Turning Paintings into High-Resolution Prints with ProCamera

With your smartphone camera, pigments can become pixels — and artist and designer Lance Hewison reveals how.

Lance Hewison is an American-German artist and designer. Known for his atmospheric paintings in Prussian blue, he recently launched a new online shop offering high-resolution giclée prints of his works.

Since he didn’t have access to a fully equipped professional photo studio, Lance turned to ProCamera to photograph his works at home using just an iPhone, a gray card, and two LED lights.

INTERVIEW

ProCamera: It’s always a pleasure for us to see ProCamera in action — especially where professional photography and art meet. Lance, tell us about your new series Into the Blue and how ProCamera became an essential tool in the process.

Lance: Into the Blue is a collection of paintings in Prussian blue. It is inspired by classic analog photography and the sea. Each work is meant to feel timeless and at the same time dreamlike. Using ProCamera and the iPhone, I then ‘digitized’ my paintings and now offer them as high-quality prints in my online shop.

ProCamera: What were the challenges you faced when photographing your artworks?

Lance: Definitely light and color accuracy. I wanted my shades of blue to appear neither dull nor too warm. My goal was to reproduce the colors and character of my paintings as faithfully as possible. Without a photo studio of my own, I worked with what I had: an iPhone, a tripod, two LED panels, and of course, ProCamera.

ProCamera: How did ProCamera help you when photographing your artworks?

Lance: I didn’t want to leave anything to chance and needed full control over white balance and exposure. Other advantages of ProCamera were the ability to shoot in ProRAW format, which allowed me to work with extra precision in post-processing, as well as the option to calibrate colors using a gray card.

ProCamera: What advice would you give to fellow artists looking to capture their artworks on their own?

Lance: This is the setup I found most helpful:

• Use bright but diffused light (LED lamps with a soft box attached, or alternatively window light on an overcast day)

• Align the camera as parallel as possible to the artwork to avoid perspective distortion

• Avoid flash to prevent unwanted reflections

• Set white balance manually for accurate color reproduction (ideally via gray card calibration)

• Shoot in ProRAW or classic RAW format for maximum control in post-processing

• Use a stable tripod to avoid camera shake

• Use a remote shutter release (e.g. EarPods or Bluetooth headset) or the self-timer with a short delay to avoid shake from tapping the screen

• Edit photos carefully until they come as close as possible to the painting. I mainly adjust temperature, contrast, blacks, and sharpness.

Another practical tip is to place the already mentioned gray card visibly right next to the canvas when photographing. This provides a reliable reference during post-processing. In programs like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop, a single click with the white balance tool (eyedropper) on the gray card is enough to automatically correct color temperature and color cast. This way, the previously manually set white balance can be checked and fine-tuned, ensuring consistent and highly accurate color reproduction.

ProCamera: Does the photo have to be an exact reproduction of the artwork?

Lance: An exciting question! For high-quality prints, accuracy and proper preparation are crucial, yet I also see the photographs as independent representations of my works. They need to appear realistic and inviting. Sometimes that means slightly brightening the image or increasing the contrast to capture the effect of gallery lighting.

Lance, thank you for giving us an insight into your current series and working process. For everyone who also feels inspired by the motifs, it is now possible to order your favorite piece in the preferred edition at www.lancehewison.com.

Unlocking the Power of RAW and AI in Mobile Photography

At ProCamera, we continuously explore the cutting-edge intersections of technology and creativity to enhance the art of photography. Our latest insights delve into the potent combination of RAW photography and AI tools, showcasing how this synergy can unlock new levels of detail and expression in mobile photography.

Flashback: The Advantages of RAW Photography on iPhone

When we introduced RAW photography on the iPhone many years ago, it was a game-changer. Even today, it continues to offer unparalleled flexibility and data richness. The classic (Bayer) RAW format captures images in their purest form.

While we have also integrated the advanced ProRAW file format into ProCamera, which applies sophisticated processing during image capture, this article focuses on the classic, unprocessed RAW format. While ProRAW utilizes computational photography during the capture, AI can offer computational enhancements to classic RAW files post-capture.

