Thanks to its portability and advanced technology, the iPhone has become an indispensable tool for photography enthusiasts and professionals alike. In this article, we review 5 very simple tricks that will help us significantly improve the quality and creativity of our photos.
Smart use of format: RAW for details, HEIC for efficiency
The file format we choose can significantly influence the final outcome of our photos. By default, the iPhone uses the HEIF (High Efficiency Image File) format, optimizing space without compromising too much quality. However, for those moments when light is abundant and we wish to capture all possible details for later editing, switching to RAW is a much better option. This format saves all the information captured by the camera sensor, giving us unparalleled freedom in post-production.
Using RAW in conditions of ample light and HEIC in low light situations helps us maintain a balance between quality and file size. By enabling the option in Settings > Camera > ProRAW, we can switch between both formats from the same Camera app.
Custom photographic styles
Photographic styles allow us to predefine the look of our photos before shooting. Unlike traditional filters, these styles adjust the photo while respecting skin tones and ensuring a natural representation of colors, while applying creative changes to the rest of the image.
To access them, simply touch the arrow at the top center within the camera app to unfold the options and choose the option that looks like three overlapping squares. The chosen style will remain until we manually deactivate it for greater convenience throughout the photo session, and we can also customize its tone and warmth to our liking to ensure that each photo captures exactly the atmosphere we wish.
Exposure and focus lock
For more creative photos, exposure and focus lock (AE/AF lock) allows us to precisely control the light and sharpness of the images. This technique is especially useful for creating chiaroscuro or effects like bokeh, for capturing details in difficult lighting conditions, or for keeping focus on a specific subject even if we change the composition of the photo, giving us total control over the final appearance of our photographs.
We simply need to press on the point of the screen we want to focus on for a few seconds until we see the lock indicator. This not only fixes the focus but also the exposure, allowing us to adjust it by sliding our finger up or down afterward.
Multi-Pose panoramic tricks
An unconventional but fascinating technique is the creative use of the panoramic function to create multi-pose images. That is, a panorama that, with a steady hand, you take "in parts" and end up with the same person in various postures in a single photo. This technique allows playing with perspective and composition, creating surprising visual effects that seem to have been edited or generated by artificial intelligence when they are actually the result of ingenious use of the iPhone's capabilities.
This video on X by Huelya shows us ways to use multi-pose and vertical panoramas in all their glory.
Vertical panoramas
Lastly, changing the orientation of our panoramas to vertical can open up a new world of possibilities, especially for capturing tall urban or natural landscapes. This perspective can offer a more dramatic and complete view of scenes that would otherwise be difficult to encapsulate in a single image.
These tricks will allow us to improve the technical quality of our photos and explore new forms of creative expression with our iPhone so that our photographs have a greater visual impact.
On Hanaringo | How to focus a photo after taking it on an iPhone