Smartphone cameras are getting better and more relevant these days, but most of us aren't capitalizing on how to use it decently. As a self confessed camera noob, I'm always having a hard time taking good shots from my smartphone camera. As we all know smartphone camera doesn't always shoot great shots ala DSLR unless you know how to use it properly. So I researched and gathered most of the basic tips from photography guys and share it with you.
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| Take decent photos now! |
1. Focus - The old saying says that if you're not focused on what you are doing, you won't do things right. The same goes with smartphone cameras and other cameras out there, don't just shoot and shoot! Tap your screen to focus and please have patience if you're cam have a slow shutter speed. Patience is a virtue in smartphone photography too.
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| Don't lose focus! Be patient! :) |
2. Don't zoom - Zooming affects the quality of your photos. Based on my observation, the lens of your smartphone often result to bad photo quality. Try to go nearer instead. :) Digital zoom is always bad unless you are using really expensive camera phones with good sensors. Zooming is like cropping with digital photography.
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| It could look grainy too on bad lighting |
3. Don't use flash unless you're in the dark - if there's no need to flash don't flash as it is usually not helpful. The bright light of the flash can illuminate the area of the image you are capturing and turn it into a dark bad photo. Most of the time it is better to use natural lighting if there's enough lighting instead of turning on your flash.
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| Flash used correctly |
4. Use outdoor lighting - let's take advantage of the sunlight! It often gives the best possible natural looking photo quality we can shoot from our camera-phones!
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| I just used a regular 8 MP camera here with very good lighting |
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| Taken from a Lumia 930 outdoors on a cloudy weather |
5. Don't use selfie on a low light environment - for those who don't know, selfie cameras are only good when used outdoors and with good lighting. Front facing cameras often have the best sensors around that's why it can't take good photos in the dark.
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| Selfie on a club, the result is not that good |
Other tips:
- If you're a pro photographer and you're missing the manual settings of your dslr, you can also download advanced camera application for manual usage.
- Using filters can also be helpful at times, just make sure you don't turn your photo into a "ponkan" looking shot LOL
- Buying and external macro less is also advisable if you can carry an additional bulk to you smartphone camera .
- Use different or sometimes awkward angled position to take the best possible shots
That's the wrap! Hopefully, all of us will be able to take decent to good photos now! Go and grab your favorite smartphone and try to shoot great photos. Avoid blurs and bad shots! :)
References
Digital Photography School
How To Geek
