Today we carry smartphones everywhere. Therefore, the camera has become almost the most popular and often used function of the mini-computer. To get a perfect photo, just press a button to capture the image. Therefore, we’ll provide you with some simple tips that can improve the quality of your photos.
You may know how the camera software and hardware work, but when it comes to the process of taking a photo, every detail counts. And if these tips are obvious to you, they can help your friends or relatives a lot. So let’s begin.
Table of Contents
Wipe the lens
Although this is a rather trivial advice, but very often, before taking a picture, we forget to flick the lens of accumulated dust and dirt. We carry smartphones everywhere, which means that the lenses can be easily counted. In addition, modern mobile devices have several lenses, so you need to clean not only the main camera, but also the front one.
Small dust particles are almost invisible when shooting. But if you spend only a few seconds and wipe the lens before taking the next photo, you will immediately notice the huge difference between them. And we are talking not only about the clarity of the image, but also about the quality of color reproduction.
Unlike the main camera lens, most often the front camera is not separated from the screen, so it is under the same glass as the display. It is more susceptible to all kinds of dirt, dust accumulation and stains. In addition, the front camera has a lower resolution, and the overall quality of the finished images is much worse. Therefore, wipe your smartphone screen well before taking a selfie. You’ll be surprised how much this helps.
Turn on composite mesh
Almost all smartphones in the Camera app have a so-called composition grid. True, it is disabled by default and must be enabled separately through the application settings. These are special lines or a grid (or a golden cross-section, a crossword puzzle), making it much easier to take pictures. And although at first glance it may seem that the lines are only disturbing, you will quickly get used to them.
It is extremely important to visually separate horizontal levels and track proportions. When viewing finished photos, we notice these little things at the subconscious level, so some photos are perceived differently.
Most applications offer a standard 3-by-3 grid, which makes it convenient to follow the third rule. This is the main principle of the composition, which is based on the simplified rule of the golden department. In addition, the lines will help when working with the landscape. For example, if you like to photograph sunsets, then thanks to the compositional grid you will get an even horizon and correctly adjust the perspective.
Use the flash only in extreme cases.
Light is of great importance in photography. When it comes to budget smartphones with a tiny lens that tries to capture as much light as possible, this principle is becoming more important than ever.
At night or in low light, I want to turn on the flash. But don’t give in to this temptation. Its light is too direct and bright, which is why objects approaching it turn into continuous, blurred points. The fact is that the flash light is not diffused enough to properly fill a large space.
Instead of turning on the flash, simply change the point where you are taking the picture and try to adjust the light (by changing the position of the smartphone) so that the frame is bright enough. Try not to rely on the flash, and you will notice that every time your photos will only be better. Also, don’t forget to use autofocus to adjust the exposure. With its help, you can specify the desired object and adjust the lighting.
Don’t forget about special photo processing applications. The finished photo can be edited directly in the gallery or in Google Photos. And we are talking not only about the binding, but also about the settings for light, color.
With the appearance of special shooting modes at night, shooting in low light has become much easier. When it comes to flash, it’s a great replacement for a flashlight.
Use mini tripods
Note that we are not talking about selfie sticks. Show some respect and use a small tripod with a special smartphone holder instead. Today on the mobile accessories market you can find many models, from the simplest with rigid legs, and ending with more flexible tripods with magnetic mounts. Believe me, thanks to a tripod, creating high-quality photos is much easier.
They will be especially beneficial for people who often take self-portraits. Thanks to this, you can forget about uncomfortable selfies and low-resolution front cameras. Thanks to the tripod you can take better photos in low light. It is much more convenient to use long exposure or slow motion. To do this, you need to hold the smartphone for a few seconds or minutes. Therefore, a folding tripod that fits in your pocket can significantly increase your shooting options.
If you do not want to constantly carry accessories with you, you can use the basic principles of working with it. Namely – stillness. To get a perfect shot, you need to hold the smartphone evenly for a few seconds. Even if you think you have a strong hand and you do not need a stabilizer or a tripod, you are very wrong. Try to lean your smartphone against the barrier, press it against a wall or a bottle of water. And you’ll notice how much your images will change.
Back up your photos
The tips above will not be useful if you are not backing up your photos. You can take amazing views and share ready frames on social networks, but don’t forget to back up your original photos. Remember that one copy is simply not enough. You definitely have to do extra.
To do this, you can use the popular Google Photos service, which offers excellent paid and free rates. Or any other cloud services with similar functionality, such as Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive or Amazon Photos. They will not only save the internal memory of the mobile device, but will also regularly back up their photos if you do not want to do it manually.
In addition, thanks to the cloud services, you don’t have to worry about how to transfer ready photos from your smartphone to your computer to share with friends. Each of these services has an Internet version, which is ideal for viewing photos in real time from any device.
You can take better photos with these tips. If we haven’t mentioned any important details so you can take even better photos, leave a comment below.
