Easy ways to take better photographs with your camera phone
Posted on September 15, 2008
Filed Under Photography lessons
Once upon a time, we all wished if we could easily carry our camera everywhere we go. This is now possible with the powerful camera phones available on the market.
But we often don’t pay enough attention while we take camera phone photos and we end up with poor quality photographs. While camera phones have not matched up with the quality of photos that a full-fledged camera can give, there are some simple tips that can help you take better photographs using your camera phone. Read on to find out
1. Hold your camera firm:Compared to conventional cameras, camera phones are more prone to shake, as the weight of the camera is much lesser and you are holding it with one hand. So, take care to avoid motion blur, especially in low-light conditions. When the light is low, the camera phone decreases the shutter speed to increase the exposure time, resulting in blurred pictures.
Most camera phones have a shutter lag – a time lag for opening the shutter after the button is pressed. So you have to hold the camera firm for one or two seconds.
To reduce shake in such conditions, you can use some objects like a table or chair for support. Also try to hold the phone with both your hands if possible.
2. Get some good lighting in place:In conventional photography, a powerful flash lights up the subject, if the available light is low. The flash in camera phones (many low-budget camera phones don’t have one) is not powerful enough to supply light for a small group photo or a full-figured portrait. So, switch on all the lights in the room as well as opening the windows to get enough light.
Many costlier cameras now come with white balance settings. This setting allows the user to change the colour balance of the photo according to the available light. But different camera manufacturers use different terms like colour balance or ambience to indicate white balancing. Read your camera phone manual to understand about the white balance settings of your camera.
3. Move closer:Camera phone lenses are normally wide-angle, which helps to achieve maximum depth of field as well as less adjustment while focusing. Wide-angle lenses make everything look smaller unless you are not standing very close. Photos with tiny, unrecognisable subjects will look unimpressive. So move closer and tightly frame the subject with interesting objects.
Getting too close can cause distortion and focusing problems. Keeping a reasonable distance with the lens can reduce the problem of distortion. The minimum distance you can keep between the lens and the subject can be easily identified with some trial shots. After all, the camera phone allows you to take a number of photos and delete unnecessary ones.
4. Reduce dependence on digital zoom:Avoid using the digital zoom as far as possible. Because, unlike optical zoom, digital zoom enlarges the pixels to zoom in to an object, resulting in a more pixelated shot that can be inferior in quality.
Camera phones with optical zoom (which doesn’t cause the problem mentioned above) are expected to be common on the market in some time.
5. Follow the rules of composition:Rules of compositions are same for digital camera photography as well as camera phone photography. Following the basic rules of composition helps avoid taking amateurish photos. Click here to read about the basic rules composition. But never hesitate to break the rules when you feel you should.
6. Use the highest possible resolution:Some cameras give you the freedom of choosing the resolution you want. If you are really particular about the quality of images you get, you need maximum resolution. If memory available is a concern for you, you will need to set a lower resolution. Purchase one or two spare memory cards to overcome the problem.
You need to periodically delete unwanted photos from your camera and make use of the memory to the maximum. Also consider transferring useful photos to your computer as and when it is possible. In short, if you take a little care, you can easily overcome the storage problem.
7. Respect the privacy of others:Normally, it is okay to take photos at public places. But, you have no permission to take voyeuristic photos and never attempt to do it at a public place. Even for normal photos, its better to ask for permission. Read our candid photography article to understand the basic rules of candid photography.
8. Keep the lens clean:Camera phones would be resting in your pocket or handbag most of the time, which makes the lens susceptible to getting dust and fingerprints on it. Check your lens every time before you take photos and clean the lens with a soft cloth.
Camera phones provide as many advantages and there are disadvantages- and the opportunity to turn into a photographer and any point in your daily life. At the end of the day a great subject and backdrop with correct timing, can give you a photograph the best equipment can never provide. Happy snapping!
Also read
Choose between SLR and Point-and-shoot cameras
Capture beautiful images from everyday life with candid photography
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Camera phones are in great demand these days, i own at least two of them~.`