Countless photos are taken with smartphones every day. But what makes a photo special? Why does a portrait seem calm, exciting, or surprising? And what difference can lighting, perspective, or the background make?

The workshop “Smartphone Photography—Mood & Visual Impact” focuses on conscious composition. The teens develop their own ideas for photos and bring them to life through photography. In the process, they experiment with light, angle, expression, and composition, and experience firsthand how their decisions change the message and atmosphere of an image.

After a brief introduction, the focus is primarily on taking photos themselves. Through small projects, they can create, for example, portrait series, mini-reportages, or short visual stories. Their own photos then provide an opportunity to explore together which creative ideas work and what creates different visual effects.

The conscious use of images also plays a role: How does staging influence our perception? What expectations can photographs create? And what does this mean for the images that young people encounter, for example, on social media? In this way, the workshop combines creative photography with a reflective look at today’s visual landscape.

No prior knowledge or participation in a previous workshop is required. The focus is on personal creativity, experimentation, and the joy of deliberately composing images with a smartphone.

The vacation workshop will take place on Monday, October 5, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Leica Welt Wetzlar. Participation costs 28 euros per person.  Participants must bring their own smartphone to the workshop. Recommended for 14- to 19-year-olds.