Enhancing RAW with AI: A Revolutionary Approach

Our exploration into AI-enhanced editing reveals a new approach to photo enhancement. AI tools provide unprecedented capabilities to refine and elevate RAW images. The enhancements we discuss here are based on sophisticated machine learning techniques that refine and elevate existing content, rather than generating fictitious elements. Integrating modern AI tools in their workflow allows photographers to move beyond traditional editing, crafting images that are both authentic and artistically enhanced.

This photo we took with Rapid Fire on iPhone 14 Pro in the harsh midday sun was not looking spectacular at first – but after experimenting with AI tools, we were amazed at how this picture can shine after being processed properly.

RAW + AI = Powerful Symbiosis

Ever tried fixing a photo that’s already been through the wringer of processing? In many ways it’s like trying to smooth out a crumpled piece of paper. RAW files, however, offer a neutral starting point, rich in data and highly adaptable to AI enhancements. This powerful symbiosis enables deeper creative exploration and empowers photographers to achieve remarkable results.

Future Prospects: The Evolving Landscape of RAW and AI

The future of photography is bright with the integration of RAW and AI technologies. As advancements continue, the potential to extract and enhance beauty from raw captures will only grow – not only improving brand new photos taken with the latest cameras but also enhancing image quality on older RAW files. Your archive of RAW images is very likely aging like fine wine! The evolving landscape promises amazing possibilities for photographers seeking to push the boundaries of their visuals.

Photography still needs to be human, candid and creative

While the technology discussed here offers remarkable enhancements, it is not intended to replace the camera, the photographer, or the authenticity of photography. We encourage our users to continue capturing candid moments and exploring the world through their lenses. This technology is meant to complement and enhance your creative process, allowing you to bring out the best in every photo you take.

Encouraging Innovation: Embrace RAW and AI

ProCamera invites photographers and enthusiasts to embrace the possibilities offered by RAW and AI. Give it a try and switch to RAW format in ProCamera and experiment with various AI editing tools to discover the full potential of your images. This journey of exploration could redefine your photography.

The Colorful Art Déco District of Miami Beach Shot on iPhone

Photographer Nicolai Boenig explores the pretty pastels and iconic architecture of the ever-popular Florida vacation destination

While Miami may still have a reputation as the seaside resort for retired people and excessive party location for spring breakers and celebrities, intensive efforts are made to transform the metro area into a multifaceted cultural hub. The historic Art Déco architecture around South Beach is one of the elements that make this region so unique and definitely worth a visit.

Q: Nicolai, how did you develop this set of images and what kind of photo equipment did you use?

» This photo series was not an assignment – as a matter of fact, it wasn’t even planned. On a brief stay at the coastal city, I headed to the beach and simply got lost in the playful facades and lovely color palette.
The equipment? An iPhone 11 loaded with ProCamera, flip-flops and a beach towel

Q: Do you have a personal favorite from this series?

» Hmm, maybe the following image because of the serendipity. The light tones in the whole scene match beautifully, and it looks like the woman on the giant poster is checking out the car.

From a compositional standpoint, it’s interesting that the buildings consist of all these straight lines whereas the car is all curves – and the big arrow on the street is a nice visual lead-in.

Q: How did ProCamera help you in capturing these architectural travel impressions?

» By using ProCamera’s Auto Perspective Correct (APC) feature, I was able to emphasize the geometrical character of the ornate facade designs. Let me show you a side-by-side comparison to illustrate the difference perspective correction makes:

Perspective Correction

Every time you angle your camera and photograph a subject from below, you will get converging lines. Especially in architecture photography, you will probably want to avoid such leaning-in lines as buildings otherwise seem to fall over. This is where ProCamera’s Auto Perspective Correct comes in very handy. The feature automatically corrects perspective distortion in real time by using the iPhone’s built-in gyroscope.

The innovative Auto Perspective Correct is part of the “ProCamera Up” feature bundle. You can find more information about this optional add-on via ProCamera app > Shop > ProCamera Up.

In the in-app shop, you can easily start a free 14-day trial to see how these special features work for you. In case you are interested in temporary access for a specific vacation or photo project, there also is a very affordable 1-month plan. Recently, we also started offering ProCamera Up as a one-time purchase.

Thank you for this tropical photo series, Nicolai. It definitely fueled our desire to travel!

>> If you want to see more of his photography, check out @nicolaiboenig on Instagram.

