Sandmarc Photography Articles

4 Hacks for Stepping Up Your iPhone Photography Game

how to take better iphone photos

iPhone Hacks For Photography

There is no doubt that the iPhone in your pocket is a great camera. That's especially true if you happen to use the iPhone X...

But as we all know, it's not just the gear you use that influences the quality of the photos you take.

That is, you have to do a little work to maximize how your iPhone photos look.

Here's a few iPhone photography hacks that are surefire ways to get the awesome photos you're after.

Add Movement

iphone photography hacks

Adding an element of movement to your photos immediately makes them more dynamic and interesting.

Think about it - if you're taking a portrait and the model is simply standing there, looking straight at the camera, it's a little bit of a boring shot, right?

By adding movement, though, you have a mechanism by which you can create something a little more unique.

Whether you achieve that by using a slow shutter, having the model move around to get movement in their hair, adding a fan to cause their clothing to move, or some other trick, the results can be pretty awesome!

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Review Live Mode Frames

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What's nice about Live Mode is that you get a string of possible still frames with each shot.

That means that if the initial key frame isn't to your liking, you can make a selection from any of the other key frames in the sequence.

If you aren't sure how to do this, select a Live Photo from your library (or take a new one) and press Edit in the upper right-hand corner of the screen.

On the next screen, move the white box at the bottom of the screen from left to right to find the precise frame that works best, and then select "Make Key Photo."

It's a super easy way to improve your photos without having to take another shot!

Use Exposure Compensation

Just like on your mirrorless camera or DSLR, your iPhone has an exposure compensation feature that makes getting the best shots much simpler.

You've no doubt taken a photo at some point that was a little too dark or too bright, but was otherwise a pretty good shot.

The solution to this problem is a simple one - just slide your finger up or down on the phone's screen.

With your iPhone camera turned on, simply tap the screen to bring up the yellow focus box. When you do that, you'll see a sun symbol immediately to the right.

Slide your finger upward from the sun symbol to lighten the image; slide it downward to darken it.

Now, this trick isn't going to solve all your lighting problems, but it will definitely help you out if you find yourself shooting in lighting conditions that aren't quite ideal.

Learn how to manually adjust the exposure on your iPhone in the video above by Anson Alexander.

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Expand the Possibilities With an iPhone Lens

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I've written before about how impressed I am with my iPhone X camera and its native lenses.

But despite how good they are, the hardware in my phone has its limitations...

That's why I often shoot with SANDMARC iPhone lenses - to expand my creative possibilities and take better photos.

I think what I like most about these lenses is that they're so easy to use.

There's two ways to attach these lenses to your phone - just clip it over the native lens or use the ultra-thin case mount as shown above.

Either way, the lens fits perfectly onto your phone without worry of light leaks, aberrations, or other image degradation.

Not only that, but since these lenses are crafted from premium multi-coated optics, you get crisp, clear images with an improved range of view. What's not to like about that?

I've used these lenses for landscapes, portraits, and even macro scenes, and I have yet to be disappointed.

The clarity and focus are superb, as are the colors and the contrast that these lenses are able to capture.

I've used other smartphone lenses in the past, and they don't even come close to getting the kind of results I get with my SANDMARC lenses.

If you're wondering how to take better iPhone photos, getting outfitted with high-quality lenses is a great first step.

Add in the other iphone photography tips I've outlined above, and you've got an easy roadmap to follow for taking improved photos with your phone.



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Drone Photography Tutorial: How to Take Killer Photos

drone photography tips

These days, it seems like if you aren't using drones for photography that you're a bit behind the times.

I've got a DJI Mavic Pro that I fly and I absolutely love it. They say that taking photos from different perspectives is a great way to improve your photos, and getting up above it all with a drone is certainly a way to do that!

But taking photos with the best drone for photography can be a little intimidating, even if you're an experienced photographer.

That being the case, here's a few drone photography tips to help you get started.

Drone Photography Tips: Plan It Out and Get the Timing Right

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Just like with any other kind of photography, it behooves you to plan out your photo shoots when you use a drone.

Google Earth is a prime tool for doing this because you can get a top-down satellite view as well as a 3D view of the terrain.

Just look for interesting landforms, buildings, webs of roadways, and so forth, and you'll be much better prepared to get your drone in the right place for the best-quality images.

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Another planning tip you can't overlook is your timing.

Again, just like when you're taking photos on the ground, golden hour affords you the best light of the day to get high-quality shots.

But because you're above it all, not only do you get to capture the beautiful colors of the sunrise or sunset, but you can also provide a view of how that gorgeous light interacts with the landscape below.

Adjust the Camera Settings for the Best Drone Photography

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Far and away, you'll get the best photos if you shoot in manual mode.

With complete control over the exposure settings, you can avoid blown out highlights or detail-free shadows and instead get a well-exposed image no matter the subject.

On a DJI drone like the Mavic Pro, set the ISO to 100 to minimize the camera's sensitivity to light and minimize digital noise as well.

Leave the white balance setting on auto, and be sure that you're shooting in RAW so you have as much data for post-processing as possible.

Lastly, set the image size to 4:3. This will give your images more resolution than if you shoot in 16:9 format.

 

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Outfit Your Drone With Filters

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Just like a typical DSLR can take improved photographs when you use lens filters, you can get much-improved photos from your drone if you equip its lens with the right filters as well.

When it comes to must-have filters, a circular polarizer and a few neutral density filters should be at the top of your list.

SANDMARC makes a Pro Plus 6-Filter kit that's specifically designed for use with the Mavic Pro (though they have kits for other DJI products, too).

Included in the kit is a circular polarizing filter that helps minimize glare, increase contrast, and reduce atmospheric haze so you can capture the beauty of the landscape below in full detail.

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In addition, the kit has five neutral density filters from 2-stop to 6-stop.

Neutral density filters allow you to slow down the shutter to capture beautiful motion effects, like blurry clouds and water that create dreamy elements in your photos.

SANDMARC's DJI neutral density filters are also polarized, so you get the advantages of a polarizer and a neutral density filter in one.

These filters are made of industrial grade, multi-coated glass and weigh less than 1 gram each. That means you get a high-quality filter that won't weigh down your drone and reduce performance.

If videography is your thing, these filters will only help you create dynamic and beautiful footage.

You'll get smoother, better-exposed aerial shots, motion blur for a natural look in your videos, and improved dynamic range for contrasty images and videos that leap off the screen.

If you want to maximize your ability to get top-notch drone photos, these filters are a must!

Don't take my word for it though - see SANDMARC's filters in action in the video above.

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Vary the Camera Angle

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Though shooting out across a landscape can provide you with gorgeous vistas to photograph, don't discount a true bird's eye view as being a compelling angle from which to shoot.

By looking directly down on the landscape, you can highlight colors, shapes, patterns, and textures more easily.

That's because looking straight down affords the drone a perfect view of the symmetry and design of landscapes and cityscapes, and it's a view we don't often get to see.

That makes these kinds of images unique and eye-catching, and viewers are encouraged to keep on looking and inspecting the shot for much longer than they might otherwise be.

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In the end, there are plenty of similarities between taking a photo with your normal camera and taking a photo with a drone.

You still need to plan your photo shoot, adjust the camera settings, and consider the perspective from which you shoot in order to get the best shots.

You also need to outfit your drone with high-quality filters that enhance the images you take and improve the quality of your photos.

These are simple tricks to be sure, but man, they can have a huge impact!



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Essential Tips for Better Photos With Your iPhone X

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There is no doubt that the iPhone X is one of the best smartphones on the market today.

It's not a bad camera, either...

With all kinds of features that help you take better photos, it's a great companion for photographers that don't want to deal with a big, bulky, traditional camera.

If you're an iPhone X owner, consider the following tips as essential for improving the quality of your photos.

Don't Be Afraid of the Flash

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With a typical smartphone, I'd say avoid the flash like a plague.

But the iPhone X isn't your typical smartphone...

That's because it's got a SlowSync flash with Quad-LED True Tone lighting.

