Most of us walk around with a camera in our pocket in the form of a smart phone, capable of taking pictures we could only once have dreamed of. But too often we end up with multiple shots of the same thing and are unsure how we can make the most of the tools available to us. Here’s a quick guide to taking better smart phone shots.
The rule of thirds
Some cameras allow you to bring a grid up on screen, dividing your frame into thirds horizontally and vertically. Rather than placing your subject immediately in the centre, which can give a rather dry composition, try placing it towards the top or bottom third to create a more dynamic feel.
Be a curator
See your photos as a collection. This will help you limit shots of the same type while encouraging you to think about how the images can complement each other through texture, colour, tone and composition.
It’s all in the detail
Foreground, mid-range and distance details are a good way to liven up landscapes or cityscapes. Move the camera lower or to a different angle (or turn it upside) to try to ensure you have a focal point of interest in the frame. Play around with your phone’s “tap to focus” feature to centre different items. As Instagram has taught us, contrary to popular belief, including someone or something in shot, be it a passerby with a stripy umbrella or an architectural detail, gives richer context and relief to images.
Be on the lookout
See the shapes within the everyday. Z forms, paths that go to a vanishing point, bridges, staircases – these all provide trajectories the eye can follow. Sometimes just moving the frame slightly can be the difference between a shot with inherent visual interest and one that feels less complete. What’s more, watch out for streetlights or beams of sun or vertical objects just behind your subject that will pull focus or provide unintended comic effect.
Portrait mode
Most phone cameras have a portrait mode these days. It provides automatic background blurring and focuses on your subject’s face. But many of us are still guilty of cutting off our subjects in strange places and making photos look odd. Not only hands, feet and heads, but cutting someone off at the thigh is also a big no no. Decide in advance whether you want a tight focus. Think in terms of headshots, upper body shots or full-body.
Accessories
Tripod
Sometimes we want to take photographs with long exposure, for waterfalls, or shots of the night sky. Due to instability and even the tiniest of hand trembles, these will always be blurry without a tripod. Choose one that is compact, supports the weight of your camera and has rubber or non-slip feet. Some tripods are so small these days, they can fit in your pocket. Tripods are also great for timelapse photography and selfies.
Lights
Talking of low light conditions, an external additional light can illuminate your subject more subtly and with preferred angles than your cameras flash. Choose an easy-to-carry version with good battery life and adjustable brightness. Ring lights meanwhile provide a soft, even tone for vlogging and make-up photography.
Standalone lenses
If you are really looking to up your smartphone game, an additional lens could be the answer for sharper shots, great for wildlife. Enhancing your zoom capacity without sacrificing resolution is the main reason to buy one. Some additional lenses offer a range of cinematic effects and starburst bokeh.
For those who are really keen, full kits are available, offering stability tools, remote shutter facilities, external lights and various other tricks of the content creation trade.
