Taking photos in night mode

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Level 1

12 points

Taking photos in night mode

I have an iPhone 15 and I’m trying to take pictures at night. What does the yellow square that pops up on my the screen while I’m photo mode mean? It only pops up some times. I assume it’s something to do with focusing in on an object. Does it mean there is someone or something detected within the frame? That’s what I’m needing to capture. If that’s not what the square is for can you explain what it is? Also is there a way to detect people or objects in the photo before taking it? After taking the pictures in night mode I do not see anything that the yellow square is detecting. Is there any setting specifically I can change to better the quality of distant pictures at night?

thank you

iPhone 15, iOS 17

Posted on Jan 24, 2024 12:46 AM

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Answer 1

léonie

Level 10

200,467 points

Jan 24, 2024 1:18 AM in response to Darkmoon62

Is there a tiny sun next to the yellow square frame? This is the area where the exposure time and focus will be measured by the camera. Tap the display, to select a different spot, if you want to change it.

How the camera is working in Night Mode: Use Night mode on your iPhone - Apple Support

See also: adjust your exposure setting

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Answer 2

léonie

Level 10

200,467 points

Jan 24, 2024 9:37 AM in response to Darkmoon62

Sometimes I am seeing a yellow square without a sun beside it. This is moving and coming and going like the Cheshire cat. when I look at the framed area it is always an area of the image that might be a face, a structure with three darker spots that could be seen as a pair of eyes above a mouth. Sometimes this are just dark spots in the foliage or a rocky area in the mountains. Photos seems to be looking for people in the foreground to focus on them. I cannot find any documentation by Apple on this face detection in night mode, only the crosshair for tracking moving objects.

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Answer 3

Darkmoon62 Author

Level 1

12 points

Jan 24, 2024 5:41 AM in response to léonie

Yes, there is a small yellow square that pops up with a sun next to it to adjust the exposure and I can move it wherever on the screen I want but that’s not the yellow square that I’m referring to. The one I’m referring to pops up by itself as if it is detecting something within the frame as I rotate my cameras view. It shows up in different places. If I don’t move the camera when it shows up then it remains on the screen. As if it locks in on an object but when I take a picture there is nothing there so Im assuming it’s not just detecting movement or a human or what not?? Maybe that’s not even its purpose at all. I’m not understanding what the yellow square is for and I’m having a hard time finding the answer online.

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Taking photos in night mode

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