I finally managed to get hold of my latest article for The Alpine Club in their March 2021 newsletter on how to take great images whilst climbing with your phone. Check it out!
TAKING IMAGES ON YOUR PHONE WHILST CLIMBING
Introduction. Mobile phones are ubiquitous now. They’re the modern multi-tool, and one of the best tools they come with is the camera. Though not yet the quality of an SLR, camera phones are becoming increasingly popular among climbers due to their quality, size and accessibility. Below are several ideas on how best to prepare to capture those images.
Accessibility. When climbing, keep your phone in a chest pocket. It’ll be easier to access, and being close to the body in cold conditions should keep it warm and preserve the battery. If it gets really cold, you can put a hand warmer in the pocket to keep things toasty.
Safety. Before you get your phone out make sure you’re secure. Be tied in correctly to your anchor points, or bury an ice axe on steep slopes. With your attention focused elsewhere the odds of something risky happening increase.
Preparation. Check the lens and screen are free of moisture which can occur when the phone is kept against the body. This can interfere with the touch controls. I keep a small piece of microfibre towel in my pocket to easily wipe moisture off.
Intention. Before you shoot, think about what you want to convey in the image. What are the points of interest? Is it a gnarly crux, a beautiful sunset, or the exhaustion on your friend’s face? Knowing your intention will help with composing the image.
Shoot. Now you know what to capture, compose your image around the grid lines and apply the rule of thirds. Capturing the subject along these lines and placing points of interest in the intersections or along the lines will help to balance your photo and enable the viewer to interact with it more naturally. People’s eyes usually go to one of the intersection points most naturally rather than the centre of a shot.
Conclusion. In all, the possibilities with mobile cameras are endless. In beautiful scenery like the mountains it’s hard to take a bad image, but with a little thought and preparation a good image can become a great one.
You can read the full newsletter here.
Further Reading
I think every photographer aspires for a magazine front cover shot and I finally landed my first on The Outdoor Writer Photographer Guild’s 2021 summer journal.