Tip #4233 - Improving Your Cameraphone Photos
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Improving
Your Cameraphone Photos
With cameraphones
becoming one of the fastest growing segments in the digital camera
market, it is important to make the most of them. The biggest problem
is that though the newer ones have higher megapixels, better lenses
and high capacity storage, the results aren’t as appealing.
Some of it could be due to lower quality cameras, but it is also often
a result of poor photographic technique. So, below are a few tips
for all you cameraphone owners that will help you get the most from
your handy gadget!
1.) Light
Up Your Subject
Lighting plays
an important role, particularly since the cameraphone isn’t
as well equipped as a stand alone camera. The better the light around
your subject is, the clearer your image is likely to be. Here are
some easy tips: Shoot outdoors where there is natural sunlight or
shoot indoors where the lights fall on the subject evenly all over.
Some cameras have a built in flash that doubles as an LED torch. Use
that to give a greater clarity to your pictures, even if you're shooting
outside.
2.) Don’t Use the Zoom
It is best to
come closer to your subject than to use the zoom on your cameraphone,
because it could result in pictures that are less sharp and sometimes
blurry in low light conditions. What’s worse, if you don’t
come closer to your subjects, they will look like a speck in a large
shot and therefore, they won't be distinguishable. Cameraphone images
tend to be smaller due to low resolutions, so fill up your view finder
with your subject to save having to zoom in on the subject in editing
later (which decreases quality even more).
3.) Avoid
Camera Shake
Try to lean your
cameraphone/hand against a solid object (like a tree, wall, ledge,
etc.) when taking your shots. This is particularly true in low light
conditions when the camera is prone to using longer shutter speeds.
That means it’s a longer exposure and it demands that you stay
put for at least a few seconds after pressing the shutter down.
4.) Store
All Pictures
It’s best
to keep all the photos you have taken from your cameraphone for awhile
and revisit them when you have more time to spare. What you initially
thought to be bad photos, because they were blurry or out of focus,
could be quite useable in an abstract kind of way. Even more, they
could be used to create a painting kind of effect in Photoshop later
on. Also, remember that the photo might appear bad on someone’s
computer, but not yours. So, if possible, hang on to your shots until
you can get them on your PC.
5.) Feel
Free to Experiment
Because they are
mobile and tiny, cameraphones are quite handy in allowing you to not
only take as many shots as you want (cell phones usually have 8 GB
memory cards), but they also help in experimenting with different
angles. For example, you could shoot from down low, up high, close
up, etc. and you’ll end up with interesting and cool shots.
You can always discard what you don’t like later and you don't
have to pay a penny for your indulgence, which is one of the many
benefits of being digital, I might add!
6.)
Break the Rules of the Game
Before you do
that though, you need to know the rules of composition. For example,
the Rule of Thirds mandates that you place your subject a third of
the way into the frame and not bang in the middle. But, who stops
you if you fill up your frame with your subject, leaving no room on
either side or placing your subject right at the corner of the frame?
Or, better still, take only half of the subject’s face to show
off your creativity. Once you know the rules, the new rule should
be: anything goes!
7.) Clean
Your Lens
Fingerprints are
a common problem on camera lenses, especially if your phone doesn’t
have a lens cover. Treat the lens of your cameraphone the way you
would treat your sunglasses. In fact, use the very same cloth to wipe
the lens every time you use it for shoots. Since cell phones are usually
outside and some don’t even have dust covers, it’s important
to clean the lens before starting to take shots.
8.) Set
the Resolution Every Time
Make sure you
set the resolution of your cameraphone every time you are using it.
If it’s just shooting pictures that you don’t really feel
the use for, set it to a low resolution. But, if it’s an important
shoot where you'll want to keep your pictures for posterity, make
sure you have it set to the highest resolution. Also, remember that
the higher the resolution, the larger amount of memory it will use.
So, it’s advisable to use at least a 2 GB memory card. That
should allow you to take at least 800 pictures at the highest resolution.
Happy cameraphoning!
~ Zahid H. Javali
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