Packing Light and Working On the Road

Times change, and sometimes that’s actually a good thing

For this travel-themed guest post we didn’t need to look far. We asked Lindy and Roy – who are part of our ProCamera support staff – to tell us more about their lives as digital nomads. Internally, we like to call the Dutch couple our “mobile support unit” since they are working from somewhere on the road most of the time. Let’s hear how to bridge the gap between mobile photography and a mobile workplace. 

Let me take you back in time: Eight years ago, we decided to travel to Peru. We went on a 4-day hike to Machu Picchu, only able to bring one daypack each.

One of our packs was filled to the brim with camera gear: camera bodies, lenses, flashes and batteries were dragged up and down the mountains. The other pack contained our clothes, toiletries and some snacks. I don’t think we’ll have to tell you carrying this amount of camera gear is no fun. It’s somewhat okay the first day, but your back and shoulders are getting more and more sensitive. After 21 kilometers (~13 miles) on day three my forearms were cramped from holding the heavy camera in my hands all day. Time to downgrade!

Luckily, you can find yourself a decent system camera these days weighing only a fraction of what we lugged around back then. Making better quality images, too. But aside from that, technology has now brought us an even more compact camera that never leaves our sides. And the quality of the images never ceases to amaze us. Our iPhones!

We’ll be the first to admit we like to be lazy every once in a while, which means we don’t always take our big camera with us. And while traveling, we often leave it at our hotel because bringing a dedicated camera is too big a risk. And of course when we don’t have our camera’s we run into the most amazing landscapes, sunsets and situations. Luckily, our iPhones are always with us and with ProCamera we get this great selection of pro camera features.

Picture this: the two daypacks we carried with us back then are the only bags we now bring on a round-the-world trip! Yes, we travel hand luggage only, for months on end. And yes, aside from our clothes, toiletries and other travel necessities we also bring a camera, lenses, a GoPro and a drone. Not bad huh?

During our travels, we never stay at a single location for an extended amount of time (unless we’re enjoying ourselves a bit too much). So we need to be able to quickly pack and unpack, but also easily grab what we need for a long hike or mountain bike ride. We had to downgrade a fair amount over the past years to enable ourselves to travel like this, and we kind of made bringing just what we need a goal of itself (though the contents seem to magically grow every time we need to repack).

Another thing we embrace nowadays is cloud services. Where we’d have to find a dubious internet cafe back in the days, have the contents of our memory card burned on a CD, send it home and wait for a confirmation that everything was received in good order we now use cloud services for backups. This workflow sure can be a bit of a hassle, too. Many places around the world still don’t provide fast WiFi or mobile network, and we really don’t want too lose our memories of that beautiful (way too early) sunrise, that endless walk to the world’s tallest palm trees or that bizarre bike ride to the refuge on top of the mountain.

We always try to sort out our favourite images as soon as possible, and immediately upload them to a could service (aside from iCloud backups on our iPhones). You’ll likely find us locked in our hotel room at the end of the day, editing images to prepare them for our dutch travel blog and social media, and uploading our favourites to make sure we always have a copy. As we were once taught: if you don’t have at least two versions of an image, you might as well have none at all. 

Now that global travel has been off the table for a while, we started working on another project we had our minds set on for quite a while: our very own self-built camper van. Since we’ve been home a lot we now have the time to build it completely to our taste.

We’ve been traveling around in camper vans in the past, and for us there’s nothing like waking up in the most beautiful places you wouldn’t normally go to, have breakfast and a great cup of coffee together and slowly start our day. What beats designing and building the tiny home that brings us this joy all ourselves?

We’re both sportive and adventurous so our van has to comply with quite some demands: It has to be comfortable, fit our clothes and personal belongings, photo equipment and two mountain bikes. All inside the van, as we hate to come back from a long hike hoping everything we hung on the van’s back it still there.

Current events also turned out to create the perfect time to browse through our old photos. Let us tell you: this brings great travel inspiration for the future!

The new iPhone 12 Pro was released today and we took it for a first test drive

Finally getting to test ProCamera on a brand new iPhone is always exciting – and this year’s release doesn’t disappoint!

DESIGN & ERGONOMICS

The obvious optical difference is the refreshed flat-edge design of the new iPhones which seems to pay homage to the iPhone 4 and 5 era. Once you hold the device in your hand you immediately notice how slim the new devices are. Overall, the 12 Pro feels great in hand and boasts excellent build quality.

