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1. Capture Close-Up Detail With An Add-On Macro Lens For iPhone

Your iPhone’s built-in lenses can’t focus at very close distances. When you get too close to the subject, the image ends up blurred.

So, how do you shoot sharply-focused close-up photos with your iPhone?

It’s actually really simple:

You use an add-on macro lens for iPhone!

An iPhone macro lens allows the camera to focus at very close distances.

And this is perfect for capturing the intricate textures and details found in nature.

There are many different macro lenses available for the iPhone. If you’re looking to buy one, ensure you choose a good-quality lens.

The better the lens quality, the sharper your images will be.

One of the best quality macro lenses available is the Moment macro lens.

The Moment macro lens costs $129.99. You’ll also need the Moment iPhone Case (from $49.99) for connecting the lens to your phone.

Moment lenses are quite expensive compared to some other makes. But the image quality is very high, so they’re definitely worth it.

If you don’t want to spend that much, there are many cheaper macro lenses available. Just be aware that the image quality probably won’t be as good as the Moment macro lens.

Once you’ve got your macro lens attached to your iPhone, you can start shooting gorgeous nature macro photography!

2. Find An Interesting Subject For Your Nature Macro Photography

How do you find interesting subjects for your close-up nature photography?

Here’s the great thing:

You don’t need to be in an exotic location to find fascinating subjects.

Just go out into your garden. Take a stroll through your local park or nature reserve. Or explore the countryside whenever you get a chance.

Flowers, leaves, grasses, and seedheads are perfect for macro photography. And you’ll find them in abundance wherever you go.

Insects also make spectacular subjects. Once you start looking, you’ll find all sorts of insects on plants and flowers.

Twigs, bark, lichen, moss, and fungi are always interesting to photograph up close.

Dewdrops, raindrops, and icicles also look amazing through a macro lens.

And don’t forget about delicate subjects like feathers and cobwebs.

I also love to search for something a little unusual out in nature.

For example, there are beautiful flowers everywhere. But what catches my attention is imperfection.

Maybe the flower isn’t perfectly formed. Perhaps it’s drooping or decaying.

This imperfection is wonderful for conveying some kind of atmosphere or emotion.

It gives an ordinary flower a bit of character. And it tells a little story…. which is so important in photography.

3. Use Color, Shape & Texture For Compelling iPhone Macro Photography

There are certain characteristics that really stand out in iPhone macro photography.

So what features should you look out for in your subjects?

What is it that creates a compelling close-up nature photo?

Color is a great way to create eye-catching nature macro photography.

Vivid colors always work well. A colorful flower or insect will really catch the viewer’s attention.

But don’t be afraid to photograph more muted colors too.

Muted colors can convey a wonderfully calm mood in your photos.

Shapes are another thing to look out for.

Strong shapes are great for making your photos stand out – especially when they’re displayed as tiny thumbnails on Instagram.

When you’re out in nature, notice how many different shapes there are.

Study the shapes of flowers, leaves, twigs, and other small objects.

And then incorporate them into your photos to create a strong visual impact.

Finally, keep your eyes peeled for interesting textures.

An iPhone macro lens will pick up the tiniest details in a textured object. And this really brings your photos to life.

Photograph rough textures, such as bark, dried leaves, and lichen.

But don’t forget about delicate textures too.

Cobwebs, feathers, and softly-textured plants look beautiful in a macro photo.

4. Get Your Macro Subject In Sharp Focus To Capture Incredible Detail

When you shoot with a macro lens, only a small part of the scene appears in sharp focus.

This means you have to be very accurate when setting focus with your iPhone camera.

First, decide which part of the subject you want sharply focused.

Which part of the subject is most interesting to you? What is it that catches your attention?

Now, you need to get the iPhone camera to focus on that area.

As you move the lens closer to your subject, watch how different parts of the scene come into focus.

Tap and hold the iPhone screen where you want the focus to be set.

When you see AE/AF Lock at the top of the screen, the focus is locked. A yellow box with a sun icon indicates the focus point.

At this point, you can swipe up or down to adjust exposure (brightness) if necessary.

Hold the camera steady, then tap the shutter button to take a shot.

Now, here’s the key to getting perfectly focused macro photos:

Take lots of pictures!

The chances are that the focus won’t be perfect in the first shot.

The trick is to adjust your distance very slightly so different parts of the subject appear in focus.

Move the camera in and out slightly to adjust the focus point. Use tiny movements. And take pictures every time you change the distance.

You could even hold down the shutter button to shoot multiple photos using burst mode.

The more pictures you take, the more chance you have of getting at least one shot with perfect focus.

And with practice, you’ll get a good idea of how close you need to be to get sharply-focused photos.

You’ll also get the best results on a still day.

It’s difficult to focus on a flower or leaf that’s moving around in the wind. If there is a breeze, hold the stem to keep your subject still.

If you’re photographing an insect, try locking the focus on something else, then move in towards the bug.

Follow it with your iPhone, taking as many photos as you can at slightly different distances.

Try to get the insect’s eyes in focus. Sharply-focused eyes create a strong connection with the viewer.

Finally, ensure you keep the camera lens clean and dust-free. You’ll never be able to capture clear and sharp iPhone photos with a dirty lens!

5. Ensure The Background Complements Your Macro Subject

In macro photography, the background always appears blurred.

But this doesn’t mean the background isn’t important.

In fact, the background is extremely important in nature macro photography.

A good background helps the main subject stand out. And it never distracts the viewer from the foreground subject.

So, what makes a good background for nature macro photography?

A neutral background without too many distractions is usually the best option.

If the background is too busy, it takes attention away from your subject.

You don’t want too much detail in the background. But you need a little bit of texture or contrast to create beautiful background blur.

Consider how the color and brightness of the background affects your photo.

Does the subject stand out against the background?

How does the lighting and color of the background affect the mood of the image?

A dark background creates a very different mood from a bright background.

Likewise, a vivid colored background has a different atmosphere from a more muted background.

Too many different colors can be distracting. So it’s usually better to have a single color, or at least similar colors, in the background.

Of course, when you’re shooting outdoors, you don’t have much choice about the surroundings.

But you can change your shooting angle to get different parts of the background behind your subject.

Or gently bend a flower or twig to change its angle and include a better part of the background.

Taking the time to include a good background will make a big difference to your iPhone macro photography.

So always consider how color, texture, and light affect the background in your photos.

6. Consider How The Light Affects Your Image

What kind of light is best for nature macro photography?

And how do different kinds of light affect the quality and mood of your photo?

For best results, I’d recommend shooting on a slightly overcast day.

Why?

Because a cloudy sky creates a soft, even light… which is much easier to shoot in.

The problem with a sunny day is that your macro lens can cast a dark shadow on your subject.

But a cloudy sky diffuses the sunlight. And this means you won’t get any of those harsh shadows.

