Apps for Landscape Photography

Quite often I’ll get asked by people who join us on our landscape photography tours and workshops, what are the apps that you use when you are planning to visit a landscape photography location. And as we all know, planning is half the fun when it comes to getting the shot. So I thought I’d put a short list together of the apps that I use on every Siren adventure landscape photography tour.

I’ve included links to both Apple’s App store and Google Play where available.

PhotoPills

iOS - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/photopills/id596026805
google play - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.photopills.android.photopills

Photopills is an app that uses a series of widgets or pills. Each pill has a different function and allows you to use the calendar to view what the sun, moon and Milky Way are doing at set times on specific dates. The app lets you visualise the tracks of each one by overlaying data onto a map. One feature of this app that is especially handy when planning some astrophotography is the augmented reality view of the Milky Way. This function uses the camera on your smart phone to overlay the Milky Way over the landscape in front of you.

There is a small charge of around £9 ($10) for this app, but if you only need one app on your phone for your landscape and astrophotography planning then PhotoPills is the app for you

The Photographers Ephemeris

The Photographers Ephemeris

iOS - https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/the-photographers-ephemeris/id366195670
Desktop - https://photoephemeris.com/

The Photographers Ephemeris is a free app that is similar to PhotoPills above in that it will show you the direction of the sun’s light at any time on any given day. All you need to do is to place the pin over the location you intend to shoot, set the date then you can move the slider around to see which direction sunlight will come from at a certain time of day. Another useful feature of this app is that you can place a pin on a distant object, like a mountain, and the app will show if the light will be obstructed causing shadows.

Whilst this app is free to download, there is some paid for content available if you chose. One of those features is called Skyfire which is a forecast service that predicts where you will find the most colourful sunrises and sunsets based on the clouds in the sky. The feature covers Europe, Southern Canada and the lower 48 United States, and depending on your subscription will either give you access to a two or four forecast. To active Skyfire you need to subscribe for either three months or a year, and as mentioned previously this will dictate how far in advance the forecast will be. A years subscription at the highest level is £25 ($28).

Clear Outside

iOS - https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/clear-outside/id921555752
Google Play - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.firstlightoptics.clearoutside
Desktop - https://clearoutside.com/

If you often find yourself wondering what the cloud cover is going to be and whether those clouds will be at low, medium or high levels then Clear outside is the app you need. It’s a weather forecasting app that was developed as a free gift to the astrophotography community, which allows you to check the cloud cover forecast at a particular location at any time of day or night. Available on all formats it is a handy app to have when planning for landscape photography. The app can be a bit clunky at times but there is a desktop version available that is more intuitive to use.

Clime: NOAA Weather Radar

iOS - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/clime-noaa-weather-radar-live/id749133753
Google Play - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apalon.weatherradar.free

The Clime: NOAA Weather Radar is a free to download advanced weather forecasting app that allows you to view weather forecasts and view real time weather radar anywhere in the world. There are some features that require a subscription to access, but they are worth it. One such feature is the Advanced Precipitation Forecast Map which allows you to visualise the forecast path of any rain, sleet or snow a number of hours in advance, which can be paired with a lightning tracker which allows you to view any lightening that may be in the area in real time! Ideal for planning a safe landscape photography trip or taking advantage of the changeable conditions weather can bring.

Hopefully you’ll find these apps useful when it comes to planning your next landscape photography adventure, wherever that may be. But why not let us take the stress out of the planning by signing up to a Siren Adventures Photography Tour instead?