In the example below, I display the original photo, after the iPhone “clean-up,” and one where I removed distractions using Lightroom. The results suggest that there was a minimal number of people there enjoying this historical landmark.

Clean Up is only available in the iPhone 15 Pro & Max and all iPhone 16's with IOS 18.1 or higher.

This photography editing tool, along with the other cool features of the iPhone Camera, is discussed in detail at my iPhone Photography Class. Next class is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, July 23, at 6:30 pm (three sessions). An Adobe Lightroom class, for more advanced photo editing, starts on August 5th.   

Our photographs tell a story, whether in our backyard or some faraway location. On a recent trip to Venice and other countries along the Adriatic, I made the difficult decision to leave my expensive mirrorless camera at home for this vacation, instead using only my iPhone 16 Pro. This decision, based on the photographic capabilities of the iPhone 16 Pro and convenience, turned out to be the right one for this trip. I wanted to prove that you can tell my story of this trip well with a mobile phone.

The Decision to Simplify:
The thought of carrying my mirrorless camera, lenses, and accessories felt overwhelming. I sought spontaneity and a sense of lightness. The iPhone 16 Pro, with its advanced camera capabilities and compact size, was a natural choice for Venice’s historic architecture, landscapes, and the region's cultural richness.

This decision may be different on future trips, such as a planned visit to the Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu. However, for this journey, the iPhone made sense. Besides, I teach iPhone Photography, so taking only the iPhone with me would tell a compelling story.                     

Taking Advantage of Technology:
What set the iPhone 16 Pro apart was not just its ease of use, but the sheer technological power packed into its design. Here are some standout features that helped make the iPhone ideal for this trip:

• Night Mode: Ensured low-light shots retained clarity and natural colors.
• Portrait Mode: Using the Aperture feature to “blur” backgrounds.
• Flexible Editing: Powerful editing, especially the “clean-up” function and RAW for more exquisite shots.
• High Power Zooms: Bringing far-away shots or details in closer subjects with good clarity and focus.

Mindfulness:
I teach Mindfulness in Photography, which is a discipline to “take fewer yet better photos”. Initially, I failed, as there were so many photo opportunities in Venice. It took a few days to find my mindfulness rhythm. Yet, having only the iPhone gave me more freedom and allowed me to “see and experience” Venice and the other countries on this trip.

Another way to think of Mindfulness is enjoy where you are, be in the moment, with photography being a second consideration.    

Challenges:
The iPhone 16 Pro offers fine photography; however, mirrorless Cameras, like my Nikon Zf, are better for some subjects. Certainly, some scenes made me wish I had my Nikon, but overall, I was pleased with the decision to leave this camera behind.

However, I found the iPhone screen challenging in bright sunlight. At times, I found the camera accidentally in video or other modes, or different settings. In a few cases, I missed the shot or clicked the shutter and hoped I would get the picture. In future releases, I understand the camera mode will be a menu choice, which will be helpful.

Even with extended battery performance, long days of shooting and navigation drained power quickly. I carried a portable battery charger and a camera grip that had a built-in charger (see Recommended Accessories).

Recommended Accessories:
For this trip, I decided to purchase a phone grip and found one that had a battery charger built in. The grip had a Bluetooth shutter release. The battery charger was nice to have, but the Bluetooth connection was inconsistent. If it didn’t have Bluetooth issues, I would recommend this product.

Secondly, I was interested in a wide-angle lens, but I returned this item before traveling. The iPhone lens is sufficient, and the lens accessory was cumbersome. Returning the lens was a good decision. 

The third accessory was a portable battery charger. This was unlike the Grip, and some could connect to multiple cell-phones for cafe recharging. 

The last accessory was inspired by nightmares I had, in which I dropped my phone into one of Venice’s canals, ultimately ruining my photography venture. A simple ring placed between the phone and case, with a lanyard that I can place on my wrist, solved this fear.


A New Way to See the World:
Using the iPhone 16 Pro exclusively for photography wasn’t just a practical choice; it was a philosophical shift. It reminded me that photography isn’t about equipment, it’s about the stories we seek to tell. The device’s portability, versatility, and power encouraged me to spend more time “seeing”, being mindful, and enjoying my travels.

Conclusion:
By the end of my European adventure, I felt liberated from the weight of my mirrorless camera and equally empowered by the capabilities of the iPhone 16 Pro. It proved itself to be more than just a substitute—it became an artistic companion, a tool that adapted to my vision and brought my experiences vividly to life.