That means that the iPhone X is much more capable than other phones of capturing images that have soft, warm light.

Give it a try next time you're in an interior space without much lighting, and you'll see what I mean.

Is it the best lighting possible? No. But is it much-improved over past mobile phone flashes? Absolutely!

Upgrade the Lens

The iPhone X's built-in front-facing cameras offer an f/1.8 wide-angle lens and an f/2.4 telephoto lens.

That's not bad at all.

However, you can upgrade the lens even further by outfitting your iPhone X with a high-quality aftermarket lens.

The question is, who makes the best iPhone X lenses?

For my money, the answer to that question is unequivocally Sandmarc.

I got my hands on a set of these lenses, and I can tell you that they are worth every bit of the hype that surrounds them.

For starters, Sandmarc is committed to quality in the build process. That's why their lenses have premium multi-coated optics that enable you to take photos that are clear, sharp and have little (if any) aberrations.

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There's something to be said for the performance of these lenses as well.

The 16mm wide-angle lens offers 0.56x magnification for sweeping shots of landscapes, travel photography, and even group portraits.

The 10mm fisheye lens has 0.2x magnification for unique perspectives on all manner of subjects.

The 25mm macro lens has 10x magnification for getting beautiful close-ups of the smallest elements.

There's versatility to speak of as well.

These lenses can either be mounted to a special iPhone X case (it's the world's slimmest case mount, in fact!), or if you prefer, you can simply clip the lens onto your phone.

In other words, Sandmarc has hit the nail on the head with these lenses.

They are well made, versatile, and with three different lens options, you can explore all sorts of different kinds of photography.

What's not to like about that?

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Give Burst Mode a Try

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So often in photography, timing is everything.

That being the case, having the ability to rapid-fire shots enables gives you a better chance of capturing those fleeting moments.

Luckily for us, the iPhone X features a burst shooting mode to handle such tasks.

Simply press and hold the shutter button in the phone's camera app, and it'll take pictures at a rate of 10 per second.

This is great not just for capturing action shots, but also in instances in which light is changing rapidly, like at sunrise or sunset.

Use Different Focal Lengths

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As noted above, outfitting your iPhone X with a set of lenses gives you tons of versatility in the focal length department. You can use that to your advantage to get more creative with the photos you take.

By taking photos with a fisheye lens, a wide-angle lens, and a macro lens (in addition to using the iPhone X's native telephoto lens), you get much more variety in your photos.

With that kind of freedom you open yourself up to more fully developing your creative eye.

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By that, I mean that rather than standing there and taking a wide-angle shot of a landscape as many of us do, you can use different focal lengths to create unique views of the same subject.

Get up close with a macro lens for an intimate landscape shot and then switch to the fisheye lens for a distorted view that bends reality.

After that, give the built-in telephoto lens a try so you can isolate the subject.

And since the iPhone X has optical image stabilization, you will be able to do all that with steadier and sharper results.

In other words, by utilizing the iPhone X's native tools and adding a few of your own, you will be in much better position to capture epic photos no matter the subject!

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How to Find the Best Angles for Your Smartphone Photos

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Though it doesn't get as much attention as the rule of thirds or lighting or getting the focus just right, the angle from which you take photos is an important thing to think about.

That's because from one angle of view, a subject might look boring, but from another angle of view, it might look fantastic.

As a result, when thinking of how to take better photos with a smartphone, one of the first things you need to work on is the angle from which you photograph the subject.

Here's a few smartphone photography techniques that will help you find the perfect angle.

Consider the Height of the Camera

how to take better photos with a smartphone

When you think of someone taking a photo with their smartphone, what comes to mind is probably something like what's shown in the image above - the person holding their phone at around eye level and at arm's length.

And while in some instances taking a photo from your own eye level can result in an interesting shot, more often than not, varying the height will help you find more pleasing and unique angles.

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By getting down low or below the subject and shooting upward, for example, you can focus the viewer's attention on a particular feature of the subject.

In the shot above, using a low shooting angle allowed the photographer to highlight the interesting arches in the towers of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Not only that, the patterns created by the bridge's cables become a unique element to the shot, as do the beautiful colors of the sky above.

Compared to the first photo, this one is far more unique, and was achieved, in part, by simply changing the angle of view.

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Do a 360-Degree Tour of the Subject

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Another iPhone photography tip to bear in mind is that you need to walk around your subject (to the extent possible) to find the most pleasing angle from which to shoot.

Granted, some subjects - like a mountain or a waterfall - are going to be difficult to walk around.

But if you're photographing a person, a flower, or some other small subject, it's easy to take a few seconds to move to the left and right to see which perspective is the best.

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Not only does moving around the subject help you find the subject's best angle, but it also allows you to work out the best background.

For example, if you begin by shooting photos from the front of the subject and find that the background is too distracting, you can simply move to the left or right to try to find a better background view.

Combined with varying the height from which you take your photos, this will help you maximize the quality of the shot by making the subject stand out the best in the photo.

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Try Getting Close to the Subject

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In addition to varying the angle from which you shoot in terms of height and your position related to the subject, getting in close is another way that you can vary the angle for more interesting smartphone photos.

For example, if you're taking a photo of a field of flowers, it can end up being a really nice shot.

But that's precisely the type of photo that most people take...

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Instead, get up close to the subject with your phone and see what you can do to highlight the smaller details of the scene.

Focus on a petal, for example, and make its shape, color, or texture the focus of the shot.

If there's a bee or ladybug crawling on the flower, make that the subject.

The point is that by changing the distance from which you're shooting, you can find an array of new and interesting subjects to catch the viewer's eye.

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How to Take Better Photos With a Smartphone

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Varying the angle from which you shoot will do wonders for your smartphone photography.

But another thing to consider is how you can help your phone be better equipped for better photos.

I've been shooting with SANDMARC iPhone lenses for my iPhone X the last few months, and they have proven to be a very worthy investment on my part.

For starters, having a wider selection of lenses in my SANDMARC Kit (wide-angle, macro, and fisheye) than what my phone has natively expands my ability to be creative.

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Beyond that, though, I appreciate the fact that these lenses are so well made.

These things aren't cheap with low-grade optics that degrade the quality of my iPhone photos...

Instead, SANDMARC uses precision-engineered glass that has multi-element optics with multi-coatings. That means minimal distortion and maximal sharpness.

These lenses are easy to use, too - you can simply clip them onto your phone or you can use them together with SANDMARC's ultra-thin phone case mount.

As far as smartphone photography techniques go, it's hard to go wrong with doing a little work and varying the angle and distance from which you photograph your subject.

But if you pair that with high-quality smartphone lenses, there's really nothing to stop you from taking awesome smartphone photos!

See how you can step up your smartphone photography game with new lenses in the video above by SANDMARC.



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How to Take Good Photos With a Smartphone

how to take good cell phone pictures

It's no secret that the cameras in our mobile phones are better than ever.

Yet, cell phones still have some limitations that prevent them from being as good of cameras as a traditional DSLR or mirrorless system.

That doesn't mean that you can't take fantastic photos with your phone, though...

In this tutorial, you'll learn practical tips for how to take good photos with a smartphone.

Alter Your Perspective

One of the worst things you can do when taking photos with your mobile phone is to stand up straight and take your photos from your eye level.

That's what everyone does, and that makes your photos super boring.

To spice things up, move around your subject and work hard to find the best angles from which to take photos.

That might mean sitting down, kneeling down, or even lying down on the ground and shooting upward. You might also look for a way to get a higher vantage point and shoot down towards your subject.

Either way, a low or high perspective will be much more interesting for people to view than the typical eye-level shot.

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Get Creative

It's easy to say "get creative" if you want to learn how to take good photos with a smartphone...

But at the end of the day, finding your voice as a photographer means finding your photography style and trying new things.

Whether that's shooting through something as seen above, playing around with new and interesting ways to process your photos, or something in between, the more time you spend trying to find ways to make your photos stand out, the better your images will be.

And remember - since your phone is, well, mobile, take the convenience that that brings to experiment with all kinds of subjects.

