February 21, 2025
UPDATE
Re-creating paradise: Karston Tannis captures island vibes using the iPhone 16 Pro Max
Karston Tannis has been drawn to photography for as long as he can remember. Whether filming home videos with a camcorder as a child, snapping candid shots of his BMX friends in New York City with disposable cameras as a teenager, or traveling the globe with his iPhone 16 Pro Max, he has always been passionate about documenting people in their personal spaces.
“I enjoy telling stories about people in their environments,” Tannis explains, specializing in lifestyle, fashion, and travel photography. “Adventure is my life, and I appreciate tools that allow me to capture that across various settings—be it Fashion Week runways, dangling from a helicopter, or simply recording the moments of everyday life.”
During a recent photoshoot showcasing fashion designers and their unique creations, Tannis highlighted the vibrancy of the African diaspora, using a Caribbean-inspired setting to capture portraits with his iPhone 16 Pro Max.
In the images featured below, see how Tannis vividly represented the African diaspora—from a custom boat on the sandy shores of Saint Lucia to a fruit stand inspired by Caribbean fishing villages and Ghanaian markets, complemented by the striking colors of the fashion designs worn by his subjects—all through his iPhone 16 Pro Max lens.
“Utilizing the iPhone 16 Pro Max allowed me to achieve top quality and retain intricate details,” Tannis said. “I aimed to create a controlled lighting environment. The Caribbean is filled with vibrant colors and textures. I wanted to transform the space and immerse the viewer in that setting. I used a large light source reflected through a silver umbrella to imitate midday sunlight—creating a dynamic lighting effect with high contrast and specular highlights, while also avoiding harsh shadows. The 16 Pro Max excelled at capturing all these details quickly.”
“The iPhone 16 Pro Max was adept at depicting the rich colors and textures of my setup while providing me the flexibility in post-processing to fine-tune the images. This enabled endless possibilities for creating a signature look in real time.”
“As natural light began to fade from the windows, I noticed that some images with warm elements appeared cooler than intended. I experimented with the Dramatic Photographic Style and adjusted colors on the fly. This added depth, particularly in the shadows, and I loved the warm flare it introduced.”
“I wanted to push the limits of the phone right out of the box. I didn’t shoot in RAW or apply extensive settings—just basic edits adjusting saturation, contrast, and clarity. I allow the phone to perform as designed because I want others to see how beautifully they can use this device. The iPhone camera system continues to empower creators in remarkable ways.”
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