Today we carry smartphones with us everywhere. Therefore, the camera has become almost the most demanded and frequently used function of a mini-computer.
To get a great photo, it's not enough just to press the button to capture the image. Therefore, we will share with you some simple tips that can make your pictures better.
You may know how the software and hardware of a camera works, but when it comes to the actual process of taking a photo, every detail counts. And if these tips seem quite obvious to you, then they can be of great help to your friends or relatives. So let's get started.
Wipe the lens
Although this is a rather banal advice, but very often before taking a photo, we forget to wipe the lens from dust and dirt accumulated on it. We carry smartphones with us everywhere, which means that lenses are easy to get dirty. 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 hardly visible during shooting. But once you take just a few seconds to wipe down the lens before taking the next photo, you'll immediately notice a huge difference between them. And we are talking not only about the clarity of the picture, but also the quality of color reproduction.
Unlike the lens of the main camera, most often the front camera is not separated from the screen, therefore it is located under the same glass as the display. It is more susceptible to all sorts of dirt, dust accumulations and stains. In addition, the front camera has a lower resolution, and the overall quality of the finished shots is much worse. Therefore, before you take a selfie, thoroughly wipe the screen of your smartphone. You will be surprised how much this will help.
Turn on the composition grid
Almost all smartphones in the Camera application have this called a composite mesh. True, by default it is turned off and through the application settings it must be turned on separately. These are special lines or grids (or the golden ratio, crosshairs) that make it much easier to take photos. And although the first time it may seem that the lines only interfere, you get used to them quickly.
It is extremely important to have a visual separation of horizontal levels and monitor the proportions. When watching ready-made pictures, we notice these little things at the subconscious level, because of which some photos are felt different.
Most applications offer standard mesh 3 by 3 cells, with which it is convenient to follow the third rule. This is the main principle of constructing a composition, which is based on a simplified Golden section rule. In addition, the lines will help when working with landscapes. For example, if you like to photograph the sunsets, then thanks to the composite grid, you will get a smooth horizon and correctly set up the perspective.
Use an outbreak only in extreme cases
The light is of great importance in the photo. When it comes to budget smartphones with a tiny lens that are trying by all the forces to capture as much as possible as possible of light, this rule is more than ever becoming relevant.
At night or in poor illumination conditions, I want to turn on the flash. But do not give in to this temptation. Its light is too straight and bright, because of what the objects close to it turn into solid blurry stains. The fact is that the outbreak light is not sufficiently dissolved in order to normally fill the large space.
Instead of turning on the flash, simply change the point with which you make a photo, and try to adjust the light (changing the position of the smartphone) so that the frame is turned out to be fairly light. Try not to rely on the flash, and you will notice that every time your pictures will only get better. Also, do not forget to use the autofocus to set up the exposure. With it, you can specify the object you need and adjust the lighting.
Do not forget about special applications for post-processing photos. Ready snapshot can be edited directly in the gallery or Google Photos. And we are talking not only about cropping, but also the settings of light, colors.
With the advent of special modes for night shooting take pictures in poor light conditions, it became much easier. As for the outbreak, this is a great replacement for a flashlight.
Use mini-tripods
Note, we are not talking about self-stick sticks. Come to yourself a little respect and use a mini-tripod with a special fastening for a smartphone instead. Today, you can find a wide variety of models on the market for mobile accessories, ranging from the simplest with rigid legs to more flexible tripods with a magnetic mount. Trust me, it's much easier to take high-quality photos with a tripod.
They will be of particular benefit to those who often take self-portraits. Therefore, you can forget about uncomfortable selfies and a low-resolution front camera. With a tripod, you can take better pictures in low light conditions. After all, it is much more convenient to use a slow shutter speed or slow motion. To do this, you need to hold the smartphone motionless for a few seconds or a minute. Therefore, a folding tripod that fits in your pocket can greatly expand your photography options.
If you do not want to constantly carry an accessory, then you can use the basic principles of working with it. Namely, immobility. For the perfect shot, you need to hold your smartphone steady for a few seconds. And even if you think that you have a firm hand and you don’t need any stabilizer or tripod, then you are greatly mistaken. Try leaning your smartphone against a railing, against a wall, or against a water bottle. And you will notice how much your pictures will change.
Back up your photos
you don't back up your photos. You can capture really amazing views and share finished shots on social networks but don't forget to back up your original photos. Remember, one copy is simply not enough. You definitely need to do extra.
To do this, you can use the popular Google Photos service, which offers excellent paid and free plans. Or any other cloud services with similar functionality, like Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive or Amazon Photos. They will not only save the internal memory of your mobile device, but will regularly backup your pictures if you do not want to do it manually.
In addition, thanks to cloud services, you don't have to worry about how to transfer finished pictures from your smartphone to your computer to share them with friends. Each of the services we mentioned has a web version, which is ideal for viewing photos in real time, from any device.
These tips will help you take better photos. If we haven't mentioned some important details that will help you make your shots even better, then leave a comment below.
