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Quick thread on basic tips to taking better photos with your phone.
It doesn't have to be an expensive phone.
I'll include photos taken with my < $250 phone
It doesn't have to be an expensive phone.
I'll include photos taken with my < $250 phone
1. Clean your lens. Our phones are almost always in bags and pockets. The camera lens collects dust and fluff. Clean it before shooting to get sharper and clear photos.
2. Avoid zooming in. Most phones use digital zoom which is basically cropping the frame in camera. This mostly makes your photos appear pixelated, blurry and grainy.
Walk towards your subject if you can... unless it's a poisonous snake or something which can eat you
Walk towards your subject if you can... unless it's a poisonous snake or something which can eat you
3. Turn on the grid on your camera settings. These most common is the rule of thirds which will have two vertical lines and two horizontal lines. Try keep your subject where the lines intersect for more appealing photos. Also keep your horizons straight.
4. Use leading lines to lead the viewers eyes towards your subject.
The lines can be straight or circular and can be anything from train tracks, a path, road, staircase etc
The lines can be straight or circular and can be anything from train tracks, a path, road, staircase etc
5. Find and try shoot reflections.
Reflections sometimes make photos more idyllic as our eyes tend to be drawn to them.
You can find reflections on water bodies and puddles (shoot low) mirrors, buildings glasses, metallic objects etc
Reflections sometimes make photos more idyllic as our eyes tend to be drawn to them.
You can find reflections on water bodies and puddles (shoot low) mirrors, buildings glasses, metallic objects etc
6. Shoot in different perspectives.
Example is shooting from a higher angle with camera facing down or from a low angle with the camera facing upwards.
It breaks away from the normal "eyelevel view" we see things and thus makes photos more captivating
Example is shooting from a higher angle with camera facing down or from a low angle with the camera facing upwards.
It breaks away from the normal "eyelevel view" we see things and thus makes photos more captivating
7. Use negative space.
Negative space is the empty space around your subject(s).
Leaving a lot of negative space sometimes makes your subjects stand out more.
Negative space can be a plain background, a water body, open sky, a large wall etc.
Negative space is the empty space around your subject(s).
Leaving a lot of negative space sometimes makes your subjects stand out more.
Negative space can be a plain background, a water body, open sky, a large wall etc.
8. Try introduce a human element in your photos.
Human elements make our minds see the scale of what has been captured. In landscape shots it can show how vast the area is or eg in the first pic how big the other subjects (wind vanes and cars are)
Human elements make our minds see the scale of what has been captured. In landscape shots it can show how vast the area is or eg in the first pic how big the other subjects (wind vanes and cars are)
9. Shoot the details.
Try notice, get your camera close and shoot the finer details of your subject.
You can use the "Macro Mode" if your camera has one to get even finer details
Try notice, get your camera close and shoot the finer details of your subject.
You can use the "Macro Mode" if your camera has one to get even finer details
10. Frame your subjects.
Use objects around you to frame your main objects. You can use plants as in the attached pics, windows, doors, other objects etc.
Use objects around you to frame your main objects. You can use plants as in the attached pics, windows, doors, other objects etc.
11. Light. Most important factor.
Shoot using natural light if you can.
You'll get better photos if your subject is facing the main light source and you are shooting from the direction the light is coming from. Shoot against the light for silhoutes as in the attached pic
Shoot using natural light if you can.
You'll get better photos if your subject is facing the main light source and you are shooting from the direction the light is coming from. Shoot against the light for silhoutes as in the attached pic
12. Edit. There are many Apps you can use to edit your photos including inbuilt apps.
Social media platforms also have great editing tools.
A few more are Snapseed, Vsco and Lightroom.
I mostly use Snapseed. It has plenty of editing options and also "Looks" which are presets.
Social media platforms also have great editing tools.
A few more are Snapseed, Vsco and Lightroom.
I mostly use Snapseed. It has plenty of editing options and also "Looks" which are presets.