Of course, shooting on an overcast day isn’t always convenient. So here are some tips for capturing great macro photos in bright sunlight:

If you have to shoot on a sunny day, the mid-morning and mid-afternoon light tends to be best. At these times, the light is less intense and the shadows aren’t so harsh.

If the sun is casting shadow lines on your subject, you could try using your body to block the light.

Stand with the sun behind you so that you cast a shadow over the entire subject. Just be careful that the scene doesn’t become too dark.

You could also try shooting with the sun to one side of you. That way, you’re less likely to cast a shadow with your lens.

Sometimes, backlighting can work well too. This is where you shoot into the light so the subject is illuminated from the back.

Leaves can look beautiful when they’re backlit. The color and texture will be enhanced when the light shines through them.

Backlight is also great for macro photos of icicles. The light shines through the ice, revealing stunning detail.

In general, I avoid shooting early in the morning or late in the evening. The lack of light can result in grainy images.

However, if you have some beautiful golden light behind your subject, you can get some stunning results.

7. Experiment With Composition For More Eye-Catching Macro Photos

Composition is all about where you position the main elements within the frame.

Good composition is key to creating beautiful and engaging photos.

But when you’re shooting close-up subjects, what kind of composition techniques can you use?

Composing a macro photo isn’t that different from composing a landscape shot – or indeed any other kind of photo.

First, you should explore lots of different shooting angles and perspectives.

Don’t just go for the obvious shot.

Take a photo from above.

Then get down a bit lower and take a photo from the side.

Then get really low. (You might even need to lie on the ground!) And photograph the subject from underneath.

Try to show common subjects from more unique angles that people wouldn’t normally see. If you do this, your nature macro photography will be far more interesting.

Next, think about where you position the subject within the frame.

Would it look better in the center or slightly to one side?

If the subject is symmetrical, central placement can work well. The central composition emphasizes the symmetry of the subject.

But often, the composition will look more balanced if you position the subject to one side. This technique is called the rule of thirds.

You can use the gridlines in the iPhone Camera app to position important elements off-center.

For example, you could position a twig on one of the vertical or horizontal gridlines. Or position a water droplet at one of the points where two gridlines meet.

The rule of thirds is a handy composition technique to have in mind when taking photos.

But remember, these rules aren’t set in stone. It’s more about getting the visual balance right.

So, you could start with the rule of thirds. But don’t be afraid to experiment until you find a composition that look balanced and pleasing to the eye.

Close-up photography often involves filling the entire frame with the subject. But I usually like to leave a bit of empty space around the subject.

A bit of space gives room for your subject to “breathe.” It also allows for some leeway to crop or rotate the image in editing.

Some macro lenses produce slight blurring around the edge of the frame. So leaving some space ensures the subject won’t appear blurred.

Finally, look out for leading lines that you could use in your composition.

Lines help to draw the viewer’s eye into and around the image.

At first, you might wonder where you could find lines in nature macro photography. But once you start looking, you’ll find them all around you.

You could use a twig, a flower stem, a blade of grass, or the lines on a leaf.

Look for straight lines, curved lines, and spirals. Then think about how you could position that line in your composition.

Would the line have more impact if it was placed centrally or off to one side?

Would it look better to have the line running vertically or horizontally through the image?

What about positioning the line diagonally through the frame?

Composition isn’t an exact science. So, experiment with different angles. And take lots of photos.

With a bit of practice, you’ll soon be shooting beautifully composed iPhone macro photos!

8. Edit Your iPhone Macro Photos To Enhance The Mood

Knowing how to take macro photos with iPhone is just the first step. Now, it’s time to make them look even better by editing them!

Editing your photos allows you to improve the color, brightness, and sharpness.

But it’s also a great way to enhance the mood of your macro photos.

Try to let the picture dictate how you edit it.

So, if you have a bright sunny photo with a colorful flower or insect, go with it. Make the colors more vivid. Enhance the bright and airy feel of the image.

Don’t try to make it black and white or dark and moody. There’s no point trying to force an emotion or feeling onto it that doesn’t work.

But if you have a photo of some textured bark against a dark background, edit it to make it moodier.

Turn it black and white. Increase the contrast. Darken the shadows to make them really intense.

Snapseed is my favorite iPhone photo editing app. It has a huge range of tools, but it’s very easy to use. And it’s completely free!

The Tune Image tool allows you to make adjustments to color, exposure, and contrast.

The Selective and Brush tools let you make edits to just certain parts of an image.

The Mask tool is also amazing for applying edits to particular parts of your photo.

For example, you often want to sharpen the subject but not the background. Snapseed’s Mask tool lets you choose which parts of the image get sharpened and which parts are unaffected.

The Healing tool allows you to remove small imperfections and distractions from your photo.

And of course, you can crop or rotate your image to improve the composition.

I also use the Perspective tool to tweak the position of horizontal or vertical lines. And the Expand tool is great for adding a bit more background around the edge of the frame.

Finally, don’t be afraid to use the black and white filters in Snapseed. A black and white edit adds wonderful mood and atmosphere to your nature macro photography.

Black and white works particularly well on images with textures, strong shapes, patterns, and lines.

It’s also great for high contrast images that have dark shadows and bright highlights.

I do most of my editing in Snapseed. But if my image looks a bit grainy, I use the ACDSee Pro app. It has an excellent Noise Reduction tool for removing grain.

The main thing to remember is to keep your edits subtle. Use small adjustments to avoid over-editing your photos.

Your aim should be to enhance the natural beauty of your subjects with careful photo editing.

The post 8 Tips For Fascinating Nature Macro Photography On iPhone appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Use A High-Quality iPhone Macro Lens For Beautifully Sharp Photos

The built-in lenses of the iPhone camera aren’t suitable for extreme close-up photography. They’re just not capable of focusing at such close distances.

So, how do you shoot close-up macro photos with your iPhone?

You simply attach a special macro lens to your iPhone!

An iPhone macro lens allows the camera to focus at very close distances – which is perfect for capturing the intricate detail of flowers.

To capture sharply focused images, make sure you use a good quality macro lens.

One of the best quality macro lenses available is the Moment macro lens.

The Moment macro lens costs $129.99. You’ll also need to buy the Moment iPhone Case (from $49.99) for connecting the lens to your phone.

With your macro lens attached to your phone, you can now start shooting beautiful flower macro photography!

2. Look For Interesting Features In Your Flower Subjects

The great thing about flower photography is that your subjects are always beautiful.

That said, some flowers are more interesting than others.

So what features should you look out for when searching for the perfect flower to photograph?

Flowers with interesting stamens make excellent subjects for iPhone macro photography.

Look for flowers with open faces so you can get the lens really close to the stamens.

Capturing fine textures also makes for interesting macro photos.

The magnified view allows you to capture textures that are difficult to see with the naked eye.

