Case Study
Designing the missing companion app for street photographers
Street photography is mostly waiting and walking. You go out, you cover ground, you watch the light change, and if you're lucky something happens in front of you.
The Challenge
Plenty of iPhone apps track how far you've walked. The catch is, nearly all of them are built for fitness.
Walking with a camera is a different thing altogether when you've popped out to chase the light:
- What if you want to retrace your steps and find that hidden back street again?
- What if you spot a great scene at the wrong time of day and want to come back when the conditions are right?
- What if you're not sure which way to head to catch the best light before it's gone?
Introducing StreetPal
The companion app for street photographers you never knew you needed.
A map with nothing in the way
The map has been stripped right back. No shops, no landmarks, no traffic. Just the streets and the route you're walking.
Keep the sun behind you
A simple compass shows which way to head so the sun is at your back. That way the light falls on your subject instead of straight into your lens.
Check weather conditions with a tap
Tap the compass to see the current weather and when golden hour starts. It's handy for deciding whether to head out now or put the kettle on first.
Press play and go
Hit play and StreetPal starts plotting your walk on the map. There's nothing to set up, so you can just start walking.
Jot it down on the spot
Spot something worth coming back for? Tap the note button to record a field note there and then, before the moment slips your mind.
Add the details
Write a quick description to give yourself some context later, like "better light after 6pm" or "wait for someone to walk past the red door".
Snap a reference shot
Take a photo without leaving the app. The camera is built for one-handed use, so you can grab a quick reference with a camera in the other hand.
Find it again
Save the note and a marker drops onto your route, right where you were standing. Next time, you'll know exactly where to go.
Every walk in one place
The walks tab adds up how many kilometres you've covered and how long you've been out, for any year you pick. Below that you'll find every walk you've ever recorded.
Relive the route
Tap a walk to see the route you took, along with the notes you made and the conditions on the day.
All your notes together
The notes tab gathers every field note from every walk, so you can plan your next route.
Keeping inspired
The projects tab comes loaded with ideas to get you warmed up and focused before you head out. It's perfect for those days when you're not sure what you're looking for.
Catch ideas as they come
Had a flash of inspiration on the bus? Add it as a project idea straight away, so it's waiting for you next time you head out.
Made entirely from Apple APIs
Using Apple's own tools wasn't about being a purist. It made a real difference. There's no server to run, no passwords or keys to keep safe, no accounts, no sharing your data with other companies and no third-party code to keep updated.
- Position calculated by GPS and iPhone motion sensors and matched to real streets using Apple Maps
- Real-time weather information powered by Apple WeatherKit
- Sun position compass and golden hour time is calculated on your phone
- Walks saved to Apple Health with HealthKit
- Pause and resume walks from your lock screen via iOS notificationsÂ
Work in progress
The name (StreetPal) and branding were stitched together rather quickly. If the app ever makes it beyond my own iPhone, both will get a proper rethink.
Fancy being a beta tester? Drop me a line!
