Do you ever wonder why some mobile photography portraits look professional? I’ll let you in on a little secret — it’s the lighting. Learn mobile photography lighting to create professional-looking high-quality mobile photography portraits.
A portrait taken with a smartphone camera using open shade lighting.
Lighting is a very important aspect of photography and is often overlooked. It is what makes a photo come alive and feel three dimensional. It can make or break a photo, and will often be the difference between a good photo and a bad one.
LIGHTING FOR MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY PORTRAITS
Lighting is especially important in mobile photography because the quality of the photo will be dramatically affected by poor light. Personally, I do not like to use the flash on my iPhone as I don’t like the quality it produces. Often, the flash on the smartphone camera will produce portraits with “red-eye” as the flash on the iPhone is directional. Simply, that means that it can’t be bounced off a ceiling or wall to help make the light softer and look less harsh and flattering.
While the low light cameras on smartphones these days are getting better – like the iPhone 11 Pro, my favourite type of light for mobile photography portraits is natural light. It’s what I prefer to rely on as it is all around us, and smartphone lighting accessories are not needed.
In this article, I will discuss two types of light for mobile photographers and how it can improve the quality and look of your mobile photography portraits.
TWO TYPES OF NATURAL LIGHT FOR MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHERS
OPEN SHADE LIGHTING FOR MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHERS
A mobile photography portrait using the light from the sky in front of the subject. This photo of my son was taken on a porch using open shade and an iPhone.
Open shade is light that is not direct and it is soft. It is easily found in the shadow of a large building, under leafy trees, on a porch, in a garage or on a cloudy day – anywhere where you are not directly in sunlight. Simply, it shields your subjects from direct sun. One way to find it is to stand on a veranda and ask your subject to turn slowly (a full 360 degrees). As you look into their eyes, watch the light change. No, this is not some scene from a romance movie, you’re looking for that little sparkle in their eyes. That sparkle is called a catchlight and is produced by the light source such as the sky or a window if you are indoors. Catchlights are the reflection of the light in the eyes and can range in size. It is the sparkle that you didn’t know you were searching for. You will notice the best light comes when your subject is facing the light source (open sky).
One note of caution, if you are under trees, the lighting can change quickly and you need to beware of dappled light. While you may be in open shade and generally protected by directional light under a tree, some dappled light could come through and affect the outcome, making the portrait less desirable.
Sometimes, the light may fall short (not reaching the subject fully) so you can position the subject to be closer to the edge of a porch, the trees etc. If your subject is wearing a hat, you may want to try and get them to look up a bit. If you’re photographing a candid photo, then you will want to wait until they look up (depending on the age of your subject). Notice the catchlights in the eyes on the portraits displayed in this article.
Open Shade from the open sky behind me, my son is on the side of a building
WINDOW LIGHT FOR MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHERS
A smartphone portrait taken with an iPhone using the natural window light.
Window light is my favourite indoor light. You can use the window the same way you’d use the open sky when outdoors. The window light should be in front of the subject and at the back of the photographer.
Another way to use window light, and for a more dramatic effect, is to have the window on one side of your subject. The side of the subject that is away from the window will be darker and thus a more dramatic and moody feel. It’s a great type of light for portraiture.
Have your subject turn slowly so you can see how the light appears in their eyes, find the catchlights. The window light will change significantly as your subject moves. You don’t need to worry about the exact angle, just look at how it falls when your subject moves and what you prefer.
If the light source is at a 90-degree angle to the subject you will find a very dramatic look, at a 45-degree angle you will find a softer feel.
MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY LIGHTING TIPS
Pay attention to how the light falls in your home over a day or two. Natural light is constantly changing so look at it at different times of the day. That way, when the opportunity comes to catch that perfect moment, you will know how to deal with it.
As a photographer, I see the light very differently and operate intentionally. If I see the light is particularly beautiful in one area of the home or outdoors, I will wait patiently for the right moment when my subject(s) enter that area.
Hopefully, this gives you a bit more insight into two types of natural light for mobile photographers. I hope these tips will help you create fantastic portraits with your smartphone.
Caution, after reading this article and practicing with these two types of light, you may find yourself seeing catchlights everywhere.
If you’re in Toronto or visiting the area and are into nature, birding and wildlife photography, I offer a birding/nature walk + photography lesson through Airbnb experiences Toronto.
I hope these tips will help you create cherished photos of your safari. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
SUBSCRIBE to wanderingiPhone.com for staying in the loop – exclusive opportunities, photo tours, workshops, webinars, and subscriber discounts on mobile photography workshops, consulting and more.