Look out for delicate details that will add a magical quality to your photos.

Dandelion seeds make wonderfully delicate subjects for iPhone macro photography.

Water droplets also add an interesting element to your flower macro photos.

You can look for water droplets after the rain. Or go out early in the morning when you’ll often find dew drops on flowers.

You can also use a water dropper or spray bottle to add your own water droplets to flowers. This allows you to capture water droplet photos whenever you want!

Of course, flowers attract bees and other insects. So if you spot a bug on a flower, be sure to capture a stunning macro insect photo.

I also like to keep flowers until they dry out. This allows you to capture even more unique features, such as crispy textures and dried seeds.

Once you start noticing the intricate details of flowers, you’ll be able to create mesmerizing macro photos with your iPhone.

3. Consider Color In Your Flower Macro Photography

Color is another important consideration when shooting close-up flower photos.

Flowers come in all sorts of beautiful colors – whether you’re shooting ordinary garden flowers or exotic blooms from the florist.

But there are ways that you can use color to create a stronger visual impact in your photos.

For example, contrasting colors will create a bold, striking image.

In the photo above, the contrast of purple against orange really makes the flower stand out.

Filling the frame with similar colors can also work well. But try to have a small pop of contrasting color to add a point of interest.

In the photo above, the white petal stands out against the blue surroundings. And this adds a strong focal point to the image.

Of course, white flowers make excellent subjects too. They add a bright, fresh feel to your photos. And they look great against any colored background.

Make sure you pay attention to the colors in your photos. If you do, your flower macro photos will be incredibly eye-catching.

4. Shoot In Soft Natural Light For Amazing Color & Detail

Good light is essential for creating beautiful macro photos of flowers.

The best type of light is soft natural daylight.

Why? Because you won’t get overly bright light or harsh shadows (which can ruin your photo).

The light will be soft and warm during the golden hours around sunrise and sunset.

So early morning and early evening are perfect for outdoor macro flower photography.

When you’re out shooting, tilt the flower with slight movements to find the best angle of light.

Notice how the light illuminates the flower in different ways as you move it.

You have to get very close to the flower with your macro lens, which might cast a shadow on your subject.

So keep moving around until you find the perfect illumination. And take lots of photos from slightly different angles.

If the flower has thin petals you could try lighting it from behind.

Backlighting will reveal wonderful details and textures as the light shines through the petals.

Try to avoid shooting during the middle of the day. Harsh sunlight can over-expose your photo, making everything too bright. And your camera will cast a dark shadow over the flower as you move in to photograph it.

If you have to shoot in full sun, try to use your body to cast a shadow over the entire flower. But be careful this doesn’t dim the light too much.

You could also use the semi-opaque diffuser hood that came with your macro lens. This diffuses the sunlight to create a softer light without harsh shadows.

If you’re shooting indoors, position your flower so it’s illuminated by light from a window.

You’ll need to ensure there’s plenty of light coming through the window. But the light needs to be soft, so avoid direct sunlight.

Remember, good lighting is the key to incredible macro flower photography.

And soft natural light is the best type of light for revealing amazing color and detail in your photos.

5. Shoot On A Still Day Or Take Your Flower Indoors

For stunning macro photos, the flower must be perfectly still.

Any movement will result in blurry photos… which won’t look good.

So, if you’re shooting outdoors, make sure you avoid windy weather. Wind makes it very difficult to capture sharp photos.

A still day is perfect for flower macro photography.

You’ll be able to take sharp shots while your flower remains perfectly still.

If there’s a slight breeze, you could try holding the stem of the flower to keep it steady.

But a better option is to take the flower indoors. There, you can shoot in more controlled conditions without any breeze.

Just make sure you position the flower near a window so you have plenty of natural light on your subject.

Remember, movement results in blurry photos. So, keeping the flower still is essential for clear and sharp macro photos.

The trick is to shoot on a still day. Or take your flower indoors to photograph it.

6. Get The Flower In Sharp Focus

The hardest part of iPhone macro photography is getting your subject in sharp focus.

Why is it so challenging?

Because when you shoot at very close distances, the depth of field becomes extremely shallow.

Depth of field refers to how much of the image is in focus.

With a shallow depth of field, only a small part of the image will appear in sharp focus. Anything behind or in front of the focused area will be blurred.

So, how do you get the camera to focus on a particular part of the flower?

First, ensure the flower is perfectly still. If the flower is blowing around in the wind, it will be almost impossible to set the focus accurately.

Next, decide which part of the flower you want in sharp focus.

Do you want to focus on the stamens? Is there a particular petal that you want to focus on? Is there a water droplet that you want in focus?

Finally, you need to get the camera to focus on your chosen area.

The iPhone Camera app lets you to easily set the focus point. Once you’ve composed your shot, tap and hold for a couple of seconds where you want the focus to be set.

When the focus is locked, you’ll see AE/AF Lock at the top of the screen. You’ll also see a yellow box with a sun icon which indicates the focus point.

Tap the shutter button gently to take a shot.

Now, there’s one problem:

The photo you just took might not have perfect focus.

If you moved the camera (even very slightly) towards or away from the subject, the focus will be on a different part of the flower.

So, here’s the key to getting perfectly focused macro photos with your iPhone:

Take lots of photos at slightly different distances!

With your focus locked (you’ll still see AE/AF Lock on the screen), use tiny movements to move the camera towards or away from the flower. Take a photo each time you change the distance.

When you look through your photos, there should be at least one picture with perfect focus.

Be sure to zoom in (pinch outwards on the screen) when viewing the photos you took. That way, you can clearly see which part of the flower is in focus.

Here are a few more tricks for taking sharper macro photos with your iPhone:

Find a comfortable position and ensure your body is relaxed. Sitting or kneeling down will help you keep your body steady.

Try to rest your hands on a solid surface to stop them from shaking the camera.

When shooting indoors, I use a small block of wood to rest my hands on.

Just before you take the photo, hold your breath to prevent any movement caused by breathing.

And press the shutter button gently to avoid moving your iPhone as you take the shot.

These tricks will ensure you capture perfectly focused macro photos that really stun the viewer.

7. Create Beautiful Backgrounds For Your Flower Macro Photography

When you’re shooting close-up flower photos, you might not pay much attention to the background.

After all, the background will appear blurred. So you might not think it’s important.

But the color, lighting, and detail of the background can really enhance your image.

So what makes a good background?

First, consider the color of the background.

Does the background color look good with the color of your flower?

A background color that contrasts with the color of the flower will make the subject stand out.

But a background color similar to the flower can also work well.

When you’re shooting outdoors, use surrounding flowers or leaves as the background for your photo.

With indoor macro photography, you could use colored card to create any background color you like.

It’s also important to have some kind of detail or texture in the background.

When this detail becomes blurred, it will create visual interest even though it’s not in focus.

