It’s easy to assume that the winner of the Night Mode photo challenge by iPhone, Mitsun Soni, happened on the perfect photo perchance. But Soni is no stranger to composition and works as a full-time photographer. His ability to spot great photographic opportunities comes from years of experience. But there’s more to running a photography business than simply knowing how to compose great shots or choose the right gear.

Be Spontaneous In Your Approach
Soni not only happened to be at the right place at the right time, but he also needed to be willing to work with what he had. The environment, the lighting, and even his gear are a testament to thinking on your feet as a photographer. Apple capitalises on the desire to create Instagram-worthy content, which is true for Soni who uses his iPhone for Instagram. To qualify as a winner in this competition, Soni needed to relinquish the desire for perfection and set his DSLR aside.

Plan For The Unexpected
Shooting in Night Mode doesn’t leave much room for error as photographers are known to constantly chase golden hour. For photographers, relinquishing control over lighting and relying on artificial light can be a painstaking process. For some, it’s risking life and limb to go out in the cold, such as the winning shot by Konstantin Chalabov. Photographers need to constantly be aware of their ris, and it helps to tailor their personal insurance to photographer insurance, not just for themselves but also their gear. The hunt for the perfect shot can be extreme, especially when the conditions are less than ideal.

Step Out Of Your Comfort Zone
Another photographer who made it onto the winning list, Rubén P. Bescós, is known for his work in architectural photography. With a good eye for balance and symmetry, Rubén had to step out of his comfort zone of lines and angles to one of drama and low light. His Night Mode shot was of pilgrims in silhouette. The image captures the stark nature of the figures against a warm background, and while he still got to play with sharp lines and contrasts, he didn’t have the safety net of practicality to fall back on.

For Mitsun Soni and fellow winners, the decision to capture a winning photograph stems from years of composition attempts, practice and the daily grind of the photographic journey. While consumers get to see a single capture, what happens behind the scenes of every photographer’s life is the daily hustle and grind of a photographer’s life.