The weekly smartphone photo challenge returns this week after a bit of a break following the Mobiography Awards. The theme of this last week’s Mobiography Photo Challenge was ‘Curves & Lines’. For this challenge participants were asked to share their best curve and line inspired photos, and the submissions were fantastic. All photos featured in this showcase illustrate how different photographers have approached this theme. Some have opted to capture the curves of spiral staircases to lead the eye into the frame while others have chosen to capture leading lines or curves to frame a subject and lead the viewers eye into the scene.
Featured photographers this week include: @royiphoneography, @miakbh, @elisa_bond_photo, @locknessey, @jhyattphoto, @emmafwright, @jawdoc2, @sunflowerof21_365, @adurnwirth, @reneetakespics, @persiflagepics, @bazillus, @youfollowm, and @chasread
Take part in the next Mobiography photo challenge
The theme of this weeks photo challenge is ‘Joy & Happiness’. For this challenge think about sharing your best mobile photos that capture the the feelings of Joy & Happiness – Think laughter, special occasions, portraits of smiling people, people celebrating or maybe somewhere that is your happy place.
To enter the challenge simply start sharing your best images on the theme of ‘Joy & Happiness’ that were taken and edited with a smartphone by using the hashtag #mobiography_170 on Instagram.
The best ones will be featured in the next photo challenge showcase, so get sharing now.
Join The Mobiography Facebook GroupQuartel General do Exército, Brasília
‘Quartel General do Exército, Brasília’ by @royiphoneography – “It is so good to see a military building so openly accessible and not being hidden by barriers or fences. The whole area feels imposing yet welcoming and accessible.
It used to be that you could access the dias and pretend to address the assembled masses of Companheiros. The caustics are absolutely fantastic allowing one to address the assembled multitudes in the tens of thousands without the need for electronic amplification. The oblesque and the sweeping scabbard that are such a powerful military symbol.
I took this photo when I was in Brasilia, Brazil attending the awards ceremony of Brasilia Photo Show and they arranged the city tour of Brasilia.
Taken with an iPhone X with Moment wide 18mm Lens. Apps for editing: Adobe Lightroom for Mobile. ”
Another ordinary day
‘Another ordinary day’ by @miakbh – “This photograph was taken at Hoje Taastrup train station in a suburb outside Copenhagen.
The scene is actually quite ordinary – the man carries a common yellow grocery bag from a popular chain of discount stores here in Denmark. Outside the frame – people were rushing to catch their train to the next destination. So an everyday scene. The window however, is what makes the scene extraordinary and attracts the attention – the solitary human element adds the storytelling and makes the shot even more interesting to look at. ”
Double Helix Spiral
‘Double Helix Spiral’ by @elisa_bond_photo – “This Double Spiral Helix is a staircase in a building at the University of Technology Sydney designed by FJMT architects.
A long-held interest in spirals was inspired by a high school art teacher who illustrated the ‘Golden Mean’ concept with examples from Renaissance art, architecture and nature, such as spiral stairs and unfurling ferns.
Just before to the first pandemic lockdown in 2021, I had started a photography course and often walked past the new Sydney University of Technology building. I couldn’t help notice an amazing double spiral staircase that looked exactly like a double helix from the street.
The first time I photographed this spiral staircase I was looking for subjects that would exemplify design elements and principles of line and rhythm for my photography assignment.
I found my way inside the newly opened building and took some photographs to explore different angles of view and composition with my iPhone, being the camera with me at the time. Mostly these were under the centre of the spiral looking up.
I returned to do the detailed study with full frame camera. Much to the amusement of passing students, this 60 year old had to lie down on the floor as the angle of view wasn’t as wide as my iPhone and I was getting a very sore neck trying to photograph vertically with such a heavy camera.
This more recent photograph of the spiral staircase was taken on my iPhone 11 in 2021 between the two pandemic lockdowns. I was keen to show the spiral staircase to an artist friend interested in photography so this photo was taken much more quickly.
I intentionally took it uncentered so that lines would converge in a different unexpected manner than the more carefully aligned version from last year. It gives it a more dynamic lively feel.
The photo was edited in Snapseed app.”
Breaking The Glass Ceiling
‘Breaking The Glass Ceiling’ by @locknessey – “The clouds floating above Chadstone’s glass ceiling, Christmas 2020, caught the eye of this shopper searching for more inspiration. Shot on an iPhone 12.”
Circle Of Life
‘Circle Of Life’ by @emmafwright – “I spend most days cycling or walking by the River Trent in Nottingham. Those who follow me on Instagram will know I have a passion for taking reflection photographs. There is something about water that I’m constantly drawn to no matter how small or large body of water it is (raindrops, puddles, ponds, rivers, lakes and sea) especially on still days when reflections are almost perfect. On this day I noticed there was some water on the steps which go down to the river, this had remained here after the river level had dropped and there were a few swans which were gliding past, I knew that I would be able to get an interesting reflection photo. Coming up with a title for a photo is not easy but it encourages you to think more about your work and on this day there were swans with their cygnets on the river, which I have witnessed over a long period mature and so the title ‘Circle of Life’ came to me.