CAPE TOWN PHOTOGRAPHY TOUR, PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP AND VOLUNTEER PHOTOGRAPHY
I’m thrilled to announce that I will have the opportunity to share my love of Cape Town from October 20-27, 2019. It will be one part photography tour, one part photography workshop, and you will have an opportunity to give back with your photography as a volunteer photographer.
A Little Background
I’m the photographer and writer behind the wanderingiPhone.com travel and photography blog. I’ve been a professional photographer since 2003, and a photography educator and volunteer photographer since 2013. I am based in Toronto, Canada but make annual visits to Cape Town, where I started a women’s mobile photography program.
This is a collage of the photos taken by the participants of the first year of The Heart of a Woman Project in South Africa. It was on display at the 1st-anniversary exhibition. Photo by Andrea Rees.
THE HEART OF A WOMAN PROJECT (THOAW)
I founded a women’s mobile photography initiative, The Heart of a Woman Project (THOAW) after a visit to eKhaya eKasi in Khayelitsha. In December 2012, while on a responsible tourism tour with Uthando South Africa I met Director Lulama Sihlabeni. After a conversation with Lulama about ways to attract visitors and generate funds, I came up with the mobile photography project idea.
In November 2013, THOAW partnered with eKhaya eKasi, a non-profit organization to implement a women’s mobile photography program.
THE IDEA
The idea was for women at eKhaya eKasi to learn photography to promote what they do through digital communications. They could take photos of their beadwork, other products and events and tell their stories in-house.
Noticing there weren’t photography products in the on-site art boutique, I thought of the idea of creating postcards of Township life. As eKhaya eKasi welcomes tourists, postcards could be sold on-site as a way to generate funds for the Centre.
THE MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
In November 2013, I led a photography workshop with nine women over 11 days. They were taught photography using previously owned iPhones that were donated. They also learned social media and basic computer skills, and we set up their social media accounts. They learned ‘how to google’ and we spent a few days photographing Khayelitsha. At the end of the 11-days, each participant received 200 postcards of their photo, to sell in the art boutique. Income generated by the postcards has helped the women to pay for school fees, clothes, transportation and food. Six months later, I returned to lead another photography workshop. We launched greeting cards and organized a photo walk in Khayelitsha with local photographers from Cape Town.
eKhaya eKasi uses the iPhones they’ve had since 2013 (and others I’ve brought through the years), to document what is happening at the Centre. I’m happy to report that in 2019, postcards sales remain a significant source of income for eKhaya eKasi.
I have returned to Cape Town and Khayelitsha many times (all of my trips have been self-funded) where I continued to teach and assist where I was needed. When I was not in Cape Town, I continued to mentor from my home in Toronto, Canada using digital technology. I’ve learned so much by being immersed, more than I ever could have as a tourist only.
Yolanda Nkatula and Aviwe Dalingozi photograph the mural on a shipping container, home to Mama Blessing Hair Salon in Khayelitsha. Photo by Andrea Rees
Esther takes her turn with the project’s laptop with her peers encouraging her and assisting. Photo by Andrea Rees.
THOAW GOALS
When thinking of long-term goals for the project in South Africa (and future projects), it was always a hope that I could bring people with me. It would allow the visitors an opportunity to support local tourism, small businesses, and support eKhaya eKasi directly. They would be able to experience the country and the culture in a meaningful way. That would, in turn, bring more awareness to Khayelitsha as people returned to their country and shared stories from their trip.
BEAUTIFUL KHAYELITSHA AND ITS PEOPLE
There are many positive things taking place in Khayelitsha, from tourism initiatives to community projects. With high rates of unemployment, entrepreneurship is the catalyst for survival. Local women and men work tirelessly to uplift their communities. Centres like eKhaya eKasi provide opportunities for residents to learn skills and entrepreneurship. The hand-up model is sustainable, and the possibilities are endless.
The cross-cultural exchange happens more effortlessly when you immerse yourself in a place for a longer time; being a volunteer photographer can provide that opportunity.
The view from Signal Hill of Table Mountain and Lions Head. Photo by Andrea Rees
CAPE TOWN PHOTO TOUR, VOLUNTEER PHOTOGRAPHY & PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
I’ve partnered with Penda Photo Tours who are known for their incredible photo tours around the world including places like Uganda, Madagascar, Iceland, Alaska, Cuba and more.