Photograph people on the street, find interesting textures on buildings as you walk through the city, get out into a landscape and take up-close shots of small details. The possibilities are endless!

In the video above, COOPH offers up even more ideas for getting creative and learning how to take good cell phone pictures.

Equip Your Phone With Better Lenses

Clearly, one of the greatest benefits of camera phones is that they are so small, lightweight, and easy to use.

But given their small form factor, it's not like Apple, Samsung, and other phone manufacturers can squeeze a nice, big lens into the phone.

That's where SANDMARC comes in...

I have a set of SANDMARC lenses for my iPhone X, and I can tell you that they are really, really good lenses.

When you unbox these lenses and pick them up for the first time, you can tell just by the feel of them that they are built with a keen eye for quality.

Not only are the lens housings well-built, but the lenses themselves have premium multi-coated optics, which means you get sharp and clear photos.

What's more, these lenses produce minimal ghosting, flare, and other aberrations - that's not something all mobile phone lenses can say.

I also really appreciate the variety of lenses that SANDMARC offers.

I have a wide-angle lens that provides 2x the field of view, which I use all the time since I typically photograph landscapes.

But I also have a macro lens for those occasions that I want to get up close and personal to my subject, as well as a fisheye lens (shown below) that has helped me see things in a completely new light and helped me become a more creative photographer.

So, not only are these lenses impeccably made, they can also help you get into a better photography groove. What's not to like about that?!

In the end, if you want to learn how to be a good photographer with a phone, you need to put in the time and effort, just like you would need to do if you were shooting with a DSLR or mirrorless camera.

But if you find ways to be a little more creative, spend some time thinking about how the perspective from which you shoot impacts the look of your shots, and invest in some high-quality mobile photography accessories, I think you'll find that you're well on your way to taking much-improved photos with your smartphone.

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iPhone Photography Tips Straight From the Experts

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I've said it before, and I'll say it again - my iPhone might not be the most powerful camera I own, but it's the one I use most often.

And that fact makes it an incredibly powerful photography tool.

Even better, as iPhones and other smartphones continue to advance as cameras, there's more and more features, functions, tools, and tips to help us take improved photos.

With that in mind, consider these iPhone photography tips as essential to helping you maximize the quality of the photos you take.

Steady as She Goes

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Just like any other camera, your iPhone will produce the best results if it's steady for the shot.

As far as giving your phone a stable base, a tripod is the ideal choice. But as anyone that's taken photos with an iPhone knows, it's not always practical to use a tripod.

That being the case, there are a few things you can do to stabilize the camera better as you hold it.

That includes holding it like you mean it by tucking your elbows into your chest to give your hands and arms more support.

But you can also steady the camera better by triggering the shutter with the volume buttons on your earbuds.

Naturally, this won't work for newer iPhones that don't have a headphone jack, but if you're still rocking an older iPhone, this trick is invaluable for taking pictures with an iPhone.

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When Taking Pictures With an iPhone, Aftermarket Lenses Help

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As advanced as current iPhones are in the camera and lens departments, it certainly doesn't hurt to help them out a little bit to capture higher-quality photos.

For a couple of months now, I've been working with SANDMARC iPhone lenses, and without equivocation, they are the cream of the crop when it comes to aftermarket lenses for iPhones.

In the past, I found that the lenses I used with my iPhone produced images that were blurry, low contrast, and lacked color, among many other problems.

That's simply not the case with my SANDMARC lenses, though.

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In addition to being impeccably made with high-quality, multi-coated optics that minimize aberrations, these lenses are just plain simple to use.

I've taken a liking to clipping the lenses onto my phone, that way I can quickly switch between my wide-angle, macro, and fisheye lenses.

But for those of you that prefer the lens to be mounted to a case, SANDMARC has you covered with the world's thinnest case mount.

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I've been totally impressed with the sharpness of the images I've taken with my SANDMARC lenses.

What's more, I appreciate that they offer colors and contrast that are true to form, unlike the lenses I've used in the past.

In other words, though the gear you use isn't the most important factor in taking high-quality shots, it sure doesn't hurt your cause!

And if you shoot with your iPhone, well, there's no better gear to add to your kit than these awesome lenses.

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Use the iPhone's Built-In Camera Tools to Help You

how to take good pictures with iphone

iPhone cameras have all sorts of gizmos and gadgets that can help you take better photos.

The rule of thirds grid will help you create more balanced and interesting smartphone photos.

The straighten feature (which is accessed by tapping the crop tool) allows you to fix crooked horizons for a better final result.

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Portrait lighting - a feature on newer iPhones like the iPhone X, gives you an incredible amount of control over how the image appears from an exposure and lighting standpoint.

And these tools just scratch the surface!

The point is that our phones are incredibly powerful and convenient photography tools, and if you approach mobile photography in the right way and utilize add-ons like high-quality lenses, there's no stopping you from taking pictures with your iPhone that have tons of impact. 

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iPhone Photography Tips: 5 Tricks to Master Landscapes With Your iPhone

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I enjoy shooting landscapes, so many of the tips I'm sharing with you here cross over from what I use with my Nikon D850 when I'm out looking for that next amazing shot...

At the time of this writing, my smartphone - an iPhone X - has 19,189 photos on it.

As you can see, I take a lot of photos!

Over the years I've taken many, many more photos than that, a good portion of which were taken with my smartphone.

Here's a few tips I've learned along the way that will help you get all the juice you can out of your phone to take better landscape photos.

Landscapes Are All About Going Wide

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Out of the box, my iPhone X isn't bad in the camera and lens departments.

But, let's face it, it does have its limitations.

The challenge, then, is to find the right lenses to use with your iPhone.

I've tested a number of iPhone lenses over the years, and most of them have had poor optics, required huge cases to attach to the phone, or both.

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Recently, though, I got my hands on a set of iPhone lenses from Sandmarc, and, well, they've certainly won me over!

A couple of things right out of the gate really impressed me.

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First, the build quality of these lenses is second-to-none. The lens is constructed from premium multi-coated optics so you get clear, sharp images with minimal flare, ghosting, and other aberrations.

The wide-angle lens gives you 2x the field of view, too, so you can incorporate more of those gorgeous landscapes into a single shot. You can see the difference between the field of view with the iPhone X's native lens (above) and with the Sandmarc wide-angle iPhone lens (below), which has an effective focal length of 16mm.

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Second, the lens has a low-profile case, so you don't feel like you're carrying around a brick phone with a bulky and clumsy case that gets in your way.

In fact, not only is the case the world's thinnest lens case mount, but you can also simply clip the lens onto your phone if you already have a case or don't need a case at all.

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The only bummer is that the case was a bear to remove from my phone.

But after speaking with the fine folks at Sandmarc, I've been assured that in a couple weeks, a new case will be released that specifically addresses that problem.

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Just as an aside, I know that the sun is blown out in the previous two images, but in my defense, I was just taking a couple of quick snaps to show the difference in the angle of view while I set up my gear for a long exposure later that evening.

You can see that shot above, which, lucky for me, happened to include a guy skimboarding in the foreground!

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You Need the Right Apps

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Having the right apps on your phone can make the difference between your photo being a success or a flop.

And I don't just mean post-processing apps, either...

These days, there really is an app for just about everything. Here's a few of my favorites.

My Sunset

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As I noted earlier, I went to the beach to snag a long exposure shot of the sunset, and to ensure I was there at the right time, I used the MySunset app (available for iOS and Android devices).

This app gives you a five-day forecast for the sunrise and sunset, including an analysis of how good the sunset will be.

In other words, the lower the number displayed on the app (i.e., 58%, as shown in the green box in the upper-left part of the screenshot above), the less colorful the sunset will be.

Conversely, the higher the number, the greater the likelihood that you'll have a color-filled sky to serve as a backdrop for your landscape photos. 

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My Tide Times

My Tide Times is another app that I use a lot so I'm sure to plan my photo-taking adventures just right.

With a detailed forecast of the tides, My Tide Times allows you to pinpoint a location and get accurate times for the tide coming in and going out.

It'll even tell you how high (or low) the tide will be so you can plan your shoot safely.

