Koichi Mitsui is a professional photographer as well as iPhonographer. Over these four weeks, he is going to share his tips and tricks for taking great shots with your iPhone.

In week three, he suggests some ideas for making use of height variation in the surrounding landscape. 

Landscapes with a lot of variation in height often make for great shots. This is because of the dramatic effects created by the rising and falling of the ground and the shadows that creates. Looking down from a mountaintop onto a vast plain, or light shining into a deep valley both make equally impressive sights.

The best way to get a sense of a new place is to survey the land from the highest point. You are much more likely to take better photos if you have an image in your mind of the surrounding area. While sunlight pours down on the top of a hill, in the valley below there could still be some snow lying in the shady corners. These highs and lows really make for dramatic light effects in your photography.

If you’re in a city, then make your way to an observatory at the top of a tall building. If you’re in the suburbs, make for the surrounding slopes. Even a gentle incline is fine. Landscape like this often plays an important role in the history and traditions of where people live.

Place and street names are important, too. They often tell a story about the local history or characteristics. You can use your iPhone’s map feature to quickly look these up. That’s right, your iPhone is more than just a camera!

 

Guest blogger: Koichi Mitsui