USING AN APPLE 12 PRO MAX
THE iPHONE 12 PRO MAX IS STILL EXCELLENT FOR STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
The iPhone 12 Pro Max as a Tool for Deliberate RAW Photography
The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, even several years after its initial release, remains a highly capable device for capturing compelling photographs and videos, suitable for users across a wide spectrum of skill levels. Its enduring image-capturing prowess provides a strong foundation for exploring more advanced photographic techniques. When paired with a dedicated application like Halide, the potential of this smartphone camera system can be further unlocked, particularly for those interested in capturing images in the RAW format. Halide distinguishes itself as a professional-grade camera application designed for both novice and experienced photographers, emphasizing a more intentional and thoughtful approach to image creation rather than relying solely on quick, automated snapshots. Considering the capabilities of this combination, it becomes pertinent to examine the reasons why a photographer might choose this setup over a traditional, dedicated camera system. Furthermore, the discussion extends to the intriguing notion that sometimes, a less analytical and more instinctive approach to photography, focusing on capturing the immediate visual experience, can yield surprisingly rewarding results. This report aims to delve into the technical aspects, comparative merits, and psychological considerations surrounding the use of an older iPhone 12 Pro Max with the Halide application for capturing RAW images.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max incorporates a sophisticated camera system featuring three 12-megapixel lenses: wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto. Notably, the main wide camera boasts a sensor that is significantly larger—47% larger, in fact—than the sensor found in the standard iPhone 12 model. This increased sensor size translates to larger individual photo-sites, which directly enhances the camera's ability to perform in low-light conditions. Apple has claimed an impressive 87% improvement in light collection due to this larger sensor. To further aid in capturing sharp images, the main wide lens is equipped with a sensor-shift optical image stabilisation system. Unlike some other smartphones that stabilise the image by moving the lens elements, the iPhone 12 Pro Max moves the entire sensor assembly, providing a more effective form of stabilisation. The telephoto lens on this model offers a 65mm equivalent focal length, providing a greater reach than previous iPhone iterations and allowing for tighter compositions of distant subjects. Additionally, the inclusion of a LiDAR scanner contributes to faster and more accurate autofocus, particularly in dimly lit environments.
Beyond the hardware, Apple has implemented an advanced "smart photography pipeline" that significantly influences the final image output. Key components of this pipeline include Smart HDR and Deep Fusion, both of which leverage the considerable processing power of the A14 Bionic chip through real-time machine learning. These computational algorithms work intelligently to enhance various aspects of the image, such as selectively boosting details, accurately determining white balance even in challenging night scenes, and effectively detecting and isolating subjects within the frame. The overarching goal of this image processing is to produce images that appear natural while retaining crucial details, especially in areas like skin tones and hair. While the processing is comprehensive, it has been described as "conservative" in its approach, generally exhibiting fairly neutral colour saturation and contrast, along with a tendency towards a slightly warmer white balance. The iPhone's software can even identify and segment the sky within a photograph, applying targeted noise reduction to create smooth gradients, although this can sometimes result in an unintended blue cast even in overcast skies. The low-light performance of the iPhone 12 Pro Max is particularly noteworthy. It features a dedicated Night Mode that excels at capturing stunning images and videos in extremely low-light conditions. This Night Mode capability extends across all the phone's lenses, including the ultra-wide and front-facing cameras (though RAW capture via the native app might have limitations on these). The system can even facilitate handheld long exposures in very dark environments. Renowned photographer Ken Rockwell has lauded the iPhone 12 Pro Max for its ability to capture scenes in low light exactly as they appeared to his eye, a testament to its impressive capabilities.
To further harness the photographic potential of the iPhone 12 Pro Max, applications like Halide offer a suite of advanced features that go beyond the capabilities of the native camera app. Halide provides photographers with comprehensive manual controls over key exposure parameters. This includes the ability to precisely adjust shutter speed, ISO sensitivity, and white balance, giving users greater creative command over the look and feel of their images. The application also features an intuitive, gesture-based manual focus system, complete with helpful tools like focus peaking and a focus loupe to ensure critical sharpness. For accurate exposure assessment, Halide offers professional-grade tools such as histograms, an extended dynamic range (XDR) 14-bit RGB waveform display, and colour zebra stripes, allowing photographers to fine-tune their settings for optimal results.
