What does that mean, exactly? It means that folks are
creating works of art from the smartphones, and those pieces also go up in
galleries or are made into prints. That's the extreme end, of course, but on
the other we have Instagram photos that look totally killer.
If you own a smartphone made in the last year, chances are
it has a pretty damn good camera on it, too. And if you're reading this
article, perhaps you're curious about taking better pictures with that
smartphone.
Before we dive into it, just know this: learning and knowing
how to do it is the easy part. The hard part is creating something magical with
that knowledge, but by knowing how to get there, your chances of making pretty
pictures improve.
Smartphone photography apps
You might be thinking that any old photo can be made to look
nice with all the photography apps out there. It's sort of true, but at best
they can make bland photos look somewhat interesting. But that's not what you
want - you want control over how your images look, and that's what apps should
help you do.
The first thing you'll need is an app that helps you control
focus and exposure of your camera. Some smartphones will allow you to do this
by default, like the Nokia Lumia 1020. Other phones give you the option to set
focus and exposure at the same time, but not independently, like the iPhone 5S.
However, there are plenty of apps out there that will allow
you to do both, like Pro Camera 7 or Camera+ for the iPhone. That's what you'll
need as a good starting point for taking good photos.
After all, if you can't control your exposure or where your
camera focuses, you might as well give up and buy a proper camera.
The next set of apps you'll want are the ones that will
allow you to control basic things like contrast, white balance, color
saturation and brightness. Most photos straight out of camera are flat, so
you'll want apps like Snapseed or Photoshop Touch to fine tune them.
Here is a list of apps you should start with if you're on
the iPhone, but you'll find very similar ones - if not their exact counterparts
- on Android, too.
1. Learn to use your camera software
This might seem like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised at
just what your smartphone camera can do.
Perhaps you're familiar with some of the basic operations,
like switching between the camera and video modes, or turning your flash on and
off or putting it on auto. But did you know that your camera likely has some
scene modes, too? Or panorama and HDR features?
Don't be afraid to tinker with your iPhone or Android
device's camera. It has plenty of memory for photos, so you can play with the
different features, effects and settings and snap lots of photos.
Soon, you'll know your way around the camera software like
it's second nature. And that's exactly what it should become - you don't want
to miss any moments because you're busy fumbling with your camera's settings.
2. Learn compositional basics
This might sound boring, but learning the basics is tried
and true. There are plenty of resources out there for this, but here are a few
things to keep in mind.
First, we'll start with the rule of thirds. If you're just
starting out, think of it as a hard rule before you start breaking it. With the
rule of thirds, imagine a grid of lines on your smartphone's display, dividing
it into thirds both horizontally and vertically. In fact, most smartphones come
with an option to display that very grid.
With the grid up, try placing your subjects along those
lines or at the points where the lines intersect. It will make the photos much
more interesting than being smack dab in the middle of your frame.
You can do this with subjects like lighthouses, people,
flowers and everything else. But it's also a good idea to do this with your
horizon lines, too, so that your horizon never cuts through the center of your
frame.
Once you get into the habit of following the rule of thirds,
you'll start to have a better sense of a photo's balance. When you're at the
stage where you think you're getting the hang of it, start breaking the rule
and see what works and what doesn't.
3. Learn how to see light
If you're going to go out and make pictures that impress
your friends, you're going to need good light. What is good light, exactly?
Good light is the kind of light that gives a scene shape,
depth and makes things look interesting. Generally, shooting indoors with artificial
light or outdoors midday or with overcast skies is bad, flat and boring light.
You'll know flat light when you see it - there are few shadows, if any, and
everything looks evenly lit.
Look for light with some kind of direction and color. This
type of light happens naturally at just before sunrise and at sunset.
Alternatively, window light is great because it has direction and it's often
soft and a little diffuse, so it's not harsh on your subjects.
Good light is especially important in mobile photography
because you can't create much more interest with different focal lengths and
varying depth of field. You're stuck with one focal length, and one aperture
setting. It's a very good exercise in shooting light and finding good
composition.
4. Find an interesting moment
Say you're at a beautiful location, the light is gorgeous
and everything is ripe for a great photo. But nothing's happening. It's like
looking through your Instagram or Facebook feed: there are hundreds of sunset
photos with nothing but just sunsets. That's it.
Instead, find something to complement the scene if you can.
Maybe it's just someone walking by. Wait until the shape of the walking person
balances the photo and is at peak action, then snap away.
Sometimes, there are no moments. Nothing is happening.
There's no one around, and it's just a pretty scene. It won't hurt to take the
photo. Do that and keep it for yourself or share it with close people and tell
a story along with it.
But if you really want to get the good stuff, find a good
moment. Maybe it's people peacefully relaxing in the park - sleeping, eating,
chatting, reading. Or maybe it's a quarrel on the street (just be safe). Keep
your eyes open for movement and always try to find some way to balance the
photo compositionally.
Without moments, you're probably just shooting still life
most of the time. It's too easy, and we can all agree that there are more than
enough food photos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram these days.
5. Work the scene
What does it mean when a photographer tells you to work the
scene? It means almost that - work it! Don't just stand there, compose and snap
one photo and move along. Maybe a better shot will come along in a minute, or
in five minutes.
Or perhaps you'd get a better photo of your subject by
standing closer, or further away. Maybe the photo would look better from a
lower angle, or a higher one. Or you can compose the same scene in a different
way, or three different ways.
Taking a good photo means giving it some thought. Otherwise
you're just taking snapshots, and unless you get really lucky, your chances of
getting a good photo that way are slim.
Don't be afraid to take many photos. You can always delete
them later, and you have plenty of memory on your smartphone. When you see
something that really catches your eye, work that scene. And if there is a
moment about to happen, shoot through it. That means keep shooting photos until
the moment is over, then pick the best one.
In fact, smartphones like the HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S4 and
iPhone 5S have excellent burst modes that can capture photos as fast as 10
frames per second. Use it!
6. Don't stop shooting
You can't expect to practice the piano once a week and play
a Chopin Etude by the end of the year. At least, most of us wouldn't be able to
do that. And you can't expect the same from photography.
If you only take photos once in a blue moon, it's going to
take you a very long time before you can start taking photos that impress your
friends.
Try shooting a little every day. If you're lacking
inspiration some days, shoot anyway. Shoot what's in front of you, even if it
could end up being another dreaded food photo. Why not try to make it look more
interesting than the clichéd straight-down-from-the-top photo that has become
the norm these days? Find a better angle, shoot it macro, just make it
interesting.
And that's what you'll end up doing most of the time. Unless
you're out on the hunt for perfect light, interesting settings and great
moments, you're going to be forced to turn mundane, everyday objects and scenes
into something interesting.
If you can make your friends and family say, "Wow, I've
never seen it that way before," then you're doing something right. You're
being creative, rather than just a passive observer documenting what he or she
sees without second thought.
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