Discovery of Unique Behavior in Stage light Mode on iPhone 14 Plus

While capturing photos in Stage light mode during a sunset on March 17, 2024, I noticed that the background did not darken as expected. Surprisingly, the resulting images were stunning despite the lack of the typical black background effect. Intrigued by this inconsistency, I attempted to replicate the results on March 18, spending the entire day experimenting with different settings. Despite my efforts, I was unable to achieve the same outcome.

However, during another sunset photography session on the evening of March 18, I inadvertently discovered a pattern. By focusing the camera on the back of a person or even on plants while in Stage light mode, I consistently obtained images with beautifully rendered backgrounds that did not darken. This behavior persisted across multiple attempts, indicating a consistent pattern rather than a one-time occurrence.

Reproducibility: To reproduce this behavior:

Access the camera app on an iPhone 14 Plus running iOS 17.31.

Navigate to Portrait mode and select Studio Light.

Ensure the subject, a person or group, is positioned with their back facing the camera. Focus the camera specifically on the back of the subject.

Capture the image and observe the background rendering.


[Edited by Moderator]

iPhone 14 Plus, iOS 17

Posted on Mar 20, 2024 5:14 AM

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Mar 20, 2024 7:39 AM in response to Deepak_Ahuja_08

Wow, that's really cool! It sounds like you've found a neat trick for taking photos in Studio mode on the iPhone 14 Plus that gives the background a different look. Here's what might be happening:


Why it works differently:

Normally, Studio mode makes the background dark and blurry while keeping the subject clear. By focusing on the subject's back, you might confuse the camera's special tricks. It usually uses depth info to tell what's in the front and what's in the back. Focusing on the back might mess with that, making the camera include the background in a different way and not make it dark like usual.


What else you can try:

Tell Apple: They might want to know about this. You can tell them through the Feedback Assistant app on your iPhone.

Experiment with different things: Try taking photos with different things facing away from the camera—people, pets, objects—and see if the background stays bright like you've noticed.

See how it works with different kinds of light: You said it worked well at sunset. Does it work the same way during the day or with indoor lights?"

Mar 20, 2024 7:42 AM in response to Deepak_Ahuja_08

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Discovery of Unique Behavior in Stage light Mode on iPhone 14 Plus

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