It's available for iOS and Android devices.

VSCO

One of the best photo-editing apps out there is VSCO.

And if you recognize the name, its because VSCO has been around forever, but back in the day, it was film they produced.

Their experience with film photography led to the development of a suite of filters you can apply to your landscapes that give them all sorts of looks, from bright, clean, and simple to dark and gritty.

The app includes camera controls as well, which let you make manual adjustments to exposure settings, shoot in RAW or HDR, and much more.

Download VSCO here.

Use a Polarizer

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I know it might sound crazy to use a polarizer with an iPhone, but trust me, it can be done!

As it turns out, Sandmarc not only makes lenses for iPhones but they also make a polarized filter.

I tested their polarizer out, and it worked like a charm.

I noticed an increase in the contrast of the sky and clouds, less glare off the ocean surface, and less atmospheric haze, too.

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The build quality of this filter is top-notch as well.

It's easy to snap on and off, so using it is a breeze.

My only complaint is that the filter isn't compatible with the Sandmarc wide-angle lens, so to use it, I had to remove my wide-angle lens and go with the iPhone's native lens.

But, if you ask me, that's a small price to pay for getting better landscape photos with this handy polarizer!

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Find Ways to Add Depth

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One of the troubles that you encounter as a landscape photographer is conveying the depth you see with your eyes in the photos you take.

But there are several tricks you can use to give your landscapes that needed depth, including leading lines.

As you can see in the photo above, the lines created by the roadway help move your eye from the foreground to the midground to the background.

That movement allows you to inspect each "layer" of the shot, thereby giving it the impression of being three-dimensional.

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Another popular trick you can use to create depth is to frame the primary subject in some way.

As shown in the photo above, by composing the shot such that the landscape is viewed through the rock formation, we get a sense of the spatial relationship of the elements in the shot. In other words, we have a better understanding of how far away the background elements might be from those in the foreground.

Using a frame within a frame is also a handy trick when you want to create a more intimate look at the landscape, or even if you want to crop unwanted elements out of the shot.

Find Shadows

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If you shoot during Golden Hour, you'll find beautifully long shadows cast by the low sun.

These shadows not only give your smartphone photos improved dynamic range, but they also help create more visual interest in the photo.

There's different ways to incorporate shadows into your shots, too.

As seen above, you can simply use shadows to highlight a texture or pattern, as you see in the sand dunes.

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But you can also use shadows to create a little mystery with silhouetted figures, as the photo above demonstrates.

This gives you a little more creative freedom for making gorgeous photos, and in the case of this shot, it also allows you to include a person in the image.

People and landscapes are great complementary subject matter, so whenever you have a chance to include a person in your shots, do it!



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iPhone Photography Tricks You Don’t Want to Miss

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It's kind of mind-blowing how far mobile photography has come over the years.

I remember being impressed with the grainy photos my old LG flip phone took back in the day.

Now I have an iPhone X that serves as my daily camera, and it's a pretty powerful rig if you ask me.

Since many of us use iPhones as a camera as much a phone, I figured a few iPhone photography tips are in order.

Look for Reflections

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This is an old landscape photography trick that you can use to brighten a dark foreground.

Since water reflects light, it's an ideal tool to overcome dynamic range issues when you photograph a landscape (or any other subject) that's dark with a bright sky above it.

However, when shooting with your iPhone, reflections serve another purpose - developing your creative eye.

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Since your mobile phone allows you to be mobile, use your feet to search out interesting reflection opportunities.

That might involve a mirror, a puddle, a shiny surface like marble...you name it.

Reflections allow you to experiment with light, shadow, and symmetry, each of which can add an interesting vibe to your iPhone photos, as seen in the shots above.

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Improve the Lens Quality

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Don't get me wrong - I appreciate the fact that my iPhone X has a telephoto and a wide-angle lens.

And while the native lenses in iPhones and other smartphones have gotten much, much better over the years, there's still room left for improvement.

That's why I have iPhone lenses from SANDMARC.

Admittedly, smartphone lenses in the past left a lot to be desired.

But the lenses from SANDMARC demonstrate that the technology has come a long way.

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For starters, the build quality of these things is incredible. This isn't some flimsy clip-on lens with low-grade glass.

Instead, when you pick up these lenses you immediately get a sense for their quality of construction. What's more, the glass in these things is multi-coated which helps minimize unwanted artifacts like flare and ghosting while maximizing the sharpness and clarity of the images you take.

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I also appreciate the versatility of these lenses, particularly when it comes to how I mount them to my phone.

On the one hand, I can simply clip the lenses onto my iPhone X. It doesn't get much easier than that!

On the other hand, SANDMARC has developed a phone case mount to work with their lenses. It's the world's thinnest phone case mount, so you don't have to worry about some big, bulky case taking up room in your pocket.

There's wide-angle, fisheye, and macro lenses available, which you can get individually or in a kit. There's a telephoto lens coming soon as well.

That gives you tons of opportunities to expand your mobile photography game and get more creative with the way you shoot photos.

But don't take my word for it...see what SANDMARC iPhone lenses are all about in the video above.

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Hang Back From the Action

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A lot of photographers (myself included) talk a lot about the value of filling the frame with your subject.

And though that's a very valuable tip, there are times when taking a step back from the action and capturing the larger scene is beneficial, too. That's especially true if you're shooting with a SANDMARC wide-angle lens or fisheye lens, which give you a 2x and 5x wider capture, respectively.

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By giving yourself (and your subject) some space, you can find interesting ways to frame the shot.

Likewise, you can search for ways to incorporate lines, textures or patterns into the foreground to help draw the viewer's eye into the photo.

The more real estate you have in the photo, the greater your ability to show your subject in context. That helps the viewer to better understand what they're looking at and helps you tell a more potent story about the subject, too.

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Shoot...a Lot

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You have your phone with you virtually all the time, right?

That means you have a camera with you virtually all the time as well.

Given that fact, there is no excuse for not taking tons of photos. And the more photos you take, the more skilled you'll be as a photographer!

Take three minutes here and five minutes there to snap some photos. It doesn't even have to be of something especially important or iconic. Just take photos and practice seeing light, framing your shots, composing your images, using interesting perspectives, and so on.

You might be pleasantly surprised at how quickly you start to see improved results.

Editor's Tip: If you're having difficulty finding the motivation to shoot a lot of photos, check out these inspirational photography quotes to get your creative juices flowing again.



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Must-Have Filters for Drone Photography

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It seems like it wasn't all that long ago that using a drone to take photos seemed like something right out of a science fiction novel.

That's because consumer drones have been around for less than a decade...

My, how things have changed in such a short time period!

Now that drones are so popular, it's time that we talk about how to improve the quality of your drone photos and videos.

One of the easiest ways to do that is to outfit your drone's camera with high-quality filters.

Polarized Filters are a Must-Have

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Ask any landscape photographer what their go-to filter is, and I'm willing to bet they'll say a polarized filter.

That's because a polarized filter offers many benefits for landscape photos. And since drones are often used for landscapes, that means a polarizer can help improve your images, too.

First of all, polarizers help reduce glare off of non-metallic surfaces like water, wet rocks or plants, and even glass.

So as you're flying around above the earth taking photos, a polarizer will help limit how much light bounces back toward the camera, eliminating glare.

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What's more, a polarizer helps cut down on atmospheric haze. This results in a photo that's much cleaner and crisper, especially as you look out on the landscape toward the distant horizon.

That's an invaluable feature to have when you're using a drone for photography because it enables you to see more of the landscape and less haze and smog.

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On top of that, a polarizer, boosts the contrast in the sky, making the blue color of the atmosphere deeper and the white color of the clouds brighter. 

All that added contrast and improved dynamic range gives your drone photos tons of visual pop.

Neutral Density Filters Help Expand Your Creativity

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The claim to fame for neutral density filters is that they block out a certain amount of light from entering the camera's lens.

That means you can use longer shutter speeds to get creative with your shots, like blurring the movement of water or passing cars.

ND filters also enable you to take smoother, better-exposed photos in a variety of weather conditions.