Would I leave my mirrorless camera behind again? Maybe. There are places I would bring my Nikon, such as the previously mentioned Galapagos Islands.

However, the iPhone 16 Pro has redefined the boundaries of mobile photography and reshaped the way I travel and tell my story. For anyone considering simplifying their photography gear, I wholeheartedly recommend trusting the smartphone; the results may surprise you in ways you never imagined.

PS: Please purchase/upgrade to the Pro or Max version of the iPhone 16. This version has all the features you want for your travel and creative photography. 

I will admit it, I have been wrong about using Auto ISO.

If you attended one of my DSLR Basic Photography classes, I preached that you should always control the ISO setting and taught my ISO Escalator. I am now a convert to using Auto ISO and replacing the ISO Escalator, goodbye old friend. For those who don’t know what the ISO Escalator was, it was a method for determining and selecting the proper ISO in low-light situations. However, one of the principles remains, setting the camera in Shutter Priority (“Tv” or “S” on the mode dial).

Shutter Priority locks in your preset shutter speed, which can prevent blurred or unsharp images, instead the camera adjusts the aperture automatically, to ensure a proper (or close to correct) exposure. After changing the mode dial, select a shutter speed that will stop the action or allow you to hand-hold your camera. Usually, a 1/60th shutter speed will stop most action and shake, however, a higher value may be necessary for faster action, or shakiness from too much coffee.

In my ISO escalator, you would take test pictures at different ISO settings, until the photo exposure was to your liking. However, with advances in ISO technology and Denoise tools (ie Lightroom has a great AI Denoise tool), there is less need to worry about higher ISO settings.

Auto ISO can be set using the same menu for changing ISO settings. With your shutter speed set, you can just enjoy photography, focusing on your composition, knowing that your exposure is being handled by your camera. As the light changes, the ISO will automatically adjust, increase, or decrease the value.

Suggestion: Always take a brief look at your photo image on the backscreen to ensure the exposure is correct.

Use Auto ISO in low-light situations such as museums, restaurants, and indoor plays and sports. In addition, use Auto ISO when shooting street photography, where the light can change from bright sun to dark shade when turning a street corner.  Once again, set your camera to Shutter Priority and select an appropriate shutter speed, for instance, 1/125.

Manual Mode and Auto ISO: If you want to control both your shutter speed and aperture, you can use Auto-ISO to maintain balance in the “exposure triangle”. For instance, you might select 1/125 shutter speed and want a mid-range (f8) aperture for your street photography.

Noise: We mentioned “noise”, a subtle to great degradation in image quality often due to increasing in ISO, caused by many technical factors, too complex to discuss here. In B/W film photography, we often embraced this “grainy” look, and will sometimes increase this in digital b/w photography. However, often we want smooth clean images, especially for large prints, so AI comes to our aid. Lightroom has a feature called AI Denoise, and Topax Photo AI is another option for removing noise in your images. In addition, newer cameras are better able to handle high ISO.   

Last note, we have noted that with Shutter and Aperture priority, the exposure will be close to correct. The optimal exposure may be a “stop” or “partial stop” difference because the light meter in your camera usually takes an average for the given light situation. A “stop” is one shutter speed or aperture in either direction.

In conclusion, you can retire the ISO Escalator and embrace Auto-ISO to enhance your photography. Hey, we are still learning even after ten years of teaching.

An article that can further explain Auto-ISO, How to Use the Auto ISO Setting in the Best Possible Way | Fstoppers

My classes and Adventure Workshops mentioned in the article included:

• DSLR/Mirrorless Photography Basics
• Lightroom Basics

Plus, workshops where you can learn low light photography and Auto-ISO

• Philadelphia Art Museum
• Simeone Automotive Museum
• Philadelphia South Street, Street Photography

Taking Fewer yet Better Pictures
By Stephen Harris  (River Town Creative/Photography by Stephen Harris)

It seems we are always in a hurry, with so much on our minds, even when walking through a serene park or an inspiring museum. Add to this the power and convenience of the mobile phone or digital camera, where we can aim to take a photo of anything that comes along, click and go.

Then we get home and review the day's images, and discard many; and in some cases, we may not have remembered taking this shot of something we can’t even recall seeing.

We reflect on the day, and really, did we experience joy, or did we just take pictures?

This may seem like an extreme example of our busy lives while in a peaceful venue, but could we step back and consider the walk as the priority, and the photography secondary?