Ideally, you want something that adds color and texture. And if it catches the light, that’s an added bonus.

I love to use glitter in the background of my macro photos. It reflects the light and adds a colorful shimmer to the photo.

You could also use a string of beads or colored straws. Even a kitchen scourer can make a great background for your macro flower photography!

For beautiful bokeh (out-of-focus points of light), use mini fairy lights in the background.

When the fairy lights become blurred, they appear as shimmering circles of light.

And this creates a truly stunning background for your iPhone macro photography.

8. Use Tiny Props To Add Interest To Your Close-Up Flower Photos

Have you ever thought about using props in your close-up photography?

Props can make your macro flower photos more interesting – especially when the flower is very small and doesn’t fill the frame.

Props are also perfect for resting your flower on while you take the photo.

So what kind of props work well for iPhone macro photography?

Small household objects make great props.

Try placing your flower in a miniature glass bottle. Or lay a tiny flower on some colored pencils.

In the photo above, the pencils add vivid colors to the background. And the tip of the pencil creates a sense of scale, showing just how tiny the flowers are.

You could even place a small flower in the eye of a sewing needle. Again, the needle adds a sense of scale to the photo.

You could also look for objects found in nature. For example, you could rest your flower on a leaf, a shell, or a piece of driftwood.

Feathers also make good props. Their delicate texture and pattern is perfect for macro photography.

Try placing a single dandelion seed on a shimmering feather for a beautifully delicate macro photo.

Look around your home and outdoors to see what other props you can find. Then try incorporating them into your macro flower photography.

The results will definitely be worth it!

9. Photograph The Flower From Many Different Angles

The great thing about flowers is that they look good from so many different angles.

This means you can capture lots of unique shots using just a single flower.

So once you’ve found an interesting flower, photograph it from as many different perspectives as you can.

Shoot from directly above to capture the detail of the stamens.

Then shoot from beneath the flower to show it from an angle that we don’t normally see.

Turn the flower upside down. And capture a side-on view.

Tilt your camera in different directions and take lots of photos.

Notice how different parts of the flower come into focus. And notice how the angle of the light affects the image.

If you experiment with different perspectives, you’ll be able to capture the many unique features of a single flower.

The post 9 Tips For Beautiful Flower Macro Photography On iPhone appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

1. Look For Details To Capture Unique Flower Images

How do you take unique flower photographs? How do you make sure that your images are original?

You look for tiny details in your flowers—the details that nobody else sees.

The world is full of potential flower photography subjects. Yet photographers frequently get caught up in shooting flowers as they appear on the surface.

If you want to create a truly unique photograph, you have to look beyond the surface-level appearance of a flower.

Look for the little things. For instance, notice the way a tulip petal curves, or the way a rose is lit by the setting sun.

One of the fantastic things about flower photography is that these opportunities exist everywhere. For the photo above, I focused on a tiny part of the flower—two petals—to create a flowing abstract.

Try going out in your backyard. See what you can find. I bet that you’ll discover something worthwhile to photograph—as long as you’re willing to look beyond the surface.

While out walking, look down at the ground. You might see some more potential subjects. Photograph their details!

This is even easier because you’re photographing with an iPhone. It’s a camera that you’ll always have with you!

If you can train your eye to look for detail, you’ll come away with stunning flower photographs.

2. Use A Macro Lens To Get Closer To Your Subject

Do you want to get powerful, in-your-face flower photographs? If so, then you’re going to want to use a macro lens.

What is a macro lens?

A macro lens is an iPhone photography accessory. It attaches to your iPhone camera. It magnifies your subject—so that you can get stunning close-up flower photos that capture the tiniest details.

A macro lens isn’t essential for iPhone flower photography. I’ve taken stunning flower photographs without one.

However, a macro lens gets you extremely close to your subject. It lets you focus on the tiny details. It lets you highlight specific aspects of the flower.

Basically, it allows you to take original, powerful, in-your-face flower photos.

So if you’re serious about iPhone flower photography, you should invest in a macro lens.

There are many iPhone macro lenses out there. But one of the best is the Moment Macro Lens.

Once you have your macro lens, you’ll be blown away by the images you can take. Your photo library will never be the same again!

3. Experiment With Angles For Jaw-Dropping Flower Photography

In flower photography, it’s tempting to take images from the obvious angles. For instance, you’ve probably taken some shots from a standing height while looking down at your flower.

That angle can create some excellent flower photographs. However, such photographs have probably been taken many times. If you want to create truly stunning, original flower photographs, try to go beyond those shots.

You need to experiment with angles.

What do I mean by this?

I mean that you should move your iPhone around the flower.

Try holding the lens directly above the flower, so that the camera is pointing straight down. This can make for some really creative images.

Then try putting your iPhone below the flower, so that the camera is pointing up. This is a fun angle, and one that’s rarely used.

Of course, these are just suggestions. Play around with your iPhone until you find your own favorite angles!

Are you interested in taking more original, stunning flower photographs? Then photograph from many different angles. This is how you’ll come away with jaw-dropping photos.

4. Take Lots Of Shots To Ensure A Few Stunning Keepers

Do you struggle to get sharp shots of flowers? Do you want your keeper rate to go up?

If so, my advice is simple: Take lots of shots.

You may be tempted to preserve space on your iPhone. You may be tempted to keep your photo library clean.

However, it’s more important that you make sure you capture great shots. There’s nothing worse than the feeling of coming home after an exhilarating photoshoot—only to find that all of your shots are slightly blurry!

This is especially critical for flower photographers. When you’re shooting at such high magnifications, even a small amount of camera shake can blur your photos. Plus, if your subject moves slightly, the image may turn out blurry. I took lots of shots to get the image below.

Therefore, if you want to get some stunning keepers, take many shots. You can always delete the bad ones later!

5. Use The Rule Of Thirds For Stunning Compositions

Composition refers to the arrangement of elements in a photograph. But how do you best compose a flower photograph?

For instance, do you put the flower in the center of the frame? Do you put the flower to the right or the left? Do you put the flower at the top or the bottom?

Unfortunately, creating beautiful compositions can be tough. It’s easy to fall into the trap of placing the flower in the center of the frame. But this often results in a static photograph.

So, how do you create stunning compositions?

One great tip is to use the rule of thirds.

The rule of thirds states that the most pleasing compositions place the subject a third of the way into the frame. In other words, you should put your flower along one of the gridlines or one of the gridline junction points (i.e., where the gridlines cross), as shown in the image below:

This will create far more powerful images.

For the photo above, I made sure that the flower was placed at one of the junction points. This resulted in a more pleasing composition than if I had centered the flower.

One great thing about iPhone photography is that your iPhone actually has the rule of thirds gridlines built into it! You can activate the rule of thirds gridlines, and then you’ll be able to see them whenever you’re doing photography.

