might need to crouch down and shoot from a low angle to ensure the line of symmetry is perfectly central.

Puddles are great places to capture reflections. So after the rain, be sure to venture out with your iPhone to look for interesting puddle reflections.

I often ask my daughter to pose for me in my puddle reflection shots. Including a person can add a strong focal point to the image and help you tell a more interesting story.

Above is a reflection that I captured in a small pool of water on top of a manhole cover. For added fun or drama, I often flip my puddle reflection photos upside down in post-processing.

Still bodies of water are great for capturing reflections, but a few gentle ripples in the water can add an artistic painterly effect to your image.

In this photo, the colors reflected from the setting sun look stunning in the rippled water of the river. If you’re photographing a still body of water, you can always create ripples yourself by swishing your hand or throwing a stone in the water.

4. Include A Focal Point

While water is beautiful in itself, your photo won’t have much impact unless you include a main subject to act as a focal point.

A focal point gives the viewer a place to rest their eye within the scene. And depending on your choice of subject, it can add a wonderful storytelling element to your image.

While the reflections and mist in this river scene are very photogenic, the image wouldn’t have as much impact if I hadn’t included the Canada goose swimming in the water.

Of course, there might not always be an animal or person at your location, so taking along a friend or family member to pose in your shots is a great idea.

You can also use inanimate objects as your main subject. Many things can be used as a focal point, including a pier, bridge, boat, tree or rock.

Always be observant of your surroundings. There’s bound to be something in the scene that you could use as a focal point. Once you’ve found a subject, experiment with different viewpoints and shooting angles until you achieve a pleasing composition.

Another option is to use props to create a whimsical photo and add a focal point to the water.

I often take an umbrella out with me and incorporate it into the scene to act as a focal point. They can add a fun or dramatic flair to the image, and a wonderful pop of color.

You don’t always have to take props with you. You’ll often find items out in nature that you can use. Flowers, leaves, feathers and twigs can all be placed in the water to add that finishing touch to the scene.

5. Make Splashes & Ripples

The great thing about water is that you can completely change its appearance by making ripples or splashes on the surface.

A flat expanse of water can be dramatically altered simply by throwing a small stone into the water. The circular ripples created will make a wonderful photo with a strong focal point.

If you press the shutter at just the right moment, you can also capture the splash as the stone enters the water. If you have kids, they’ll love to help you out with the stone-throwing!

For best results, shoot using burst mode to capture multiple shots in quick succession. You can then choose the best one from the sequence.

To activate burst mode, simply keep the shutter button held down while you shoot. Start shooting just before the stone enters the water to be sure that you’ll capture the splash.

If you have another person with you, you could ask them to splash the water with their hand. My daughter helped me create the water splash photo above. Again, burst mode is useful for this kind of shot.

If your subject doesn’t mind getting wet, they could jump into the shallow water to create a big splash. Or simply ask them to stand in the water and make a small splash or ripple with one foot.

Ripples also allow you to create beautiful abstract photos of water. If you get close and fill the entire frame with the water, you can capture the patterns and lines on its surface.

Coupled with colorful reflected light, this can result in some really stunning photos. Abstract photography is one of the few genres where you don’t necessarily need a focal point.

If it’s raining, you can even let the raindrops make the splashes and ripples for you. The photo below captures a reflection with raindrop splashes that created circular ripples in the water’s surface.

6. Fill The Frame With Water

As you’ve just seen, filling the frame with water can create wonderful abstract photos. However, this technique isn’t limited to abstracts.

Composing your photo to include only the water is a great technique for scenes that have a distracting or ugly background.

Shooting from a high vantage point allows you to easily fill the entire frame with the water and your subject, eliminating any distractions in the background.

By not including distracting background objects, all of the viewer’s attention will be placed on the water and your subject.

Making the water your background is great for capturing reflections of people. And if you’re photographing very shallow water in a river, the stones beneath the water will add color and detail to your shot.

As well as shooting from a high angle, you can also get close to the water to fill the frame. Be very careful when holding your iPhone close to water as you can damage your phone if it gets wet!

To be safe, it’s worth investing in a waterproof case such as the LifeProof case. That way, if you do accidentally drop your phone in the water, it won’t get wet.

7. Create Silky Water With Long Exposures

Have you ever seen those beautiful long exposure photos of silky looking waterfalls, and wondered how you could create them with your iPhone?

On a DSLR camera you’d create this kind of shot using a slow shutter speed. The iPhone works a bit differently, and you can’t use slow shutter speeds in this way.

However, you can use an app such as Slow Shutter Cam to simulate the effect of a slow shutter speed. It works by capturing multiple exposures over a specified period of time, and then combining them together into a single photo.

