Showing posts with label digital. Show all posts
Showing posts with label digital. Show all posts

Smart Tips: How to Take Awesome Smartphone Photos! 📲

How to Take Good Smartphone Photos



So many smartphones with photo camera these days! :-)






The built-in cameras in most smartphones are as good as, if not better than, many regular point-and-shoot digital cameras. Taking great phone pics takes a little effort, however. Here are some tips to get the shots you want:




  • Remember the Rule of Thirds


This classic rule applies to all photography, including that done with smartphones. Essentially, this rule gets the subject of your photo out of the center of the shot. Centered faces or objects are boring, but put them slightly off-center, up, or down, and they become magical. To apply the rule of thirds, imagine two lines dividing your screen equidistant horizontally and vertically. Then place your subject of focus at one of the points where the lines intersect. This trick gives your picture that off-kilter, asymmetrical look of professional photos.



Apple iPhone 6S, 64GB - Rose Gold




  • Pay Attention to the Background


This is where amateur photographers often get into trouble. They'll look at the subject of the photo, but they'll ignore what's behind it. Is there an electric pole sticking out of someone's head? A busy parking lot? The background has a huge influence on the effect of a photo, so always look to see what's there, and move the camera around as necessary to adjust the background.




  • Get Closer


The one drawback of smartphones is their limited zoom capability. Their lenses also tend to actually add some distance, making objects seem further away than they are. All of this means that you're going to need to get close to your subjects. The closer, the better.




  • Don't Forget the Flash



Most smartphones have built-in flashes, so make sure to make use of that function when necessary. A flash is usually a necessity indoors, but you'll sometimes want to turn on the flash outdoors, as well. Using a flash even outdoors can help fill in dark spots on faces and eliminate shadows in mixed-lighting situations. If you're in a setting where the flash won't automatically go off because there's too much ambient light, go into your phone's camera settings and turn on the flash so it goes off whenever you take a picture. Experiment with flash settings and see what works best in different situations.




  • Try Timers


Timers are particularly useful when taking self-portraits or group shots in which you want to be included. Apps like the Photo Timer (Apple iPhone, free) and the Camera Self-Timer (Android, free) let you set a countdown sequence, giving you time to pose and get your smile in place.




  • Edit those Pics 



Sometimes it's not enough just to take a good picture -- you'll want to edit it, as well. A variety of smartphone apps allow for photo editing, and if you're serious about your smartphone photography, you might want to check into some of them. Some let allow for basic cropping and rotation, while others allow for more extensive edits like red-eye fixes and lightness/brightness adjustments.Photoshop Express is a good one to try (iPhone and Android, free).


Above all, experiment with your smartphone's camera. It might not be a DSLR, but it's fun, easy, and always available.
Article published by Vivian Wagner on former website Yahoo! Contributors Network.
Vivian Wagner is a freelance writer and journalism professor in New Concord, Ohio


So many smartphones with photo camera these days! :-)


The built-in cameras in most smartphones are as good as, if not better than, many regular point-and-shoot digital cameras.