On a regular basis, we go to the city of Rotterdam in The Netherlands for a few hours of smartphone photography. A while ago we were there and ran a night photography workshop. After the workshop fog entered the city. Quickly we reached for our smart phones and made the photo in this blog. Discover how we created the picture of the Erasmus Bridge in the fog.
About Rotterdam
If you like modern architecture, Rotterdam is one of the top cities in the Netherlands. Maybe even the top city. On and around the Wilhelmina quay, you can find many attractive buildings. The Erasmus Bridge is directly next to it. So you don’t have to walk far to photograph this beautiful bridge.
About smartphone photography in the city
Taking photos in the city is a lot of fun to do. We always make sure that we do not unwittingly capture people. And really focus on the subject and the composition. But more on that matter in a moment.
Circumstances
We took the photo in this blog at the beginning of December. It was a cold evening. And just before the workshop began, there was even some snow. But luckily it was dry in time. We had enthusiastic participants in the workshop. We ran a little late. In retrospect, that was a good thing. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been able to take this picture.
As we walked back to the car, fog moved in. At first it was a small tuft of fog. And we thought it was smoke from a fire. But within a few minutes it was clear: the fog really set in. We grabbed our smartphones and started shooting.
Take Control over the settings
If you shoot with a smartphone, the software already adjusts most settings. Most times you don’t have to do anything technical with your camera anymore. But because of the large contrast, we made an exposure adjustment.
And of course we laid the focus point at the Erasmus Bridge. These are two super simple adjustments that give you more control when you need it. The adjustments make your photo look more the way you want it to.
Composition
In photography – also in smartphone photography or mobile photography, whatever suits you better – we find composition the biggest challenge. You can learn technique. And you often get atmosphere from certain weather conditions. Like in this case, the fog. And of course, people and animals often create atmosphere in your photos. The atmosphere in this photo is created by the fog.
So, let’s get back to the composition. The Erasmus Bridge in this photo is placed at about 1/3rd distance from the left edge of the photo.
Then we took some photo’s and enjoyed the view for a while when the fog rolled in. A few minutes later the fog was completely gone.
The photo: Erasmus bridge in fog
Used Phone And Settings
- Smartphone: Iphone 14 Pro
- Camera: main camera
- Exposure compensation: -0,3 EV
Post Process your smartphone photos
At first glance, the photo looked good. Now that is quickly the case when you view a photo on a small screen. The software in your mobile phone also ensures that the photo is displayed optimally.
But the photo was taken with an ISO value of 2,500. And smartphones are not yet so good at dealing with high ISO values. That’s why we applied noise reduction in Lightroom.
Discover more about smartphone photography in our blog
Do you want to know more about taking photos with your smartphone? Then take a look at our blog. And if you have any questions, feel free to let us know.
We’re here to help! If you have any questions about the blog, feel free to leave a reply below and we’ll get back to you. And if you’re curious about mobile photography, ask us anything! We’d love to chat with you. Get in touch through this page.
About Better smartphone Photography
Better Smartphone Photography is a new company aimed at improving your smartphone photography skills. Our aim is to provide helpful advice, tricks and tutorials to help smartphone photographers like you, regardless of your experience level. Meet Frank and Yvonne, the founders of Better Smartphone Photography with over 22 years of experience as professional photographers. With our guidance, discover how to create and capture exceptional photos with your smartphone.
Get ready for your next steps in smartphone photography
Better Smartphone Photography is official dealer of Ulanzi, VIJIM and MOJOGEAR.
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That is possible. Companies are also welcome. Check out this info.
Better Smartphone Photography is a part of Betere Landschapsfoto (website in Dutch).
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