The tour will highlight the beautiful landscapes, vibrant cultures, incredible wildlife, non-profit organizations and responsible tourism
A UNIQUE PHOTO TOUR EXPERIENCE
In Cape Town, you will explore tourism in Khayelitsha and support a local tourism organization. You will work with small, locally-run community projects and non-profit organizations in two ways. Firstly, you will help run mobile photography workshops for women with The Heart of a Woman Project. We will partner with a community project or non-profit organization wanting to learn photography as a way to promote what they do. They will use photography to photograph their products and events and tell their stories using social media and the Internet. Secondly, you will have the chance to be a volunteer photographer and photograph a non-profit organization. You will retain all copyright to your images but will donate licensing to the photos to help them with their fundraising and digital communications efforts.
CAPE TOWN, ON AND OFF THE TOURIST TRAIL
In addition to volunteer photography on this photo tour, we’ll explore the many highlights that Cape Town is known for. Places like Table Mountain, the penguins, sunset on Signal Hill, the V&A Waterfront, Cape Peninsula and much more will be on our 7-day Cape Town itinerary. We will visit some of my favourite places not typically found on the tourist trail, and there will be ample photo opportunities. I will take you to the beautiful scenic spots and provide one on one instruction along the way in travel photography, landscape, portrait or non-profit photography. This photo tour offers an immersive experience and an opportunity to travel with purpose as we learn about and work with the incredible community projects in Khayelitsha.
LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY?
ALL photography levels and cameras welcome. Whether you love to take photos with your smartphone or enjoy creating images with your mirrorless or DSLR camera, you’re welcome to join us. Much of what I teach will apply to any camera as it is about the art of seeing and storytelling.
For your non-photography companions, there will be plenty to see and do, and they will have photographic opportunities should they wish to join in.
Dusk at St. James Beach in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by Andrea Rees
March is a great time for a family trip to Paris and Paris with kids is always a good idea. Paris in Spring means it’s off-season, more affordable than a summer visit and the attractions are significantly less busy. I’ve been to Paris 5 times with three of those visits in March and three of those visits with at least one child (one of my sons, both sons or my niece).
In 2012, I had 6 nights in Paris and fantastic weather. Days were bright and blue and temperatures were in the mid-teens, one day hit 20 degrees Celsius. In March 2018, we didn’t luck out with the weather, but that didn’t stop our wandering. We had 5 nights and everything from sun to rain to snow, yes, snow (it melted quickly).
I have found that 3 to a 5-day family trip to Paris is the perfect amount of time. On our family of four trip to Paris, we stayed in an Airbnb in the Latin Quarter, my favourite arrondissement, near Place Saint Michel and Quai Saint-Michel. It is walking distance to the Notre Dame, the infamous Shakespeare, and Co. book shop, the cobblestone streets of Rue de la Huchette and the Seine.
We took advantage of a fantastic flight deal from Toronto ($321 CAD on British Airways) and visited Paris during my son’s March Break (also known as Spring break).
The best days were without a plan exploring on the hop on hop off tour of Paris or on foot and feeling the vibe of the city. It’s that vibe, the cafes, the lights, the architecture, the cobblestone streets, and the je ne sais quoi that keeps bringing me back to the City of Lights.
Some highlights of our trip:
Hop On Hop off Bus
Eiffel Tower at Night
The Carousel near the Eiffel Tower
Walking along the Seine
The Lego Store near the Latin Quarter
Midnight run for gelato
Street Food
All photos shot on iPhone 7 plus.
A view from a bedroom in our Paris Airbnb.The view from our Airbnb balcony in ParisMy family at the Notre Dame in ParisSome street art near Le Centre Pompidou in ParisOur neighbourhood on a late Saturday night and the cobblestone streets of Rue de la HuchetteWalking back to our Airbnb after late-night gelato.The SeineMy youngest son pauses to take in the view over the Seine.My family walking near Pont Neuf and the Seine.Love locks on the Pont Neuf in Paris
Waiting for a view of my family to walk through this garden, instead, this group appeared. After some research, I learned that this was a group of Knights Templar. I also learned that at the tip of this island, Île de la Cité, some Knights Templar were burned at the stake on March 18, 2014. This photo was taken on March 18, 2018.
Street food on Pont Neuf in ParisWalking towards Place Dauphine in ParisPlace Dauphine is surrounded by buildings and cafes and there is room for kids to run. It’s a quaint oasis in Paris. Don’t miss this hidden spot.Palais du LouvreThe first sight of the Louvre Pyramid in Paris.Louvre Pyramid at Night, my sons in silhouette.My family walking by the Louvre Pyramid in ParisThe Carousel near the Eiffel Tower. My sons enjoyed a ride, even my 12-year old 🙂My youngest son taking a photo of the Eiffel Tower with his iPhone 5s.
