Photography With Smartphones

This is an ADA-accessible and a leisurely activity with little to no travel required - less than 2 miles with minimal elevation gain. Shade and seating may be available. 

This field workshop, held in the South Wonderland of Rocks (an iconic area in Joshua Tree National Park), covers how to make the best use of light, composition, and camera modes on the iPhone (including the features introduced from iOS 17) to capture great landscape photographs.

Jon Norris is a professional landscape photographer, workshop guide, JTNPA business member, and Desert Institute volunteer. As a recovering engineer, he now divides his time between marketing and photography and lives in Lake Forest, OC.

Topics covered include when to use Photo, Portrait, or Pano modes, changing the aspect ratio of your photograph to suit your subject, adjusting the exposure to capture more shadow detail or reduce highlights, using filters for creative freedom, and selecting the appropriate aperture to alter the depth of field (e.g., to blur a background).

The workshop will feature a mix of demonstrations on how to shoot landscapes with an iPhone, along with time for you to explore different locations (including old ranch ruins, three vintage vehicles, a stamp mill, and a windmill), all surrounded by the rocks and trees of Joshua Tree. This workshop is open to photographers of all levels.

Required items participants need to bring for the course: water (2-3 liters per person for a half-day outing), food and snacks (easily packed and eaten in the field—please leave no trace), close-toed athletic shoes or hiking boots (no sandals, not even hiking sandals), sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen; light-colored long-sleeved shirts are recommended and very effective on hot days), warm layers for cooler mornings, a small backpack to carry food, water, and personal items, iPhone (with iOS 17), notebook, and pencil.

Activities include walking (3 miles with a total elevation gain of approximately 50 feet) on maintained dirt trails.

Photo credit: Jon Norris, Desert Institute Instructor and Volunteer