Tap your Settings icon on the Home screen. Select Camera, then make sure Grid is switched on.

Next time you open your iPhone camera, you’ll be able to see the gridlines.

Remember: If you put your flower along the rule of thirds gridlines, you’ll create far more stunning compositions!

6. Shoot During The Golden Hours For The Best Light

If your flower images are looking a bit flat, then you probably want to shoot in better light.

What light is best?

The best light is during the golden hours. The golden hours are the hour or two just after sunrise and just before sunset.

During the golden hours, the light is warm and soft. It casts a beautiful golden glow over your subjects. And it’s amazing for flower photography! Notice the golden glow in the photo below:

While you should try to shoot whenever you can, the golden hours are the best time to bring out your iPhone camera. If you shoot during these times, you’re going to notice an immediate improvement in your images.

7. Use Light Filtered By Trees For Beautiful Backgrounds

Do you want to know a great trick for creating beautiful backgrounds in your flower photography?

Wait until the golden hours. Then find a flower near some trees. Position yourself so that the sun is pointing at you—so that the sun is coming from behind the flower. Then get down extremely low, and take a picture.

What’s especially important is that you make sure the trees are in the background of your image. The trees will filter the light from the setting sun—resulting in a beautiful, colorful background. This is precisely the trick I used to capture the photo below.

If you can pull this trick off, you’ll be astonished by how incredible your images look. You’ll want to shoot this way all the time!

8. Lock Focus For Perfectly Sharp Flower Photos

Do you struggle to focus when you’re shooting close-up subjects? Are you getting blurry close-up images? Then you’re going to want to use a special technique: focus locking.

Focus locking will help you maintain focus on your subject. You won’t have to worry about your iPhone changing focus when you try to take a picture.

How do you focus lock?

Fortunately, it’s quite simple! To lock focus, simply tap and hold your finger on your camera screen. You’ll see the words AE/AF Lock appear at the top of the screen. And your iPhone will lock focus on the place you tapped.

Therefore, if you want to focus on the petals of a flower, tap and hold on the petals. If you want to focus on the center of the flower, tap and hold on the center.

Then you can remove your finger from the screen and carefully press the shutter button. You don’t have to worry about the iPhone refocusing. Therefore, you have a much higher chance of getting sharp images.

Once you’re done taking pictures, you’ll want to deactivate the focus lock. Simply tap elsewhere on the screen, and the iPhone will go back to its normal autofocus setting.

If you’re getting blurry photos, then you should try this technique. It will dramatically improve your keeper rate.

9. Photograph Flowers With Water Droplets For A Beautiful Effect

Do you want to add a little something extra to your flower photographs? If so, then this tip is for you!

What’s the tip? It’s simple: Photograph flowers with water droplets.

Water droplets are a great addition to flower photographs. Droplets sparkle. They make flowers pop. Plus, droplets are beautiful!

How do you find flowers with droplets?

One way is to wait until after it rains. Then go out walking with your iPhone. You’re bound to find some flowers layered in water droplets!

You can also go out early in the morning—because this is when you’ll find morning dew!

Morning dew results in lovely little droplets on everything, including flowers. Don’t miss this amazing opportunity.

Finally, let me share one more trick for taking photos of flowers with water droplets: Make the water droplets yourself!

Go out and find a flower to photograph. Bring the flower inside. Then lightly dust that flower with water using a spray bottle or a dropper…and start snapping pictures!

If you use water droplets in your photos, you won’t be disappointed!

10. Use Editing To Enhance Your Flower Photography

Do you want to create eye-popping colors in your flower images? Do you want to elevate the mood?

If so, then you’re going to want to learn to edit your flower photos.

You don’t have to do complex edits. However, a bit of editing can go a long way when it comes to creating beautiful flower images.

For instance, you can use a photo editing app like Snapseed or VSCO to boost the contrast. This will make your photos more striking.

You can also increase the saturation. This will make your colors bolder and can really enhance your images.

You can also go further than this with other photo editing apps.

I love Mextures, which is perfect for applying textures to photos. It’s also great for all sorts of wild experimentation! Simply play with the effects—and see what happens.

If you want to enhance your flower photos, then try some editing! It will really make your photos pop.

11. Join A Photography Community To Take Your Flower Photos To The Next Level

If you’re interested in taking your flower photos to the next level, pay attention to this tip. Because here’s a big thing that you can do to dramatically improve your flower photography: join a photography community.

When I say “photography community,” I’m speaking rather broadly. You don’t need to find a group of photographers dedicated to sharing flower photos.

Instead, you want to be in contact with a few photographers that you really admire.

Instagram is a great place for this. Find a few Instagram flower photographers that you love. Then follow their photography. Observe it. Think about what you like and what you dislike.

A photography community exposes you to all sorts of beautiful images. This, in turn, helps you develop your own style. It helps you realize what you find aesthetically pleasing.

Plus, a good community will offer all sorts of flower photography advice—advice that is invaluable.

When you see a really good image, contact the photographer! Ask them how they managed to get such a great photo. Often, Instagram photographers are willing to share advice with beginners.

Joining a photography community was essential for my photographic growth. It can be great for your growth, too. If you join a photography community, you’ll find your flower photography growing by leaps and bounds.

The post 11 Tips For Beautiful Flower Photography On iPhone appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m from India and came to Dallas in September 1970 to go to University. I worked for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services as an Investigator. I have one son who lives in Los Angeles.

How did your iPhone photography journey begin?

It began when I signed up to receive free email tips from iPhone Photography School. After I started using those tips I really began focusing on my mobile photography.

What inspires you to pick up your iPhone and start taking photos?

For starters, the convenience, speed and light weight of the iPhone. I have my phone with me all of the time which makes it easy to take photos – especially unanticipated ones.

Your work includes some amazing artistic edits. Do you have any favorite go-to editing apps? And if so, what do you love about the apps you use the most?

I use Snapseed for cropping, tweaking, and black and white conversions.

I just love iColorama. It’s an amazing app, especially for digital art. I also use Mextures, Formulas and Stackables sometimes.

Your images feature a wide range of editing styles (painterly, graphic, double exposure, etc.). How do you decide which type of edit to use with any given photograph?

I’ve been using iColorama more and more. I try out different tools within the app, and then choose the best result.

I usually have to try several different edits to get the results that I want. For instance, for flowers I try using the flow and coherence tools, and also play with the opacity.

Light is so important in iPhone photography for creating mood and getting decent exposures. Do you have a favorite time of day, season and type of weather for shooting landscapes?

Like many others, I prefer low light and golden hour. The intense heat and brilliant sun during the middle of the day in Texas isn’t much help when shooting landscapes.

I also love to take pictures of rain and snow while driving – of course, only when I’m stopped at a red light!

What would your typical editing process involve?

With flowers, I play around a lot with the iColorama app until I produce a creative edit that I’m happy with.