In addition to manual controls, Halide excels in its RAW capture functionalities. It offers a unique "Process Zero" mode, which captures images in a minimally processed RAW format, aiming to produce film-like results directly from the camera with no artificial intelligence intervention. This mode saves the raw sensor data, providing maximum flexibility for extensive post-processing in dedicated image editing software. Halide also supports shooting in native RAW format and may offer compatibility with Apple's ProRAW format on the iPhone 12 Pro Max, depending on the specific version of the application. Furthermore, the "Smart RAW" feature utilises machine learning algorithms to optimise the exposure of RAW files, aiming to maximise detail and minimise noise. Beyond these core features, Halide provides a customisable interface with intuitive gesture controls. It includes a grid overlay with a built-in level to aid in composition. The reviewer mode allows users to examine images along with their EXIF metadata. For iPhones with multiple cameras, Halide offers a depth mode for capturing portraits of pets and other objects. The application even provides a "Technical Readout" that displays detailed information about the iPhone's camera hardware. To enhance convenience, Halide offers lock screen and home screen widgets for quick access to shooting modes. It also integrates with iPad and Apple Watch for remote shooting capabilities. Notably, Halide prioritises user privacy with a "Private by Design" approach, ensuring no tracking or collection of personal data or photographs. For those looking to improve their photographic skills, Halide even includes built-in tutorials and lessons.
Understanding the benefits of using Halide for RAW photography requires a grasp of the fundamental differences between JPEG and RAW files. A RAW file can be likened to the unprocessed data captured directly from the camera's sensor, often described as a "digital negative". In contrast, a JPEG file is a processed and compressed image format that is ready for immediate use. Shooting in RAW format on the iPhone 12 Pro Max with Halide offers several key advantages. RAW files retain a significantly higher level of image quality, capturing more detail and a wider dynamic range than their JPEG counterparts. They also contain a greater tonal range and more colour information, providing a richer foundation for post-processing. The flexibility offered during editing is extensive, allowing for significant adjustments to white balance, exposure, and colour correction without severely degrading the image quality. Editing RAW files is generally non-destructive, meaning the original data remains untouched, and changes are stored separately. This format provides a greater ability to recover details in both underexposed shadows and overexposed highlights, rescuing potentially lost information in high-contrast scenes.
However, shooting in RAW on a smartphone also presents certain drawbacks. The file sizes of RAW images are considerably larger than JPEGs, which can quickly consume storage space on the device. Unlike JPEGs, RAW files require post-processing in specialised software to achieve a final, viewable image. This necessity for editing can lead to a slower overall workflow. Furthermore, RAW files have limited compatibility and typically require specific software for viewing and editing. In some cases, shooting in RAW can potentially cause a slight slowdown in the camera's shooting speed. Apple's ProRAW format, if accessible through Halide on the iPhone 12 Pro Max, represents a unique approach. It combines the data of a standard RAW file with some of Apple's computational image processing, such as Smart HDR and Deep Fusion. This hybrid format aims to provide the editing flexibility of RAW while leveraging the benefits of Apple's advanced processing algorithms. However, ProRAW files are typically even larger than regular RAW files or JPEGs, requiring more storage space. ProRAW is natively available within the camera app on Pro-level iPhones.
When comparing the image quality achievable with the iPhone 12 Pro Max and Halide to that of dedicated cameras available around 2020 (the phone's release year), it's important to acknowledge that dedicated cameras, particularly those with larger sensors and higher-quality lenses, generally offer superior image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. These cameras often provide better dynamic range, enhanced low-light performance (though the iPhone 12 Pro Max is quite strong in this area), and a wider array of lens options for different creative effects. The fixed lenses of the iPhone, while versatile, cannot match the optical quality and adaptability of interchangeable lenses found on dedicated camera systems. DXOMARK's review of the iPhone 12 Pro Max highlighted its excellent photo sub-score but also noted limitations in dynamic range for stills and long-range zoom capabilities compared to some competitors.
Despite these general advantages of dedicated cameras, the iPhone 12 Pro Max paired with Halide offers a compelling alternative for many photographers due to its inherent convenience and portability—the "always with you" factor. While using RAW aims to bypass some of the native computational photography for greater control, the underlying power of the iPhone's processing can still be beneficial in various situations. The built-in image stabilisation for both stills and videos is remarkably effective. The ability to instantly share images is a significant advantage for many users. The intuitive user interface of both the iPhone and the Halide app (with its thoughtful design) contributes to a positive shooting experience. The discreet nature of a smartphone camera makes it particularly well-suited for certain types of photography, such as street photography. There are specific scenarios where choosing the iPhone 12 Pro Max with Halide over a dedicated camera might be particularly advantageous. These include travel and hiking where minimising weight and bulk is crucial. The iPhone excels at capturing spontaneous moments quickly. In situations where a less conspicuous camera is preferred, the iPhone is an ideal tool. Finally, when the need for immediate sharing of images outweighs the pursuit of the absolute highest possible image quality, the iPhone provides a seamless workflow.