Any movement in the scene, such as flowing water, will appear as motion blur. When water is captured in this way it appears like a veil of mist which can really capture the beauty of a waterfall, river or stream.

When shooting long exposures, the camera needs to remain perfectly still. If it moves, any stationary objects in the scene will appear blurred from camera shake. For best results, use a tripod to keep your iPhone steady.

8. Photograph Water Droplets

Water droplets make beautiful jewel-like subjects for your iPhone photos, and you can find them in many situations.

On a rainy day you can photograph water droplets on windows and other surfaces. And early in the morning you’ll often find dew drops on grass, leaves and spider’s webs.

When photographing water droplets like this, experiment with shooting from different angles until you see tiny reflections appearing in the droplets. Get nice and close so you can capture plenty of detail.

As well as raindrops on windows, I love to shoot through windows with condensation. This technique can create a fantastic abstract or painterly effect with great texture.

Having a person or a colorful scene on the other side of the window will really add to the shot.

Of course, you can also create your own water droplets. You could use a sprinkler or hosepipe to spray water droplets onto a window or into the air. This looks great if you shoot in strong sun as the droplets will glisten in the light.

You could also try photographing individual water droplets from a dripping tap. Or you could make splashes in water with your hand.

In this photo I’ve captured the water droplets dripping from my daughter’s hand, as well as the splashes on the water’s surface.

9. Shoot Different Properties Of Water

We usually think of water as a liquid, but when cooled down it turns to ice and when heated up it turns to steam. Capturing water in these different states allows you to create unique and interesting photos.

In the winter I love to look for ice to include in my photos. These icicles hanging from my outdoor table made an amazing otherworldly image, especially when flipped upside down in post-processing.

In really cold weather, keep your eyes peeled for icy spider’s webs and twigs. The best time to find them is early in the morning before the sun melts them.

Get up close to capture the intricate detail of the ice formations. If you shoot as the sun is rising or setting, you can capture stunning colors through the icicles.

Icy puddles offer another great photo opportunity. Shoot them just like you would an ordinary puddle reflection, capturing the reflection of a person or other interesting subject.

The icy surface will add a wonderful abstract texture to your image, as shown in the photo above.

Early mornings provide you with a great opportunity to capture water turning into mist above the water.

Mist adds a magical and mystical quality to your images. It looks stunning when combined with symmetrical reflections in water.

In this photo, I captured the mist coming off the water, along with the beautiful sunset and reflected colors. The dark surrounding trees almost appear to form the head and mouth of a fire-breathing dragon!

10. Enhance Your Images In Post-Processing

When you take photos of water, sometimes it can appear too gray, dull or colorless. A slight edit can help you to bring out the color tones in the photo to create a more beautiful and dramatic image.

Most editing apps allow you to adjust the colors in your photo. I usually use the Snapseed photo editor.

After opening your photo in Snapseed, go to the Tune Image option, then swipe up or down on the screen to access the list of color and exposure adjustments.

The Saturation tool is great for increasing the vibrancy of the colors. To adjust the color saturation simply swipe left or right to decrease or increase the value.

The Warmth tool is useful for cooling down or warming up the colors. Below is my original photo where the water looks brown and muddy.

The photo below shows how I managed to make the water a much cooler blue using the Warmth tool in Snapseed.

For photos taken at sunrise or sunset, you might want to make the colors slightly warmer to emphasize the warm golden light.

Another editing technique that’s great for water photography is to smooth out the water to make it appear more silky and painterly. This is especially useful when the photo appears a bit grainy.

The Enlight photo app has a great Denoise tool that I like to use to make the water appear smoother.

You can find this tool under the Image category on the right-hand side of the screen. Select Clarity, then Denoise.

You can adjust the degree of smoothness, and even mask the other parts of the photo so that you can smooth out just selected areas of the image.

It’s definitely worth spending a few minutes using this tool in Enlight. It can make all the difference to the impact of the final image.

Finally, I want to mention the Reflect app that allows you to create stunning water reflection photos – even when there’s no water in the scene. Some might consider this cheating, but it’s great fun!

Believe it or not, the water in this photo was created using the Reflect app. There was no water in the original image that I shot.

So let’s take a look at how to create water reflections using this app. Below is a photo I took that doesn’t contain any water.

I decided it would look better if the sunset was reflected in water in the foreground, so I opened the image in the Reflect app.

In the Presets section, select Water and choose the reflective effect that you like. You can slide your finger up and down to fine tune the placement of the reflection.

The Edit tab lets you make further adjustments by changing the displacement, blur and brightness of the water. You can even add fog using the Fog tab.

