Mike's Smartphone Photography, Travel, and anything else I can think of, Blog

Welcome to my latest blog, which this week highlights two of my very different photographs, which are nevertheless connected by the theme of Old and New. I have tried to give you a critique of the images, which as a serious photographer I think is something you need to learn how to do. Please feel free to add your comments, after all, it's all about learning. Taken in Berlin in June 2023. I feel this photo has a strong sense of place and contrast. The vintage Trabant cars (an iconic symbol of Communist East Germany) in the foreground are the immediate focal point, which I think inject character, nostalgia, and humour, especially when set against the clean, modern apartment blocks behind them. This juxtaposition—old versus new, playful versus austere—is, I feel, the image’s greatest strength. In terms of composition, I deliberately positioned the cars slightly off-centre, which I felt added balance and kept the scene from feeling static. However, although the clear dayli...

Welcome to my latest blog, which this week is about something I am passionate about, that is smartphone photography as opposed to lugging a 'proper camera' about with my everywhere I go. Think about this statement for a moment: a photo can only work on a phone because the phone disappears. Why might this be true? Let's take a look at the evidence. First off, a smartphone is smaller than, for want of a better term, a conventional camera. When you take a photo with your smartphone the process is generally quiet, no clicking sounds as the shutter is activated. Generally, because smartphones are everywhere these days, people don't feel threatened by them, whereas pointing a conventional camera at someone, say in the street, can sometimes provoke a hostile reaction. Lifting a conventional camera up to your face is like announcing ‘I am going to take a photograph!’. Discreetly raising your smartphone means people don’t stiffen, scenes don’t break, moments stay honest and cand...

Ever wondered why your smartphone photos sometimes come out blurry? In this blog I will be giving you three very simple tips on how to sharpen up your images. The first tip is to clean your camera lenses. Your phone probably spends a good part of its time nestling up against dust and debris in your pocket and your bag, all of which compromise the clarity of the images. So start by giving the lenses a gentle wipe with a proprietary lens cleaner.  The best way to hold a smartphone when setting up a photo is with both hands, gripping it firmly with your elbows tucked into your body to maximize stability and minimize blur. Holding your smartphone with one hand with your arm fully extended is inviting camera blur! My third tip is for when you're using a tripod, whether it's because you're working in low light or when you want to create that silky smooth water effect when photographing a flowing river or a waterfall, and so need a longer exposure. Everytime you reach ...

Your smartphone goes everywhere with you: it’s probably the first thing you check in the morning and the last thing you scroll before bed. So when it’s cluttered—packed with unused apps, endless notifications, and thousands of photos—it can quietly add to feelings of overwhelm. Added to this, your phone only has a certain storage space, which if you aren't diligent can soon get gobbled up unnecessarily. A full or near-full phone storage leads to significant slowdowns, app crashes, inability to download new apps or updates, and failure to take new photos/videos, as the operating system needs space for temporary files and virtual memory; it can even prevent the phone from booting, potentially damaging the storage chip over time. The device struggles with essential background tasks, causing lag, freezing, and poor battery life. Decluttering your phone is a small lifestyle reset that can make a surprisingly big difference to you and to your phone's longevity. Start by letting go of...

Hi! Welcome to my first blog of 2026. Today's blog is about a feature of the Adobe Lightroom Mobile app that you might not be aware of. By the end of this blog you will know where to go to create short videos of your Lightroom Mobile edits, and how you can use them to promote your content to your existing and potential audience. Before I start, for those of you who are familiar with my output, you'll know that I have been a long-time fan of Snapseed, and that I have given the impression that it's the only photo editing app I use. Well that's partly true. Although Snapseed is my main editing app, I also occasionally use Lightroom Mobile alongside it. It was whilst carrying out some edits on the Lightroom Mobile app that I came across the Create Edit Replay function. First a bit of background. Adobe Lightroom Mobile introduced the ability to save photo edits as a time-lapse video, often used for social media reels, with its June 2023 release (version 8.4). This feature, w...

Welcome to my latest blog, which this week is an update about the Ulanzi Cap Grip II that I first reviewed in 2024. I have included that 2024 blog below for your information, which I suggest you read. Hi! Welcome to my latest blog, which this week features a review of my latest piece of smartphone camera gear. I didn't used to be a gadget/gear type of person, that is, until I discovered smartphone photography, and now I can't get enough of them. If you've read my Blog #33 titled What's in my smartphone photography bag ? you'll have a good idea about the various bits of kit I have accumulated to go with my smartphone camera. My newest thing is a smartphone grip holder.  In this blog I am going to set out the advantages of using a grip holder, as well as some instructions on how to set it up. The grip holder I will be reviewing is the Ulanzi Cap Grip II (See Photos 1- 4 below) which retails for less than £20 from Amazon. Using a grip handle for smartphone photography ...