Side note: In case you are regularly using any kind of clamp to attach your iPhone to a tripod, the completely flat edges will also come in handy.

FIRST TEST PHOTOS

Even though it was a cold, gray and very rainy day, we wanted to take the new device outside to take some real world sample photos. By comparing it to photos taken with last year’s iPhone 11, we became aware of some major differences.

a) IMPROVED ULTRA WIDE LENS

The ultra wide photos (0.5x lens) of the iPhone 12 Pro are sharper and a lot more detailed compared to the previous version. Let’s zoom in on one of our comparison shots to see the difference:

b) WIDER APERTURE FOR 1X LENS

On paper, the switch from f/1.8 to f/1.6 for the wide lens doesn’t seem like a lot. In practice, it allows the camera to utilize a shorter exposure time and/or lower ISO value while still sustaining the same overall brightness in the image. This translates into a lower risk of camera shake and even less image noise.

A wider aperture also means a shallower depth of field. So when you are focusing on a very close object the natural background blur will be a little bit more pronounced – for even more bokeh, we naturally also offer the Portrait Mode on all new devices.

b) AMAZING LOW LIGHT PERFORMANCE

When taking photos in low light using a tripod, all new lenses will present brilliant images. It’s amazing to see how the noise is virtually gone and how much more fine details are captured on the iPhone 12 Pro.

WHAT’S NEXT?

It’s a great time for iPhone photography. Make sure to regularly check our blog, amazing new things are on the way!

• Internally, we will do a lot more tests to really get a feel for the new camera, lenses and sensors
• For our users, we will ship a brand new ProCamera update (v14.0.2) over the weekend that brings official support for the new devices
• We can’t wait to get our hands on a iPhone 12 Pro Max (bigger sensor + 2.5x Tele lens) and the upcoming Apple ProRAW already sounds like a major innovation!

UPDATE: THE iPHONE 12 PRO MAX IS HERE

The iPhone 12 Pro Max is all about superlatives: Bigger camera sensor, bigger screen, bigger battery 

Maybe our side-by-side shot of all the new devices helps you receive an impression of the novel Pro Max dimensions. The 12 Pro Max is the biggest iPhone ever produced. It measures 6.33″ x 3.07″ (160.8 x 78.1 mm) and weighs 8.03 ounces (228 grams). For comparison, the standard iPhone 12 weighs 5.78 ounces (164 grams). The fact that even the 12 Pro Max has the same device depth of only 0.29 inch (7.4 mm) – like all the other new devices – definitely makes it feel elegant and less clunky.

AN iPHONE WITH A 6.7″ DISPLAY

It’s always nice to have a larger camera sensor, larger battery, and a larger screen – especially when it’s a super Retina XDR display – but how does an enlarged device hold up in everyday situations? That’s more of a personal question and one that is easiest to answer when you are holding the Pro Max in your own hands. Depending on your pants, fitting it in your pockets might be tricky and two-handed operation will be the norm for many users.

12 PRO MAX CAMERA SYSTEM

Let’s go on to the really exciting part, the unique camera system of the 12 Pro Max:

• The Tele camera is now offering 2.5x optical zoom
• The Wide camera boasts a 47% larger sensor
• New sensor-shift optical image stabilization

TELE LENS (2.5x)

The new Tele lens now offers optical 2.5x zoom, which approximately equals a traditional 64 mm lens (full frame camera equivalent). This means, you have three very different options when shooting with the new triple lens setup. The long focal length is great for anyone who likes to zoom in or heavily crops images in post. The Tele camera delivers full 12 MP files – like all the other built-in lenses.

Holding your iPhone as stable as possible when photographing is especially important when using longer lenses like the new 2.5x. The switch to 2.5x from the usual 2x is also accompanied with a slight jump from f/2.0 to f/2.2 on the 12 Pro Max, which makes the Tele photos a little more prone to camera shake in low light situations.

WIDE LENS (1x)

As mentioned before, the sensor of the 1x camera is 47% bigger on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. By keeping the resolution at 12 MP, this paves the way for “bigger pixels”. In other words, the sensor can collect more light which equals more real image information and less noise.

