When I was considering what to write about in this week's blog I decided to look at architecture. I found a page on www.expertphotography.com which listed the thirty one (I know - odd number!!) most influential architecture photographers. Of course there were many well known among them who travel the world for architecture practices and make some sublime (and often large scale) pictures of what they see. But the most intriguing I found was a social worker in Copenhagen who, on her walks around the city, takes some stunning photographs with her i-phone. Don't mistake me there is nothing wrong with taking photographs on a phone these days but when that is your main and only camera it is surprising to be listed as one of the top architectural photographers in the world.

Karen Vikke started to take photographs with her i-phone in 2014 and challenged herself to take three a day. Gradually she found her eye was focussed on the urban landscape: the walls, the windows, the colours, the objects. She likes to line things up in a very geometric manner and it certainly works. Her pictures are mostly taken in the morning or late afternoon when the light is softer, although she does make use of shadows well in some pictures.

Where people appear in her shots they have a particular use and she is careful to use colour, movement and the right person to emphasise the context, shape and size of their environment.

Karen's friend Anne often accompanies her on her walks and is frequently used as a model, sometimes very specifically, as in the picture of the church below to where the red hat was brought especially for the shot which had been envisaged sometime earlier.

Objects are also used, sometimes to amusing effect, in many photos and these are usually found or borrowed for the occasion.

Karen does little post processing but uses SKRWT to correct perspective and Snapseed for other small adjustments such as lightening dark areas. (Although the link here for Snapseed will take you to a useful iphone tutorial the programme can be downloaded and used on Android phones too).

For me, this final picture of the shadow aligned with the dark perpendicular on the construction and the graceful, exuberant leap of the small figure against the dystopian looking backdrop says it all about the joy of these pictures. You can see more of Karen's work on Instagram @vikkieview. As she says go out and meet others who share your passion, learn from them and enjoy.