For example, a ND4 filter is ideal for use on moderately cloudy or partly sunny day.

Likewise, a ND8 filter is ideal for use on moderately sunny days.

And even on bright, cloudless days, you can use a ND16 filter to block out enough light to get gorgeously smooth motion blur in your photos.

See how ND filters add a smooth, cinematic quality to drone videos in the video above by SANDMARC.

The Quality of the Filters Matters

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There's a saying in photography that the higher the quality of the lens you use, the better the photos you can take.

Well, the same holds true for filters.

If you use a good quality lens and filter, you increase your chances of capturing an image that's sharp, with great colors and contrast, and with minimal aberrations, ghosting, and flare.

In other words, you want the best filters for your drone, and SANDMARC has just what you need.

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SANDMARC's filters are manufactured with an industrial-grade multi-coating that gives the filters unparalleled performance.

That means the filters minimize flare while maximizing accurate transmission of color and light.

These filters can be left on your drone's camera when not in use, and since they weigh less than one gram, they won't bog down your drone, either.

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With a wide variety of filter packages for DJI drones, SANDMARC filters are the perfect complement to your drone photography kit.

You can trust that SANDMARC knows what it's doing with filters, too.

That's because this company has built a reputation for designing and developing premium photography accessories, particularly for active photographers that use iPhones, DJI drones, and GoPros.

SANDMARC is also widely known for their commitment to customer service with easy returns and hassle-free exchanges.

So, whether you fly a DJI Mavic, Spark, Phantom or Inspire, get in touch with SANDMARC, pick out a filter kit, and take your drone photos to the next level!



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Reviewed: DJI Mavic Air is Easy to Fly and Packed With Features

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If you're a drone fan, you probably already know that the DJI Mavic Air is positioned between its big brother, the Mavic Pro, and DJI's smallest drone, the Spark.

As the middle child in the lineup, it's easy to overlook the Mavic Air. Yet, DJI has tried - quite successfully - to pack as much punch into the Mavic Air as possible to give it more allure.

After reviewing this rig, it's apparent that the benefits far outweigh any of its shortcomings.

Here's a quick rundown of what you might expect from the DJI Mavic Air.

Essential Specifications

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The Mavic Air's claim to fame is its size.

Scarcely bigger than a typical bottle of water, this thing is highly compact and easy to transport.

That's thanks to its innovative folding arms and wings, that when not in use, tuck neatly into its sides.

Weighing in at just 15 ounces, this thing is feather lite, too. That means you can bring it along in your backpack without having to sacrifice bringing other gear and without feeling bogged down with a bunch of weight.

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Another feature that's gotten a lot of buzz is the Mavic Air's 12-megapixel camera.

Not only can it take excellent still photos, but it's also equipped with 4K video capabilities at 30fps. What's more, the camera records at 100MBPS, which is actually a much higher bitrate than the more expensive Mavic Pro.

As a result of that higher bitrate, the Mavic Air's camera produces cleaner and crisper HD-quality video footage.

This drone also features 1080p, 120fps video for slow-motion recording, and with an integrated 3-axis gimbal, you get super smooth shots.

Add to that 8GB of onboard memory (you can add more with a memory card), and you have the makings for an ideal photography and videography companion.

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Accessories

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Since the Mavic Air was built for mobility, it comes with a beautiful and functional carrying case that makes transporting it a breeze.

The exterior of the case looks great and is manufactured from a durable weaved material. Inside, there's a plush padded liner that keeps the Mavic Air safe and sound while you travel from Point A to Point B.

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If you want to get the most out of the Mavic Air's camera, it's a good idea to invest in a set of filters.

SANDMARC has filter kits that feature a polarizing filter and neutral density (ND) filters that were specifically designed for the Mavic Air.

The polarizing filter helps cut down on glare off of non-metallic surfaces like water, while also cutting down on atmospheric haze and adding contrast to the sky.

The ND filters vary from 2-stops to 4-stops, giving you a wide range of possibilities for blocking out light to take long exposures during the daytime.

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Whether you shoot photos, videos, or both, these filters enable you to get more creative without worrying about image degradation.

That's because SANDMARC has used industrial grade, multi-coated glass to get you clear, sharp, stunning results.

Each filter weighs less than 1 gram, too, so it won't impact the Mavic Air's maneuverability in the air.

You wouldn't shoot outdoor photos with your normal camera without a lens, so why do it with your drone?!

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Flight Experience

With a top speed of 42.5 MPH, the Mavic Air is certainly no slouch.

But it isn't just a speed demon - this drone has excellent maneuverability that can be controlled with DJI's amazing hand gesture controls.

The Mavic Air has tons of safety features built in as well, which you can learn about in the video above by DJI.

This includes the Return to Home feature that brings it back to the exact spot from which it took off with just one touch of a button. The Return to Home feature also kicks in automatically when the battery power is low or if the connection to the remote is lost.

See what's possible with the DJI Mavic Air in the video below by DJI:

Like other DJI drones, the Mavic Air also has a Crash Avoidance System that utilizes seven onboard cameras and various sensors to help avoid obstacles, even when flying backwards.

Using a real-time 3-D map, the Mavic Air not only avoids obstacles but actively searches for safe ways to fly around them. That means that you don't have to slow down or worry about missing a photo or video sequence because this drone will continue flying smoothly.

Having said that, the Crash Avoidance System doesn't work perfectly 100 percent of the time, and only works if there's a strong connection between the drone and the remote, so you still need to use safe flying practices.

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Problems With the Mavic Air

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As noted earlier, the primary difficulty with this drone is its battery life - with a maximum flight time of 21 minutes, you don't exactly get a ton of time in the air.

But apart from that, there aren't many major concerns with DJI's newest drone.

Air communications are Wi-Fi-based, so there have been reports of some issues with the pairing process.

It's also got a small range because of the Wi-Fi connection- just 2.5 miles.

With a long list of awesome features and benefits, though, many drone enthusiasts will happily look past these disadvantages.

If you want a sporty drone with an excellent camera that handles well and is easy to fly, the DJI Mavic Air might just be the drone for you.

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Simple iPhone Photography Composition Tricks That Have Tons of Impact

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One of the best things about using a smartphone as a camera is that it's so convenient.

That convenience means that you can take more pictures, more easily, more of the time. All that practice will turn you into a better photographer.

Of course, it's helpful if you have a few iPhone photography tips up your sleeve to maximize the results you get when taking photos with your phone.

Editor's Tip: Learn how to take better photos with your iPhone.

iPhone Photography Composition Tip: Find Contrast

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The human eye loves contrast; it's just in our nature.

By capitalizing on that fact, you can create photos with your iPhone that have much more visual appeal.

When looking for contrast, don't just think in terms of dark and light colors.

Instead, seek out complementary colors, like blue and orange or red and green.

Since these colors are on opposite sides of the color wheel, they maximize contrast for our eyes to enjoy.

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Maximize the Quality of Your iPhone Photos by Utilizing Negative Space

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If you ask me, the most under-utilized photography composition trick is using negative space.

By incorporating negative space into your smartphone photos, you are able to create images that have a much more simple appearance.

That simplicity is often a great way to communicate a feeling of calm or serenity in the photo.

In the image above, you can see this trick at work.

With the empty sky above the boy, you can more easily understand how he must feel - the freedom he's experiencing running through this field under a big, bright sky.

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Use Lines and Textures to Improve Your iPhone Photography Composition

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As with any other camera, incorporating lines and textures into your smartphone photos will help strengthen the composition.

Much like contrasting colors, our eyes are naturally drawn to textures and lines (and patterns, for that matter), so using those elements to draw more attention to the subject only makes sense.

In landscape photography, for example, a leading line can be used to help connect the foreground, midground, and background, all the while "pointing" the viewer's attention to the main subject.

You can see this concept in action in the image above, where the pathway directs our eyes deeper into the photo toward the mountains in the background.

And notice how the lines created by the pathway aren't overt - they don't need to be to still have the visual power needed to accomplish the task of directing our attention toward the background.

