Apple Highlights Photos Shot by iPhone 12 Users: Portraits, Cityscapes, and More

I always wondered, mostly because I never had an iPhone... Are "regular" users capable of taking such photos? I'm assuming they aren't just "point and shoot." Are they retouched in Photoshop? Or are the advanced camera settings (iso, exposure, etc) adjusted so that these photos come out so pretty?

Absolutely. It has little to do with the camera. It's more about imagination and what moves you. Even though I have dSLRs and mirrorless cameras, I've been shooting with iPhones since 2011 and exclusively for about the last 6 years. The key is always having a camera (for me an iPhone) with me in my pocket. I use them as point-n-shoot devices. I do a little post-processing in Lightroom. But that's something I always did when using "regular" cameras.

Here's a photo I made looking upwards at some trees in a residential neighborhood in Palo Alto, California. The view reminded me of person's carotid artery that feeds one's brain. So I snapped a photo with the phone I had at the time, an iPhone X.

Looking back at my pictures from the iPhone 6/6S, they just get better and better through the years. However, when I view the photos on something bigger than a phone screen, you can really tell. My fervent wish is for Apple to partner with someone like FujiFilm to bring the smarts and ease of taking photos on the iPhone to a much larger sensor. Sometimes when taking photos of my kid crawling around with my camera, I wish the process could be as easy as it is on my phone, but with the greater light-gathering/detail/information that comes with a larger sensor. Sigh.

I always wondered, mostly because I never had an iPhone... Are "regular" users capable of taking such photos? I'm assuming they aren't just "point and shoot." Are they retouched in Photoshop? Or are the advanced camera settings (iso, exposure, etc) adjusted so that these photos come out so pretty?

These are shot with the 11 pro at night ... just to test, no special composition, no special settings, just point and shoot and no retouch ...

I always wondered, mostly because I never had an iPhone... Are "regular" users capable of taking such photos? I'm assuming they aren't just "point and shoot." Are they retouched in Photoshop? Or are the advanced camera settings (iso, exposure, etc) adjusted so that these photos come out so pretty?

I would expect it to be the later. Sure, a 'mere mortal' can do incredible things, but so much of that process is knowing how to setup the tools used to do incredible things. The guy that did most of the cabinetry in my house (20 years ago) had a lot of the same power tools I did. I felt better about buying those tools, and could do 'average things' with them, but he was an artist. He took those tools, and made some incredible cabinets. He knew how to really use those tools. He asked me why I didn't do the cabinets. Well, I wanted them square, even, solid, not a Picasso experience...:oops:😆:cool:Not trying to trash my woodworking skills, but I recognize my limits.

I'm sure Apple engineers setup the devices for optimum image creation. We mere mortals at least have a chance...

Great inspiring photos, there are some really talented photographers who know how to use their phones to shoot these images. Brilliant! :)

Absolutely. It has little to do with the camera. It's more about imagination and what moves you. Even though I have dSLRs and mirrorless cameras, I've been shooting with iPhones since 2011 and exclusively for about the last 6 years. The key is always having a camera (for me an iPhone) with me in my pocket. I use them as point-n-shoot devices. I do a little post-processing in Lightroom. But that's something I always did when using "regular" cameras.

Here's a photo I made looking upwards at some trees in a residential neighborhood in Palo Alto, California. The view reminded me of person's carotid artery that feeds one's brain. So I snapped a photo with the phone I had at the time, an iPhone X.

So get this:

I was reading the title for the thread article, it says “Apple highlights photo shot by iPhone 12 users: Portrait, Cityscapes and more...”

I thought the word ‘Cityscapes’ in the thread title actually said ‘Citysnaps’, and then I remembered that you’re a photographer and I figured you’d be in the thread. So for a second there, I thought they were demoing your work in this thread based off my misreading.