See the Shot: A Guide to Observing Details in Smartphone Photography “I always seem to get the garbage can or the sign or a person in my photos.” Sometimes taking smartphone photos is too easy. While our eyes see a subject, our phones see every bit of clutter we didn’t...

Learning to notice details that might detract from a photo before you shoot requires keen observation skills. Luckily, your mind’s eye is a great creative tool. It just needs a little practice.

Get practical techniques and real-world examples: joephotos.gumroad.com/l/see-the-sh...

I captured this long exposure shot with an iPhone 14 Pro at Mammoth Lakes, CA, two years ago. At first I thought clouds would work against me while photographing the stars, but while on site I decided to take advantage of them instead. One result is this “grounded astrophotography” photo.

A crescent moon high above rolling sand dunes. Lingering light makes the sky orange, pink, and deep blue.

Sunset photos don't always include the sun. Last night I stayed half an hour after the sun disappeared to catch this view of the moon at the Oceano Dunes in California.

On that note, check out my ebook on lunar smartphone photography, the first in a new series: joephotos.gumroad.com/l/lunar-smar...

Not often does the sky parallel the water. But as Pismo Creek emptied into the Pacific Ocean one evening, I caught the clouds at a good angle to reflect the water, figuratively, and the water to reflect the sky, literally.

Mission Peak, California, looking towards Mt Diablo.

Solheimajokull Glacier, southern Iceland. I recently came back from a hiking trip in this otherworldly landscape. Look closely and you'll see the people walking its frozen slopes.

With some patience just before sunset, I caught sunlight that illuminated a precise altitude with condensing clouds over the Pacific. The result: jellyskyfish.

What started as “ask me about photography” is now exploring ideas for photo lessons. What would you want to learn? forms.gle/5PMNbhwxsuc1...

The beach sand was just damp enough to leave inch-tall hoodoos after a truck pushed dunes away from a walkway. Amazing details appear in surprising places.

Landscapes and seascapes are easy photos at Pismo Pier. What if we explored shadows and highlights? Slats provided striking contrast on a bright December afternoon.

Yosemite Falls detail #nationalparks

A little iPhone astrophotography: The galaxy looms over Sequoia National Park early one frigid morning in early May 2022. I took many photos before getting the composition, exposure, and focus to work. The quality’s not professional grade, but I enjoyed the challenge.

When ice crystals form in cirrus or similar high-altitude clouds, sunlight can refract through them to create cloud iridescence. I caught this phenomenon on a recent trip in San Jose, California.

I was struggling to photograph a suspension bridge for pedestrians. Nothing seemed interesting until I stopped looking at the bridge itself and started looking at what the bridge was doing with late afternoon light. Unusual details emerged the closer I got, so I tried to capture _less_ of the scene.

Thank you! Doesn't seem real yet.

Low-lying evening fog drapes across a sunlit valley surrounded by rolling hills, with distant hills bathed in golden light under a clear blue sky.

One day a marine layer gained enough mass to climb over hills that, previously, had protected an inland valley. It crept over vineyards and preserves, providing some relief after a warm August day, and finally settled in for the night.

A lone figure stands on a wooden walkway above a reflective pool of water. The stark, white salt flats stretch out before them. In the distance, snow-capped mountains loom with peaks sharp against the horizon.

Sunrise and moonset at Death Valley National Park. The morning was chilly but that's not frost covering the lake bed of Badwater Basin — it's salt. This is the lowest point in the continental US, and in the background, Telescope Peak rises above the basin to 11,049'.

The scene unfolds on a vast, monochrome beach, with the ocean stretching out to the horizon under a bright sky. Silhouetted figures dot the landscape, including a family strolling with a stroller near the foreground and other individuals scattered along the shoreline. The smooth, wet sand reflects the sky and the figures, creating a mirror-like effect.

Reflections, shadows, and an ebbing tide. I caught this afternoon scene on Christmas Eve Day 2023.

Two hikers walking along a dirt path with rolling green hills in the background. The near sky is filled with a smattering of clouds and clear in the distance. Sunset light is cast upon the hills and path.

At a glance you might see two people. Look again at the shadows.

Last weekend I led 22 hikers around a local preserve — a regular event we organize near the annual solstices and equinoxes. More info about the route: wehike.org/hikes/miossi-preserve-rollercoaster-route.html #landscape #hiking

Pen & Pier, our creative writing group, posts weekly prompts. This week: As we're between St. Patrick’s Day and the vernal equinox, invent a fictional custom that celebrates a time of year when rain makes everything green. Can be for a creative project in progress or something unique.

In April 2024 I captured the solar eclipse in Texas. At first I was disappointed for the clouds, but then took advantage of this unique opportunity. At the time I used my iPhone 15 Pro and a sturdy tripod. #photography #eclipse

That’s weird. I’ll look into it.

Fellow author @kevincarver.bsky.social has his first book coming out soon. You can read all about it in the interview that we did with him for Pen & Pier. www.penandpier.com/news-and-art...

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I have a new flash story out today. Enjoy!

The landscape north of Chamonix. The foreground is lush with green vegetation and rocky paths, while the majestic snow-capped mountains loom in the background. The vast, open sky is dotted with clouds, enhancing the natural beauty of the French Alps.

Last week I gave a talk at the local REI about the Tour du Mont Blanc hike. I kept their attention for 90 minutes with photos, videos, stories, and lessons from trekking 101 miles in two weeks. The venue only allowed 26 people but filled to capacity. This pic is from the tour near Chamonix, France.

Nowadays I question if I really need more stuff. In fact, I should go through all the stuff I have and wonder why I bought things I only used once.

The image captures a view of Angel's Landing at Zion National Park, as the sunrise touches its uppermost ridge. The foreground is dominated by the rugged terrain, punctuated by sparse vegetation clinging to the rocky slopes.

Sunrise touches on the crown of Angel's Landing in Zion National Park. I had the chance to hike this for the first time last summer. #landscape #photography #nationalparks

Looks like I missed it, but thanks.

Scene of the Pacific Ocean at sunset. The sky dominates the view, filled with wispy clouds. A sun halo creates a spectral glow amidst the clouds. The foreground consists of the dark, tranquil water of the ocean. There are no people or any specific objects, only the vast expanse of nature.

A few days of rain gave way to wispy cirrus clouds near Pismo Beach, CA. One evening the sky treated us to sun dogs: partial solar halos caused by light refracting through ice crystals in the high-altitude clouds. #nature #photography #sunset #atmospheric-effect