Disclaimer: The moment links below contain affiliate links. If you find value in something I have shared, I’d be grateful if you used my link to make your purchase as it helps with the costs to run this blog. And as always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to connect with me. Thank you – Andrea.
Moment add-on lenses for iPhone
Over the years I’ve invested in Moment lenses for my iPhone to capture wider views and macro details. In the last year or so I added a telephoto lens and an anamorphic lens to my iPhone photography gear.
Click on the text below for more info on Moment iPhone lenses and cases.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
SUBSCRIBE to wanderingiPhone.com for staying in the loop – exclusive opportunities, photo tours, workshops, webinars, and subscriber discounts on mobile photography workshops, consulting and more.
What if the only camera you own is an iPhone, Samsung of Google Pixel smartphone and you want to take safari photos? You might not see a smartphone on the best camera for wildlife photography lists, but does that mean you can’t capture great wildlife photography? Does it mean you should not go on a photo safari? Absolutely not.
With these smartphone photography tips, I’ll show you how it’s possible to photograph a safari with a smartphone. You’ll come home from your African safari trip with images you love, are proud to share and want to print.
You might be thinking that great safari photography can only be achieved with bulky and heavy dedicated cameras, long lenses, f-stop this and aperture that.
I’m here to say that the best camera for your safari is the one that is with you. Please don’t miss out on one of the most incredible experiences because you don’t have what some might consider a safari camera or wildlife photography camera or worse, don’t know how to use it.
Photographing my first South African safari
On safari with Naledi Game Lodge in South Africa. Shot on iPhone 4s.
The first time I went on a safari in 2012, I photographed the wildlife, nature, and landscapes of the Greater Kruger National Park in South Africa with an iPhone 4s. True story.
As a professional portrait photographer that worked mostly in the studio back then, I didn’t have a telephoto lens for my Nikon cameras, and I didn’t want to invest thousands of dollars for a once-in-a-lifetime experience as I wasn’t a professional wildlife photographer. The photos were only for my memories. Some of those photos are featured in this article.
Although I travel with an Olympus OM-D e-m1 mark III mirrorless camera and 40-150 mm M.Zuiko 2.8 pro lens with a teleconverter on safari these days, I always, always take photos with my iPhone too. Some of my most cherished wildlife photos have been taken with my smartphone.
Tips to photograph the wildlife, landscapes, and nature with the phone in your pocket, your smartphone.
On safari with Tours de Mornay in Kruger National Park. Shot on iPhone 11 Pro Max.
ON THIS PAGE I DISCUSS: (click on the link below to jump to the topic)
First, let’s start with some things to think about before you take the shot.
Make sure the lens on the smartphone is clean. Consider carrying a small lens cleaning cloth.
Tap your finger on the screen where you want to focus to activate the yellow square for focus and exposure (iPhone). The yellow sun icon will appear, drag up and down to adjust. For Android, tap the yellow sun icon and use the slider to change. ProTip: Purchase the ProCamera app as it will allow you to separate the focus and exposure. Tap the blue square for focus and the yellow circle for exposure.
The shutter trips after you lift your finger off (white circle button on the iPhone).
Keep steady. For sharper photos, slightly tuck in your elbows or lean against something.
Keep level and watch your horizon.
Photograph horizontally for a wider scene, photograph vertically for tall buildings, trees and close portraits (headshots). These rules can be broken.
If possible, use your feet to get closer. Zoom if you have a dual-lens (2x or 3x on iPhone) smartphone or an add-on telephoto lens for your iPhone or Android phone (see below).
ProTip: Use the + (up) volume button on your iPhone (some Android phones) to trigger the shutter.
WHAT TO PHOTOGRAPHY ON SAFARI WITH A SMARTPHONE?
Go beyond the animal mug shot: Capture the Details
Remember to capture your unique, safari story. The safari lodge you choose for your South Africa safari holiday might be one of the most luxurious accommodations you’ve ever stayed at. It certainly has been the case for me.
Photograph your room and the view, the environment and all the luxurious details – the bed, the decor, the grounds, and the surrounding area.
Photograph beyond the animal mug shot, show wildlife in their habitat and surroundings. This is something that should you do whether you use an iPhone, Samsung, Google Pixel, Sony, Nikon, Canon, Fuji or Olympus camera for your wildlife photography. Focus on telling the animal’s story.
Capture the sunrises and sunsets, the landscapes, trees, flowers, insects, and silhouettes.