Two recent mindful photography walk photos.

​Mindful photography is about being fully present and engaged in the act of capturing images. By practicing mindfulness, you can enhance your photography skills while also cultivating a deeper appreciation for the world around you, ultimately taking fewer yet better images. 

Our adventure workshops are geared towards mindfulness in photography, including Hidden Lambertville and Hidden Frenchtown, among others. Review the current photography classes and adventure workshops- and sign up for our no-spam newsletter.

​Acadia National Park in Maine offers plenty of hiking trails of various levels, beautiful vistas, and of course, lobster. We visited the park in early June staying at a centrally located Airbnb in the town of Bar Harbor. National Parks are treasures, yet planning your visit in late May or early June is perfect for avoiding the crowds.

For the hikes, moderate for me and more challenging for the younger people in our group, I carried my iPhone 14 and a small/lightweight Lumix DC-GX9. I used the iPhone more often, which says a lot about the current mobile phone cameras.
​
We highly recommend a drive to the quieter south harbor and visits to the Flying Mountain and Ship Harbor hiking trails and the Thurston Lobster Pound, offering beautiful views of one of the lobster fishing inlets and delicious lobster rolls and blueberry cake.

Further, rent e-Bikes and ride the carriage roads, a 40 miles crushed stone trail that threads itself through Arcadia. This was a great way to see the park and the hills are easy to ride on with the e-bike’s turbo mode!

Unfortunately, our visit to the highest peak in the park, Cadillac Mountain was on a rainy cold day, yet the 360-degree views were amazing. Arcadia National Park was amazing as was the town of Bar Harbor, a recommended destination.

The iPhone 13/14 introduces an enhanced macro photography function that allows users to capture stunning close-up shots of small subjects with incredible detail and clarity. Leveraging advanced camera technology, the macro mode on the iPhone 13/14 camera enables users to explore the miniature world around them and capture intricate details that may not be visible to the naked eye.
Dedicated Macro Lens: The iPhone incorporates a specialized macro lens designed specifically for close-up photography. This lens enables users to focus on subjects at an extremely close distance, typically ranging from a few millimeters to a few centimeters away. The dedicated lens ensures optimal clarity and sharpness in macro shots.

Autofocus and Focus Stacking: The macro mode on the iPhone camera includes advanced autofocus capabilities to ensure that the subject is sharply focused. With the help of focus stacking technology, the camera captures multiple images at different focus distances and combines them to create a final image with a wider depth of field. This technique ensures that a greater portion of the subject remains in focus, even with the shallow depth of field typically associated with macro photography.

Improved Image Processing: The iPhone leverages its powerful image processing capabilities to enhance the quality of macro shots. The camera's computational photography algorithms work in tandem with the dedicated macro lens to optimize sharpness, color accuracy, and dynamic range. This results in vibrant and detailed macro images with accurate colors and minimal noise.

Macro Lighting: Adequate lighting is crucial for macro photography. The iPhone camera incorporates enhanced macro lighting features to ensure well-lit and evenly illuminated macro shots. The camera may utilize the device's built-in flash or adapt to ambient lighting conditions, intelligently adjusting exposure and white balance to provide optimal lighting for close-up subjects.
 
Macro Photography Tips: To maximize the potential of the macro photography function on the iPhone, consider the following tips:

a. Stability: Due to the close-proximity to the subject, even the slightest movements can result in blurriness. It's advisable to use a tripod or stabilize your iPhone when capturing macro shots.

b. Composition: Pay attention to the composition of your macro shots. Explore different angles, perspectives, and framing options to highlight the unique details and textures of your subject. By the way, this is one of the principals of mindful photography.

c. Lighting Control: Experiment with lighting conditions to create different moods and effects in your macro images. Consider using natural light, diffusers, or additional lighting sources to achieve desired results.

d. Manual Adjustments: The iPhone may provide manual controls or settings for macro photography. Explore these options to fine-tune exposure, focus, and other parameters for optimal results.

In summary, the macro photography function on the iPhone empowers users to capture incredible close-up shots with exceptional detail and clarity. With a dedicated macro lens, advanced autofocus, image processing capabilities, and optimized lighting, the iPhone enables users to explore and document the fascinating world of tiny subjects with ease and creativity.

