Whether you travel on the road less taken or on well-trodden paths, you're sure to find beautiful viewpoints that inspire your inner photographer. Thankfully, capturing these stunning landscapes is possible with the phone camera you already have.
New technologies have packed a load of power into popular models like the Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and Google Pixel, so you can rely on your device to create professional-quality content. Their wide lenses can take incredible pictures, and their compact design means you don’t have to carry a heavy load on your trek to remote vistas.
In this guide, we’ll share landscape photography tips and phone-based editing tools to take your landscape photos and videos to the next level.
How to take good landscape photos with your phone
Your smartphone camera offers much more than basic point-and-shoot capability. To get the best results, follow these tips:
Wait for golden hour
Sometimes called magic hour, golden hour is the moment just after sunrise and just before sunset when the sun is at its lowest, casting an elegant, warm glow and long dramatic shadows.
If you can plan your photo sessions for these times, then you’re likely to capture your landscapes at their finest. But be aware that this precious “hour” may not actually last that long, depending on where you are.
Don’t despair if your window of opportunity is narrow, though. The light just before sunrise and just after sunset, which photographers call the blue hour, offers an opportunity to shoot cooler tones, giving your photos an air of mystery or moodiness.
Fair warning: Be careful not to get caught after dark in unfamiliar territory. (But if you do, the good news is your smartphone also has a flashlight!)
Add foreground detail
Have you ever felt that your photograph doesn’t do justice to the view you see in real life? Without a sense of depth, that landscape photo may fall flat.
Including a foreground feature in your composition provides a point of connection to the larger scene. You can give your landscape photo more impact by including a detail that draws the eye or captures the imagination.
Look for a landmark like a boulder, tree stump, or abandoned fence post. A person or animal can also serve as a foreground feature, adding a personal touch and conveying a sense of scale.
Consider leading lines
Think of how the image of a country leading into the distance inspires a sense of mystery and curiosity. Great landscape photographers use leading lines to give some direction to their photographs' compositions.
These lines are created by features within the landscape that convey a sense of distance or depth. When you’re looking at the view you want to photograph, seek elements in the space that naturally draw the eye deeper into the scene. Look for features like a railway track, a road, or a river that you can build your composition around.
Shoot from a lower angle
You’ve probably seen many landscape photographs captured from a high vantage point, but don’t neglect the possibility of shooting from the ground up! A landscape shot from a lower angle can provide a surprising perspective and give the viewer a new way of seeing a familiar sight.
Your smartphone is ideal for this because your lens can get closer to the ground than any DSLR camera. Just turn your smartphone upside down and lower it to the ground to shoot upward. The result is a dramatic landscape with remarkable depth.
Straighten your horizon
A skewed horizon line can give your photos a messy appearance or ruin the shot completely. Use the gridlines on your camera screen to help you capture a straight horizon.
If you have an iPhone, you can turn on the grid setting to help you align your shot as you take it. If your phone’s camera doesn’t have that option, you can use a grid in the editing function and rotate the photo after you’ve taken it.
Gridlines also help you compose better photos. In this example we're framing the subject following the rule of thirds, placing them at the intersection of the lines for a striking effect.
Don’t zoom in
Does your landscape have a delightful little detail just begging for a close-up? The zoom function on your phone’s camera is easy to use, but beware. It renders a low-resolution, highly pixelated image that won’t come anywhere near the image quality you expect.
You’ll achieve better results if you take the shot at a wider angle and zoom in on that detail during editing.
Mind the highlights and shadows
The brightest points in your image are the highlights. For example, when you face the sun while taking a picture, your final image will likely include a solar flare. When shooting your landscape, pay attention to those bright spots so that they don’t overpower the subtle details.
If you notice your camera shifting between exposure settings as it tries to adjust to the light, use the exposure lock feature to hold the preferred setting. These controls look different depending on the type of smartphone you have. On iPhones, look for a sunburst image on your camera screen. On a Samsung, the exposure settings are activated by touching a light bulb icon.
Even if you’re not looking for such a spectacular light effect, the night mode on your smartphone can take multiple photos in succession. Then, combine the images to achieve the best combination of shadows and light.
Experiment with shooting techniques
When you’re looking at a breathtaking view, you may be tempted to let the landscape speak for itself. Instead of quickly snapping a few shots and moving on, take some time to imagine how you might use the various features on your phone to create something unique.
- Time lapse: Your phone's time lapse function can show the dynamic nature of your landscape, such as the movement of clouds, shadows dancing across the mountainside, or traffic variations on a cityscape. Switch your camera setting to Video, then select the option for time lapse.
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Long exposures. If you have an iPhone, you can use the Live Photos feature to achieve the effect of a long exposure. Select a Live Photos image, swipe up to access the Effects menu, then select Long Exposure.
- Blur and vignette. If there’s a specific feature in your landscape that you want to stand out, consider using a blur or vignette effect.
If your focus object is close enough, you may be able to achieve the effect while photographing it using the portrait setting on your camera. For landscapes, though, you may achieve better results at the photo editing stage.
Take your time while shooting and experiment with a variety of different settings. One inspiring view can produce multiple masterpieces if you indulge your creativity.
Bring a portable tripod
Capturing sharp and clear shots requires a steady camera to maintain consistent composition, especially when working with long exposures and stacking images.
The Geometrical Pocket Tripod is the most compact, stable, and versatile solution for a portable phone tripod. This ingenious gadget is small enough to fit in your wallet and is extremely lightweight, so you can take it with you on every adventure—even the most daring ones.
This landscape tripod does much more than keep your videos steady. It’s designed to tilt to different angles, plus you can split the tripod legs for extra stability on precarious surfaces!
If you want to put yourself in the scene, all you have to do is find a good spot to place the tripod, then use your camera timer feature or a Bluetooth remote control to take a snap.
Mobile apps for landscape photography
With the right mobile apps, you can easily edit and enhance your photos directly on your smartphone, making it easier than ever to create and post stunning images on the go.
Photo editing apps
- Adobe Lightroom Mobile lets you adjust exposure, shadows, and whites. Its colour-enhancing options include temp, tint, and vibrance settings. The Healing Brush tool allows you to remove distracting elements from your image. It also boasts over 150 free and premium presets.
- VSCO describes itself as a desktop-quality photo in an app. Among its 200 presets is the Artificial Light AL3, a popular choice for both indoor and outdoor photography. The VSCO Spaces community enables users to engage with one another, sharing support and creativity.
- Snapseed has long been a popular choice for amateur Instagrammers wanting to level up their photo game. Its intuitive interface makes it easy to learn a wide range of editing tools, plus automatic correction and enhancement options.
Video editing apps
- CapCut offers high-efficiency video editing with tools for blurring, resizing, and text/speech conversions. It also offers a library of commercial resources, including music, stickers, filters, and effects.
- InShot is an easy-to-use app that lets you trim and split videos, merge clips and adjust speed. You can add transition effects to create a sophisticated video collage and add music from the vlog music library. It can be frustrating to say, “It was so much more beautiful in real life.” With just your smartphone and some skillful editing, your landscape shots will be just as spectacular as the real thing.
A high-performance tripod for your landscape photography
With your smartphone delivering premium-quality landscape photographs, the Pocket Tripod Pro offers an incredible range of perspectives. It has 180 degrees of tilt angle adjustment and interchangeable adapters to accommodate any phone.
Add the Bluetooth shutter remote, and you won’t even need to touch your camera to get the shot you want. Visit the Pocket Tripod shop and see for yourself how this tiny gadget can improve your landscape photography.
