I went to school for photography, and I've been using film and digital cameras for nearly a decade.
But I have less experience using my smallest, most nimble camera — my phone.
Now that I'm a travel reporter, my work revolves around documenting the places I'm visiting, and I often rely on my little black rectangle for some of that imagery. So, in April 2022, I set out to improve my phone-photography skills.
And just like in school, I wanted to learn from a pro.
That's why I turned to Kiliii Yüyan, a National Geographic photographer who tells stories about how different cultures relate to the environment, from the Amazon to the Arctic seas.
The magazine first published Yüyan's work in 2018, showcasing whale hunters in Alaska, he told Business Insider.
More recently, National Geographic granted Yüyan the 2023 Eliza Scidmore Award for Outstanding Storytelling for his portfolio showcasing humans and their environments, which includes his 2022 July cover shot for a story documenting the lives of Indigenous people. This cover was also featured in the magazine's 2022 Pictures of the Year issue.
Yüyan told BI that people are "drowning in photographs" nowadays, but there are ways to make yours stand out — even if you're just shooting on your phone.