BETA YOURSELF
PHONE PHOTOS Got a shiny new smartphone but struggling to shoot pictures that make people’s eyes pop with cartoon-style awe? Stuff reveals how to get the best from your little snapper… THE BASICS
■ Go off grid
■ Master your hardware
Every camera is unique, and the same is true of what’s inside your phone. So take time to master its hardware and software – and how the two interact. Note minimum focusing distances so you know when to back up, and memorise shortcuts for your camera app so you never miss a one-off moment.
■ Avoid digital zoom
You might be overly pleased to have a phone that offers 100x zoom… but that grin will vanish when you see the results. Digital zoom crops and resizes images, adding grain and reducing detail. Where possible,sticktothelimitations of your phone’s telephoto lens. Want more? Invest in high-quality add-on lenses.
■ Line it up
If you too often find that your snaps lack compositional coherence, activate your camera’s on-screen grid (ideally a 3x3 one) and use the rule of thirds. Align subjects with grid lines and intersections; set the horizon directly atop one of the grid’s horizontal lines; and aim for two thirds negative space, to focus your pic on the subject.
Once you know and can successfully apply the rules of photography, break them. And since you’re shooting with a pocket-dwelling device, take advantage of being able to go anywhere with it. Get your phone right on the floor to shoot animals close up, or get high up in rooms or on top of buildings looking down. Capture reflections on water and windows, and look for patterns and symmetry.
■ Back it up
If you consider your photos precious, be aware of digital’s ephemeral nature. Never store snaps solely on a device you can lose. Sync them to the cloud and back up favourites to a second cloud service or a Mac/PC. And remember to print favourites – retail services are very affordable these days.
GET SET ■ Define your defaults
Do it clean
Seeing as your phone is in and out of bags and pockets, give that lens a clean before snapping shots – and with a microfibre cloth, not a mucky sleeve.
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Camera apps vary, so ensure yours – whether stock or third-party – has everything the way you want it the second it’s opened. You don’t want to be fiddling about with settings while a snapshot of Insta gold slips away.
■ Figure out formats
Your camera app will default to certain formats, resolutions and video frame-rates. Hardware, storage limitations and response times may force you to dial down maximums, but aim for the best and only lower those quality settings when you have to.