The natural beauty of South Africa is some of the best I’ve experienced anywhere. The Kruger National Park has one of the most diverse wildlife, landscapes, and fauna. It truly is a special park and is one of my favourite places in the entire world. For many, a safari is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and every detail deserves to be captured.
SAFARI PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS AND THE BEST COMPOSITIONS
FRAMING
Use literal, structural, architectural or environmental elements to bring focus to your subject.
When on safari with your smartphone, think of trees, the landscape, the sky, and other animals to frame your main subject. Use the side view mirrors if you are self-driving in Kruger National Park or any other self-drive national park.
African elephant framed by the trees in Greater Kruger National Park, shot on iPhone 6s.The buffalo that surround the buffalo in the foreground help to “frame” the closest buffalo. The tree and grass also frame it. Shot on iPhone 5s.
LEADING LINES
Leading lines help to guide a viewer through a photograph. They can also direct the viewer to the subject or focal point of the image. They can be straight, diagonal, curved or suggested lines.
The line of the road leads to the tree. Shot on iPhone 5s.
RULE OF THIRDS
The rule of thirds is used to produce a balanced image. Imagine dividing this photo into 3 lines across and 3 lines down. The idea is to place the essential elements along the gridlines or at the intersections where the lines meet.
Make sure you have your grid activated on your smartphone to help you see it.
The rule of thirds works well with the idea of leaving space for the subject to look to or move into. Place the horizon along the top or bottom 1/3 for a strong compositional mobile photo.
Wild Dog on the hunt in Kruger Park was shot on iPod by my oldest son, DRH. The wild dog is along the bottom 1/3 of the photo with space to move into. If you cannot achieve the rule of thirds when photographing, think about how you could do it when you crop.Considering using multiple compositional elements in a single photo for a stronger image. The horizon is along the top 1/3 of the photo (rule of thirds). The road leads to the mountains (leading lines). The vehicle and trees frame the tracker (sitting at the front, framing). Shot on iPhone 4s.
FIND THE LIGHT
Light is an essential part of photography and is often overlooked. Light can make or break an image. It can also help tell a story. Use light to create the mood and feel of your image. Pay attention to the sun and where it is in the sky. The light within an hour after sunrise or an hour before sunset is when the sun is lower in the sky and creates a beautifully soft and warm light for photography.
Natural light is fleeting and ever-changing so don’t hesitate to take that shot.
The harsh, shadow-creating light of midday can create some interesting effects. Don’t be afraid of it.
Sunrise in Kruger National Park. Shot on iPhone 7+
SILHOUETTES
Silhouettes are a great way to capture images when the light has faded or to create anonymity in a photo. Take advantage of the opportunity to create a silhouette image. Look for animals or trees/dead trees with the light behind them. Shoot towards the sun. You may have to get lower and point upwards to separate the subject from the horizon.
A giraffe silhouette in Kruger National Park. Shot on iPhone 6+.Sundowners in the Greater Kruger on safari with Elephant Plains. Shot on iPhone 6s.
WHAT’S YOUR ANGLE?
Unless an animal is nearby, it’s difficult to capture the details with a smartphone. Tell the whole story and include the animal’s environment. Try a different angle, don’t be afraid to experiment. Look in the side-view mirror and capture what’s behind you. Capture the wildlife, road, trees, and mountains using the side view mirror.
Zebra in Kruger National Park shot on iPhone 7+.Giraffe in the side view mirror, Kruger National Park. Shot on iPhone 7+.
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS: DETAILS
Capture the details of nature and your surroundings.
Preying Mantis in macro. Shot on iPhone 6 + Olloclip 21x macro in Kruger.A Burchells Starling at Lower Sabie Rest Camp in Kruger. Shot on iPhone 6s.Breakfast at a hide on safari with Naledi Lodges in Balule Nature Reserve. Shot on iPhone 6plus.My room at Naledi Lodges in Balule Nature Reserve. Shot on iPhone 4s.My oldest son on safari with Naledi Lodges in the Balule Nature Reserve. Shot on iPhone 5s.My youngest son at the infinity pool at Naledi Lodges in the Balule Nature Reserve. Shot on iPhone 5s.
GO WIDE AND SHOOT A PANORAMA WITH YOUR SMARTPHONE
Check to see if your smartphone has a panorama option. You’ll find it in the native camera app on the iPhone. Hold steady and keep the arrow on the line. Tip: Tap the photo square to change directions.