PS: In full disclosure, much of this article was written by ChatGPT. I am undecided whether this is a good thing or not.
​

In August 2022, we visited Glacier National Park in Montana, one of the most scenic places in the United States. The park is open to the general public from late July to early September, other times it is covered in snow. The Going-to-the-Sun Road through the park is snow-covered until late July.

We venture to the Canadian section of the park (Waterton) was cold and snow fell shortly after we left, in early September.

In the park, you can hike (all levels), bike, kayak and take boat rides. We saw grizzlies and black bears, and mountain goats, and one moose from far away. 

The hiking was phenomenal, yet I wish I visited the park when I was much younger and in better shape. We saw Glaciers from a distance, there are not many left. Of the 120+ glaciers in the early part of the 1900s, there are only 23 left, and they are expected to be gone by 2034.

The sunsets were amazing, as were the various park lodges. The Milky Way was easily visible. While taking photos of the Milky Way at 2am, I could hear the growls of hungry grizzly bears, reminding us we are the visitors to their land. Note the Bear Spray on my backpack below. 

If you plan to visit the park, planning and reservations need to be made a year in advance. For photography,

Hiking with heavy equipment is difficult, so I recommend carrying lighter camera equipment. I bought a lightweight Lumix DC-GX9 for the trip and used my iPhone 11, since our intent was mostly hiking. 

And now we are planning our next National Park trip for 2024.  

Apple iPhones have long since provided the capability to begin taking photos, when the camera app is on, even before you depress the shutter button. When this feature first appeared, with the iPhone 6, I could not see the value of this creepy feature. However, with new functions added to Live, I realize this is a powerful and useful feature.

When "Live" is on (as in the photo above), the feature retains 1.5 seconds of pictures (or about 6 individual photos) before and after the shutter is depressed. When you view a Live photo, it displays like a mini-movie. 

OK, so how can you use Live to enhance your pictures?

First, have you ever taken a group photo, and invariably someone's eyes are closed? With Live on, you actually can choose among the six photos where one will (most likely) have a good photo with everyone's eyes open. 

This selection is made in the editor. Look for the small bullseye at the bottom of the editor (see photo below).

Another advantage to Live can be seen above, where my granddaughter was feeding a goat. Capturig the right moment is easy with Live.

For me, the real power is the ability to create a "long exposure", where the iPhone combines all six images to create one dramatic photo. 

The photo (above) on the left shows the water in stop motion, yet when you selected Long Exposure, you get the picture on the right, with the water flowing. The photo on the right would require a tripod and shutter release with a traditional camera, yet this was achieved with the iPhone hand-held!

You can achieve many other creative photos, such as this skater at Bryant Park. 

We cover the Live feature including other options in our two-day iPhone Creative Photography classes. Visit our photography class schedule for upcoming iphone classes. Use promo code News05 for a discount, where applicable.

What's old is new again, photographic film is making a comeback, and I jumped aboard this trend. Watch this recent news clip from NBC Night News on films' comeback. 

The last time I processed 35mm film was...  1980, ouch. Fast forward to April 2023, I developed a roll of Kodak Tri-X 35mm film while doing street photography in NYC. I used a Nikon FE that someone gave me, but alas I have yet to print any of the pictures. 

These photos are from my files, including Yosemite Falls, Greta Weiss, and a mechanic at a
​Pocono Stockcar race.

The darkroom is located at the historic Prallsville Mill in Stockon NJ. Along with 24x7 access to a complete darkroom, we offer many benefits for our members including education, loaner cameras, field trips, and more.

If you are in the area, contact me for a tour. For more information visit the Bucks County Darkroom Group. We embrace the dark.

As I continue to read Ansel Adams's Autobiography; I wish I could have met the man.

His words continue to resonate strongly with my personal views of photography. For me, photography is conveying onto micro-chip (alas I miss film) that unique image that appears in my minds-eye. My images are often of interesting angles or lighting, rather then a depiction of a scene.

This, in my view, is the beauty and power of photography.

Gather five photographers to a location and the outcome will be five different unique perspectives. I see this occur in my photography workshops. It's amazing how we see things differently.

With photography; I  believe that it is the eye and mind - not the equipment that make the difference.

Ansel wrote:
"If I don't see an image in terms of the subject and it's creative potential, I no longer contest my instincts. I am certain that another photographer's eye might perceive wonders at the scene that evaded me."

I enjoy exploring the world with other photographers, often my students. Observing the images through their minds-eye. Their view of the same subject is different than my own. Not better - not worse - just different,  Exactly as Ansel himself commented. Exactly as it should be.