The concept of "photographic intuition," also referred to as "visual intuition," describes a photographer's innate ability to observe a scene and instinctively recognise elements that work well together in terms of composition and light. This involves the capacity to compose photographs rapidly and without excessive conscious deliberation. The idea of "capturing what you see" rather than "what you thought you saw" aligns with this intuitive approach. Ken Rockwell, for instance, noted his experience with the iPhone 12 Pro Max accurately capturing scenes as they appeared to his eye. This perspective encourages photographers to move beyond rigid technical rules and instead focus on the immediate feeling and experience of the moment they are photographing. "Intuitive photography" emphasises qualities like presence, embodiment, curiosity, and a sense of playfulness in the creative process. Adopting a less analytical approach can sometimes lead to more compelling and authentic images. Overthinking the technical aspects can often stifle the natural flow of creativity in photography. Being fully present in the moment and trusting one's instincts can be more beneficial than getting bogged down in meticulous planning. The focus shifts from striving for technical perfection to capturing the essence of a particular moment. As photographer Adrian Vila aptly quoted Robert Henri, "The object isn't to make art; it's to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable". A smartphone like the iPhone 12 Pro Max can be particularly conducive to this intuitive style of photography. Its ease of use and portability encourage more spontaneous shooting opportunities. The philosophy that "the best camera is the one that's with you" resonates strongly in this context. The immediacy of viewing and sharing images captured on a smartphone can further foster a more instinctive and less overthought approach to photography.
The field of psychology offers valuable insights into the art of photography, revealing how our approach to image-making can profoundly affect the final outcome. Overthinking in photography can have several negative consequences. It can lead to a disconnect between the photographer's initial visual perception and what they believe they should be capturing based on external rules or expectations. This can result in a loss of spontaneity and the natural flow of the creative process. Becoming overly concerned with arbitrary rules and striving for technical perfection can overshadow the unique essence of a moment. The "perfectionist trap" can cause photographers to miss out on unexpected beauty that arises from embracing the unplanned. In contrast, adopting a more present and intuitive approach to photography offers several psychological benefits. It can lead to increased joy and spontaneity in the act of creation. A focus on the immediate experience can foster a deeper connection with the subjects being photographed. Seeing oneself represented positively in photographs can enhance self-esteem. The act of immersing oneself in the present moment to capture a photograph promotes mindfulness. For some, photography can even serve as a form of emotional release and a pathway to self-discovery. It's also worth considering how the act of taking photographs itself, regardless of the device used, can influence memory and perception. The "photo-taking impairment effect" suggests that taking photos without fully engaging with the scene can lead to the brain outsourcing the memory, resulting in less detailed retention of the experience. However, for some, the act of photographing people can be a way to connect with them and remember specific details. The brain actively interprets visual information, and our preferences and biases can influence what we choose to capture and how we remember it. The increasing adoption of smartphones by professional photographers further highlights the evolving landscape of image creation. Professionals are using smartphones more frequently for both personal and even some professional work. The reasons for this include the portability and convenience of smartphones, as well as the fact that the image quality is now often sufficient for various professional purposes. There are numerous examples of professional photographers who rely on iPhones for their creative vision.