For buildings, if I have to change the tone I use iColorama. If not, I use Stackables or Mextures. I don’t have a set process and I try all the different permutations and steps.

Do you use any iPhone photography accessories?

I have some lenses, and have used the macro lens a few times for shooting close-ups.

Can you briefly explain the story and editing process behind your three favorite iPhone photos?

I took this photo of a broken light bulb to make a statement about our environment, and how little things we change can help.

I broke the bulb on a large piece of white cardboard, and then took a photo of the pieces. It looks as though it exploded, and that’s a statement for the planet. It’s a simple edit done in iColorama.

This was a very delicate flower and the colors were so pretty. It flows very well due to the thin petals, so when editing I decided to use the flow feature in iColorama.

I took this photo of raindrops though my car windshield – of course, while I was stopped at a red light.

I used the Reflexion app to add rain drops on the water, and iColorama to change the tone. I like the composition which uses the rule of thirds.

Do you ever feel the need to use a larger format camera for your photography, or does the iPhone do everything you want?

I have a good digital camera, but I haven’t used it. I use my iPhone 100% of the time. I don’t feel the need to use a larger format camera. I think my iPhone is serving me well.

You’re a member of the iPhone Photo Masters program here at iPhone Photography School. Can you tell us a bit about what you’ve gotten out of this online course, and whether it’s helped or inspired you as an iPhone photographer?

Most of what I’ve learned is from the iPhone Photo Masters program, as well the iPhone Photo Academy and iPhone Editing Academy courses. They’ve helped me so much.

There’s a different photography theme every month which keeps my interest going. The video tutorials by expert photographers are so helpful, and they show me how to use different techniques and apps.

It would be remiss of me not to include the selfless help of fellow Masters member Maria Cristina Gonzalez, both with her time and expertise. She’s been there for me from the beginning and I’ll be forever grateful to Maria.

What tips do you have for beginner iPhone photographers who want to start taking more creative photos with their iPhone?

Learn from others. The iPhone Photography School Academy is such a great group – it’s very supportive and helpful. There are so many pros and so many great photos to learn from.

In particular, I always look at photos by fellow Academy members Luis, Jorg, Remi, Evelyn, Maria, and so many other wonderful photographers. I learn from all of them.

Do you have any new goals for iPhone photography in the upcoming year?

Yes, I want to keep learning! I’ll be continuing with the iPhone Photo Masters program so that I can keep improving my photography and image editing skills.

The post How Lolly Kakumani Creates Beautiful Artistic iPhone Photos appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

Agneta Andersson

Abdullah

Barbara McLawhorn

Brandy Robinson

Carolyn

Dariusz Sobiecki

Doug Hannah

Elaine Collins

Fiona Grose

Georgia Barlow

Grace

Hashim Mohamed

Helen Catherine Green

Hillary Morin

James Ballantyne

Ines

Janos Kenderes

Jorge Perez

Lynne Garell

Libin

Liz Anderson

Lolly Kakumani

Maria

María Cristina González

Marla Thompson

Sequoya Gallo

Milano Romero Lagdan

Nova

Richard Lincoln

Susan Kalish

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

The post 30 Glorious iPhone Photos Of Flowers appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

@karinlouisetaylor

@ArlineVinson

@beachwalk

@bellaneri

@brittlholman

@CrazyDiamond79

@dannyrustandi

@deenaberton

@DziadziPendrak

@emjel

@evelynesieber

@fradum

@HannahMcSawley

@leahpiaeddy

@LeanneRickords

@LeslieDean

@LynneLucena

@mcmish

@MCristinaGonzalez

@MichelleLevy

@MilanoRL

@ornative

@photodigs

@phpix

@PierreOuimet

@Ranc3169

@RosaPerry

@RosemaryLogan

@SandraDimbour

@SherryManners

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

The post 30 Incredible Close-Up & Macro iPhone Photos appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

First of all, thank you for recognizing my passion for shooting macro photos. I’m very honored to be interviewed and share my love of macro photography.

I’ve lived most of my life in Africa. I was born and raised in Zimbabwe, and have spent my adult life in South Africa.

I’m a wife, mother to two adult sons, and grandmother to a two-year-old boy. I take endless photographs of this delightful child.

I live on the east side of Johannesburg – a sprawling inland metropolis that stretches 100 kilometers from east to west. It has the world’s largest man-made forest, estimated to be about 10 million trees.

I’m strongly connected to the earth and nature. My father was a commercial rose grower which has influenced my love of plants and flowers since childhood. I think I’ve always had a love of creating beauty with nature.

I qualified later in life as a landscape designer and started running my own landscaping business.

The best part was designing and drawing the plans for presentation – there was no computer aided design back then! It’s another example of my natural love of creating pretty pictures.

How did your passion for photography begin?

We were sailing the Mediterranean with friends in 2014, and while coming into the harbor in Bonifacio, Corsica, my friend was unwell and gave me her DSLR camera to use.

When she viewed the images that I’d captured, she said I had an eye for photography. That comment planted a seed that has since grown into a passion.

What is it that you enjoy so much about iPhone photography?

I love the spontaneity that having an iPhone provides. It allows you to capture an image at any time. So when I came across iPhone Photography School, I thought that would be the perfect opportunity to learn more about it.

The tutorials, interviews and photo contests, together with the community and participation on the Facebook page, bring together a unique way of learning, sharing and enjoying photography.

You primarily shoot close-up photos of nature. What draws you to this kind of photography?

Macro photography fascinates me as it opens up a whole other world that’s not readily seen. I can lose track of time finding new subjects and trying to capture them.

I love to shoot flower macro photography with my iPhone. I also look photographing feathers and water droplets – including the very smallest dew drops, rain, and carefully placed droplets of water to create a macro still life.

To be able to get outside into the garden after it’s rained, either early in the morning or late in the afternoon, presents endless possibilities.

The macro images that I find on Instagram are incredible. The details and subjects spur me on and give me ideas for future images that I want to create.

One of the accounts I follow on Instagram is @weeklymobilemacro. Not only do they have amazing images, but they also run a weekly competition and feature the best photos. It can test the imagination, but it’s so much fun.

Could you tell us about the equipment and iPhone accessories that you need for taking such great macro photos?

I use the olloclip 4 in 1 lens kit which includes a wide angle, fish eye and two macro lenses (15x and a 10x magnification).

My preference is for the 10x macro lens as it becomes increasingly difficult to get clear focus with higher magnifications.

Macro photography can require some imaginative setups. I once resorted to sticking a single dandelion seed into a slice of mango fruit, with a blue plastic shopping bag draped over a knife block in my kitchen as the backdrop.

I used a dropper to place the perfect little drop of water into the centre of the dandelion seed. All of this was to create what looks like an image taken outdoors towards a setting sun.

