Taking Great Photos is a Snap with My iPhone

It's amazing what you can do with your iPhone these days. One of my favorite things about my iPhone is that it's easy to take some pretty good pictures with it. I've never been good with the camera so it helps that it's so darn easy. There are no complicated buttons or special tricks you have to learn.

It's basically a push of a button! Obviously you're still going to have to hold your camera steady and a sense of composition helps, but it's way easier than anything I've ever used in my life. I've never been a great photographer but have always loved taking photos, trying to capture a specific moment in my life.

My iPhone lets me do this and so much more! Download some free photo applications and elevate your photos to make them look even better.

*All photos taken by myself unless otherwise noted.

The great thing about the iPhone (or any smartphone for that matter) is that you'll always have a camera with you wherever you take your phone. You never know when you'll stumble upon something you want to take a snapshot of.

Living in Tokyo, we are fortunate to have four distinct seasons, treating us to a constant change of scenery. Even on a simple walk around my neighborhood reveals things that are new. The beauty of the individual seasons are fleeting and I strive to capture the essence and the unique characteristic of each.

Did you know that there are tons of good apps that let you edit your photos. You can improve the look of your photos or make them more dynamic with just a few movements of your index finger.

Here are just a couple of my favorite apps that I use to make sure my photos are the best they can be.

Snapseed : This is probably the app that I use most and it sure is one powerful monster. The photo on the right was taken at the Inari Shrine in Kyoto. I changed the angle to make it more interesting as well as enhancing it using TUNE IMAGE and TILT-SHIFT in Snapseed.

moreBeaute2: This is a great app that lets anyone look flawless. Its brightens your face and eliminates flaws. If you have even a tinge of vanity in you, this app is a must! For someone like me who is almost past middle age, it's essential!

To get these apps, you can simply search for it in the app store on your iPhone in case you didn't already know that. Of course you knew that right?

I love taking walks and it really doesn't matter where because I never fail to find something that catches my attention. For instance, Tokyo is known for many things ranging from manga to sushi but visitors always comment on the plethora of vending machines littered throughout the city.

Since they are such a big part of a tourist's experience here in Tokyo, I decided to take photos of them on one of my random walks. I never really thought much about them, but focusing on them throughout the day made me realize just how many of these drink machines we have!

As I hardly ever leave home without my iPhone, it was easy to get lots of photos during my walk. The photo above was finally edited using Snapseed.

So where exactly does one find inspiration? That's an easy question to answer because inspiration is all around you. It's really that simple! Just take a look around you. I'm sure you'll find something interesting to look at even in the confines of your home.

Every time I step out my front door, inspiration never fail to find me. Depending on the weather and even the time of day, the same old streets I see everyday can take on different moods, the sun casting shadows in various ways while the color of the sky acts as an ever-changing canvas against rooftops, treetops and concrete skyscrapers.

*Photo of a bicycle against a wall. Edited with Snapseed.

I think it's obvious how much I love my iPhone camera. By the way, I currently use the iPhone 5S, which comes with an awesome camera.

I tried carrying around a separate digital camera on my outings, but it's simply so much easier to snap away with my iPhone.

I'll probably invest in a proper digital camera one of these days. It's even more crucial these days since I now manage a food and travel blog, which demands nothing less than great photos. But for most of my picture-taking needs, my iPhone more than meets my demands and needs.

Do you use your iphone to take pictures? What are you drawn to when looking for photo subjects? Feel free to let me know what you think. Thanks for reading!