The camera nodule has become an integral part of every smartphone. Customers demand a good shooting experience in relation to the price they pay for the device. That being said, even if you don‘t have a wonderful shooter on the rear of your device, you can do some nice things with it.
Even if your camera doesn‘t have the best specs, all you have to do is to learn to work with what you have. With that in mind, let us take a look at simple tips for beginners of smartphone photography, or for those that don‘t quite know how to get the best show from their less-than-stellar hardware.
- Quantity can lead to quality
Whenever there is a moment you wish to capture, make sure you take a bunch of shots instead of just one. Sure, smartphones don‘t have unlimited space, but you can always go back and erase the ones you don‘t want or like.
You will find many times that one of your latter shots might be the best of the lot ““ it is surprisingly difficult to get that perfect shot the first time. Even if you‘re “˜sure‘ you stood still the first time, or that lighting conditions haven‘t changed, still take another couple and see what you end up with.
- Use the flash sparingly
While camera flashes are improving at a rapid rate, you will still be better off with it switched off ““ rather use it as a flashlight. If you have no other option, go ahead, but you‘ll be surprised how soft and warm photos can look and feel without a flash ““ even in low lighting conditions.
With the flash you will often find a blueish tint, or extreme exposure in one part of the photo while the other seems overly dim.
- Find the sweet spot
This you‘ll only learn by trying and trying again. By taking a couple of seconds to get things just right in the frame, you can completely transform a photograph. Perhaps change the angle slightly, move the object to a better spot, or simply put the object slightly off-centre.
It can make your photo look much more structured, especially if you have a busy background. A soft background with a sharp subject makes for a great picture, and it’s something most any camera can manage to do properly, as it has minimal issues with auto-focus.
On the other hand, try not to shoot a subject with no background at all ““ you‘re gran isn‘t going to be on the cover of Vanity Fair.
- Wipe that lens
This may seem like an arbitrary piece of advice, but you would be surprised how many people neglect to do this seemingly simple task. Seriously. A dirty lens will never give you a good picture, no matter what you do.
- Use your light correctly
We have all seen those photos of a group of friends with the sun in the background and their faces covered in darkness. It doesn‘t make for great photograph.
Never point your camera at the light. Try to have the lighting behind you and above you, ideally pointing towards whatever it is you’re taking a picture of. If that‘s not possible (like indoors), move around to find the best spot with regards to the light in the room.
Do you have any other quick tips to help people take better pics on their phones? Let us know in the comments below.
Image Source: Drippler
Follow Theunis on Twitter: @Theunis_BWB