For our first test photos taken at midday, there wasn’t a lot of difference to spot. This surprised us a little when we compared the 12 Pro Max with the Wide camera of the iPhone 12 Pro. It only began around sunset, as the exposure times got longer and the ISO numbers increased when the 12 Pro Max could demonstrate its strength. In low light situations, you will be able to get cleaner photos with more detail and less noise.

We are excited to continue our internal camera tests with all the shiny new iPhones. All in all, the new lineup is another significant step forward for mobile photography and ProCamera is a great match for the new pro camera systems of the iPhone 12 generation. With the innovative ProRAW file format on the horizon, another ProCamera update is already in the works so you can get even more out of the new flagship devices!

Undistorted & Undivided

You might be familiar with the stunning street photography of Martin U Waltz from our first In Focus episode, where he took to the streets of Berlin equipped with ProCamera. Since his work often captures real people within their “natural habitat” of the concrete jungle, we thought he might enjoy trying out our new Auto Perspective Correct (APC) feature.

APC uses the built-in position sensor of the iPhone in conjunction with a patented technology to make all lines that are vertical in reality also vertical in the image. The innovative feature is part of our ProCamera Up subscription, go to Settings > Shop inside the app, to learn more. Martin went on a new photo tour through Berlin, taking inspiration from the clean lines of the city’s more modern side. We caught up with him after the shoot to get his feedback on the feature, which he used for the very first time.

1. How did you like shooting with ProCamera again, but this time with APC? Was it easy to use?

I feel ProCamera is both powerful and easy to use. APC was no different. Perspective adjustment is normally a complex task, but ProCamera produced very good results without any user intervention – it does not get easier than that. That was very impressive.

2. Do you often manually correct perspective distortion in your photos?

Yes, very often. I usually try to adjust it by positioning myself and my camera accordingly. But sometimes it is simply not possible. Perspective adjustment is usually the first step in my post-processing workflow.

3. How much time would you say APC saves you per picture since it’s automatic?

It really depends. Manual perspective adjustment can be particularly tricky on a mobile phone, so I can easily spend 30 seconds per image. If I were to manually correct the perspective on 100 images, APC would save me nearly an hour. 

4. What difference does it make for you being able to compose your shot with a perspective-corrected live preview?

The live preview is truly a game changer. You lose part of the frame when adjusting perspective. Without a preview, you have to estimate that loss and account for it when composing. That is not an easy task even for an experienced photographer, because it is applied 3D geometrical calculus. The live preview shows you precisely what the final frame will look like and how much of the original frame you will lose. All perspective adjustment has limits. At extreme angles, the live preview lets me know how I should position myself in front of my scene for the best shot possible. This is where APC shines.

5. Which motives did you find worked best when shooting with APC?

Architecture, cityscapes and landscapes are certainly the photographic areas where APC
makes a lot of sense. As matter of fact APC is helpful whenever you need well aligned
lines in the frame.

We’d like to thank Martin for sharing the results and feedback from his first photo tour using our APC feature. If you want to get your hands on it, open ProCamera and go to Settings > Shop > ProCamera Up. We offer a 14-day free trial to give you a chance to experience it for yourself.

You can see more of Martin’s photograhy here:

Website DE: https://streetberlin.net/de/

Website EN: https://streetberlin.net/

In this video from 2017, we documented our first meeting with Martin in the streets of Berlin.

This November, Apple asked Martin to walk the line where the Berlin Wall once stood and he captured a city reunited with the latest iPhone.

We are excited to bring you In Focus, a new series that explores what happens when creative professionals and ProCamera come together.

Visual artist Lance Hewison, who has guest blogged for us a few times already, has directed the first episode featuring Berlin-based street photographer Martin U Waltz. Check out the debut of our very first episode here:

Here are some interview segments that didn’t make it into the video but we thought you might enjoy reading:

How did you get started as a street photographer?

Actually, it’s more like it just happened rather than something I started. I always liked roaming the streets and exploring, and at some point I simply brought my camera with me and started shooting whatever was happening around me. Eventually I learned that there was something called Street Photography and that I was moving in that realm, so then I started to learn, ok, what does street photography mean and what schools of street photography are there and what could I do within this area.

Figures feature very prominently in your work. What do you find most interesting about photographing people? 

