Hi lovelies,
These days, many people don't see the need for a separate digital camera. While it might be nice to have one, it's often not necessary when you have a good smartphone camera. Smartphone cameras can be powerful and produce high-quality images and videos, doing much of what a separate digital camera can do. In fact, with the right tools, you can pretty much turn your cell phone into its own digital camera. Some people don't really take the time to learn how to use their phone cameras effectively. After all, you can just point it and take a pretty decent photo or video. But with a few tips, you can make it even better.
Create a Balanced Composition
A good photo should have a good composition. Instead of just taking a photo without really thinking about what it looks like, you can consider what elements make up different parts of the frame. One way you can improve the composition of your photos on your phone is by turning on the grid lines. This creates nine squares across your screen, which you can use to follow the "rule of thirds", which says you can balance your photo by placing points of interest in these squares or along the lines. You can turn on your grid lines in the photo and camera settings of an iPhone or in the settings of your camera app on a Samsung Galaxy phone.
Another way to improve the composition of your photos is to play with negative space. Leaving empty space around the subject of your photo can uplift it and help your subject to stand out more. Plus, it can give you a pleasing background that helps to enhance your photo.
Play with the Focus
The focus on your phone's camera is definitely something to consider. Camera phones will usually automatically focus on the foreground to identify the subject of the photo. However, you don't always want it to do that, especially if you don't have an obvious subject for your photo. If you want to change what your camera is focusing on, you can tap the screen where you want it to focus and it will readjust. You can use this when you want to take a photo of something in motion, for example.
Speaking of focus, it's usually best to focus on one subject if you want to make your photo clear. It's also a good idea to avoid zooming in because this can make your photo blurry. Instead, try to get as close to the subject of your photo as possible.
Get a Tripod
You don't always want to hold your phone while taking photos, especially if you want to photograph or film yourself. A tripod can help with this, allowing you to place your phone wherever you want. It will also ensure your photos or videos are stable, which can be hard to do if you don't have a steady hand. A tripod for your smartphone can be handy to have at home, but many of them also fold up small so you can easily carry them around. They can be bent into different angles too, so you can position them perfectly to get the shot that you want.
Use a Gimbal
If you want to go one better than a tripod, you might consider getting a gimbal. A gimbal is a little like a selfie stick, but with a lot more features. You can mount your phone onto the handheld device and then point it where you want it. It will help to stabilize your image for you and you can also choose one that extends. If you take a look at www.drdrone.ca, you can see how a gimbal works together with software on your phone. It can help you to track moving subjects and use different effects on your photos and footage.
Know When to Use Flash
The flash on your phone can help you to brighten up a frame when there's not enough light. However, it's important to know when to use the flash and how to use it. When you can, try to use natural light. If you do think you need to use your flash, it's best to only use it during the day. If you use your flash at night, it's unlikely to improve the resulting photo. It's probably going to make it look uneven, with sharp contrasts. However, if your subject is already well-lit, using the flash could help to improve the photo.
Use an Extra Lens
You've most likely seen professional cameras with interchangeable lenses, but those aren't the only cameras that allow you to use different lenses. External lenses are available for your smartphone camera too, and they can be used to take different types of photos or video with your camera. You can get options like fish-eye and wide-angle lenses, which adjust the perspective of your frame and allow you to do new things with your camera. There are various brands offering lenses made for mobile devices, which can be attached to your phone's existing camera lens.
Don't Forget About Audio
If you're using your phone to make videos, audio quality can be just as important as the image. There are a few things that you might do to improve the audio on your videos. One option is buying an external microphone, which can be a big improvement over your phone's inbuilt microphone. If you have access to a second smartphone, using it to record your audio closer to the source can help, and you can then join the video and audio when you edit. If you don't need any sound on your video, you can simply edit the sound out so that you're left with a smooth video and no unnecessary audio.
Even if you can't do these things, be careful about where you choose to film. A quiet location will enable you to control the audio much better than if you're somewhere windy or loud.
By mastering how to use your cell phone camera, you can do more with just one small device.