The FX tab includes other effects and filters, as well as objects that you can add into your image.

I added birds to my photo, and even erased a few using the masking tool. Below is the final water reflection image that I created.

It’s very realistic and creates a much more interesting and beautiful picture than the original. So if you don’t live near water, you can always use the Reflect app to create a stunning water reflection.

Conclusion

Water is an amazingly versatile subject for photography, and there are endless possibilities for capturing its beauty and power.

From tiny water droplets and puddles, to vast oceans and lakes, water is all around you. All you have to do is find the most interesting way to photograph it.

Use different kinds of light to your advantage, and always look for reflections that you could use to create symmetrical compositions.

Include a main subject to act as a focal point, whether it’s a person, an animal, an object found in nature, or a prop you’ve brought from home.

Experiment with different compositions, such as shooting from a low or high angle, and filling the frame with the water.

Get creative and shoot abstracts using ripples in the water. Make splashes and use burst mode to capture the individual water droplets.

Flip your reflection photos upside down to create a more unique version of the image. Look for water on windows in the form of raindrops and condensation. And don’t forget about capturing water as ice or mist.

Experiment with long exposure apps to create a silky veiling effect on flowing water. And if you don’t live near a large body of water, use the Reflect app to create your own water world from scratch.

If the colors in your water photos don’t “pop,” simply use an editing app like Snapseed to boost the color saturation or adjust the warmth. And use the Denoise tool in Enlight to smooth out the water’s surface.

Using the tips in this tutorial, together with a little bit of vision and imagination, you too will be able to create stunning iPhone photos of water.

The post 10 Tips For Taking Stunning iPhone Photos Of Water appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

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Which one of these photos is your favorite? Please let everyone know in the comments!

How to Enter the Next Photo Contest

Last week we published a tutorial covering 6 ways to bring your iPhone photos to life with texture.

Including textures in your photography helps make your photos more tactile and engaging, inviting the viewer to reach out and touch your pictures.

The article covers a great selection of of tips for finding and photographing different kinds of texture, as well as adding distressed textures in post-processing.

So the new contest theme is Texture, and any iPhone photos that show the texture of your subject or that have texture added in post-processing can be submitted.

To participate, simply tag your iPhone photos using IPS2015Texture tag on EyeEm.

You can tag photos in the description field when you upload them, or when you edit the description of a photo that has already been uploaded (tap the three dots icon to edit a photo).

All photos must be shot and edited on iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Please upload photos to EyeEm in full resolution and without any watermarks to make sure we can feature them on the website. Please do not submit more than 10 photos each week.

The submission deadline is Sunday, July 26.

The post 30 Incredible Reflection Photos Taken With An iPhone appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Find A Reflective Surface

The first thing you need to find for a reflection photo is obviously a reflective surface. There are many different surfaces that you can use to capture reflections, and once you train your eye you’ll start to notice reflections everywhere!

Some of the most beautiful reflection photos are created using water. When you’re out in nature, look for reflections in large bodies of water such as lakes, ponds and rivers. You can capture wonderful sky reflections in these situations. The more interesting the sky, the more beautiful the reflection will be.

But you don’t need large bodies of water for reflection photos. After a rain storm, venture outdoors and use the puddles on the ground to your advantage. You can capture amazing reflections even in the smallest of puddles.

A tiny puddle can be incredibly effective if you shoot from the right angle. Try crouching down and shooting from a very low angle. If you have a macro lens for your iPhone, you could even try capturing reflections in tiny water droplets.

When taking winter photos, ice can work well for reflection photography, creating a different take on the classic water reflection image. Ice provides wonderful texture that will add an abstract quality to your photo.

While water makes a great surface for reflection photography, it certainly isn’t the only reflective surface that you can use. Look around for other surfaces that reflect light, then see what reflections you can capture in them with your iPhone.

Mirrors, glass, windows, a car windshield, sunglasses, shiny table tops, shiny floors, marbles, bubbles, and the screen of a phone or tablet are all great surfaces that will work for reflection photography. I used some old windows in a closet to create a spooky reflection of my daughter in the photo above.

A large urban building with a glass facade will make an amazing reflective surface for capturing reflections of other buildings, people, trees, etc.

And don’t forget about metallic surfaces. Buildings with shiny metal exteriors, the roof of your car, a train track, or even a small spoon will all reflect objects in their shiny surfaces.

2. Include An Interesting Subject

Of course, once you’ve found a nice reflective surface, you need to have an interesting subject to capture as a reflection. Using a human for a subject is always attention grabbing, especially if they’re wearing bright colored clothing or you capture them in an interesting pose.

