Photography with Smartphones

This field workshop, 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 shoot great landscape photographs.

Jon Norris is a professional landscape photographer and workshop guide, a JTNPA business member, and a 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, changing the exposure of your photograph (to get more shadow detail or reduce highlights), use of filters (giving you more creative freedom), choosing the aperture to change depth of field (for example, to blur a background).

There will be a mix of demonstrations on how to shoot landscapes with an iPhone, plus time for you to explore the different locations (old ranch ruins, three vintage vehicles, a stamp mill, and a windmill) all of which are surrounded by the rocks and trees of Joshua Tree). This workshop is open to any and all levels of photographer.

All required items participants need to bring for your course: water, between 2 and 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, small backpack to carry food, water, and any personal items you need for the day, iPhone (with iOS 17), notebook and pencil are always good to have.

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

Photo credit: Jon Norris, Desert Institute Instructor and Volunteer