I rarely use a tripod, so it’s important to keep the iPhone very still when pressing the shutter.

While clicking away, I always keep looking at the images I’ve captured on my iPhone. The details are so small that the slightest change of light or shooting perspective can make a big difference to the final image.

Due to the shallow depth of field when shooting extreme close-ups, it’s often difficult to get the focus on the right part of the subject. What focusing tips do you have for anyone new to macro photography?

I do find that it’s more difficult to get focus on round subjects as you can only focus on a small part of the subject while the rest of it appears blurred. Flatter subjects are far easier to focus on.

Start by shooting with smaller magnification lenses, such as a 10x or 7x macro lens. It’s surprising just how close the lens has to be to the subject, so make sure you get close enough.

I pick the exact point I want to focus on, then very slowly adjust the distance between the lens and the subject, watching that point until it appears in sharp focus.

To keep the camera steady, use an iPhone tripod to stabilize the phone or balance it on your knee. When I’m outdoors and struggling to keep my hands still, I let my breath out slowly as I focus and press the shutter.

Do you usually shoot outdoors, or is it easier to take the subject home and photograph it under more controlled conditions?

I probably do a 50/50 ratio of indoor and outdoor photography. Weather conditions have to be conducive when shooting outdoors – it’s impossible to take outdoor macro shots in wind.

The background also plays an important role in a macro photography. Even though the background is blurred, it needs to enhance the subject, so taking the subject indoors and creating the perfect setup can often be the better option.

It’s easier to use a tripod indoors, and controlling the light can have a dramatic effect on the image. I usually place my indoor setup near a window to get soft diffused light on the subject.

Apart from macro photos, what else do you like to shoot with your iPhone?

I usually stick to photographing nature, such as flowers, trees and landscapes. But I’m also drawn to abstract photography and textures.

I love the simplicity of minimalist photography – it’s so clear and uncluttered. But I’ve still got a way to go with identifying possibilities. It’s something that I’ll keep working on.

You’ve enrolled on our iPhone Photo Academy and iPhone Photo Masters courses. How have these learning experiences changed your approach to photography? 

I joined the iPhone Photo Academy and iPhone Photo Masters course late last year. This ongoing photographic journey is one of discovery and delight.

It’s a great feeling to see an image captured and edited, then displayed for others to see. And likewise, to view images shared by other students.

Firstly, it’s made me so much more aware of the capabilities of the iPhone camera. I honestly understood so little of the functionality of the iPhone camera and editing possibilities. Being able to edit with so many available apps is incredible.

I’ve become much more aware of the photographic opportunities out there. I see things differently now, and I’m always looking for new images to try out.

I go to the iPhone Photo & Editing Academy Facebook page every day to participate and look at images posted by other students.

Not only do I learn from the comments and feedback on the photos that I post, but it’s also possible to learn so much from looking at other people’s photos.

Let’s talk about photo apps. Are there any apps that you use for taking photos besides the native camera app?

I’ve only used the iPhone’s native camera app, but I recently downloaded Camera+ and plan to use that for shooting as well.

I’m still playing with it at the moment – getting used to the manual options and how they affect the image I take.

What are your favorite apps for post-processing?

I use Snapseed the most. TouchRetouch is great for erasing unwanted clutter from images. I also use Tadaa SLR and SKRWT.

I have other editing apps on my phone, such as Slow Shutter, Alien Sky and LensLight, but I use these less often.

Can you briefly explain the story and editing behind your three favorite iPhone photos?

This image of a drop of water on a chive leaf was one of the first photos I took after buying my olloclip lens.

There had been a light rain shower just before sunrise. As I walked outside, a planter filled with garlic chives was shimmering with rain drops.

I got my phone and macro lens ready, then crouched down so that I was level with the leaves, balancing the phone on the edge of the pot. I moved around, watching how the light danced through the water as I took lots of shots.

I love the simplicity of this image with the tiny sphere of water and the glitter-like reflections on it. And the background has lovely natural bokeh lights going on.

I didn’t have to edit this photo much. I just used Snapseed to sharpen the details and correct the brightness. I prefer to use a light hand when editing.

This photo of a pelargonium seed unfurling was a complete chance discovery. I was taking macro shots of a pelargonium flower at home when I noticed this tiny seed. I didn’t realize just how beautiful it was until I got the macro lens to focus.

Even though this was taken during mid-afternoon (which normally isn’t a good time to shoot because of the bright light), everything just came together.

The light was perfect, there was no wind, and for a change my dogs didn’t come crashing through the plant I was photographing! They like a close up view of what I’m doing.

Again, there was very little editing needed with this image. I used Snapseed to crop slightly, and I sharpened the details. With the Tune Image tool, I decreased brightness and increased contrast, then decreased warmth and shadows a tiny bit.

This is a still life photo that I created with a guinea fowl feather against the sun. I love feathers – they’re great subjects for macro photography, and they create a lovely ethereal image.

I’d found this feather while playing golf, and a few days later a lovely clear sunset presented the possibility to put the two together.

I placed the feather on a waist high wall with the setting sun behind it, then got down low with the macro lens so that I was level with the feather. I played with the feather, moving it around, and reviewing the shots that I was taking.

In post-processing, I just used Snapseed to decrease brightness and sharpen the details of the feather.

Do you ever feel the need to use a larger format camera for your photography, or does the iPhone do everything you want?

I’ve never owned a larger camera myself. I used to have a small point-and-shoot camera, but honestly, the iPhone takes better quality pictures and it’s always with me.

So I don’t ever feel I want a large format camera – not now that I’ve learned to use the full capabilities of my iPhone camera.

What tips do you have for beginner iPhone photographers who want to start taking more creative photos with the iPhone?

Enter your photos in assignments and competitions. The monthly assignments in the iPhone Photo Masters course are a fantastic way of learning about a new genre of photography and getting more creative.

If a photographer’s image resonates with you, why not try to replicate it where possible? Keep the idea in your head, and at the next opportunity give it a go.

Which iPhone photographers do you admire the most?

Besides the many excellent photographers on the iPhone Photo Academy Facebook page, I also enjoy following a number of photographers on Instagram.

I really like the work of @shezasphotos, @ritaharra and @flowersandmacro (although I’m not sure they’re necessarily iPhone photographers).

I follow @weeklymobilemacro on Instagram and enter their competitions. This keeps things fun and means that I’m always looking for something new or unusual to photograph.

On EyeEm I like the photography of Rosa Perry (@RosaPerry), Georgia Barlow (@momentsforever) and Nadine Feld (@NadineFeld). There are many more, and my list could go on and on!

Where can we see your iPhone photography?

You can see my photos on Instagram @sherolis and on EyeEm @SherryManners.

