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

Week two focuses on one of the most important elements of photography, light.

 

Light is very important in photography. If you can develop a general awareness of light, you should be able to take brilliant photographs. Your daily commute to and from work or college is actually a perfect opportunity to experience the magic of light. The early morning or late afternoon is exactly when the sun produces its most oblique rays.

The angles of the light can have the effect of making your subject appear more dramatic. The long shadows enhance the depth of your shot. Try and be on the look-out for this kind of light in your everyday life.  You’ll find endless photo opportunities in shadows, light streaming into gaps between buildings, and the sun filtering through trees – to name but a few.
Carrying your iPhone around with you wherever you go is a great way to capture the performances woven by light and shadow at these magical times of day.

Don’t forget that there is always light—even if you can’t see the sun.

You can find it bouncing off glass, neon signs reflected on the surface of puddles, silhouettes created by streetlights, or perhaps even in the daylight at the end of a tunnel… Whatever you’re doing, just make sure that your light radar is turned up to full power.

 

Guest blogger: Koichi Mitsui