In regards to editing I try to keep it to a minimum but it depends on the photo and what my final aim is. This photo I did a bit of editing using the tools within the photo album, Snapseed and Instagram.”
Getting into shape
‘Getting into shape’ by @jawdoc2 – “I was walking in my home town Vancouver, and noticed these strong shadows lines on the ground in front of me, created by the trusses of an overhead bridge.
I needed to get a better perspective from above. Fortunately there was a staircase nearby, so I climbed to the top and looked down to see the geometric shadow shapes below.
I composed my shot and waited for a passerby to get into one of those shapes.
Shot on iPhone XS Max
Using the iPhone software I changed it to black and white, then upped the contrast a little.”
Window cleaners at Trinity Leeds
‘Window cleaners at Trinity Leeds’ by @sunflowerof21_365 – “This photo was taken on day 315 of my 365 photo project for this year. A few years ago, I‘d noticed some window cleaners on the edge of the glass roof of the city shopping centre. I thought it would have made a great shot, but they had just about finished and were moving off the roof, which is 100ft from ground level.
I’ve been in the shopping centre many times over the past couple of years, and often looked up on the off chance I might see them again to grab a photo. I was lucky to notice them on this day. I took the photo on my way up an escalator, trying to get both figures within the frames of the windows, which was quite tricky.
This was shot with an iPhone 11 Pro Max and edited using the Hipstamatic app (Lowy/Otto combo).”
Looking up
‘Looking up’ by @adurnwirth – “I love photography for many reasons, but one of them is that it gives you a reason to explore, and this image is one of those examples. While walking down this spiral staircase, I was quite impressed with the metal and glass construction. The shapes and curves at the bottom caught my attention, and when I looked up, I noticed the clouds in the sky could clearly be seen in the center circle.
I found the best shooting angle by lying on the ground dead center of the spiral to achieve the desired effect. One of my favorite features of this image is that it appears abstract in nature and that it isn’t immediately apparent what it is. My goal when taking photos is to capture more interesting images by seeing things from various perspectives.
I took this picture with my iPhone, and the lighting was excellent, so there wasn’t much editing necessary. Contrast and ambiance were adjusted with Snapseed.”
Bay Trail Biker
‘Bay Trail Biker’ by @reneetakespics – “Shot with an iPhone 11 in the early morning. I had scoped at the shot for its symmetry, positioned my phone on the ground, and waited for someone to ride or jog into the frame. I love live mode for being able to catch just the right moment but in this case, my trigger finger was right on the button! Edited in Snapseed. Taken on the Bay Trail in Foster City, CA”
Cinematic Cathedral Berlin
‘Cinematic Cathedral Berlin’ by @bazillus – “My series ‘architecture – eye on detail’ is an ongoing project which I started in 2011. My focus is on the details of buildings, interior and excerpts from the urban space. The choice of the place, and the language of shapes and the light transfer the images to an independent abstract photo. As well as they are references to architectural styles and eras.
The photos are shot with my iPhone and have only been edited with Instagram. Black and white Only!”
Untitled
‘Untitled’ by @youfollowm – “That was one of the early spring weekends when I already felt exhausted by the long winter and was looking for new locations and inspiration.
I found this place in the car parking near the shopping mall. I processed this image on my mobile as I usually do.”
new world
‘new world’ by @chasread – “This striking new entrance portal at 7th Avenue and 33rd Street in midtown Manhattan is part of a still-ongoing renovation and redesign of pedestrian traffic patterns through Penn Station. Looking up to street level from below, the long lines of the escalators lead the eye towards the Empire State Building, while the arcing ellipse above defines the space and its function with an etched geographic projection that maps the city’s 5 boroughs. Always fun to linger here.
Shot in black and white using the Blackie App camera on iPhone 12. Cropped and edited in Snapseed using the Brush tool. ”
Things come in 3s
‘Things come in 3s’ by @jhyattphoto
Untitled
‘Untitled’ by @persiflagepics
Don’t forget…
The theme of this weeks photo challenge is ‘Joy & Happiness’. For this challenge think about sharing your best mobile photos that capture the the feelings of Joy & Happiness – Think laughter, special occasions, portraits of smiling people, people celebrating or maybe somewhere that is your happy place.
To enter the challenge simply start sharing your best images on the theme of ‘Joy & Happiness’ that were taken and edited with a smartphone by using the hashtag #mobiography_170 on Instagram.
The best ones will be featured in the next photo challenge showcase, so get sharing now.
Join the Mobiography Facebook Group
If you haven’t already done so, follow Mobiography on Instagram and hashtag your photos with #mobiography. Don’t forget to sign up to the Mobiography email list to get the latest news and updates direct to your inbox.
Join The Mobiography Facebook Group
