10 valuable tips and tricks on smartphone photography
1. Hold your phone steady or find support
Always make sure you
have a good grip on your smartphone while taking photos. Try to not move
it at all while taking the shot as every tremble of your hand may
result in a blurry photo, especially if your camera doesn't stabilize
the image optically or digitally. For the same reason, you should be
gentle when tapping that shutter button.
2. Do not use digital zoom. Crop later or get closer instead
Digital zoom should
be avoided as the digital image stretching process reduces image quality
- the more you zoom, the worse your image looks. Instead, crop your
photo after you've already taken it - most smartphones come with the
necessary editing tools built right into their gallery apps. Of course,
getting closer to your subject would be a better alternative to zooming.
3. Use your camera's best resolution and aspect ratio
Go to your phone's
camera settings and make sure you're using the highest resolution
available. Also, do not use a 16:9 aspect ratio for your photos unless
you know that your camera has a 16:9 image sensor. For example, the
Motorola Moto X, Droid Ultra, and the HTC One use native 16:9 camera
sensors, which is why they take "widescreen" images by default. With
most other smartphones, however, you should stick to the "classic" 4:3
aspect ratio.
4. Clean your camera lens
A smartphone's camera
lens can get dirty very easily, which is why you should take a moment
to clean it from time to time. Wiping it with a piece of soft cloth
should work.
5. Set the right focus and exposure with a tap
If you feel like your
photo isn't exposed right or if it is out of focus, tap on your
subject. The camera software on many phones is configured to set both
its focus and exposure based on what area of the frame you tap on.
6. Follow the rule of thirds
The rule of thirds is
a simple and easy trick you can use when composing your photos. Imagine
that the frame is split into three equal sections vertically and
horizontally, as pictured. Place your subject along one of the vertical
lines, or where a horizontal and a vertical lines intersect. Then place
the horizon along one of the horizontal lines. Try it!
Image via Wikipedia
Image via Wikipedia
7. Learn how to use your camera's modes
Most smartphones come
with camera apps that are rich in features. Some can be used to erase
moving objects within the frame or to add impresive effects to them.
Other modes are meant for taking photos of fast-moving subjects, or for
shooting at night. Experiment with them! Knowing how to use these modes
in advance will help you later at a time when you actually need them.
8. Try alternative camera apps
The Android, iOS, and
Windows Phone marketplaces offer a number of alternatives to your
smartphone's stock camera app. Camera FV-5 for Android and KitKam for
iOS are two great examples of a well-made camera replacement
application. If you find your phone lacking in advanced or manual camera
settings and tweaks, give these a try.
9. Take multiple photos
Have you ever taken a
photo only to look at it later and realize that someone has blinked,
that it has turned out blurry, or that someone has pulled off a
photobomb on you? That's why it is a good idea to capture a couple of
photos, just in case. You can always delete the ones you don't need
later.
10. Edit your photos, but don't go too far
When used right,
photo filters can turn a dull photo into an artsy shot. However, you
should try to avoid overusing them. Try to manipulate your images with
moderation instead of slapping a "Lo-fi" on every shot. Besides, photo
filters aren't the only way you can tweak a photo. Chances are your
phone's image gallery comes with built-in tools for tweaking the
saturation and brightness of images. Frames are likely available as
well.
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