It’s the blend of people within the habitat of the city. I think that’s the really interesting part. It’s not so much that I shoot portraits, but that I try to contextualize people against the backdrop of the city and how they mix with it; that’s what I’m going for. And it depends; sometimes people are very dominant and sometimes people are tremendously small, like when I shoot from above and they are just tiny figures.

Do you ever feel blocked or uninspired. If so, what do you do in that situation?

I think every artist feels blocked and uninspired at times and I’m no exception to that. What I’ve learned is there’s only one way to get out of it, and that’s to start working again no matter how mediocre, no matter how unhappy you are with the results, and no matter how much you don’t feel like it. Just go out and do your thing and shoot whatever goes on around you. There’s no magic trick in overcoming a moment of dullness or lack of inspiration other than starting to work again. There’s one exception and that’s when I’ve shot a lot in a short time. I’m somehow “shot out”. I’m simply exhausted and I know that I need to recover for a few days. But that’s not being uninspired, that’s being visually exhausted.

Can you earn a living from street photography alone? Is it something you do for fun or for a living or both?

I teach workshops and sell prints which brings in money, but as a street photographer you’re not so much self-employed but more of an entrepreneur. So it depends on your entrepreneurial qualities and skills if you’re really getting somewhere or not.

After this experience, in which situations would you prefer to use an iPhone over a larger compact camera or the other way around?

I was actually surprised how well it worked with the iPhone and how I could get pretty much the same shooting quality as with the larger camera. The advantage of the iPhone is obviously that you’re in “stealth mode”. You can work extremely close and you can shoot in places where people would yell at you if you got a big camera out.  The huge difference between a smart phone and a larger camera is shooting at night. That’s when noise is coming in and the small sensor in the device is simply overpowered. That’s a technical frontier that has yet to be fully tackled.

What, if anything, do you hope to achieve with your photographs?

If I want to achieve something I would say it’s a documentation of contemporary Berlin. I really want to grasp what the city is about these days. So in a larger sense in my body of work it’s really about Berlin and captures it in its diversity and in its ever changing ways.

Thank you for exploring the streets of Berlin with us!
If you want to see more of Martin’s inspiring photography and Berlin explorations, check out his Website: streetberlin.net and Instagram account: instagram.com/martinuwaltz

Go on a virtual mini-vacation to the English countryside

ProCamera user Mark Allen went on a photo trip to the Lake District (UK) and came back with a beautiful series of calming landscape photos.The slideshow is best enjoyed in full screen mode and 1080p HD quality (gear icon).

On August 21 2017, millions of people across the United States will be able to see a total eclipse of the Sun

The Moon will completely block the Sun and only the Sun’s corona will shimmer in the twilight sky. We already received some questions on how to capture this event with a smartphone. Therefore, we compiled this list with some general tips and thoughts.

This is the very first photograph of a solar eclipse, made by a Prussian photographer – or “daguerrotypist” to be more precise – named Berkowski in the year 1851!
(By Berkowski [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons)

Why is it hard to photograph such a unique celestial event?

Many factors make it quite tricky to capture the eclipse in all its beauty. These are just a few:

• Eclipse photos shown on TV, the internet, or in books are taken with extremely expensive and highly specialized camera systems. Unfortunately, not many of us have some kind of private „observatory“ at home. This time, NASA even uses jet planes to chase and capture the Eclipse from the skies.
• A wide-angle lens, like it is found in all modern smartphones, doesn’t provide an ideal angle of view to capture a lot of details of the distant Sun or Moon. Both will be rendered relatively small.
• Other environmental factors not captured in a photo make this such a special event to witness. It’s the sudden drop of temperature or the reaction of animals around you that create an almost surreal impression.
• Shooting directly into the Sun’s corona means potential flares, extreme dynamic range, low light, and rapidly changing overall conditions. Quite a challenge!
• The whole phenomenon happens very rarely and only takes a couple of minutes, which is not a lot of room for trial and error.

But let’s not be discouraged by that! The last time a total eclipse was visible in the US mainland was in 1979. Take your chance.

Any tips on how to utilize the iPhone?