Capture the view with a panorama. Taken at the luxurious Naledi Bushcamp lodge in Balule Nature Reserve. Shot on iPhone 6+.A panoramic view from a Naledi Lodges hide. Shot on iPhone 6
Timelapses are a great way to show a busy environment – clouds, sunset/sunrises
Film close and wide shots, telling details, different angles
Film in motion (pan up/down, left/right) to move the story along
Film more video than you need, and cut (split) when editing.
Keep scenes to 2-5 seconds depending on how fast you want to cut to the next scene.
AN ENCOUNTER WITH A WILD AFRICAN ELEPHANT PHOTOGRAPHED ON IPHONE
Sometimes the animals come to you, and you have to capture the moment with your iPhone. This elephant was too close to photograph it with my Olympus OM-D E-M1 mirrorless camera and M. Zuiko 40-150mm 2.8 pro lens (the full-frame equivalent of 80-300mm).
For the full elephant encounter story and video, visit here.
Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links for Moment products. It means that if you click on a link to purchase a product I recommend I earn a small commission. It is no additional cost to you. For more information, read my full disclosure and privacy page. If you have any questions about the Moment lenses or cases, please do not hesitate to contact me.
SOME OF MY FAVOURITE ACCESSORIES
Did you know that you can get a telephoto lens for iPhone or Android phones?
In 2012, I had a telephoto lens for my iPhone 4s, and it looked ridiculous, but aesthetics do not matter if it does the job, right? I took it on safari with me and I did capture a few images with it. Unfortunately, the photos weren’t of good quality. The lens didn’t fit well so there was a lot of vignetting. I didn’t recommend that lens to anyone and never used it again.
I had the macro and wide-angle Olloclip lenses when I had the iPhone 4s and iPhone 6. Their lenses are okay, but not as good as I hoped they would be. The 2 things that bothered me about the Olloclip system are 1. I had to remove my case and 2. if I upgraded my iPhone, I had to buy new lenses.
I had been keeping an eye on a few different smartphone lens companies for a few years, and in 2017, I decided to invest in Moment lenses. I didn’t invest in the Moment system until I heard that they offered cases that the lenses could be attached to (around the time I had an iPhone 6s). I never use my iPhone without a case on it.
MOMENT ADD-ON LENSES AND CASES
There is no loss of quality with Moment lenses and the wide lens (1x). The best part is that if you upgrade your smartphone, you only have to purchase a new compatible case and not a new set of lenses like you have to with Olloclip lenses. The lenses rotate into the case and fit perfectly. With Olloclip or other clip-on lenses, you have to line it up and hope it stays. Moment cases are available for iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Note, Google Pixel and One Plus smartphones too.
Moment add-on lenses for iPhone
Shot on iPhone XSmax at 1x, 2x (dual lens) and 4x with a Moment telephoto lens.
Dusk at St. James Beach in Cape Town, South Africa.
MOBILE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS
I’ve been a professional photographer since 2003 and a mobile photography educator since 2013. I offer live virtual smartphone photography workshops on Zoom and in-person workshops in Toronto, Canada.
I offer a public and private group 60-minute virtual workshop through Airbnb Online Experiences or for a private series of workshops (2 or 3 workshops), check here.
If you’re in Toronto or visiting the area and are into nature, birding and wildlife photography, I offer a birding/nature walk + photography lesson through Airbnb experiences Toronto.
I hope these tips will help you create cherished photos of your safari. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
SUBSCRIBE to wanderingiPhone.com for staying in the loop – exclusive opportunities, photo tours, workshops, webinars, and subscriber discounts on mobile photography workshops, consulting and more.
As we step into 2018, I’d like to take this time to thank you for following along and for your comments and questions on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and email. I hope that I’ve helped to answer all your mobile photography, camera and tech gear, and travel related questions.
I had some incredible family and solo travel adventures in 2017! I explored 2 new countries – Israel and Japan, returned to British Columbia, The Florida Keys twice, South Africa and Australia and visited new places at home in Ontario like Tobermory and Manitoulin Island, and we also saw the solar eclipse in totality on a spontaneous road trip to Kentucky and Tennessee.
We also returned to our favourite close-to-home destination, Niagara Falls. We spent time on both sides of the border. While my boys love playing the redemption games, we also enjoyed walking through Dufferin Island on the Canadian side in the Spring as well as chasing cherry blossoms, found some! In the summer, we ventured to the American side and visited Goat Island. It is a great place to visit as it gives you close-up views of both the American and Canadian Falls.
