Capturing Better Photos and Video with your iPhone®

Chapter 2. See Like a Photographer

The key to taking great photos and making cool art with your iPhone actually has nothing to do with the iPhone at all. The key is YOU! When you learn how to think like a photographer, your images will start improving each time you use your camera. And soon, you won't even think about it; skilled shooting will become second nature.

Professional photographers follow many different rules ... guidelines really ... when creating images. None of these guidelines/ rules are mandatory—or even appropriate in all situations. Sometimes you need to break a rule or two to get the greatest impact out of your shot.

This chapter is full of all kinds of tips and tricks that I've picked up in my twenty-odd years of working behind a camera. From composition techniques to pointers on how to get specific shots, the tips in this chapter can help you start thinking like a photographer.

Figure 2.1. I snapped this shot of the mythical Jackalope at a BBQ place in Lockhart, Texas.

Watch for the Unusual

Some of the most compelling photographs are those in which the subject is odd, off-kilter ... or sometimes just plain weird. Keep your eyes open for the out-of-the-ordinary visuals you're lucky enough to experience. Look for things that are out of place, like a flower sprouting out ...