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Finding a way to incorporate textures into your photos is another great way to improve the visual interest of the shot.

In the example above, you can see how eye-catching the highly texturized background is.

But also notice how the texture of the wall isn't overwhelming - it simply adds depth and dimension to this portrait that makes it a more interesting image.

When using lines or textures, the goal isn't to make them the star of the photo.

Instead, find ways to incorporate these elements in a way that enhances the quality of the image and draws more attention to the subject.

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Bonus Tip: Outfit Your iPhone With Lenses for Even Better Results

There's a saying in photography that it's not the gear that makes great photos, it's the person behind the lens.

Well, that might be true, but outfitting your phone with better lenses sure can't hurt.

I've been shooting with SANDMARC lenses on my iPhone X the last couple of months, and I have to say, the difference they make in the quality of my smartphone photos is astonishing.

That's due in large part to the quality of the optics of these lenses.

Whether I'm shooting with the wide-angle lens (shown above), my macro lens, or fisheye lens, I get results that are tack-sharp because of the premium multi-coated optics.

Additionally, because these lenses are so well put together, there's minimal aberrations, so I don't have to worry about my photos suffering from flare or ghosting.

And though I appreciate the advances that Apple has made to the iPhone's lenses as of late, they still can't compete with the quality that my SANDMARC lenses provide.

What's more, with my lenses, I can shoot a wide variety of shots - wide-angle, macro, and fisheye.

With all that variety, I can be more creative with my photos and get results that would otherwise be impossible to get with my phone.

I appreciate the fact that these lenses are so easy to use, too.

I can just clip them onto my phone for quick shots or I can use the included slim case (as shown above).

Either way, I know that by using these lenses and a few simple iPhone photography composition tricks, I can up my photography game with my iPhone. 

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Smartphone Lens Buying Guide

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Thinking about picking up a cell phone camera lens?

Before you do, doing some research on the best smartphone camera lens is well worth it.

Let's be honest - there's a lot of smartphone lenses on the market today, and most of them are not good at all. That's why you need to do your due diligence.

In this smartphone lens buying guide, I offer up a few features to look for that will help ensure you get the highest quality smartphone lens.

Editor's Note: For illustrative purposes, I use SANDMARC iPhone lenses as examples in this article. I've used these lenses for months and can personally attest to their quality and performance.

Is the Phone Camera Lens Well Constructed?

Clearly, one of the most important features to look for in a smartphone camera lens is the quality of construction.

As I noted above, quality is something that's lacking in many (if not most) smartphone lenses.

The best quality lenses have multiple elements that have multiple coatings.

What this does is ensure that images are as clear and crisp as possible.

What's more, this multi-coated and multi-element arrangement is ideal for eliminating distortion.

The result? Clean, beautiful images that are sharp, detailed, and full of contrast!

Just take a look at the photo above, which I took with my iPhone X and my SANDMARC wide-angle lens.

Notice the wider-than-normal field of view thanks to the lens. Also notice the total lack of distortion thanks to the SANDMARC lens. Not bad, right?

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Is the Cell Phone Camera Lens Easy to Use?

Years ago when cell phone camera lenses first became a thing, I bought a telephoto lens for my iPhone 4.

The lens screwed into a lens case, which in itself wasn't difficult to do.

However, when I went to use the lens, the weight of it pulled the case away from the phone enough to create a gap between the telephoto lens and the native iPhone lens.

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In other words, if I wanted to get a clear shot (and I use "clear" loosely...), I had to hold the telephoto lens in place with one hand while trying to compose and shoot the photo with the other.

Needless to say, I didn't get any good photos out of that lens.

Fast forward to today, and using phone camera lenses is a breeze. Just check out the video above to see what I mean...

My SANDMARC lenses attach to my iPhone X in two easy ways - by clipping it onto my phone or by using an ultra-slim case mount.

I know what you're thinking, too...

How could either mounting method actually work well enough to get good shots?

I'm not an engineer or designer, so I can't actually answer that question. All I know is that it works and works very well!

Unlike the first lens and case I used way back when, my SANDMARC case keeps the lenses right where they need to be.

On top of that, it's the thinnest case mount in the world, so the chances are that you won't even notice a difference as you carry your phone around in your pocket.

What's not to like about that?

Is the Smartphone Camera Lens Versatile?

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Though some smartphone lens manufacturers are one-trick ponies, others offer tons of variety to help you improve your photos.

And that's precisely what SANDMARC has done...

I picked up their Photography Edition Kit (shown above), which includes a wide-angle lens, a macro lens, and a fisheye lens.

I definitely use the wide-angle lens the most, simply because I shoot a ton of landscapes.

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But having the macro and fisheye lenses has helped me get out of my comfort zone and try different types of photography that, historically, I've avoided.

The 10mm fisheye lens offers 0.2x magnification that's been fun to use for urban scenes while the 25mm macro lens has 10x magnification that I use for getting up-close and personal with flowers, insects, and even my son's toys.

As far as the wide-angle lens goes, at 16mm with a 0.56x magnification, it's the ideal focal length for the landscapes I seek out every weekend.

Like I said earlier, not all smartphone lenses are made equal, so buyer beware when you start shopping.

But based on my personal experience, you can't go wrong with SANDMARC iPhone lenses. They're beautifully made, easy to use, incredibly versatile, and have helped me find new and interesting ways to photograph the world around me.

If that's not a ringing endorsement for these being the best smartphone camera lenses, I don't know what is!

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Take Control of Your iPhone Camera With These Mobile Photography Tricks

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I've had an iPhone X for several months now, and I have to say that I'm impressed with its performance as an everyday camera.

Is it as good as my Nikon D850? No...

But it's certainly got tons of features that enable me to take some pretty nice photos.

Here's a few tips for taking control of your iPhone to get improved results.

Adjust the Exposure

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If you're new to the iPhone universe (or simply didn't know already), you can adjust the exposure with just one tap of your phone's screen.

Simply tap the phone's screen as you would to focus the shot, but then swipe your finger up to brighten the image or down to darken it.

It's not as effective as manipulating the exposure in post-processing, but if you need a quick adjustment in-camera, it works quite well.

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Use Focus Lock

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One of the biggest problems with so many images is that they simply aren't in focus.

There are plenty of reasons why a photo might be blurry - a shutter speed that's too slow for a moving subject, an aperture that generates a depth of field that's too shallow, and camera shake among them.

Another culprit of blurry photos is simply not having the focus right.

On an iPhone, you can easily correct this problem.

Instead of tapping to focus like normal, tap and hold to lock the focus. Once you do that, a yellow bar will appear that says "AE/AF Lock."

At that point, you can move the camera around, and your iPhone's camera will retain focus on the intended subject.

Get Better Lenses

I appreciate that my iPhone X has improved cameras and lenses (including dual front-facing cameras with wide-angle and telephoto capabilities).

But just like the kit lens on your DSLR doesn't perform as well as an upgraded lens, the iPhone's native lenses can benefit from better glass, too.

That's where iPhone lenses by SANDMARC come in.

I've played around with these lenses for a few weeks now, and to say that I'm impressed is an understatement.

In years past, I've tried lenses with prior iterations of the iPhone, and I was left wanting in the performance department.

Some of those lenses had complicated case mounts that were difficult to use (and ugly, too). Others had poor quality glass that degraded the quality of the photos I took.

SANDMARC has solved both of those problems, though.

These lenses can be used in one of two ways - as a clip-on lens or attached to a case.

But don't think that this case is like those big, ugly, complicated ones from the past. In fact, SANDMARC's iPhone case is the slimmest case mount in the world.

Not only that, but the lenses themselves offer superior performance.

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I took the photo above with my iPhone's native wide-angle lens.

Then I clipped my SANDMARC wide-angle lens to my phone and took the photo below.

As you can see, there's a big difference in the field of view. That's thanks to the 2x field of view you get with the SANDMARC wide-angle lens.

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With an effective focal length of 16mm and a magnification of 0.56x, it's the ideal iPhone lens for capturing gorgeous landscapes.