It was very much a year of incredible snorkelling adventures in the barrier reefs of the Florida Keys and Australia as well as the Red Sea in Eilat, Israel. My 7yo snorkelled for his first time, in Eilat and loved it. We ended our travel year with a trip to The Florida Keys where he embarked on his first open water snorkel trip. We went on 2 snorkel trips from Key Largo and one in the backwaters of Key West. Our favourite experience was our snorkel trip at Molasses Reef where we encountered sea turtles, Caribbean reef sharks and nurse sharks. He was over the moon with excitement and can’t wait to snorkel again. You can read more in my guide to snorkelling the Florida Keys here.
To recap and close out 2017, here are some of my favourite Instagram and mobile camera photos that were all shot on my iPhone 7+. In 2018, I look forward to continuing to inspire your family travels, solo trips and photography and show you more beautiful, nature and culture-rich destinations.
JANUARY
Moving tides at Bahia Honda State Park in the Florida Keys. A trip I did with my niece.
FEBRUARY
Dusk at St. James Beach in Cape Town, South Africa. A solo trip to South Africa for The Heart of a Woman Project.
Penguins at Boulders Beach in Cape Town, South Africa, Playing with portrait mode on the iPhone 7 plus.
MARCH
A Zebra in Kruger National Park, South Africa. A self-drive trip I did with my South African travel writer & travel blogger friend Anje Rautenbach of Going Somewhere Slowlyin March 2017. Check out her video here.
Tea at the Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem. A family trip with my husband, 2 sons and father in March 2017, I travelled there after my trip to Kruger Park.
My oldest son and the Eilat Mountains in Southern Israel. We could see the Sinai Desert when we climbed a bit off the dusty road.
Old Town Warsaw, Poland. A layover on my home way home from Israel.
APRIL
Found cherry blossoms in Niagara Falls, Canada.
Maid on the Mist in Niagara Falls. A family day trip from Toronto.
MAY
On the hunt for more cherry blossoms. Found these at Kariya Park in Mississauga.
JUNE
My son at The Enchanted Forest in British Columbia. A family trip to BC with my youngest son, father, aunt, and uncle to see relatives.
JULY
Beautiful art on the arena in Wikwemikong, the unceded territory on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. A trip with my best friend who was visiting Ontario from British Columbia with her family.
Sunset in Balm Beach. Some of the most spectacular sunsets in Ontario happen right here, on Georgian Bay, traditional territory of the Anishnaabeg people. Balm Beach is our fave family beach in Ontario. A trip with my family and my best friend and her family who were visiting Ontario from British Columbia.
My oldest son on the rocks near the Big Tub Lighthouse in Tobermory, Ontario. My sons and I went on a spontaneous 2-night trip on the shores of Lake Huron chasing Aurora. We didn’t find her but found Tobermory.
My oldest son in the canola fields of Bruce County, Ontario. This is part of the same trip with my 2 sons.
AUGUST
A peaceful spot by the Manitou River near Michael’s Bay on Manitoulin Island. A trip with my 2 sons and father to take in the annual Perseids meteor shower.
Sunflowers in Caledon, Ontario. Random Sunday drives with my husband and 2 sons.
A spontaneous road trip to the USA where we experienced our first solar eclipse in totality. We found this spot in Clarksville, Tennessee by the Red River. This was the light about 30 minutes before totality. The birds flocked, and the cicadas sang. It went to darkness and planets you don’t normally see, were seen. Hard to describe the feeling but we were in awe.
SEPTEMBER
Revisiting one of our favourite family parks in the Greater Toronto area, Lakeside Park in Oakville. September was all about back to school and TIFF. At the end of the month, I returned to Vancouver to visit my best friend before my trip to Australia and Japan.
OCTOBER
Reef walking at low tide in the Great Barrier Reef off Heron Island in Queensland, Australia. Heron Island is a Coral Cay with the reef as your playground. I saw sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, many species of fish and sea cucumbers. I even found Nemo’s cousin. It was a return to Australia but this time as a solo traveller and my first time exploring Queensland and the GBR.
Rainforest views on Grey River Road in Kennet River. This was my favourite stop on the Great Ocean Road. Can you find the sleepy koala?
The 8 remaining limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles. This is probably the most popular stop on the GOR drive and worth seeing in person.
The 5-story Yasaka Pagoda in Kyoto, Japan is surrounded by quaint narrow streets lined with cafes, restaurants and a variety of shops. Loved wandering through here after most people had left the area.
NOVEMBER
A broken but not battered palm tree at Bahia Honda State Park after Hurricane Irma blew through. A trip to the Florida Keys with my oldest niece and 2 sons.
My boys enjoying a sunset swim at Sombrero Beach in Marathon, Florida Keys.
So not a winter person but I can appreciate the beauty of snow especially with a setting sun. No travels in December.
