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Andrew Hoyle / CNET
Apple iPhones ($ 599 at Apple) I’ve always been impressed by its camera capabilities and the latest lineup of the iPhone 12 ($ 829 at Amazon) and 12 Pro ($ 999 from Amazon) they are no exception. But it’s the 12 Pro Max that sits over the top, with a larger camera sensor and a variety of upgrades that make it a photographic powerhouse.
But having a great camera in your pocket is no guarantee of brilliant images; you need to know the tricks of how to use that equipment to take the photos you want. These are my top tips to improve your photography game and hopefully get the best iPhone 12 Pro Max photos. ($ 1,099 from Amazon).
Know when to use the different lenses
It’s easy to stand in front of a picturesque scene and flick between normal, super wide, and zoom views on the phone, but it’s harder to understand exactly why one might be better than the other for a particular composition. To find out, you need to take an extra moment to see what is important in the scene in front of you.
By switching to the ultra-wide lens, I was able to capture this mooring rope as close-up interest, which really ties the scene together.
Andrew Hoyle / CNET
Is there a particular subject, perhaps an impressive statue or building, that is surrounded by many other elements such as trees, signs, or street lamps? Using the telephoto zoom here is a great way to isolate your subject and eliminate all those distractions. You may need to go back a bit and then zoom in to keep it framed, but simplifying your scene this way will really help your subject stand out in the image.
But perhaps it’s those additional surrounding elements that really add to the scene and provide context for where you are. In that case, using the standard zoom will allow you to keep those items in the shot. Switching to the super wide view will capture even more of the surroundings, so to prevent your subject from getting lost in the frame, you may want to zoom in and find interesting objects in the foreground (a flower patch, an attractive-looking rock) to add to the composition.
Waiting until evening for this shot really paid off, with an incredible blazing sunset.
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Visit him again at different times of the day.
The incredible low-light abilities of the iPhone 12 Pro Max mean you’re not limited to taking photos at noon when the sun is at its highest. Sunrises and sunsets are usually darker, but they can reward you with beautiful colors in the sky and a great contrast in the light that is projected. Landscape photographers know that getting up before sunrise can often produce the best results and is always worth keeping in mind, if you can handle the early mornings.
Just 10 minutes before, this was the same scene. Fine, but without any of that Edinburgh sunset drama.
Andrew Hoyle / CNET
If you’re on a city break (as long as they’re allowed again), it’s worth trying a sunrise shot at least once, visiting the places you’ve already found, and seeing how they transform in different light. It is this that will separate your images from the hundreds of others on Instagram who only took a photo after they had their morning coffee.
The 12 Pro Max’s enhanced night mode can take amazing photos in very dark conditions.
Andrew Hoyle / CNET
Don’t be afraid of the dark
And don’t think that once the light goes out, you should stop shooting. The iPhone 12 Pro Max has one of the best night modes on any phone and it can take amazing night photos. City scenes, with car headlights, vibrant shop windows, and even festive decorations can provide excellent fodder for night shots. And don’t worry if it’s pouring rain – those wet streets will now reflect all those lights, which can look amazing.
The original image on the left is a fair photo, but with moody black and white editing it has much more atmosphere and works much better as a shot.
Andrew Hoyle / CNET
Focus on your editing
If you want to create truly eye-catching images, editing should be part of your workflow, whether you’re shooting RAW or JPEG photos. You should start with a good image, so be sure to follow the tips above, but a good edit can be the most important step in transforming a standard plugin into award-worthy art.
I use Adobe Lightroom Mobile for most of my phone editing. It’s a professional tool and you have a lot of granular control over color and exposure. If you don’t like the monthly fees, Google’s Snapseed is free, and it also has many great features to get the best out of your shots, including a variety of film effects that give your photos a beautiful color tone.
If you want to get a little more wild and creative, you should check out apps like Bazaart and PicsArt, which provide a variety of tools and effects for composing images and turning them from photos into often bizarre pieces of modern art. Take a look at me image editing app overview for more ideas.
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IPhone 12 Pro Max Review: Filled to the Brim
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