In today’s digital age, everyone has a camera right in their pocket: the smartphone.

While professional cameras have their place, smartphones have revolutionized the way we capture and share moments. Their convenience, combined with advancing technology, makes them a powerful tool for photographers of all levels.

But how can you push the boundaries of what’s possible with just a smartphone? How can you make sure you’re not just pointing and shooting, passively relying on the camera tech to do all the work?

Photo by Sorin Gheorghita

In a book by filmmaker Henry Jaglom, Orson Welles was credited with saying, “The enemy of art is the absence of limitations”. With that in mind, prepare yourself for five challenges designed to elevate your smartphone photography skills. Each challenge provides a brief explanation of why we think the challenge is helpful and the limitations you need to follow. Ready? Let’s go!

1. Portrait Photography: Natural Light Challenge

This challenge emphasizes the importance of understanding light, which is a fundamental aspect of photography.

Limitation: Use only natural light for your smartphone portraits. Harness the beauty of sunlight or ambient light. Find the best angles, times of day, and locations to illuminate your subject naturally.

2. Landscape Photography: Panorama Mode Challenge

We want to encourage you to think about the broader scene and the story you want to tell.

Limitation: Capture landscapes using only the panorama mode on your smartphone. Explore vast landscapes or sprawling cityscapes by stitching together multiple images.

Photo by Michael Sala

3. Street Photography: Storytelling Challenge

This challenge is all about the importance of storytelling in photography and encourages photographers to be mindful and respectful of their subjects.

Limitation: Capture a series of photos that tell a story or depict a theme without focusing on individuals’ faces. Street photography is about capturing the essence of life and the environment around us. Instead of focusing on candid shots of individuals, concentrate on scenes, objects, shadows, and interactions that convey a narrative or theme.

4. Macro Photography: Clip-on Lens Challenge

Push yourself to capture and appreciate the smaller details of life and wonders around you.

Limitation: Use a clip-on macro lens with your smartphone to transform your phone into a tool capable of magnifying these minute details. Think: the delicate veins of a leaf or the intricate patterns on an insect’s wing – get up close and shoot that photo!

Photo by Ethan Haddox

5. Night Photography: Long Exposure App Challenge

This challenge will teach you the art of patience and stability.

Limitation: Use a long exposure app on your smartphone to capture the magic of the night.
Create mesmerizing effects like star trails or silky water surfaces. While smartphones might not have built-in long exposure settings, several apps can help you achieve this effect.

Conclusion

Photography is not just about the gear – it’s about vision, creativity, and the ability to see the world differently. These smartphone challenges are designed to help you think outside the box, pushing the limits of what’s possible with the device you carry every day. Embrace these limitations, and you’ll find they often lead to the most creative breakthroughs. So, grab your smartphone and start exploring the world through a new lens!

Recommended Resources

Unlock more of your photographic skill with Photzy’s Smartphone Photography Creativity Prompts. You’ll get 5 unique prompts spanning 64 pages with 31 engaging assignments. These are designed to ignite your imagination and overcome any creative hurdles. These prompts will ensure you’ll always have a go-to source for inspiration – ideal for those moments when you need that extra push to start capturing! Get the Smartphone Photography Creativity Prompts here.