After driving the palm tree-lined road of Hawks Cay Boulevard, past the Calm Waters Spa, the children’s Coral Cay Club and tennis courts, my 11-year old son let out a “wow, mom” as we pulled up to the circular driveway of the Hawks Cay Resort.
With a smooth check-in behind us, we drove to our villa. You know that anticipation you feel when you enter a hotel for the first time? Double it, and that’s how we felt as we opened the front door of our two-bedroom, two-story marina village villa.
I fell in love with the retro feel of the olive green painted walls (my favourite colour) and florals of our accommodations. It was a series of ‘ooohs and ahhs’ as we moved through the villa from the modern kitchen to the dining area, past the bathroom, towards the living room and onto the porch. My son excitedly raced up the stairs to check out the bedrooms.
Having driven in from the Everglades National Park that day, we just wanted to relax and enjoy the villa though we were tempted to go to the hotel and attend the live music performance by the firepit. Instead we soaked in the fresh air of a beautiful November Keys night on the porch, ordered in-room service, and settled in.
After a comfortable sleep, we awoke to a beautiful day in South Florida. I had just received an email from Hawks Cay detailing the day’s activities and noticed a kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding demo that was to start in the lagoon in 30 minutes.
Knowing my son wanted to try kayaking, we quickly got ready and off we went to the hotel. You can take a leisurely walk or drive as there is a self-parking lot nearby. There is also a tram shuttle service around the resort taking you from your villa to the main hotel or to the marina with stops at the various buildings around the property.
We arrived at the saltwater lagoon to children stand-up paddleboarding, sunbathers and a swimmer. Marc, the resort staff working the watersports rentals helped my son get started and offered some tips. He took to the water in a blue kayak and paddled all around the lagoon on his own. With pride in his smile and a sense of accomplishment from first time kayaking, he then wanted to try to paddleboarding. After a short time with the paddleboard, he decided he preferred kayaking but wanted to practice snorkeling one more time before our afternoon snorkel trip with Sundance Watersports at the Hawks Cay Marina. He put on the snorkel and mask he brought from home in Canada and discovered the lagoon had some small colorful fish.
It was 10:30 am, and we were both feeling hungry, so we decided to have brunch with a view at the on-site restaurant, Ocean. We had a choice of buffet or a la carte. With about forty-five minutes before we needed to leave for our snorkel excursion, we went back to the villa and relaxed on the porch. We watched the boats from the marina go by on the canal that takes you to and from the open water.
After checking in for our snorkel excursion, we picked up fins and boarded Blue, the beautiful snorkel-ready 65-foot catamaran. The Captain and crew explained that we were going out to the ‘stake’, a marker in the water at Coffin Patch at the nearby Florida Reef.
We couldn’t wait to get to the reef but enjoyed our ride on the open ocean and the canal, past the villas and Hawks Cay Lagoon. The clear turquoise water was almost hard to believe, and on our arrival, we watched as fish jumped out of the water behind the catamaran.
With it being my son’s first open water snorkeling experience he was a little slow to get in the water, but once he did, we were the last to get back on the boat. We saw a host of colors and spotted 25-30 varieties of tropical fish. We were thrilled to see French and Queen angelfish, parrotfish, blue tang, snapper and trunkfish. He was a little nervous when he saw the great barracuda but it and the several other ones we came across kept their distance as expected. With helpful snorkeling tips and the watchful eye of the crew it was a great first snorkel experience for my son. We had a fantastic time snorkeling and can’t wait to return with the rest of my family.
After the snorkeling excursion, we changed back to our street clothes in the change room in the Dockside store and drove off to explore the surrounding Duck Key area and the nearby city of Marathon. Duck Key is at mile marker 61 and is halfway between Miami International Airport and Key West. It’s a perfect place to spend a few days if you’re traveling the length of the Florida Keys or if you’ve already been, a great place to vacation. So much to do, so little time.
My first mistake was to arrive so late in the day on our first night so we couldn’t take advantage of activities the resort had to offer the next morning. My second mistake was not staying more than two nights as there simply is not enough time to enjoy all the resort has to offer in two nights and one full day.
Lesson learned. We will be back. I know my youngest son is already looking forward to the pirate ship pool and spending time at Coral Cay club.
Check out this short video of our family trip to Hawks Cay and see if you can spot the flying fish.
Disclaimer: I received a media rate for my stay at Hawks Cay Resort and complimentary snorkel excursion from Sundance Watersports. As always, choice of accommodations and activities as well opinions are strictly my own.
