How to photograph window condensation with your phone

When a window fogs up, find a small patch of droplets with an edge you can see. Use your phone to make two photographs of that patch. In one, give the droplets all your attention. In the other, let the view beyond the glass become part of the frame.

Already have a photo? See which themes are open. If your own original fits the brief, sign in to enter it. Entries are public.

Make two photographs from one spot

Choose a focus point

On the droplets. Look for the sharp rims of the drops. The tree beyond the window looks softer.

Beyond the window. The tree has a clearer outline. The softened droplets become part of the foreground.

Teaching diagram. Try both focus points with your own camera below.

  1. Find a patch that stands out. From indoors, look for a few droplets against a darker, simpler part of the view. Move sideways a little to see how the background changes. Stop when you can see the rims of the droplets clearly.
  2. Focus on the glass. Keep the phone steady and tap the edge of a visible droplet if your camera supports tap-to-focus. If the phone keeps choosing the background, move back slightly and tap again. Make a frame where the droplets read as the subject.
  3. Focus beyond the glass. Stay in the same spot and keep the composition as close as you can. Tap a shape beyond the pane and take a second photograph. Notice what the softened droplets add around it.
  4. Choose the photograph that makes your idea clearest. Open both frames in your camera roll and zoom in to compare the details. If you prefer the droplet frame, check that at least one edge is sharp. If you prefer the other frame, check that the background shape is easy to recognise.

When the droplets disappear

A bright patch outside can make the beads hard to see. Change your position until a darker area sits behind them. If your camera offers exposure control, try a slightly darker frame and compare it with the automatic one. A flash can leave a bright reflection on the pane.

On an iPhone, you can tap to set the focus area. If the camera keeps changing focus while you frame the shot, touch and hold the focus area until AE/AF Lock appears. Tap again to release it. Apple’s camera focus and exposure guide.

Enter one original if it fits an open theme

Look at the current brief before choosing your photograph. A small patch with space around it tells a different story from a close view that fills the frame with water. Use a photo you took yourself. Before sharing, check the glass and the view beyond it for faces, addresses or private details.

Choose an open theme and enter one original photo. Free beta. Sign in to enter. Photos, nicknames and scores are public.

If a file will not select, check its format and size on your device. For another way to photograph water indoors, compare two camera heights on a glass of water.

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