But you can use anything as a subject, just as long as its reflection will make the photo more interesting and thought-provoking. Trees, buildings, animals, bicycles, boats and bridges are all great subjects to use in your reflection photos.

This jetty in the water makes a stunning reflection with all of its intricate lines and shapes. The cloudy sky adds drama to the image, and the person stood at the end is an extra bonus that helps create a story.

Be observant and actively look for anything that makes a dynamic and fascinating reflection. As I was photographing the reflection of a boat at the foggy riverbank above, a grey heron flew over which created an interesting additional reflection. I’m glad I was ready with my camera!

Using a prop along with your subject, or as the main subject itself, helps to create more interesting reflection photos. I love to use umbrellas in my puddle reflection photos. Their shape and color creates a very strong visual impact.

3. Capture Reflected Colors & Skies

While an intriguing subject is key to a good reflection photo, remember that an interesting sky can act as a great subject for your reflection photos.

If the sky has dramatic cloud formations or beautiful colors, it’s likely to make a great reflection in water, glass, metal or any other shiny surface.

Sometimes it will be the colors and tones in the reflections that provide the most visual interest in the photo. Photographing water or other reflective surfaces during golden hour (just after sunrise and just before sunset) is often the best time to capture stunning colors in your reflections.

Look for ways to bring out the natural colors in your reflection so that they become the main feature. Try shooting from different angles to capture the light from the best viewpoint.

Adjust the exposure if necessary (by swiping up or down on the screen after tapping to set focus) so that the reflection colors are captured in all their glory.

It’s not just the sky that will create wonderful colors in reflections. Look for other colorful objects that appear in water and other reflective surfaces, such as green trees, brightly colored flowers, or the clothing of your subject.

The green reflection of the trees and the blue of the sky make a great backdrop for this lonely little duck swimming in the river.

4. Emphasize Symmetry

Symmetrical compositions are incredibly striking and pleasing to the eye. There’s a sense of balance and harmony in a symmetrical image, and because reflections naturally create a mirror image within the scene, we can easily use them to create powerful symmetry.

Usually when creating a symmetrical photo, the image is divided in half with the line of symmetry going either horizontally or vertically. This creates a perfect mirror image.

Once you’ve found a reflection with an interesting subject or strong focal point in a landscape, accentuate the symmetry by composing the photo so that the line of symmetry (where the reflection meets the actual subject) is perfectly central.

You can switch on the grid in the camera app to help you line everything up (Settings > Photos & Camera > Grid). If you notice the symmetry isn’t perfectly central after taking the photo, you can always crop the image a little in post-processing to get the line of symmetry in the middle.

While water reflection photos always have a horizontal line of symmetry, a vertical reflective surface such as the mirrored glass of this building will create an image with vertical symmetry. Again, just make sure that the line of symmetry is perfectly central.

5. Experiment With Your Viewpoint

The great thing about reflections is that you can create so many different versions of the image by changing the angle and viewpoint that you shoot from.

One option is to get really close to the reflective surface to eliminate all of the surroundings in the scene. That way you capture just the reflection of your subject. This can create an intriguing image, and the viewer might not realize it’s a reflection until they look closer.

Another option is to shoot from a distance so that you include the reflection, the subject and some of the surroundings in the frame, which is what I did in the photo below. I think using this technique was a good choice here as it emphasizes just how small that puddle is.

To make this photo even more interesting, I decided to compose the shot with only the bottom half of my subject in the frame. This emphasizes the top half of the subject which is reflected in the puddle. If you shoot from a low angle, you’ll get more of your subject reflected in the water.

Including an object in the foreground of a reflection photo can add another dimension to the image. If composed correctly, you can create an intriguing photo where it’s difficult to tell what’s reflected and what isn’t. Plants, leaves and flowers work really well as foreground interest around water reflections.

Another creative way to present a reflection is by flipping the photo in post-processing. The photo below shows an un-flipped version of a river on a foggy morning with trees and geese reflected in its surface.

The next photo, which is a similar composition, was flipped upside down. It almost tricks the viewer into seeing the photo in a normal perspective.

At first you might not realize that the trees and sky are a reflection. Flipping your reflection photos is a great way of holding the viewer’s attention for longer while they work out what’s going on.

When photographing reflections, think about how much of your actual subject you want to include in the photo. You might want to capture the whole subject and its reflection. Or maybe it would be more interesting to just include part of the subject and all of its reflection.

In the photo above I thought it would be more intriguing to just include the lower half of my four children walking through this puddle. I also flipped the photo to make it more interesting.

