I replaced my camera with a game controller and improved my photography skills.

      I don’t have confidence in my photographic instincts, and my life often doesn't allow me the time to go out and refine them or experiment with my camera. If you face a similar challenge, I may have discovered a solution. It simply involves sitting in your living room with a video game controller. The game is called Lushfoil Photography Sim, which acts like training wheels for your camera.

      How does it assist?

      My goal with the OuttaFocus column has always been to showcase how cameras on mobile devices can spark creativity and my own journey to improve my photography skills. This isn't about professional development, but rather personal enjoyment. I’ve always hoped it would also motivate you, the reader, to explore new features, devices, or applications. Although this is a game and not an actual camera or smartphone, you might be just as surprised as I was at how effectively Lushfoil achieves my objectives.

      Throughout the years I’ve taken photos, the more I’ve experimented and explored, the more I encountered certain challenges that I found quite difficult to tackle. I have written about this before, especially during a project where I had to photograph a car for a series of articles. I struggle significantly to “see” the photos I know exist, often getting stuck on capturing the “right” shot and ending up with none that stand out. Eventually, I managed to overcome this (most of the time) and realized there’s no definitive right or wrong way to take a photo, a revelation that came only after discussions with an experienced automotive photographer.

      However, applying everything I’ve learned in practice isn't always straightforward, and if you don’t practice frequently, it can take time for all the knowledge to come back when you resume. Another concern is finding suitable places to shoot. If you're not visiting new or exciting locations, it can be challenging to spot fresh photographic opportunities in familiar surroundings. Lushfoil Photography Sim is an excellent way to circumvent many of these issues and train your eye to recognize those elusive photographic moments in the real world.

      What makes it beneficial?

      Lushfoil Photography Sim places you in some of the most scenic and captivating locations around the globe, allowing you to explore armed only with a camera and your own sharp photographic instincts. There are no extensive in-game instructions on what to photograph or where to focus, just basic quests and a rough route to follow in each setting. You have the freedom to climb rocks, trek up mountains, contend with varying weather conditions, and capture any photo you desire.

      It captures the thrill of being in a new place where a great photo is waiting to be discovered around every corner, and this is where the game serves as a valuable training tool for me. I knew a photo was present; I just needed to uncover it — which mirrors the real-life challenges I encounter — and the more I discover, the more adept I become at finding similar opportunities again. In Lushfoil Photography Sim, you are motivated to take your time, and it successfully evokes the same feelings you experience when taking photos with a real camera in a genuine environment. But since it’s a virtual experience, you can slow down, explore, and experiment without the pressures of reality.

      The realism of Lushfoil’s environments and the way it simulates a genuine photography walk is just the beginning. It provides you with a DSLR camera (other camera types are also available in the game) featuring a manual Pro mode, where you can adjust settings like aperture, white balance, exposure, and focus to capture your ideal shot. The adjustments you make are reflected on-screen, which is perfect for beginners to understand how these settings influence their photos. Most high-end smartphone cameras include a Pro mode, and Lushfoil Photography Sim introduces you to this in an easy-to-understand manner, allowing for endless experimentation from home.

      More than just a game?

      Is Lushfoil Photography Sim a game? A simulation? A training tool? A soothing way to unwind after a long day? It encompasses all these aspects, cleverly combining enjoyable and relaxing gameplay with minimal pressure to “complete” anything while simultaneously aiding you in enhancing your photography skills for when you next step out with your actual camera in hand.

      It simplifies complex photographic terminology and tools into more accessible concepts managed not through buttons and dials on hardware, but with a familiar controller. It makes the complexities of photography reachable for newcomers, alleviating the burden of mastering not only a new skill but also new controls and equipment. Pro modes on smartphones are frequently overlooked due to the lack of guidance. Lushfoil Photography Sim provides the missing instructions while offering fantastic locations to practice, experiment, and improve.

      While the Pro mode and manual adjustments, along with the helpful tutorials, are not the sole reasons I continued playing the game, it has been the diverse environments and the chance to play with angles, viewpoints, focus, and depth of field in novel settings that kept me engaged. I experienced the same satisfaction from capturing a photo I liked in the game as I do in real