Unlock your inner Ansel Adams: Tips for taking nature photos with your phone

Read time: 4 minutes

It’s April and spring’s sprung! And you know what that means … the world is in full bloom! Everything is brighter, livelier, and more brilliant — from a front lawn that appears (happily) alive to flowers and trees spilling color throughout the landscape.

It’s also the perfect time to capture nature’s magic. And here’s the good news. It’s never been easier to take great nature photos. In fact, all most of us need is our cellphone.

My cellphone … really?

Yes, really.

We can’t speak to every phone or every need, but for the most part, most modern camera phones can deliver what you need for sharing photos digitally or to print 8x10 or smaller. If you’re looking to create poster-sized prints of your photos, that’s where it gets more technical.

For purposes of this article, we’re going to focus on taking nice nature photos to share with family and friends via social media or a website.

View of a lake on a sunny day with blue skies and trees

Getting started

Say you come upon a perfect photo scene. Now before you whip out the phone and snap away, pause for a moment. Photographers recommend deciding the core focus of your picture … and what feelings you want to convey.

Photographer Shelly Eisenhauer says it best, “Consider what kind of photograph could convey those feelings — a wide panorama with the sky and the land, or maybe a vertical shot of the path ahead of you, or even a close-up of some blossoms. That thought process can help you narrow down what the subject of your photo really is.”

Hiking trail with green grass and trees with blue skies

The scene’s set — now what?

Sometimes getting closer is the best way to capture the essence of what you want your picture to say, allowing you to capture finer details and create a more intimate photo. If you can’t physically get close to the photo’s subject, take advantage of your phone’s zoom feature. It also minimizes the chance of scaring away animals.

Try experimenting with different angles, such as from above or below. This simple technique can create a unique perspective. As adults, we’re used to seeing the world from a certain viewpoint. What if you shoot your subject from an angle out of the ordinary? The mundane becomes revelatory. Make the world open up for your audience!

Close up of a yellow flower with blurred background

Just like the pros do …

Photographers often use the rule of thirds to balance composition and tell a story. Here’s how to do it. Simply divide your image into a grid of nine equal parts using two vertical and two horizontal lines. The easy way to think about it is to imagine a tic-tac-toe board. For most cellphones, you don’t have to imagine it. Most have this option available in the settings, often under the name “grids” or “gridlines.”

To use the rule of thirds, place your subject at one of the four intersections of the gridlines. This creates a more dynamic and balanced composition and draws the viewer’s eye to the subject. For example, picture a tree with the sun setting behind it, creating a beautiful backdrop. Placing the tree at one of the intersections will make the photo more interesting and dynamic.

The rule of three isn’t a hard and fast rule, but it can be a helpful technique.

Deer standing on a cliff looking over the ocean

I took my photo. It’s ok but it needs a little help.

After taking your photo, you can use editing features to enhance its appearance. Most phones come with some built-in software that will cover most of the basics you’ll need. Things like cropping, color adjustment, saturation, warmth and filters. In many cases, you’ll be able to clean up your photo without paying for a third-party app.

However, be careful not to overdo it, as too much editing can make your photos look unnatural. Adjust the exposure, contrast, and color of your photo to make it pop, but keep it natural. Too much editing can overpower rather than enhance.

By following these simple tips, you can take beautiful nature photos with your cellphone’s camera. Remember to experiment, be patient, and most importantly, have fun with your photography.