Here I chose to just include my daughter’s feet, with the rest of the image taken up by the reflections in the puddle. I also flipped this image upside down.

6. Capture Texture In Reflections

Rather than always photographing still bodies of water, capturing ripples and waves on the water’s surface can help you capture interesting textures and patterns in your reflection photos.

The reflection of this beautiful colored sky in the ripples on the water creates a stunning and almost painterly effect. The moving water creates distortions in the reflection, making the reflection of the tree more interesting and dynamic.

If you’re photographing a still body of water, you could make your own waves by moving your hand around in the water or using a stick to make splashes. Or try throwing a stone into the water to create wonderful concentric circles.

If it’s raining, try capturing the splash of raindrops in water. This creates amazing shapes and textures that add an extra dimension to your reflection photos.

7. Use Minimal Composition

A good way to make your subject stand out in a reflection photo is to include lots of empty negative space in your composition. Negative space helps to define and isolate your subject for maximum impact.

Minimalist compositions are very appealing because the eyes are drawn immediately to the subject. With nothing but empty space in the rest of your photo, there’s nothing to distract your attention from the subject.

Even if your subject is quite small within the frame, it will still have a big impact if you surround it with empty space.

Reflection photos that contain a lot of negative space tend to evoke feelings of peace and tranquility.

8. Create Abstract Reflections

Reflections often transform the usual into the unusual. Using reflections that naturally occur on windows, combined with a human subject, can make a wonderful abstract portrait photo. Instead of trying to diminish the reflection on the window, use it to create something distinctive and unusual.

This portrait of my daughter was taken on a window that reflects the trees in our yard. To create the shot, I asked my daughter to stand inside the house looking out through the window.

I took the shot from outside, where I’ve managed to capture the reflections of the trees combined with my daughter’s face behind the glass.

I love to use this as a unique way to feature my children in abstract portraits. What’s outside your window will determine what kind of reflections you can capture, so if you live in a city, your window reflections might include tall buildings rather than trees.

Try to be creative and original. Experiment with different ways of composing and cropping the photo until you create a unique abstract images that will instantly catch the viewer’s eye.

9. Create Reflections In Post-Processing

If you can’t find a good reflective surface, you can always cheat and create reflections using apps! When I took the photo below I loved the detail in the sky and the silhouettes of the trees, but wasn’t so keen on the large area of black at the bottom of the photo.

I wished there had been water there so that I could have captured this color and detail in a reflection. Luckily, I could easily create this effect using the Reflect Mirror Camera app ($1.99).

To add a reflection using this app, import the photo then tap on the place where you want the reflection to start. Slide your finger up and down to fine tune the placement of the reflection. The Presets tab lets you choose from a variety of reflection types and surfaces.

The Edit tab lets you make further adjustments by changing the displacement, blur and brightness of the water. You can even edit in fog using the Fog tab.

The FX tab includes other effects and filters, as well as objects that you can add into your image.

I added birds to my photo and even erased a few using the masking tool.

Here’s my final image that I created using the Reflect app. It’s very realistic and creates a much more interesting and beautiful picture than the original.

As you’ve seen throughout this tutorial, there’s no end to the kinds of reflection photos you can create. With a little imagination and practice, you can train your eyes to see beyond the usual, allowing you to create wonderful and intriguing reflection photos with your iPhone.

If you’d like to learn more about reflection photography, check out our other articles on this subject:

10 Tips for Taking Stunning iPhone Reflection Photos
How to Find Great Reflections in iPhone Photography

The post 9 Tips For Capturing Spectacular Reflections In Your iPhone Photos appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

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Which one of these photos is your favorite? Please let everyone know in the comments!

How to Enter the Next Photo Contest

Last week we published a tutorial teaching you how to use leading lines to create more powerful compositions.

Leading lines help to draw the viewer’s eye into the image, often towards the main subject. They also help to create depth and a perception of distance in the scene.

Straight lines that converge into the distance often create wonderful symmetrical compositions. But leading lines don’t have to be straight – they can be curved, S-shaped or even a spiral.

So the new contest theme is Leading Lines, and any iPhone photos that contain leading lines in the composition can be submitted.

To participate, simply tag your iPhone photos using IPSLeadingLines tag on EyeEm. You can tag photos in the description field when you upload them, or when you edit the description of a photo that has already been uploaded (tap the three dots icon to edit a photo).

All photos must be shot and edited on iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Please upload photos to EyeEm in full resolution and without any watermarks to make sure we can feature them on the website. Please do not submit more than 10 photos each week.

The submission deadline is Sunday, March 22.

The post 30 Stunning Reflection Photos Taken With An iPhone appeared first on iPhone Photography School.