In conclusion, utilising an older iPhone 12 Pro Max with the Halide application for RAW photography presents a compelling option for photographers seeking a balance between convenience, control, and image quality. The iPhone 12 Pro Max provides a capable hardware foundation, and Halide unlocks its potential with advanced manual controls and the ability to capture images in the flexible RAW format. While dedicated cameras may still hold an edge in certain aspects of image quality and versatility, the iPhone + Halide combination offers significant advantages in terms of portability and spontaneity, making it particularly well-suited for specific shooting scenarios. Furthermore, embracing photographic intuition and focusing on capturing the immediate visual experience, rather than overthinking technical details, can lead to more authentic and emotionally resonant images, especially when using a tool as accessible and integrated into daily life as a smartphone. The increasing acceptance of smartphone photography among professionals underscores the viability of devices like the iPhone 12 Pro Max as serious tools for creative expression.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max as a Tool for Deliberate RAW Photography
The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, even several years after its initial release, remains a highly capable device for capturing compelling photographs and videos, suitable for users across a wide spectrum of skill levels. Its enduring image-capturing prowess provides a strong foundation for exploring more advanced photographic techniques. When paired with a dedicated application like Halide, the potential of this smartphone camera system can be further unlocked, particularly for those interested in capturing images in the RAW format. Halide distinguishes itself as a professional-grade camera application designed for both novice and experienced photographers, emphasizing a more intentional and thoughtful approach to image creation rather than relying solely on quick, automated snapshots. Considering the capabilities of this combination, it becomes pertinent to examine the reasons why a photographer might choose this setup over a traditional, dedicated camera system. Furthermore, the discussion extends to the intriguing notion that sometimes, a less analytical and more instinctive approach to photography, focusing on capturing the immediate visual experience, can yield surprisingly rewarding results. This report aims to delve into the technical aspects, comparative merits, and psychological considerations surrounding the use of an older iPhone 12 Pro Max with the Halide application for capturing RAW images.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max incorporates a sophisticated camera system featuring three 12-megapixel lenses: wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto. Notably, the main wide camera boasts a sensor that is significantly larger—47% larger, in fact—than the sensor found in the standard iPhone 12 model. This increased sensor size translates to larger individual photo-sites, which directly enhances the camera's ability to perform in low-light conditions. Apple has claimed an impressive 87% improvement in light collection due to this larger sensor. To further aid in capturing sharp images, the main wide lens is equipped with a sensor-shift optical image stabilisation system. Unlike some other smartphones that stabilise the image by moving the lens elements, the iPhone 12 Pro Max moves the entire sensor assembly, providing a more effective form of stabilisation. The telephoto lens on this model offers a 65mm equivalent focal length, providing a greater reach than previous iPhone iterations and allowing for tighter compositions of distant subjects. Additionally, the inclusion of a LiDAR scanner contributes to faster and more accurate autofocus, particularly in dimly lit environments.
Beyond the hardware, Apple has implemented an advanced "smart photography pipeline" that significantly influences the final image output. Key components of this pipeline include Smart HDR and Deep Fusion, both of which leverage the considerable processing power of the A14 Bionic chip through real-time machine learning. These computational algorithms work intelligently to enhance various aspects of the image, such as selectively boosting details, accurately determining white balance even in challenging night scenes, and effectively detecting and isolating subjects within the frame. The overarching goal of this image processing is to produce images that appear natural while retaining crucial details, especially in areas like skin tones and hair. While the processing is comprehensive, it has been described as "conservative" in its approach, generally exhibiting fairly neutral colour saturation and contrast, along with a tendency towards a slightly warmer white balance. The iPhone's software can even identify and segment the sky within a photograph, applying targeted noise reduction to create smooth gradients, although this can sometimes result in an unintended blue cast even in overcast skies. The low-light performance of the iPhone 12 Pro Max is particularly noteworthy. It features a dedicated Night Mode that excels at capturing stunning images and videos in extremely low-light conditions. This Night Mode capability extends across all the phone's lenses, including the ultra-wide and front-facing cameras (though RAW capture via the native app might have limitations on these). The system can even facilitate handheld long exposures in very dark environments. Renowned photographer Ken Rockwell has lauded the iPhone 12 Pro Max for its ability to capture scenes in low light exactly as they appeared to his eye, a testament to its impressive capabilities.
To further harness the photographic potential of the iPhone 12 Pro Max, applications like Halide offer a suite of advanced features that go beyond the capabilities of the native camera app. Halide provides photographers with comprehensive manual controls over key exposure parameters. This includes the ability to precisely adjust shutter speed, ISO sensitivity, and white balance, giving users greater creative command over the look and feel of their images. The application also features an intuitive, gesture-based manual focus system, complete with helpful tools like focus peaking and a focus loupe to ensure critical sharpness. For accurate exposure assessment, Halide offers professional-grade tools such as histograms, an extended dynamic range (XDR) 14-bit RGB waveform display, and colour zebra stripes, allowing photographers to fine-tune their settings for optimal results.