Two Years ago, we had the chance to photograph a partial eclipse with an iPhone 5 & iPhone 6 (and ProCamera 8) in Europe. Check our post from back then, to learn how we captured the image displayed above. Unfortunately, we can’t witness the US total eclipse this year, but this is what we have learned from our first try:

• Protection: This is a no brainer. Get one of those protective glasses. Don’t look at the sun without eye protection. Better get a bunch of them today, before they might be sold out in your area (happened to us…).
• Preparation: Search for a good lookout point the days before the eclipse and check the exact time of the eclipse for your area. Also check the weather for clear skies the the day or some hours before the event.
• Equipment: Think about what kind of equipment you are going to use. Tripod, external lenses, power bank, etc. And of course, check if ProCamera is installed on the device you are going to use
• Filters: Most sources suggest using a filter to protect the camera sensor – we follow this recommendation. Better be safe than sorry… but since special filters can be really pricey, you can try and use a filter sheet of eclipse glasses. Alternatively, you can also get sheets of special protective film and cut filters out of that. Just tape it in front of the lens of the iPhone. Since all eclipse glasses were sold out in our area, we used several layers of space blanket (silver/gold foil), which also worked. To be on the safe side when using a filter in conjunction with an external lens, put the filter in front of the external lens, not in between the camera and the external lens. If things go wrong, the filter could potentially melt in between the camera and the external lens.
• Testing: Photographing the (full) moon is a good test run. You can get a feeling for all the potential challenges you can run into during the solar eclipse (camera shake, focusing, dynamic range, …)
• Features: ProCamera offers some very helpful tools for such tricky situations.
  • Timelapse: You may use our ProTimer intervalometer feature to capture a series of photos that documents the event. The photos can be used to generate a time lapse video in a video editing software – or to create a photo compositing of the different stages in one image (see photo above).
  • Manual Focus: The autofocus may have a hard time finding the right focus in these extreme conditions. Some external Tele lenses also make it harder to find the right focus. To activate Manual Focus, go to Settings > General Options: Focus and Exposure > Manual Focus: On. Activate “Show lens position” along with it, so you can check the general focusing distance. Even though the Moon and Sun are very far away from Earth, you should get the best overall sharpness when focusing some stops below the infinity symbol (mountain icon).
  • Manual Settings: Play with the ISO and shutter speed setting. If you have a tripod, you can go ahead and dial in a longer shutter speed while lowering the ISO value, this will reduce the overall noise in the image. To go up to the maximum shutter speed of your device, switch to our complimentary LowLight mode. In the Control Panel (three line icon bottom right), you can select the longest value possible. For those longer shutter speeds, a tripod is highly recommended.
  • LowLight Plus: This special camera mode (available as an In-App purchase) is great for shooting in dim light. During totality and/or when using strong filters, there won’t be a lot of light to record for the camera sensor. If you are using a tripod, tap the LUX+ button in LowLight Plus mode, to get that extra boost in brightness.
  • iPhone 7 Plus: On this special device, you might test the Tele lens for a higher magnification of the Sun and Moon. Since the Tele lens has a smaller aperture, which means less light is hitting the sensor, this won’t work too well during totality. So be prepared to quickly switch back to the Wide lens when it’s too dim.
  • Editing: To give your images some more punch, go to the editing section. Basic brightness, contrast, and exposure edits can already make a big difference. For advanced users, the curves tool is something to look at.

For more information, check out the video posting by WRCBtv. With all that said, enjoy this unique spectacle. It isn’t going to happen again any time soon. Maybe it’s even more interesting to take some photos of the people (or pets) around you during the eclipse. Everybody looks suuuper cool with those futuristic eclipse glasses
Don’t just look at your camera, make sure to take a good look at the sky – with protective glasses, of course!

For this guest article, we invited visual artist and art educator Lance Hewison to talk about his approach to mobile photography and how he finds inspiration in everyday life:

As a photographer it’s not easy to get a unique, visually striking shot. It’s usually only 1 in a 100 photos that have that special something, and that’s a rather generous estimate for me personally.

I recently took a trip to the city of Heidelberg in southern Germany. It was a mild and sunny January afternoon, so I wandered around, coffee in hand, and admired the beautiful architecture and charm the city possesses.
As I always have my iPhone handy, I decided to use ProCamera to take some shots. I snapped lots of photos of the city’s most impressive sights. Although the details of the churches and town squares looked great in the photos, the images were nonetheless a bit predictable and didn’t really say anything interesting. I felt that anyone could have easily snapped the same photo.