The post How Sherry Manners Takes Beautiful Macro iPhone Photos appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

@MCristinaGonzalez

@acamachoe

@AnnaRezulak

@basiapro

@Bihoro

@brittlholman

@carlon_r

@emjel

@evelynesieber

@Filiphelmer

@floquinn

@Gal0611

@gericentonze

@HKEITHIII

@iSlier

@jeremyss

@karinlouisetaylor

@kazakov_artem

@LynneLucena

@makrolens

@mcmish

@MilanoRL

@nesquik09

@phpix

@pmaven

@Ranc3169

@remrstr

@RosaPerry

@RosemaryLogan

@SherryManners

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

The post 30 Stunning iPhone Photos Of Nature appeared first on iPhone Photography School.

Choose A Single Flower

For this project we’ll use a single flower. Since we’re creating a flower portrait, it allows one flower to shine. Plus, a blur effect on a group or bunch of flowers creates too much abstraction.

When choosing flowers for this project, it’s best to find those that are open and star-shaped, with petals radiating out to all sides, like sunflowers. The blur effect will be applied to emphasize the direction in which the flower petals extend.

How To Photograph The Flower

Put the flower in a narrow vase or bottle so that it stands up straight. It’s up to you whether you wish the photograph to include the vase or bottle. Sometimes, it’s a nice addition to the photo, but try several shots to determine which you prefer.

Find a solid background to shoot against. However, avoid a bright white background because it will be difficult to notice any texture when it’s applied during the editing process.

An off-white or beige background usually works well, but you could also use a colorful background that contrasts with the color of the flower.

Take several shots, turning the flower to different angles each time. You never know which shot will look best when the blur effect is applied. Many times, a side view creates a unique perspective.

When you photograph, allow space around the top and sides of the flower. This is called negative space and it’s the area around the subject that’s devoid of any subject matter. The negative space will help to frame the flower and make it stand out.

Here’s the photo we’ll be using for this tutorial. If you want to use this flower for your edit, you can download it here.

Alternatively, you could photograph your own flower and use that during this editing process. Once you’ve got your flower photo, you’re ready to start…

Step 1: Blur The Flower In iColorama S

The first editing step is to add a blur effect. Blur adds a beautiful abstract quality to the photo. It creates a sense of motion and makes the flower look windswept.

To create the blur effect, we’ll be using the iColorama S app. This is a complete photo editing app, offering basic to advanced editing tools and tons of different effects.

Once you open the app, select the Photo icon in the top left corner to import your flower photo for editing:

Next, select Image From Library to select the photo:

On the next screen, you’ll be able to select the final resolution for your image. I would recommend always choosing the highest resolution for the largest and best quality image:

Select Menu from the main screen. When the drop-down box appears, select Effect:

In the Effect menu, scroll across to select Blur:

You’ll notice a Preset icon in the bottom right corner. When you tap it, a menu pops up that allows you to see all of the different types of blur effects available.

For this tutorial, we’re only going to use one of the blur effects – number 3/189:

This effect is a radial or zoom blur, which means the blur radiates from a center point. By adjusting different aspects of this preset, you can affect the direction of the blur.

To the left of the Preset icon is a Set icon which allows you to adjust the radius, as well as the horizontal and vertical direction of the blur. The Radius slider determines the radius or expansion of the blur:

The X Center slider adjusts the horizontal direction of the blur. When it’s set to 0.00, the blur radiates farthest to the right. When it’s set to 1.00, the blur radiates farthest to the left:

The Y Center slider adjusts the vertical direction of the blur. When it’s set to 0.00, the blur radiates farthest to the top. When it’s set to 1.00, the blur radiates farthest to the bottom:

Since this flower’s petals were already radiating toward the upper left of the frame, moving the X Center to 1.00 helped to accentuate this pattern.

The Opacity slider controls the amount of blur overall. If you want more detail in your photo, lower it. Since I wanted a little more detail, the Opacity was lowered to 70%.

Experiment with the radius and opacity until you find the blur effect you desire. My goal is always to accentuate the natural direction of the flower petals while still keeping enough detail so that you know it’s a flower:

Now, we’re ready to save the image. Tap the Save icon in the upper right corner and select Save to Album:

This is how the image should appear:

Step 2: Apply A Paint Effect In Brushstroke (Optional)

The next step is to add a painting filter, but this is optional. This step makes the flower look like it’s been painted instead of photographed.

The paint and texture effects blend seamlessly together, but you may find that you like the photo without this effect.

To paint the photo, we’ll be using the Brushstroke app. Brushstroke converts your photo into a painting with just one tap. It offers more than 50 different paint and painting styles including watercolor, acrylic, oil, and lead pencil.

When the app opens, tap the left icon to select the image you just blurred in the previous step:

On the next screen, make sure your photo is showing in the photo window, then tap the right arrow at the top right of the screen:

The app will then “paint” your photo. You’ll see a variety of paint filters such as Oil, Washed, Medium, and Natural. Scroll across until you reach the Simple filters. Select S1 from this section:

At the top of the screen, you’ll see the intensity of paint applied. Paint +50 is the default setting. But if you need to adjust this, swipe your finger right to increase it, or left to decrease.

You can change other aspects as well. To change the color palette, select the Palette icon. Next to that is the Canvas icon which changes the texture of the canvas.

The fourth setting is for Basic Adjustments like sharpness, contrast, and brightness. If you don’t like the texture of the paint, you can adjust the thickness.

I prefer the paint strokes to be less noticeable, so select Thickness and then swipe the screen left until you reach +0:

To save the image, tap the right arrow in the upper right corner. On the next screen, tap Save to save the image to your photo library:

This is what your edit should look like at this stage:

Step 3: Add Texture In Mextures

Now, we’re ready to add some texture in the Mextures app. This step adds dimension to the flower portrait, and also gives you the opportunity to change the background color.

We’re using the Mextures app to add texture to the entire photo. Mextures has more than 100 gritty, grainy, dusty, vintage and grunge textures.

To open your photo in the app, select Library from the home screen:

Select the photo that you just painted in the previous step. Next, you’ll have an option to move and scale your photo. You can also choose to Crop it here as well. For this project, we’re choosing Don’t Crop:

On the next screen, you’ll see many different categories, such as Emulsion, Grunge, and Vintage Gradients:

Select the Grunge category and you’ll see several grunge textures to choose from. Each adds a different combination of texture and color to your photo.

Using the slider on the right, you can adjust the intensity of each texture. For this photo, the Mulberry grunge filter was added at 60% opacity:

Once you’ve selected your texture, tap the Save icon in the upper right corner, then tap Save to Photo Library:

This is what your final photo should look like:

Conclusion

These three simple steps (blur, paint, and texture) create a “recipe” you can use to create this type of floral portrait on any flower photo that you take.

Of course, you can experiment with different filters and effects in each app to achieve a wide variety of effects that will make your flower photos truly unique.

The post How To Create A Unique Flower Portrait iPhone Photo appeared first on iPhone Photography School.