In addition to manual controls, Halide excels in its RAW capture functionalities. It offers a unique "Process Zero" mode, which captures images in a minimally processed RAW format, aiming to produce film-like results directly from the camera with no artificial intelligence intervention. This mode saves the raw sensor data, providing maximum flexibility for extensive post-processing in dedicated image editing software. Halide also supports shooting in native RAW format and may offer compatibility with Apple's ProRAW format on the iPhone 12 Pro Max, depending on the specific version of the application. Furthermore, the "Smart RAW" feature utilises machine learning algorithms to optimise the exposure of RAW files, aiming to maximise detail and minimise noise. Beyond these core features, Halide provides a customisable interface with intuitive gesture controls. It includes a grid overlay with a built-in level to aid in composition. The reviewer mode allows users to examine images along with their EXIF metadata. For iPhones with multiple cameras, Halide offers a depth mode for capturing portraits of pets and other objects. The application even provides a "Technical Readout" that displays detailed information about the iPhone's camera hardware. To enhance convenience, Halide offers lock screen and home screen widgets for quick access to shooting modes. It also integrates with iPad and Apple Watch for remote shooting capabilities. Notably, Halide prioritises user privacy with a "Private by Design" approach, ensuring no tracking or collection of personal data or photographs. For those looking to improve their photographic skills, Halide even includes built-in tutorials and lessons.
Understanding the benefits of using Halide for RAW photography requires a grasp of the fundamental differences between JPEG and RAW files. A RAW file can be likened to the unprocessed data captured directly from the camera's sensor, often described as a "digital negative". In contrast, a JPEG file is a processed and compressed image format that is ready for immediate use. Shooting in RAW format on the iPhone 12 Pro Max with Halide offers several key advantages. RAW files retain a significantly higher level of image quality, capturing more detail and a wider dynamic range than their JPEG counterparts. They also contain a greater tonal range and more colour information, providing a richer foundation for post-processing. The flexibility offered during editing is extensive, allowing for significant adjustments to white balance, exposure, and colour correction without severely degrading the image quality. Editing RAW files is generally non-destructive, meaning the original data remains untouched, and changes are stored separately. This format provides a greater ability to recover details in both underexposed shadows and overexposed highlights, rescuing potentially lost information in high-contrast scenes.
However, shooting in RAW on a smartphone also presents certain drawbacks. The file sizes of RAW images are considerably larger than JPEGs, which can quickly consume storage space on the device. Unlike JPEGs, RAW files require post-processing in specialised software to achieve a final, viewable image. This necessity for editing can lead to a slower overall workflow. Furthermore, RAW files have limited compatibility and typically require specific software for viewing and editing. In some cases, shooting in RAW can potentially cause a slight slowdown in the camera's shooting speed. Apple's ProRAW format, if accessible through Halide on the iPhone 12 Pro Max, represents a unique approach. It combines the data of a standard RAW file with some of Apple's computational image processing, such as Smart HDR and Deep Fusion. This hybrid format aims to provide the editing flexibility of RAW while leveraging the benefits of Apple's advanced processing algorithms. However, ProRAW files are typically even larger than regular RAW files or JPEGs, requiring more storage space. ProRAW is natively available within the camera app on Pro-level iPhones.
When comparing the image quality achievable with the iPhone 12 Pro Max and Halide to that of dedicated cameras available around 2020 (the phone's release year), it's important to acknowledge that dedicated cameras, particularly those with larger sensors and higher-quality lenses, generally offer superior image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. These cameras often provide better dynamic range, enhanced low-light performance (though the iPhone 12 Pro Max is quite strong in this area), and a wider array of lens options for different creative effects. The fixed lenses of the iPhone, while versatile, cannot match the optical quality and adaptability of interchangeable lenses found on dedicated camera systems. DXOMARK's review of the iPhone 12 Pro Max highlighted its excellent photo sub-score but also noted limitations in dynamic range for stills and long-range zoom capabilities compared to some competitors.
Despite these general advantages of dedicated cameras, the iPhone 12 Pro Max paired with Halide offers a compelling alternative for many photographers due to its inherent convenience and portability—the "always with you" factor. While using RAW aims to bypass some of the native computational photography for greater control, the underlying power of the iPhone's processing can still be beneficial in various situations. The built-in image stabilisation for both stills and videos is remarkably effective. The ability to instantly share images is a significant advantage for many users. The intuitive user interface of both the iPhone and the Halide app (with its thoughtful design) contributes to a positive shooting experience. The discreet nature of a smartphone camera makes it particularly well-suited for certain types of photography, such as street photography. There are specific scenarios where choosing the iPhone 12 Pro Max with Halide over a dedicated camera might be particularly advantageous. These include travel and hiking where minimising weight and bulk is crucial. The iPhone excels at capturing spontaneous moments quickly. In situations where a less conspicuous camera is preferred, the iPhone is an ideal tool. Finally, when the need for immediate sharing of images outweighs the pursuit of the absolute highest possible image quality, the iPhone provides a seamless workflow.
