How Daniel Casson Takes Stunning Landscape Photos With His iPhone

Daniel Casson is a talented landscape photographer who lives near the Peak District in the UK. With an incredible eye for composition and color, Daniel’s photos instantly make you want to go out and explore the outdoors. In this interview you’ll learn more about Daniel and how he takes such stunning landscape photos with his iPhone.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m 25 years old, and come from Sheffield, UK. I have a degree in bachelor of sciences with honors in criminology and psychology.

How did your iPhone photography journey begin?

My journey began when Instagram started (check out Instagram tutorial). I would take photos of everyday objects and things, but I didn’t have a clue what I was doing.

What inspires you to take photos with the iPhone?

I love the simplicity the iPhone gives you. You can take a photo and you could have edited it in a few seconds.

It’s a lot simpler than using a DSLR camera and going through the whole process of editing on a computer.

You primarily take landscape photos with your iPhone. What draws you to landscapes over other genres of photography?

I live very close to the Peak District and I don’t think there’s anything better than exploring new landscapes with my iPhone.

Many of your photos are shot in mist and fog. What impact does the weather have on landscape photography?

I think it impacts the landscapes immensely. I feel mist and fog gives the photo an extra dynamic. This works especially well if you’re in the woods and there is thick fog.

What’s your favorite time of day for shooting landscapes?

It used to be in the evening. I would go out and catch the last couple of hours of sun, which is also called the golden hour.

As my photography has progressed, I’ve found myself shooting a lot more in the morning. The mixture of fog and sun, makes for spectacular landscape photos.

What tips would you give to aspiring landscape photographers?

I would say it’s all about the light conditions.  The harsher the light, the less likely you are to get a great landscape photo.

In terms of composition, make sure you use the rule of thirds and think about aspect ratio. This can help you line the landscape up by using the grid in the camera app.

With landscapes, you also want to make sure you fill in the frame and look for a point of view that draws the viewer in. A good example of this is leading lines. I take a lot of photos of paths and roads which creates the feeling of depth.

Let’s talk about photo apps. Are there any camera apps that you use for taking photos besides the native camera app?

There’s only one other app I sometimes take photos with, and that’s Average Camera Pro. This allows me to create long exposure photos of water.

The app takes a number of photos over several seconds and combines them to create a soft veiling effect on moving water such as waterfalls and rivers.

What are your favorite apps for post-processing?

My favorite editing apps are VSCO and Snapseed. (Check out our VSCO tutorial and Snapseed tutorial to learn how to use thesw apps to edit your photos.)

Do you use any iPhone photography accessories?

I only use a GorrillaPod tripod, which allows me to keep my iPhone stable for long exposure shots. It has flexible legs, and its one of the best iPhone tripods available.

Can you briefly explain the story and editing process behind your three favorite iPhone photos?

Castle Stalker

I set up this shot using my GorrillaPod and shot the photo with the Average Camera Pro app. After taking the photo, I applied my favorite VSCO filter which is F1, and then I enhanced the details in Snapseed.

I love bringing out the colors in my photos, so I used saturation and contrast adjustments in Snapseed. Finally I used the Details tool to create some structure and sharpening.

The House

I took this photo with the iPhone camera app. Then I edited the image using the same process as I did for the Castle Stalker image above.

Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye

This photo was also edited using the same process at the other images. I like to edit my photos in the same way as I feel it helps create a style all of my own.

Do you shoot with any other kind of camera, and if so, when do you prefer to use the iPhone?

I do. I shoot with a Canon 100d, and I will shortly be upgrading to a 5d Mkiii. But I use both my camera and my iPhone to take photos.

I like the differences between the iPhone and the camera. I usually take two photos – one with my camera and one with my iPhone, and then I can compare them.

You have over 69,000 followers on Instagram.  How has Instagram influenced your photography and what does this online community mean to you?

Instagram has massively influenced my photography. I wasn’t even interested in photography before Instagram, and now two years down the line I’m making a career out of it.

So it means the world to me to have so much support, especially since I’ve taught myself. It’s great to get positive feedback on my work, and to know that I’ve influence and inspired other people is amazing.

What tips do you have for beginner iPhone photographers who want to start taking more creative photos with the iPhone?

The best way to learn something is by going out and trying it. Patience is the key. It isn’t going to work straight away and not every photo will be amazing. It’s about planning and making time to get out there when no one else is.

Practice makes perfect. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes because you will learn from them. I would also use Google and ask other Instagrammers for advice because they all started off as a rookie at some point.

Which iPhone photographers do you admire the most?

There are a few: @_lukecotton (read our interview with Luke Cotton), @bobbimac, @alexstrohl, @finn, @wisslaren, @jaredchambers and @punkodelish all have amazing iPhone work!

Where can we see your iPhone photography?

You can see my iPhone photos over on Instagram @dpc_photography_ and also on Tumblr @dpcphotography.