And the use of premium multi-coated optics means that with these lenses, you'll get clear, sharp, crisp images.

What's not to like about that?!

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Use HDR

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If you ask me, one of the best features of the iPhone X is its improved HDR capabilities.

Since I shoot a lot of landscapes, I appreciate that my phone does such a good job of overcoming dark landscapes and bright skies with the HDR function.

Essentially, the phone takes several shots, each at a different exposure level, then blends them together into one HDR image.

It's extremely helpful in many situations, particularly when there's tons of shadows, like sunrise or sunset.

So, for improved results, remember to shoot in HDR, lock the focus, and adjust the exposure. Add in some great iPhone lenses, and you have a recipe for success!



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These GoPro Photography Tips Will Take Your Photos to the Next Level

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There is no camera that's as synonymous with adventure photography and filmography as GoPro.

Since these cameras came on the market, they've been involved in some of the most breathtaking adventure photography moments in history.

That means that there's a strong case to be made to step up your game with a few GoPro photography tips.

Consider the following as a few essential GoPro tips and tricks to get you started.

Get Some Distance With a GoPro Pole

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You can't exactly take a selfie with a GoPro as you're standing atop the mountain you just climbed or the beach you're enjoying.

To get some shots of you doing cool things in cool places, you need a GoPro pole to give you some distance between you and the camera.

The SANDMARC GoPro Pole Metal Edition extends from 15-inches up to 50-inches to give you a range of potential shots, from close-ups to wide-angle views that incorporate your surroundings.

It only weighs 10 ounces as well, so it's not like you'll be bogged down with a big, heavy selfie stick as you're out adventuring. 

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Better still, having a GoPro Pole allows you to be much more creative in terms of how you compose your images.

This thing is made of industrial CNC aluminum, so it's durable, and it's waterproof and saltproof, too. That means you can get those action-packed shots in the snow or sand, the surf or the wind, and you won't have to worry about your GoPro Pole succumbing to the elements.

It's that kind of flexibility that will help you get better shots like the one shown above.

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GoPro Photography Tip: Shoot at the Right Time of Day

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The best light of the day is during golden hour - the time right around sunrise and sunset.

This light is very soft and diffuse because it has to travel through more of the earth's atmosphere.

That being the case, it's very pleasing light with a warm tone that looks great in photos.

Not only that, but you can also capture gorgeous shadows because the sun is so low on the horizon.

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If you can't get out during sunrise or sunset, seek out shade.

Taking portraits in the shade, for example, will help you capitalize on diffuse light to minimize harsh shadows on your subject's face.

And if you have a recent GoPro model, like the Hero 6 or Hero 6, you can shoot in RAW and then manipulate the lighting in post-processing.

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Get Creative By Slowing Down the Shutter Speed

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Whether you've got your GoPro on you as you're moving or you set it up to record other people or objects moving while the camera is stationary, using a slower shutter can bring an interesting and creative blur element to your photos.

Slowing the shutter down to about two or three seconds is usually enough to get blur from passing cars.

Try a shutter of around 10 seconds to blur motion as you ski, surf, or bike, turning your surroundings into gorgeously blurred lines.

If you extend the shutter even further to about 15-20 seconds, you can get nighttime photos of a starry sky, too.

Use Filters to Enhance Your Photos of the Sky and Underwater

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One of the best features of a GoPro is that you can take it skydiving, skiing, surfing, snorkeling...you name it!

That means you need to equip your GoPro with the accessories it needs to get the best shots. Adding filters to your GoPro kit is a great way to do just that.

The SANDMARC Aqua Dive Filter Kit has five interchangeable filters for your adventures under the water.

There's a yellow filter for night diving, a magenta filter for green water, and various red filters for different depths of diving in blue water, as shown above.

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And if you use your GoPro to take photos from under sunny skies, the SANDMARC Aerial Filter Polarizer is an ideal companion that helps minimize glare off of non-metallic surfaces like water.

A polarizer also helps darken the blue color of the sky and lighten the white color of clouds, bringing an improved dynamic to your outdoor photos.

Another great thing about these filters is that they are made with premium optics to ensure a clear, crisp, and sharp photo, and they do that without adding a ton of weight to your GoPro.

That means that you can use these filters without worrying about damaging the filters or having a heavier load to carry. What's not to like about that?

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These iPhone Camera Lenses are DSLR Killers

best iphone lenses

Make no mistake - I love my Nikon D850 and wouldn't trade it for the world.

But I'll be the first to admit that it's not the most practical everyday camera.

Instead, I use my iPhone X for day-to-day shooting.

That's the case now more than ever since I started using SANDMARC iPhone lenses.

In short, these things turn my already excellent iPhone X camera into a DSLR killer. Here's why...

These iPhone Camera Lenses Have Top-Quality Construction

What strikes you when you use many iPhone camera lenses is that they look and feel cheap.

More importantly, their performance is indicative of their cheap build quality.

But that's simply not the case with my SANDMARC lenses...

These lenses have premium multi-coated optics, which helps reduce ghosting, flare, and other aberrations. The precision-engineered glass and multi-element construction produces clear, sharp results that you'd expect from a DSLR setup.

What's more, the lens housing itself is finely crafted and makes solid contact with my phone whether I'm using the lenses in clip-on form or mounted to the ultra-thin case mount.

That means that you not only get improved image quality, but you also get lenses that are built solid as a rock to withstand everyday use. That's a great combination!

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SANDMARC iPhone Lenses are Easy to Use

As I mentioned, you can use these lenses in two ways - either as a clip-on or mounted to an ultra-thin case mount.

That makes these lenses incredibly easy to use to get the shots I want.

I find myself using them as clip-ons when I'm in a situation that warrants faster shooting.

Then, when I have more time on my hands, I screw the lenses into the case (which is the thinnest case mount in the world, by the way...).

Whichever method of use suits you the best, you know that you'll get the premium quality performance that the best iPhone lenses have to offer.

 

sandmarc iphone lens banner

 

Smartphone Lenses Should Offer Variety

Another feature that I appreciate about my iPhone camera lenses is that there's so much variety.

I shoot landscapes most often, so I find myself using my SANDMARC wide-angle lens more than anything.

It gives you a 2x angle of view for getting more of the landscape into the shot, and with an effective focal length of 16mm, you can incorporate a lot of scenery into one image, as shown above.

iphone camera lenses

My Photography Edition Kit also includes a fisheye lens and a macro lens.

The fisheye offers 0.2x magnification at 10mm and the macro lens offers 10x magnification at 25mm.

I love how both lenses challenge me to find new ways of creating photos. As I said, I love landscapes, so having these little lenses readily available is a nice change of pace for my photography.

What's more, having that variety of focal lengths makes my iPhone more like a DSLR and less like a smartphone.

Without being bound by the limitations of the native iPhone camera lenses, I can be far more creative with far more types of subject matter.

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You Can Get Filters for your iPhone Camera Lenses, Too

In addition to my SANDMARC lenses, I also have a couple of filters from these guys that just completes the package.

Just like with my DSLR, I now have a drama polarizing filter and a set of ND filters for my phone. How cool is that?

The drama polarizing filter gives your photos much more dynamic range, which helps the sky pop with whiter and brighter clouds and a deeper blue color in the atmosphere, as shown below.

Photo by @dzzdzz012. "After" photo shot with SANDMARC Drama Filter & iPhone. (Unedited)

And like any good ND filter will do, my SANDMARC Scape ND filters prevent blown out highlights by bringing them down to a level that my iPhone camera can handle.

With their light-blocking power, these ND filters allow me to use a longer shutter speed to get beautiful blurry effects as shown below.

Photo by @itskcho. Shot using SANDMARC Scape Filter & iPhone 6S Plus. (Unedited)

Just like the variety of lenses helps me to be a more creative photographer, so too do these awesome iPhone lens filters.

It's crazy to think that when I got my first smartphone back in the day that ten years later I'd be writing about how you can buy lenses and filters for your DSLR-killing smartphone camera.

Yet, here we are, living in the future in which you can outfit your phone to be a really solid DSLR killing machine.