The concept of "photographic intuition," also referred to as "visual intuition," describes a photographer's innate ability to observe a scene and instinctively recognise elements that work well together in terms of composition and light. This involves the capacity to compose photographs rapidly and without excessive conscious deliberation. The idea of "capturing what you see" rather than "what you thought you saw" aligns with this intuitive approach. Ken Rockwell, for instance, noted his experience with the iPhone 12 Pro Max accurately capturing scenes as they appeared to his eye. This perspective encourages photographers to move beyond rigid technical rules and instead focus on the immediate feeling and experience of the moment they are photographing. "Intuitive photography" emphasises qualities like presence, embodiment, curiosity, and a sense of playfulness in the creative process. Adopting a less analytical approach can sometimes lead to more compelling and authentic images. Overthinking the technical aspects can often stifle the natural flow of creativity in photography. Being fully present in the moment and trusting one's instincts can be more beneficial than getting bogged down in meticulous planning. The focus shifts from striving for technical perfection to capturing the essence of a particular moment. As photographer Adrian Vila aptly quoted Robert Henri, "The object isn't to make art; it's to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable". A smartphone like the iPhone 12 Pro Max can be particularly conducive to this intuitive style of photography. Its ease of use and portability encourage more spontaneous shooting opportunities. The philosophy that "the best camera is the one that's with you" resonates strongly in this context. The immediacy of viewing and sharing images captured on a smartphone can further foster a more instinctive and less overthought approach to photography.
The field of psychology offers valuable insights into the art of photography, revealing how our approach to image-making can profoundly affect the final outcome. Overthinking in photography can have several negative consequences. It can lead to a disconnect between the photographer's initial visual perception and what they believe they should be capturing based on external rules or expectations. This can result in a loss of spontaneity and the natural flow of the creative process. Becoming overly concerned with arbitrary rules and striving for technical perfection can overshadow the unique essence of a moment. The "perfectionist trap" can cause photographers to miss out on unexpected beauty that arises from embracing the unplanned. In contrast, adopting a more present and intuitive approach to photography offers several psychological benefits. It can lead to increased joy and spontaneity in the act of creation. A focus on the immediate experience can foster a deeper connection with the subjects being photographed. Seeing oneself represented positively in photographs can enhance self-esteem. The act of immersing oneself in the present moment to capture a photograph promotes mindfulness. For some, photography can even serve as a form of emotional release and a pathway to self-discovery. It's also worth considering how the act of taking photographs itself, regardless of the device used, can influence memory and perception. The "photo-taking impairment effect" suggests that taking photos without fully engaging with the scene can lead to the brain outsourcing the memory, resulting in less detailed retention of the experience. However, for some, the act of photographing people can be a way to connect with them and remember specific details. The brain actively interprets visual information, and our preferences and biases can influence what we choose to capture and how we remember it. The increasing adoption of smartphones by professional photographers further highlights the evolving landscape of image creation. Professionals are using smartphones more frequently for both personal and even some professional work. The reasons for this include the portability and convenience of smartphones, as well as the fact that the image quality is now often sufficient for various professional purposes. There are numerous examples of professional photographers who rely on iPhones for their creative vision.
In conclusion, utilising an older iPhone 12 Pro Max with the Halide application for RAW photography presents a compelling option for photographers seeking a balance between convenience, control, and image quality. The iPhone 12 Pro Max provides a capable hardware foundation, and Halide unlocks its potential with advanced manual controls and the ability to capture images in the flexible RAW format. While dedicated cameras may still hold an edge in certain aspects of image quality and versatility, the iPhone + Halide combination offers significant advantages in terms of portability and spontaneity, making it particularly well-suited for specific shooting scenarios. Furthermore, embracing photographic intuition and focusing on capturing the immediate visual experience, rather than overthinking technical details, can lead to more authentic and emotionally resonant images, especially when using a tool as accessible and integrated into daily life as a smartphone. The increasing acceptance of smartphone photography among professionals underscores the viability of devices like the iPhone 12 Pro Max as serious tools for creative expression.
USING AN APPLE 12 PRO MAX