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Want Amazing Landscape Photography With Your iPhone? Try These Mobile Photography Tips

landscape photography with your iphone

I'll be the first to admit that my iPhone X isn't as good a camera as my Nikon D850.

However...my phone is pretty darn capable, and with all the accessories you can buy for iPhones and other smartphones, you can trick them out to make them even more capable landscape photography machines.

Paired with a few technical tips and composition advice, you have a recipe for improving your photography.

Here's a short list things you can do to master landscape photography with your iPhone.

Keep It Clean

iphone photography tricks

Perhaps the simplest thing you can do to improve your landscape photos is keep your phone's screen and lens clean.

After all, it's hard to check the composition, framing, lighting, and so forth if you have to try to look through fingerprints and smudges on your phone's display.

And, unlike your "real" camera, you don't need anything special to give your phone a good once over. Your shirt sleeve will do the trick in a pinch, though I'd use lens cloths or something a little less abrasive to help protect against scratching the screen or the lens glass.

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Hold It Like You Mean It

landscape photography

Shooting with an iPhone means you have to hold it at arm's length so you can see what you're doing.

But taking photos with your arms fully extended is the worst way to support a camera - even a small, light one like your iPhone.

The more support you provide your phone, the sharper your images will be. With that in mind, bring your elbows into your chest rather than extending your arms fully.

By resting your elbows on your body, you immediately improve your ability to hold the camera steady for sharper results.

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And since there are a wide range of tripods for mobile phones these days, you might as well invest in one to give your phone the ultimate in support.

The Joby GorillaPod 1K Kit shown above is an ideal choice because it's small, lightweight, easy to use, and includes a grip adaptor that holds your phone tightly and securely.

Better still, its flexible legs mean you can wrap it around any fence post, tree branch, or other sturdy object to get interesting low-angle or high-angle shots.

Editor's Tip: Help your phone take sharp images even more by using the timer function or by triggering the shutter using the volume keys on your earbuds.

Shoot With a Variety of Lenses

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I've been impressed with the native lenses in my iPhone X, but they still can't match the performance of high-quality add-on lenses like the ones I picked up from SANDMARC not that long ago.

I fully admit that I was skeptical at first because my first foray into iPhone lenses a couple of years ago was an unmitigated disaster.

Given that experience, I was expecting poor image quality, light leaks, low contrast, and aberrations to occur this time around.

I was wrong.

iphone lenses

My SANDMARC lenses have absolutely blown me away.

When I first pulled them out of the box, I could immediately tell that the quality of construction was leaps and bounds ahead of my old iPhone lenses.

These things feel sturdy and well-built, and with premium multi-coated optics, I get outdoor photos that have virtually no aberrations. Light leaks, ghosting, and flare are a thing of the past!

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What's more, each of the lenses in my kit produce images that are clear and sharp with beautiful colors and gorgeous contrast.

Again, that was not the case with my old iPhone lenses.

sandmarc iphone lens kit

Even better, though, is the fact that my kit came with three different lenses - a 16mm wide-angle, a 10mm fisheye, and a 25mm macro.

That gives me much more latitude with my creativity, allowing me to find new and interesting ways to photograph landscapes that would otherwise be impossible with the native lenses on my iPhone.

And since the lenses can attach to my phone in two ways - either clipped on or mounted to SANDMARC's ultra-thin phone case - I can tailor how I use each lens to the specific needs of each shoot.

I shot a lot of landscapes with my iPhone as it was, but now that I've geared up with these lenses from SANDMARC, I take even more photos - and better quality ones, too.

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Find a Way to Add Scale

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Adding scale to a shot is an easy, yet effective trick that helps you give more depth to your images.

Not only that, adding a familiar subject like a person, a dog, a tent, or something of the sort gives viewers a greater ability to understand the dimensions of the scene.

In the image above, for example, adding the two people to the shot gives us a much better indication of how expansive the landscape beyond them really is.

Without something to add that kind of scale, it can be hard to discern just how big a mountain, tree, waterfall, or other landscape element really is.

In the end, these mobile photography tips aren't rocket science, but they can each have a tremendous positive impact on the quality of your iPhone landscape photography.



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Why You Need Lens Filters for Your iPhone

iphone lenses iphone lens filters

Here's the deal...

I have several excellent cameras, including a Nikon D850.

But my everyday camera is my iPhone, and I know I'm not the only one who defers to my iPhone for day-to-day photo-taking.

iPhones (and other smartphones, too) have really good cameras and functionalities that keep getting better and better with each new phone model that comes out.

And to go along with those great phone cameras is an ever-increasing array of iPhone camera add ons like lenses and filters.

Let's have a look at iPhone lens filters and explore how they can positively impact your mobile photography.

Your iPhone Lens Deserves an iPhone Filter

I've written before about the virtues of using a lens to improve the iPhone camera.

In short, add-on lenses these days are far, far superior to what they used to be. In fact, some companies craft iPhone lenses that have precision engineered glass and multi-element optics like you'd find on a traditional camera lens.

That means that you get sharper, clearer images with no distortion, vignetting, and other artifacts that can ruin your photos.

But guess what? There's also lens filters for your phone, and that's excellent news for those of us that primarily shoot with an iPhone.

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Introducing the iPhone Drama Polarizing Filter

iphone camera add onPhoto by @dzzdzz012. "After" photo shot with SANDMARC Drama Filter & iPhone. (Unedited)

SANDMARC has developed a drama polarizing filter and a set of neutral density filters for iPhone to go along with their line of iPhone lenses.

These things do exactly what you'd expect them to do, too.

The drama polarizing filter improves the dynamic range in your iPhone photos, resulting in skies that pop with deeper blues and whiter clouds, as seen above.

iphone lens filterPhoto by @geodes_. "After" photo shot with SANDMARC Drama Filter & iPhone. (Unedited)

Polarizing filters also minimize glare off of non-metallic surfaces like water.

That means that you can actually take a photo and see into the water, giving your images more depth and visual interest.

Polarizers also minimize atmospheric haze, so if you're photographing a landscape with far-off features like a mountain range, it'll appear cleaner and more crisp without the interference of haze in the shot.

What's not to like about that?

Create Cinematic Feeling Photos and Videos with a Neutral Density Filter

iphone polarizer lensPhoto by @itskcho. Shot using SANDMARC Scape Filter & iPhone 6S Plus. (Unedited)

Neutral density filters provide several benefits for iPhone shooters, whether you use your phone for still images, videos, or both.

Like the polarizing filter described above, the SANDMARC Scape ND filters improve the dynamic range in your images.

These ND filters accomplish this by preventing blown out highlights.

That's because ND filters block out light to varying degrees, bringing the highlights down to a manageable level. Recovering detail in highlighted areas gives your photos more depth and visual impact.

lens filters for your iphonePhoto by @philngyn. "After" photo shot using Scape ND 16 Filter & iPhone. (Unedited)

And since ND filters block out light, you can use them on sunny days to extend your shutter speed for long exposure photography.

The beautiful blur that can be achieved with even just a few seconds of exposure can turn normal scenes into dreamy, ethereal wonderlands.

In other words, having a set of ND filters for your iPhone expands your capabilities of getting great shots while also allowing you to push your creativity into realms that might otherwise not be possible with an iPhone.

Not bad, right?

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Don't Skimp on Your Lenses or Filters

I've used SANDMARC lenses and filters as examples in this article because they are hands-down the best iPhone lenses and lens filters for your iPhone that I've ever used.

The combination of these lenses and filters has dramatically increased the capabilities of my iPhone camera, and my photos have benefitted as such.

As I noted earlier, that's due in part to the quality of construction and the materials used to make these lenses and filters.

There's no cheap, plastic housings or low-grade glass here - just high-quality products you'd expect from a high-quality lens.

SANDMARC cut their teeth creating products for GoPro and DJI, and they've used that experience to craft the best photography accessories for iPhone that you'll find today.

Trust me on this - if you want to improve your mobile photography and reduce the amount of time you spend editing your photos, pre-order the drama polarizing filter and the Scape ND filter kit today!



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